Min/Max Crossbow Monk/Ranger Concept

[Iron_Chef]

I wanna build a medieval Tetragrammaton Cleric from the movie EQUILIBRIUM, which is kinda like THE MATRIX, only better. The "clerics" practice a type of martial art known as "gunkata" (gun-fu). Anyway, they leap, tumble, punch, kick, and shoot enemies in an amazing blur of speed based on mathematical projections of optimal placement of self and weapon in any given area. I want a combination super cop/bounty hunter/killing machine.

I want to use two repeating hand crossbows (Plot & Poison) and blade boots (FRCS) as my primary ranged and melee attack modes.

Levels of Monk are a must, but I feel the need to multiclass to truly complete my character concept. So I'm also looking at taking a few levels of Ranger (PHB), Mercenary Ranger, Hunter (both AEG's Mercenaries), or a (crossbow modified rather than pistol) Highwayman (Swashbuckling Adventures). Possibly taking some PrC levels in Assassin, Shadowdancer or Horizon Walker later, with the end goal being a tweaked Arcane Archer (human using crossbows). All cleared with DM, who is also letting me use crossbows with my flurry of blows.

What is the optimal way to min/max this concept? What feats to get first?

I want to utterly devastate my opponents, LOL. How important is sneak attack to this character? I plan on using lots of poison and unorthodox ammunition for my bolts. I want to leap into battle, using ranged and melee attacks against the same foe if necessary without provoking AoO's and threatening as many squares as possible around me. I know there are some feats in various sources that allow this, most of which I have but have yet to go through with a fine tooth comb.

Is Improved Grapple or Stunning Fist a better choice for this character's free monk feat at 1st level?

Ability Scores: S 16, D 18, C 15, I 12, W 16, Ch 14 (yes, I rolled this in front of my DM!)

 

[Darklone]

Woah.

Well... It's too much splatbook goodness for me...

But you'll definitely need something to boost damage, be it weapon specialisation, Point Blank Shot, additional attacks with TWF or Rapid Shot, sneak attack damage or Favoured Enemy damage bonus.

To be true, I'd rather build my own PrClass for such a smacking goodness case.

 

[Magic Slim]

I wanna build a medieval Tetragrammaton Cleric from the movie EQUILIBRIUM, which is kinda like THE MATRIX, only better.

Whoa, watch it buddy are you serious?

As for the problem at hand, Darklone has a good suggestion. If you have a really clear concept in mind, and if your DM will give you the lattitude to use that many books in order to attain your concept, it'd probably be better (and more satisfying) to build your own Prestige Class.

Slim

 

[The Souljourner]

Sounds umm... interesting. But I definitely think you should make your own prestige class. In general, I'm in favor of only one or maybe two prestige classes (for special cases - a dwarf fighter/paladin going into templar and dwarven defender seems perfectly fine to me).

However, you've mentioned no less than seven PrCs.. and that's way too many.

However, it sounds like you're playing in a fairly high powered campaign, so maybe anything goes. The character concept is yours... it sounds like you already know what you want to do. My recommendation is to make a chart of levels 1-20 and plan out exactly how you'll take classes and feats and skills. If you have a definite end in mind, that's the best way to make sure you qualify for all prestige classes and don't take a feat at the wrong time and screw up your progression..

-The Souljourner

 

[Iron_Chef]

Aha! Problem solved!

Dragon #310's Variant Monk article was what I needed. It has variant fighting style concepts for the PHB Monk (and all other fighting classes), and its "Cobra Strike" style was perfect for my character concept. Taking the "Cobra Strike" Style and "Hunter Monk" option (gives Ranger's favored enemy to monk) from Dragon #310 and then multiclassing with a crossbow (rather than pistol) oriented Highwayman core class from SWASHBUCKLING ADVENTURES seems to fill my core class needs. From there, a modified Hopken Crossbowman PrC from SWASHBUCKLING ADVENTURES (increases critica multiplier and threat range of crossbows!) is pretty much everything I want. Now, I am not faced with a mess created by numerous multiclassing and/or PrCs, all without having to create my own PrC or core class. Phew!

Thanks for the suggestions my post generated, even though I ended up (accidentally) finding the answer myself when I picked up Dragon #310 and looked through the PrCs in SWASHBUCKLING ADVENTURES.

We're doing an Imperial Rome variant (using Sembia from FR and the fantastic STREETS OF SILVER for the city of Saerloon), and my character is the son of a famous gladiator known for his unorthodox fighting style, who disapproves of my integration of missile weapons into "his" style. We played it Saturday and I won my first "Capture The Flag" free-for-all Tournament (barely!). I took out an injured barbarian with my crossbow and drop-kicked a lizard woman out of the arena, LOL. The concept shows a lot of promise as a "run-n-gun" type, but maybe as I level I can kick butt more hand to hand. As for now, I like to keep as much distance as possible between me and my opponents (that lizard woman took away half my 10 hit points in one claw attack!).

On a sidenote, I couldn't believe what a quality issue Dragon #310 was. We get so few "nearly all useful content" issues, IMO.

 

[The Souljourner]

BTW, thought I'd say that I just watched Equilibrium based solely on your assertion that it was better than the Matrix. It was definitely awesome, and I can totally see why you wanted to make a character like that. However, I do still think the Matrix was better - the plot and originality of the story were amazing (yeah, I know, Dark City).... Equilibrium was way too dramatic in parts. Not that drama is a bad thing, but it got a little slow in the first half of the movie. Of course, the action totally rocked.

Now as for your guy, I think you need to take fighter to 12th to get enough feats to be a Grammatron Cleric... that is if you want two weapon fighting and all the ranged feats and the weapon improving feats... actually, you need until about 15th level, by my calculations. And I am still in favor of making your own class. it'll give you exactly what you want, and it's no less "core" than PrCs you find online or in Dragon magazine.

However, you're free to do whatever you wish, of course.

Glad to hear you've started and done pretty well.

-The Souljourner

 

[Iron_Chef]

BTW, thought I'd say that I just watched Equilibrium based solely on your assertion that it was better than the Matrix. It was definitely awesome, and I can totally see why you wanted to make a character like that. However, I do still think the Matrix was better - the plot and originality of the story were amazing (yeah, I know, Dark City).... Equilibrium was way too dramatic in parts. Not that drama is a bad thing, but it got a little slow in the first half of the movie. Of course, the action totally rocked.

I liked THE MATRIX (not so much the boring, overblown sequel), but I think EQUILIBRIUM is the more important film, because of its message and warning for the future. The events in EQUILIBRIUM could (eventually) happen, whereas THE MATRIX is much less probable.

As for 15 levels of fighter, LOL, that is exactly what I'm trying to avoid. I've never gone the monk route once in 20 years of playing D&D. So, I'm into trying something new this time out. I don't need an exact reproduction of the Equilibrium character, and I certainly don't want to wait 12-15 levels to get there, LOL. Who knows how long the campaign will last?

 

[Thanee]

Did you check Psionic Feats? Psionic Charge, Up the Wall and that stuff?

When I read about those feats I certainly thought of The Matrix first, and if this movie you mentioned is similar in style, then it might be something you could use for the concept you have in mind.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Iron_Chef]

Did you check Psionic Feats? Psionic Charge, Up the Wall and that stuff?

When I read about those feats I certainly thought of The Matrix first, and if this movie you mentioned is similar in style, then it might be something you could use for the concept you have in mind.

Bye
Thanee

Thanks for the tip. I forgot about those... wasn't planning on running a psionic or magic-using character, though, but I'll take a look.

 

[Scion]

I will also have to put in my plug for useing some of the psionic feats Take the first two levels of psychic warrior, you will get 2 psionic feats along with a few powers to help round out your character (talk with the dm about making appropriate powers perhaps, I know that catfall will work well.. immune to trips!)

With those two psionic feats you should be able to get a good start on the additional abilities you need.. I have no idea how your character will look up to level 20 or so, but the psychic warrior is fun you could probably even do just him instead of the monk..lol