Looking for some Build Suggestions (Monk)

[jarlaxlecq]

Ok so i gearing up for a campaign that a friend of mine is DMing. I've been posting things asking for suggestions and everyones been very helpful. I've found out a little bit more about the campaign so heres where we stand at the moment

The Campaign is going to in the FRs in the Silver Marches. We're using a House ruled point buy system, simply 32 points assigned in whatever fashion we want. We start at level 1 and can pick any race even a ECL+1 or +2 one. We still start at level 1 we just take longer to level up.

4 of us plus 1 unnamed NPC

1 guy is going to be a Halfing Rogue, of that hes sure
1 guy is thinking of being a Gensai Sorc. (Fire im assuming)
1 guy is unknown as to what hes going to be

then there is me.
I've taked before about being the tank of the unit, either as a fighter or Barb or Paladin. But i'm thinking maybe I should keep my mind open about what class i should play. I don't want to play a mage or heavy spellcaster as i did that in the last few games and am looking for a change of pace. I was thinking maybe a Monk or a Ranger, something that can fight but allows some flexability in terms of sneaking around. Can someone with a little more experiance suggest a good Monk build with the criteria given

32 points directly applied to 8s in all the stats
any race so long as its ECL+2 or lower.
Starting lvl 1 (but give an idea how you'd level them up.)

 

[MarauderX]

You could copy my monk if you would like. Essentially he is going the self-reliant route.
1st - Fighter, for the extra feat, Max HP at 1st level, and your party needs a meat shield early on.
2nd - Fighter, again for the extra feat, BAB and HP. Work the feats so that you aren't wasting any for you monk levels later on.
3rd - Wizard. This is the only wizard level, but will come in more handy when you cast Mage Armor & Enlarge on yourself, as well as the other extras like Flare, Dancing Lights, True Strike, Prestidigitation, etc. Plus, get a familiar and now you can scribe scrolls in case the spells you memoried aren't the ones you now need.
4th - Monk. You shed the armor and your AC drops... which is why you need Mage Armor more than ever. Your damage will be weaker as well, but you get to use flurry of blows and stunning fist to make up for it, well kinda.
5th and on - Monk. Again, just keep building on the monk and the damage, speed and feats will add up to go for what you need, whether it's a Str or Dex based monk.

These stats are what I have for my 7th level monk build, followed by what I would suggest based on encounters. I went for the feats from OA, and got Great Throw; thing is, his lower Str kinda hinders him vs. fighter-type opponents. But using 3.5 rules and flurry of blows, with a full round attack he makes 2 attempts to throw someone, and if they try to stand he gets the AoO with Combat Reflexes. The Int=14 is necessary if you are looking for Expertise, which is a pre-req for many of the cooler feats. Later (9th level) he will be getting Grappling Block.

Str: 14 16
Dex: 14 14
Con: 12 12
Int: 14 14
Wis: 16 14
Cha: 8 8

As a suggestion, you may want to start building around the Spring attack feat, as your movement may be a deciding factor in many a fight in the future. Moving 40' per round really helps; add on the fact you can move before and after your attack, you can move into position to jump people or cast a spell the next round. Plus it could make for an interesting character change when your armor clad fighter-mage sheds it all and goes into combat unarmed. Imagine the shock on the other players, let alone any BBEG that has been harassing the party since level 1.

Keep in mind the extra feats are really the bonus to this build - use them wisely to get the extra goodies for your monk that you might not have otherwise had access to.

 

[James McMurray]

If the Book of Exalted Deeds is allowed, definiely go Good. Ifs its a low-normal magic level game go for the Vow of Poverty ASAP.

Feats:
Stunning Fist and Ability Focus (Stunning Fist). Couple it with the exalted feat for stunning fists and Touch of Golden Ice if itsallowed.

Focus mainly on wisdom (AC, saves, and stun DC) and strength (to hit and damage). Secondary stats should be dexterity and constitution.

If the BoED is alowed, don't neglect charisma too much. There are a couple of nice Exalted feats that require a decent charisma.

For feats I'd get Stunning Fist and Ability focus (stunning fist).

Later feats would depend on what direction the campaign took.

 

[Darklone]

Ohhhh, a Monk tank. That's a challenge.

We had one Ftr1/Monk5. Not exactly a tank, but a Spring Attacking polearm fighter. The polearm helped a lot with his low AC and even lower hitpoints, while the monk specials worked nicely against ranged attacks (the normal spring attackers death).

A few things: Con 12 is too low for a tank. Silly as it may seem, one of the most successful monks I've ever seen was a high strength, high con halforc monk. But he never had to go toe to toe with a Power Attacking barbarian.

 

[jarlaxlecq]

Feats:
Stunning Fist and Ability Focus (Stunning Fist). Couple it with the exalted feat for stunning fists and Touch of Golden Ice if itsallowed.

Focus mainly on wisdom (AC, saves, and stun DC) and strength (to hit and damage). Secondary stats should be dexterity and constitution.

If the BoED is alowed, don't neglect charisma too much. There are a couple of nice Exalted feats that require a decent charisma.

For feats I'd get Stunning Fist and Ability focus (stunning fist).

Later feats would depend on what direction the campaign took.

BoED is allowed, though i'd need to pick up a copy of it. Where is Ability Focus? I see skill forcus and spell focus but no Ability focus, is it in a differant book?

 

[James McMurray]

Ability focus is in the MM. Its only requiement is special attack, so monks qualify for it.

 

[Wippit Guud]

Assuming it's all 'by the book', Improved Trip... cause getting back up is an AoO, and you just trip the guy again.

There's a feat in OA (which escapes me) that lets you get an attack if oppoents miss an AoO, take thay, mobility et al... just run around drawing all the AoOs for the group.

 

[TracerBullet42]

I played a half-ogre monk once...he was a force to be reckoned with. High strength, high constitution. Large size unarmed damage. Reach...

He was a tripping and pinning madman...

Much to the chagrin of the dwarven barbarian in the party. hehehe...those two loved to wrestle. Poor little dwarf...

 

[LGodamus]

you might wanna look at githzerai for the race of your monk since that is what the race is designed for that +6 dex is nice and they get a bonus to wis as well...you ac will be awesome

 

[jarlaxlecq]

you might wanna look at githzerai for the race of your monk since that is what the race is designed for that +6 dex is nice and they get a bonus to wis as well...you ac will be awesome

where are they from? savage species?