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Message: <blockquote data-quote="nittanytbone" data-source="post: 2637920" data-attributes="member: 35709">...that [insert class name] do need big bumps (and clever coordinate) to become an efficient character.   <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue    :p"  data-smilie="7"data-shortname=":p" /> I've seen some pretty poor builds on any class, fighters in particular (all those feat choices can sometimes just mean more chances to screw up and pick something useless).  Now on to some ideas to salvage this...Strength The first problem is that the player did not assign his ability scores wisely.  It is probably too late to go back and fix that short of a wish or psionic readjustment or something, but such measures could allow for repositioning of stats.  For the time being, the player should count on buffing the 13 str to 14 at level 8 and investing in a good +4 str enhancement item (belt of giant strength comes to mind).   These steps will also help keep him out of medium or heavy encumbrance ranges which make bad things happen to speed and AC.I hope his choice of feats wasn't too silly.  At first level for his bonus feat he better have taken "improved grapple."  If he took "combat reflexes" at 2nd level its wasted because he's always grappling.  The improved grapple +4 bonus to grapple checks is key for his fighting style.  He should be using weapons that enhance his choice of Improved Trip or Improved Disarm at 6th level.Improving Damage If he's high dex, he should get some magic ammunition (shuriken).  +1 holy ammo would be pretty effective and its reasonably priced, especially compared to a magic weapon (1/50th the cost!).He should invest in an item that augments natural weapons as suggested above.Monks are in a better position than anyone else to bypass DR.  He automatically bypasses magic DR, and he should have light weapons that are silvered and made of cold iron, which takes care of the biggest types of DR.  So he doesn't have any right to complain there.Skills The monk should look into investing into escape artist for sure (to get out of grapples that go sour) as well as tumble (to make good use of his high speed, racing past the front line of the enemy to nail the guys in the back).Bottom Line If the player is still sad, you can always take a look at the 1E monk (check out the XP chart!  Its the most punishing in the game.  And you have to fight for level ups from 8th level on!).  The 3.5 monk is VASTLY improved from that one.  Also check out "http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sg/20050520a"."How does one handle a group of well-established characters when some of them are well planned and developed, and others -- well -- aren't? Player preparation tends to show in combat and can often mean the difference between character life and death. What's a DM supposed to do when three players have done their homework well enough to make sure their characters achieve the desired results, and the fourth one hasn't?"Good luck!</blockquote>

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