Help with my Unarmed Dervish

[KerlanRayne]

I was thinking about a Dervish build and wanted some help on how to put it together. So far I was thinking:

Cobra Strike Monk 2 (AU) / Ardent 2 (CPsi) / Swordsage 4 (ToB) / Dervish 10 (CW) / Blood Claw Master 2 (ToB)

I would use Versatile Unarmed Strike (PHB II) and the Shadow Blade feat with Child of Shadow or Assassin's Stance. Ardent would use the Freedom and possibly Conflict Mantles. Possible maneuvers would include Burning Blade, Dancing and Raging Mongoose, Wolf Fang Strike, Mighty Throw, and Counter Charge. With two weapon fighting and flurry, I think it would do pretty well.

I'm not sure if there would be any problems with the build and would like advice on which order to take the levels in.

I also considered dropping Monk for some Swashbuckler. I would probably drop Blood Claw Master or 1 level of Ardent to fit 3 levels in to get INT to damage. The Ardent is for the +20' speed boost from the Freedom Mantle and Speed of Thought. I would have to use Daggers to meet all the requirements. Would that work out better?

KerlanRayne

 

[szilard]

What about a Monk/Scout/Dervish build? With versatile unarmed strike, that would be very nice...

-Stuart

 

[KerlanRayne]

What about a Monk/Scout/Dervish build? With versatile unarmed strike, that would be very nice...

I'm not really interested in Scout or Skirmish. I pretty much have the features I want in the classes above, it just needs to be broken down.

KerlanRayne

 

[szilard]

Okay. What features are interesting/important to you in those classes?

-Stuart

 

[Darklone]

I think Scout and Dervish Dance is pretty close to broken anyhow.

Why would you use monk levels if you'd use daggers?

 

[szilard]

Monk 9/Dervish 10 is really nice, too. The last level in there could be another level of Monk... or Fighter or Swordsage or Kensai or Warlock or whatever.

Monk 9 gives you +30' movement, no penalties on a flurry, and improved evasion.

With a Monk's Belt and Superior Unarmed Strike (or whatever it is called, ToB), you gain an extra point of AC and base 2d6 unarmed damage. If you can use Improved Natural Attack, that becomes 3d8. With, for example, a level of Warlock and Hideous Blow, that becomes 3d8+1d6. At level 20, flurrying, you're doing that at least five times a round.

-Stuart

 

[Darklone]

Add one level of scout for +1d6 damage to each flurry attack.

 

[Caliban]

Only problem with adding a lot of levels of monk or scout to a Dervish build is that their class bonuses to speed are an enhancement bonus, as is the Dervish class bonus to speed, and thus would not stack.

That's why I like to put in a level of barbarian - unnamed 10' speed increase, and you have Rage to fall back on when it's not a good idead to use the Dervish Dance.

 

[Seeten]

Ascetic Scout to add smirkish bonus stacking with unarmed strikes, and then scout 3/monk 3 +3 more of either or both to taste with 10 dervish?

 

[KerlanRayne]

OK, Here is some more detailed information on the features I was planning to use:

Cobra Strike Monk 2 (AU)
• Improved Unarmed Strike
• Versatile Unarmed Strike
• Dodge
• Mobility
• WIS to AC if unarmored
• Evasion
• Flurry
Ardent 2 (CPsi)
• Freedom Mantle = +10' unnamed bonus to all speeds
• Speed of Thought = +10' insight bonus to all speeds
• Conflict Mantle = Free Weapon Focus & Offensive Prescience
Swordsage 4 (ToB)
• Shadow Blade = DEX to Damage
• WIS to AC in light armor (if not using Monk)
• Maneuvers
Blood Claw Master 2 (ToB)
• Full Strength for off hand
• No TWF penalty
Dervish 10 (CW)
• Everything

I would be using the TWF tree anf Flurry to get more attacks with my slashing unarmed strike.

The other option would drop Monk, and possibly 1 level of Ardent to get Swashbuckler 3 for INT to damage and Weapon Finesse. Without Monk I would have to use daggers to meet all the requirements.

So how well do you think it would work together? Would it be better to use Monk or Swashbuckler? When should I take the levels and in what order, especially for the Swordsage and Blood Claw Master.

KerlanRayne