D&D 3E/3.5 Monk 3.5

[the Lorax]

But you can't flurry with that reach weapon, nor can you use Weapon Finesse....

That Ftr bonus feat might be quite worthwhile, depending on the splatbooks available. But Rgr is a good idea too. I'm not convinced a Mnk is a good skill monkey, so I'm not sold that the Rgr skill points are crucial. YMMV.

The Reach weapon serves 2 primary purposes. Providing AoO as enemies approach and supplying DR penetration once you can get silver/cold iron.

OP specified Core Rulebooks only, outside of those, there are a number of feats that could prove very useful. You are correct, the Monk is not a good skill monkey, but you dont have to be a skill monkey to benefit from a large influx of skill points. 4 extra points into Spot/Search/Wilderness Survival/whatever can definately pay off. Ranger doesnt only get skill points at first level. Track and Favored Enemy are both useful (as well as having 2 good saves). Starting as a Fighter would cost you 8 skill points from just the plain Monk who has lots of skills, and probably not many skill points. I admit, I like haveing skill points. I make situations that call for skill checks as a DM.

Our group's Mnk went with the Warblade from ToB:Bo9S. He's currently Mnk 2/WB 4. It's been a reasonable build so far....we'll see how those higher level manuevers go as he progresses in Warblade. ...but that's a different thread.

Nice idea, but that's snatching the low level Monks abilities to juice up a Warblade. That will be a strong melee combatant especially if you are playing in a lower magic campaign.

 

[glass]

That should get you started being a crazy spear wielding but kicker.

Your build runs up against two contentious issues (which have probably already been mentioned in this thread but could stand restating):

1. You advocate Improved Natural Attack. There is disagreement as to whether (human) monks can qualify for it.

2. You advocate using two weapons (spear and unarmed strike), but I do not see any TWF feats on your list. Opionion is divided on whether you need to take TWF penalties just to threaten with two areas, or too attack.

Both these things have been dabted to death without much in the way of agreement several times over, but suffice it to say that the build wouldn't fly at my table*, or that of several others on these board.


glass.

(* Well, actually the reach weapon plus UA would. I allow monks (only) to threaten with both withough taking TWF penalties, but I consider it a houserule to throw monks a bone).

 

[werk]

But you can't flurry with that reach weapon,

I thought there was a feat for that somewhere. Add a weapon to the list of stuff you can flurry with. Am I dreaming?

 

[Nail]

I thought there was a feat for that somewhere. Add a weapon to the list of stuff you can flurry with.

That would be nice.

....BUt I can't find such a feat in the index. Anyone?

 

[werk]

Pole Fighting [General] DR331 pg23
Prereqs - flurry of blows and weapon focus polarm
You may flurry with chosen polearm.


Eberron CS will let you flurry with a two-bladed sword, long sword, or long spear.

 

[Nail]

The Reach weapon serves 2 primary purposes. Providing AoO as enemies approach and supplying DR penetration once you can get silver/cold iron.

Keep in mind there's a "disconnect" here in your position:

• Mnk's are good at mobility. They approach enemies from unexpected directions.
• Reach weapons are good for when the enemies approach the Mnk.

See it?

I admit, I like having skill points.

Right.

It's one of those "YMMV" issues. I like skills too...but I'll tell you, a Mnk can do fine without lots of them. Be honest with yourself about how often certain skill checks come up.

For example: How often do your PCs use the Balance, Climb, or Jump skill? How many times per meeting, on average? How does that change with PC level? Etc.

 

[Nail]

Pole Fighting [General] DR331 pg23.

Eh?

Explain abbreviation, please.




Meanwhile, this might do it:

Pole Master (Secrets of Sarlona) "Your monastic training included extensive work with pole arms."

 

[phindar]

I don't have a source either, but the monk in my group has Whirling Steel Strike, which lets him use a long sword as a monk weapon. They might be Eberron feats.

 

[Nail]

I don't have a source either, but the monk in my group has Whirling Steel Strike, which lets him use a long sword as a monk weapon. They might be Eberron feats.

Yup!

Whirling Steel Strike ECS 62 "Through monastic weapon training, you have mastered a fighting style that makes use of an unusual monk weapon: the longsword."

 

[werk]

Eh?

Explain abbreviation, please.

Meanwhile, this might do it:

Pole Master (Secrets of Sarlona) "Your monastic training included extensive work with pole arms."

I think DR is Dragon Magazine.