Good Monk Builds

[Plane Sailing]

Darklone basically has it right.

I've already had a spike-chain wielding character (a paladin) and I like to try out different themes. I was considering that a combination of reach weapon plus unarmed body strikes would give an interesting range of coverage, and the martial reach weapons were neater in this respect. Guisarme and Ranseur were possibilities (trip or disarm bonus) and longspear too (with set for charge available) but in the end I was lured by the high base damage of the glaive and the mental image of a naginata-wielding monk

It was a chance to attempt to tread new ground in our games. I *really* hope he makes it to 2nd level to get Combat Reflexes!

 

[Thanee]

I see, tho versatility probably beats 0.5 average damage.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Plane Sailing]

I see, tho versatility probably beats 0.5 average damage.

spiked chain versatility is very significant for characters who don't have the monks ability to fight fully effectively even when their hands are full

In this instance the damage benefit is worth more than 0.5 average; don't forget the x3 crit (brings average to 6.05 vs 5.25 for chain) and the sheer satisfaction of a crit that will do 3d10+9 damage. My monk will be picking up cleave to make the most of any excess that becomes available

Also, I'm focussed here on doing more damage rather than not doing less, and spiked chain has only a 6.25% chance of doing 8 damage on a hit, while the glaive has a 30% chance of doing 8 or more damage. The 2d4 of the spiked chain means that results really do cluster around the average but I like to live on the edge baby!

 

[Kodam]

Hi!

I've seen several effective monks in Living Greyhawk.

One half-orc:
(ex) Bbn 1/Monk all the rest of the way

What do you get from Bbn1? You must be lawfull to become a monk und thus you lose the rage. Shure it isn't for the fast movement, is it?

Kodam

 

[Oscar carramiñana]

ask to your Dm for the combo Flurry- TWF if he answers you can use togeher make a Mnk11/Fgt8 with TWF-ITWF-GTWF you can do a lot attacks per round Stuning fist,trip

if you are L/G and uses BofED take the feat that allows use Wis instead of St for damage and finesse and you don't need St maximize your Wis and Dex.
maximize too your tumble skill
sorry I don't have any books here and don't remember the feat name of BofED

 

[Zimri]

pretty sure the only fet I saw that looked like that in BoED was one that was like weapon finesse but used wis instead. Intuative attack. Use wisdom instead of strength for attack rolls. I hope I am wrong and missed something. But if not it is still a "free" feat for an ascetic so they can use a real feat to get something besides weapon finesse.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Well, it's not my character. However, I think this is what the guy got from Bbn 1

-4 extra hit points (d12 instead of d8 at first level)
-Martial Weapon Proficiencies--so he can use a bow or a glaive/guisarme without penalty or feats (this is mostly useful at low levels but still useful)
-Fast Movement (stacks with Monk movement, and arrives earlier)
-Fort save bonus

If he'd hung out for another level before becoming an ex-barbarian when he became lawful, he'd have gotten Uncanny Dodge too--which would be rather useful.

And, there are plenty of interesting backstories one could come up with to justify such a change. A young tribesman, captured in battle and going to be sold off into slavery. A group of good monks came by and purchased him off the auction block and then set him free. He was intrigued by this and stayed to learn their ways and adopt their philosophy and fighting style.

Hi!

What do you get from Bbn1? You must be lawfull to become a monk und thus you lose the rage. Shure it isn't for the fast movement, is it?

Kodam

 

[Kodam]

Hi!

Well, it's not my character. However, I think this is what the guy got from Bbn 1

-4 extra hit points (d12 instead of d8 at first level)
-Martial Weapon Proficiencies--so he can use a bow or a glaive/guisarme without penalty or feats (this is mostly useful at low levels but still useful)
-Fast Movement (stacks with Monk movement, and arrives earlier)
-Fort save bonus

If he'd hung out for another level before becoming an ex-barbarian when he became lawful, he'd have gotten Uncanny Dodge too--which would be rather useful.

And, there are plenty of interesting backstories one could come up with to justify such a change. A young tribesman, captured in battle and going to be sold off into slavery. A group of good monks came by and purchased him off the auction block and then set him free. He was intrigued by this and stayed to learn their ways and adopt their philosophy and fighting style.

Sorry if my tone seemed a bit rude. This wasn't intended.

Alright, of course this charakter does get something from his Bbn level. But IMHO its not really a "recommended" Monk-Build. His higher level monk abilities get delayed after all.

Kodam

 

[Darklone]

I'd rather pick one Fighter level for hitpoints, feat and weapon proficiencies if I want a polearm monk.

Edit: Especially if the bbn build depends on an alignment change which might be difficult to integrate into a campaign... Depends on the DM after all.

 

[mhd]

The problem with most monk class combinations is that they tend to work poorly for groups that start from first level. Just adding a level of Monk without some _serious_ downtime just seems wrong to me. It takes time to go through the 36 chambers...
Works better if the DM ditches the multiclassing restriction, then you can start out as monk and just add some fighter levels for added feats etc.

And for good monk options, don't forget Shillelagh. The oil is rather cheap and even some Druid levels might be worthwile. A 2d6 quarterstaff that counts as a magic weapon is rather neat, especially at low levels.

I'd also recommend "Beyond Monks". Flashback feat...