Ideas please: Monk Archer

[AuraSeer]

I'm creating a 5th-level PC for a new campaign. I was planning to be a Ftr/Sor and work toward the Arcane Archer PrC, but for game setting reasons, the DM wants me to have at least one level in Monk.

Arcane Archer requires BAB +6, Weapon Focus (any bow), Point Blank Shot, and Precise Shot. The character must also be an elf or half-elf, and have the ability to cast 1st-level arcane spells.

Given the class restriction, my first impulse was to go Mnk3/Ftr1/Sor1. The sorcerer level gives me True Strike and fulfills the PrC requirement. The fighter level gives me bow proficiency and an extra feat. That leaves three levels to go into Monk.

However, splitting three ways will obviously prevent my character from excelling in any one area, so I thought I'd ask you all for some ideas.

How would you make a PC specializing in ranged attacks, if you were required to take some monk levels? What would be different if you wanted to maximize "cool factor" instead of combat prowess?

If it matters, the character's unmodified stat rolls are: 18, 16, 16, 12, 12, 10.

Thanks in advance!

 

[hong]

See if you can sweet-talk your DM into letting you play a martial artist, and take a swag of archery-related feats.

The Intuitive Archery mastery benefit is particularly nice.

 

[Chun-tzu]

If I wanted to create a Zen archer, I'd aim for the Order of the Bow Initiate, from Sword and Fist. Although it's geared towards fighters (requires weapon specialization), to create a more martial arts oriented character, I'd go with the Psychic Warrior. A Psychic Warrior would have to wait until level 6 to get specialization, but you gain some nice psychic powers (and feats) that work well with martial arts and archery. You've also got some very nice stats, which makes a psychic warrior even better. Psychic Warrior also mixes well with Monk, in both abilities and character concept. In fact, if your DM is using the Psionics Handbook, you might be able to talk him into using levels of Psychic Warrior instead of Monk, since you can easily design a psychic warrior that will look to other people an awful lot like a monk. Then again, a couple levels of monk wil give you a lot of benefits, including Missile Deflection, which fits very nicely with a master of kyudo (the way of the bow). And as for True Strike, if your DM is using If Thoughts Could Kill, there's a conversion of True Strike to a level 1 power for the psychic warrior.

 

[Benben]

The fighter level gives me bow proficiency and an extra feat. That leaves three levels to go into Monk.

Being a full elf will give you the bow proficiency you need. That just leaves the large amount of feats.

 

[nwn_deadman]

Your best bet is to be a Half-Elf so that your favored class will be ANY.

You can take 1 level of cleric to get Elf and War Domains

Point Blank Shot and Weapon Focus (Longbow) will be free...

Next go for 1 level of monk to satisfy your DM and get evasion...

Next go for 1 level of Wizard so that you can have Scribe Scroll free...

Next go for 6 Levels of Fighter for the extra feats (Weapon Specialization +2 damage PER arrow) and Rapid Shot...

Next go for 1 level of ranger of barbarian depending on ambi/2 wep or rage...

Your set for arcane archer...

No XP multiclass penalties either...

Fighter will be your favored class...

 

[Lord Pendragon]

Cleric1 / Monk1 / Wizard1 / Ranger1 / Fighter6 ?? Ugh.

Here's my suggestion (powergaming):

(Mandatory because of your PrC and DM)

Sorcerer 2: True Strike is your friend. If you want to really powergame, get a toad familiar, though I usually prefer a hawk. The second level nets you another spell per day, and another +1 to your Will save. (Total BAB +1)

Monk 1: Evasion, Improved Unarmed Strike, Stunning Attack, good saves. Are you using the OA rules? I believe that you can switch out certain feats for monks with those rules. Since you're going for an archer-type, see if your DM will let you switch out Stunning Attack for Rapid Shot. Keep the Improved Unarmed Strike so you're always armed, and can enter melee if your bow is sundered or something else unforseen occurs. 'sides, you can't really be a monk without knowing how to use your fists, right? (Total BAB [armed] +0)

(Non-mandatory)

Fighter 2: Simple, Martial weapons, all armors, 2 feats (make them Precise Shot and Far Shot). (Total BAB +2)

Total Levels: Fighter2/Sorcerer2/Monk1. So you have a total +3 BAB.

After that, another 2 levels of Fighter will get you another feat plus BAB, and another level of monk gets you +1 BAB, plus Deflect Arrows (shoot with your arrows, block your enemies'!) and a nice +1 to all your saves.

Final levels: Fighter4/Sorcerer2/Monk2/Arcane Archer10. Make sure to pick up Weapon Specialization (Composite Longbow) when you have the chance, too.

 

[nwn_deadman]

I think you will find that my suggestion will net a higher overall BAB SAVES and FEATS...

This character can still have all of the things you mentioned that your suggestion will get...

Feats are more important overall than anything else...

This character gets the following for free over your suggestion

Point Blank Shot
Weapon Focus
Amti/2 weapon fighting
Scribe Scroll

1 extra fighter feat - could be used for deflect arrows (this is same for both)

 

[RogueJK]

I think you will find that my suggestion will net a higher overall BAB SAVES and FEATS...

Actually, it wouldn't.

Your character has BAB +7 at 10th level. Lord Pendragon's character has BAB +6 at 8th level. He could then take 2 levels of Arcane Archer, bringing his BAB up to +8 at 10th level vs your +7. Conversely, if you dropped 2 of your fighter levels to take you down to 8th level, you would have +5 BAB vs. Lord Pendragon's +6. His will always be 1 higher than yours.

For saves, at 10th level, your character has:
Fortitude - 2+2+0+2+5= +11
Reflex - 0+2+0+0+2= +4
Will - 2+2+2+0+2= +8
Subtract the 2 fighter levels to take you down to 8th level, and you have Fort: +10, Ref: +3, Will +7

At 8th level, Pendragon's character has:
Fortitude - 4+0+3= +7
Reflex - 1+0+3= +4
Will - 1+3+3= +7
Add in the 2 levels of Arcane Archer to take him up to 10th level, and his final saves are Fort: +10, Ref: +7, Will +7

So, at 8th level, Lord Pendragon's character has a higher Reflex save, and the same Will save, and at 10th level, he has a much higher Reflex save, and is only 1 behind on Fortitude and Will.

For feats, if you remove 2 levels of Fighter to take you down to 8th level, you will have the same number of feats as he will. Conversely, if Pendragon adds 2 levels of Fighter, he would, again, have the same number of feats.

You might want to rethink your statement... At first glance, of course he would have higher BAB, Saves, and Feats. You are comparing your 10th level character to Pendragon's 8th level character. But when you really look at it, his character is better. The only thing that your character will be better at is Fortitude saves, but that comes at a cost of a lower Reflex save and a lower BAB.

 

[nwn_deadman]

You are soo wrong, check the feats...

At 8th level here is the feat breakdown

MINE 14 Feats

3 fighter 4 levels
2 ranger 1 levels
2 cleric 1 levels
1 wizard 1 levels
2 monk 1 levels
1 race
3 levels

HIS 10 Feats

3 fighter 4 levels
0 ranger 0 levels
0 cleric 0 levels
0 wizard (sorcerer) 2 levels
3 monk 2 levels
1 race
3 levels

Not to menation that FORT and WILL are the better saves to have, these are the ones where you DIE if you fail more often than with REFLEX.

Also, he has access to Divine magic and can make use of the WIS that he is bound to have with a level of Monk.

 

[RogueJK]

I based my statement off of actual feats, not virtual feats or domain abilities. And if you wanna talk about who's wrong, let's look at your statement about BAB and saves...