Building a "Pugilist" (Monk) with the Slayer

[GameDoc]

I had a new player join Encounters last night. He has only played 3.5 in the past and wanted to play a monk. He had a great character concept for a non-cleric using the Oghma's Faithful theme - a street urchin from Waterdeep taken in by Oghma's temple.

Trying not to deviate too far out of the "allowable" content (the hosting store has asked we stick to this so they can market HoFL, HoFK, and NWCS), I decided we would use the class options available to us and I would just allow his character proficiency and access to spiked gauntlets. We made a thief so he could fill the striker role.

The concept worked great in the role-playing part of the session, but he didn't really dig the mechanics of the thief in combat and asked if switching to fighter would be a better idea. This morning I put together a Slayer along the same concept.

This guy is not into character-optimization. He really just wants his character to be effective, pull its weight for the party, and to fit the style that goes with his concept.

So just to get some feedback on whether the character will be able to hack it (no pun intended) in Encounters combat, I thought I would post it here for some feedback.

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
, level 1
Human, Fighter (Slayer)
Human Power Selection Option: Heroic Effort
Oghma's Faithful (History class skill)
Theme: Oghma's Faithful

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 10, CON 14, DEX 18, INT 11, WIS 14, CHA 10

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 10, CON 14, DEX 16, INT 11, WIS 14, CHA 10


AC: 17 Fort: 15 Ref: 15 Will: 13
HP: 29 Surges: 11 Surge Value: 7

TRAINED SKILLS
Athletics +4, Heal +7, History +5, Intimidate +5

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +3, Arcana +0, Bluff +0, Diplomacy +0, Dungeoneering +2, Endurance +1, Insight +2, Nature +2, Perception +2, Religion +0, Stealth +3, Streetwise +0, Thievery +3

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Oghma's Faithful Utility: Understand Language
Human Racial Power: Heroic Effort
Multiple Class Attack: Power Strike
Fighter Utility: Mobile Blade
Fighter Utility: Unfettered Fury

FEATS
Level 1: Melee Training (Dexterity)
Level 1: Two-Weapon Fighting

ITEMS
Spiked gauntlet x2
Hide Armor x1
Adventurer's Kit
Shortbow
Arrow
Dagger
====== End ======

 

[cpendlet]

With the low strength, he is gong to have issues hitting stuff (unless you let him use dex modifier for the to hit that is or is there something else that is causing the character to use the dex mod for the to hit modifier).

Edit: Oh, I missed the Melee training feat when I first read it. Nevermind

 

[GameDoc]

I probably should have included his melee basic math so it was more clear.

Melee Basic Attack (Spiked Gauntlet)
Dexterity vs. AC
Attack bonus +7 (Dex +4, Weapon Talent +1, Proficiency +2)
Damage 1d6 +7 (Dex +2, Heroic Slayer +4, Two-Wpn Fighting +1)

 

[bganon]

I'd probably take Master at Arms instead of TWF, and Duelist's Assault or Battle Wrath instead of Unfettered Fury. This guy is using a crappy weapon, you don't want to gimp his attack bonus.

I'd at least think about buying a nat 18 in Dex as well (and dump Str to 8). If you're going to go the Dex-only Slayer route, it's probably worth committing fully to it. This means crappy Con and Fort, though.

And I'd take Streetwise as a skill over one of the others, cause I'd really love to take Crowd Fighting at level 2.

Are you going to custom-rule something at level 7 when it comes to Weapon Specialization? It'd really stink to get nothing.

 

[GameDoc]

Thanks for the suggestions on powers and feats.

It's for Encounters so he won't get to 7th level. If for some reason we were to continue on past that, I'd offer some alternatives for other features that would get nerfed.

 

[GameDoc]

I suppose to account for not having a great weapon, I could allow his attacks to do 2d6, each die representing one fist.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Maybe let him take Weapon Proficiency in Monk Unarmed Strike? +3 d8 off-hand is nothing to sneeze at.

Brad

 

[GameDoc]

Or I could use the Scout as a basis instead of the Slayer. Don't know why that just now occurred to me. The Scout is more monk-like with its aspects (think kung-fu styles named for animals) and its dual striking.

Just have to allow his Two-Weapon style to apply to spiked gauntlets or unarmed attacks instead of a light blade or axe.

 

[Kzach]

Tell us the character concept. It's hard to suggest anything without actually knowing what the guy wants. Is Oghma Pugilist the sole defining factor of this character? And if so, what is it about Oghma that makes him want to be a follower? Why is he a pugilist?

 

[Destil]

Could always do the staff build from dragon for either slayer or thief, which would work fairly well flavor wise and mechanically both are generally fine.