Build Validity?

[LiL KiNG]

Probably has been conceptualized before me, but I just got an idea around building a Monk/Soul Blade with the Tashalatora feat from Secrets of Sarlona and then tacking on Vow of Poverty for a low magic, slow xp progression campaign we're going to start soon.

Would it work? It's cheddar, but is it too sharp?

I know very little about the Monk and even less when dealing with D&D and Psionics, but I found a neat build around PsyWar/Monk and thought this may be a neat work around with VoP and being able to manifest your weapon instead of "owning" a possession.

I'd also like to use the Pole Master (...what a horrible feat name) and Short Haft feats if I can find a way to shape the mind blade into a long or great spear. Any suggestions on how to accomplish this/is it possible?

This is what happens when I'm still up at 3am.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Honestly, that would be between you & your DM...but I'd allow it.

As for reshaping the mind blade, check out dragon #341. One of the (many) shape mind blade feats is a generalized version of the specific ones that contemporaneously popped up in CompPsi.* When you take the feat, you choose a weapon with which you are proficient- you can then choose to use that as a shape for your mindblade.






* the three in CompPsi were limited to 3 specific exotic weapons. The Dragon version has identical mechanics and is more flexible, so is better.

 

[emoplato]

You can do it but it won't get you much. You can't qualify for Tashalatora as of now. It needs for you to manifest first level powers. It is also wasted right now as it works by advancing some monk stuff in psionic manifesting classes(psywar, psion, wilder,..etc). Soulknifes are only psionic in theme so you can get psionic feats. You could take the hidden talent alternative which does give you that requirement.
The core problems with the soulknife is that it has a non-permanent weapon that can't be made into masterwork quality so it has crowded its abilities just to give you a half-way decent weapon. This is mitigated by VoP and I guess the fact of the campaign itself. Also the mechanics of psychic strike forces you to waste move actions just to get a single use of it and monster-wise it has the similar problems of the sneak attack. Finally, outside of it base chart abilities it doesn't have many options available to itself.
My advice is simple get a psionic manifesting class, but I guess the question is what do you really want?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

You're multiclassing between two of the absolute weakest classes ever printed in 3rd edition, taking a multiclass feat that doesn't actually do much for you w/o a manifesting class, and topping it off with Vow Of Poverty, which is one of the single best ways in the game to gimp a character further.

So, I wouldn't call it cheesy at all...

 

[LiL KiNG]

Ah, see I overlooked that the Soul Blade didn't actually manifest any powers (...3am thing), and as pointed out won't work. Seemed it would fit just from being a psionic class. Too bad.

Not worried about being over powered but with it being a low magic level campaign (...where casting classes are going to lord over martial ones, not that they don't anyway but with less magic item availability it will be worse) I thought VoP would be an ok way to gain some of that back; AC bonuses throughout, and sustenance at 5th level are appealing, and later the attribute boost are enticing.

Another question, would Superior Unarmed Strike from ToB stack with a Monk Belt? The other build option I'm entertaining would be Monk/Shou Disciple - wanted Fist of the Forest too but prereqs are odd and the primal living thing won't work too well in an urban based campaign.

 

[emoplato]

Ah, see I overlooked that the Soul Blade didn't actually manifest any powers (...3am thing), and as pointed out won't work. Seemed it would fit just from being a psionic class. Too bad.

Not worried about being over powered but with it being a low magic level campaign (...where casting classes are going to lord over martial ones, not that they don't anyway but with less magic item availability it will be worse) I thought VoP would be an ok way to gain some of that back; AC bonuses throughout, and sustenance at 5th level are appealing, and later the attribute boost are enticing.

Another question, would Superior Unarmed Strike from ToB stack with a Monk Belt? The other build option I'm entertaining would be Monk/Shou Disciple - wanted Fist of the Forest too but prereqs are odd and the primal living thing won't work too well in an urban based campaign.

Well VoP would help with that just keep in mind that not everything stacks. As I said before hidden talent does give you ability to manifest a first level power if you really want a soulknife. I do get the idea that you want to be a fighting type of character I would suggest a Psychic Warrior with the soulbound weapon alternative feature. You give up the second level bonus feat for weapon focus and a modified power known. When you summon this weapon via the call weaponry power it automatically comes with magical enchantments depending on your level. It also gives you another augmentation ability for the option of additional enchantments on top of the one already given. I also see that you want the monk frame I would ask the DM if you can have eagle claws as a soulbound weapon and if he would let it qualify for the beast strike feat. It allows you to add unarmed damage to claw or slam damage. By RAW it would not as it must be a natural weapon(claws and/or slam) damage, but thematically it seems legit.
They do stack both treat your monk unarmed damage(if you have any and it is more) as four levels higher.

 

[LiL KiNG]

Psychic Warrior with the soulbound weapon alternative feature

I was unaware of this ACF and will be looking into it pronto!

They do stack both treat your monk unarmed damage(if you have any and it is more) as four levels higher.

Wow! so a +8 level advancement on monk unarmed damage between that feat and magic item, that is insane!

 

[Dandu]

Monk/Psychic Warrior is good. Monk/Soulknife, however, is not.

 

[emoplato]

I was unaware of this ACF and will be looking into it pronto!

I should mention it isn't in any book, it is on the WotC website archive in the Mind's Eye just so you are aware.

 

[LiL KiNG]

I should mention it isn't in any book, it is on the WotC website archive in the Mind's Eye just so you are aware.

Found it! Thanks for the heads up!