CPXB said:To me, all these level 20 examples and illustrations are weird. I mean, I never have seen a game at these levels -- not just been in, never seen. Most games, in my experience, wind up way before level 20. To me, all these sorts of illustrations are very, very hypothetical.
Which is also another reason why I've been leery of accepting arguments about how monks become balanced at some hypothetical higher level. In my game, the characters go up in level about once a month (which is pretty typical). Saying that my 6th level monk is gonna be balance at level 13 is saying, y'know, "Oh, wait SEVEN MONTHS and your monk will be OK." The level 20 examples I feel are wholly apocryphal -- a place I'll never be.
So why the examples are interesting, I've been wondering why people focus on the really high level stuff instead of the stuff that is more commonly played -- the 1st through 10th level stuff.
This is an old, old discussion, which has, perhaps, been rendered irrelevant by the new OA, but let me weigh in:
A sixth level monk with careful feat choices kicks ass. Iron Fist and Flying Kick up the damage, Improved Int. and Warrior Instinct give him the drop on his opponent. One good hit with the IF damage bonus is gonna end a lot of fights (2d8 + 2d4 + 6d6 + 6(16 str)).
Use the speed, use the Tumble and Jump skills, use your high wisdom and Listen and Spot to get surprise rounds. Be creative, be bold, don't stand there slugging with a hypothetical barbarian -- use the great martial arts feats to kill him before he gets his Greatsword out of the scabbard.
