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Monk-Duelist
- Thread starter MarauderX
- Start date
MarauderX
Explorer
Shallown said:
Really, this is my goal as well for the fighter/monk I am developing. Feats I am taking or will take:
Expertise (add BAB to AC),
Grappling Block (turns attackers hit into being possibly disarmed),
Defensive Strike (if attacker misses, can immediately strike w/ bonuses), and
Deflect Arrows (Reflex save, DC=20).
There are some useful prereq feats in there, like Combat Reflexes, but I hope to have a tumbling PC that can't be attacked without repercussions. With a monk's low HP, he's gotta make them hurt every chance he can.
I can forsee a Duelist-monk...forsaker... in my future. With the above stats I would have every ability bonus applied to his AC.
Oh, and I forgot the monk AC bonus he would get at 5th level (+1) before he would take up the Duelist. Granted it makes for a typically weaker AC compared to the front-line tanks but could get all of those bonuses just for weilding a kitchen knife, making him the worst naked prisoner anyone could capture.
MarauderX said:
Could you post a build? I'd like to compare it with the Swashbuckling Rogue I posted here a while ago. He has an AC of 30 unarmored, but I used splatbooks.
Andargor
MarauderX
Explorer
andargor said:
I worked on it over here. Nice Swashbuckling Rogue, btw.
Basically, it's a 4th level Fighter 2/Monk 2 using 3.0 and a 32 point-buy. I took fighter to get the extra feats at the low levels, and switching to Monk allowed me to pick up Unarmed strike and Deflect Arrows for 'free'.
As a human with those classes, he got 5 feats to choose, so I started going after the feats needed for Grappling Block from Oriental Adventures (not sure what the prereqs are, no books in front of me...) but I think they are Expertise, Combat Reflexes, and Improved Disarm. With the two left, I took Weapon Finesse: Unarmed to use the Dex in melee, and am still debating what to do with the last feat. I was thinking Iron Fist for the extra damage, but then again I want to go for Defensive Strike as well, so I may go that route.
MarauderX said:
Looks good. I did have the same thought about using a lot of ability/class combinations to get better AC. However, you need to have very good scores in at least three abilities, and Int, Wis or Cha in a combat-oriented character is not as effective as Str, Dex or Con (except for the skill points for Tumble and such, or better Will saves, etc.).
So I try to go the "more feats" route. Call me a splatbook junkie
Andargor
Last edited:
MarauderX
Explorer
Some last minute changes I think I am going to go with...
Since the campaign is low-magic, I have been toying with the idea of adding a level of Wiz into the mix for some easy 1st level spells that will help more than anything else. I still love the Grappling Block, and have developed a plan to get it at 6th level.
Again, this is a 4th level build, 32 point-buy, with +1 at 4th level.
Fighter2/Monk1/Wiz1
Str 10, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 8.
HP: 17-36, average ~25 (was ~27). AC: 16 (see below) BAB: +2 (was +3)
Fort: +6, Reflex +5, Will +7. (was +6/+6/+6)
Feats: Weapon Finesse (unarmed strike), Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Improved Disarm, Iron Fist. From monk: Improved unarmed strike, stunning fist.
5th level: pick up a level in Monk, get Deflect Arrows free.
6th level: another level in Monk, get Grappling Block.
Advantages of a level in Wiz:
At Int=14, he gets an extra spell at 1st level, and 3 cantrips. Spells known: Mage Armor. Magic Missle. Summon Critter. + cantrips (prestidigitation, flare, dancing lights, ray of frost)
With mage armor in battle he would have a +4 to his AC, total=20, making him so much tougher to hit. You can't ask for much more throughout the levels, and I can see this monk casting it on himself at 20th level before tumbling into the mix.
I was considering Dodge and Defensive Strike to really pump up the AC, but I will save that for future levels.
Since the campaign is low-magic, I have been toying with the idea of adding a level of Wiz into the mix for some easy 1st level spells that will help more than anything else. I still love the Grappling Block, and have developed a plan to get it at 6th level.
Again, this is a 4th level build, 32 point-buy, with +1 at 4th level.
Fighter2/Monk1/Wiz1
Str 10, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 17, Cha 8.
HP: 17-36, average ~25 (was ~27). AC: 16 (see below) BAB: +2 (was +3)
Fort: +6, Reflex +5, Will +7. (was +6/+6/+6)
Feats: Weapon Finesse (unarmed strike), Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Improved Disarm, Iron Fist. From monk: Improved unarmed strike, stunning fist.
5th level: pick up a level in Monk, get Deflect Arrows free.
6th level: another level in Monk, get Grappling Block.
Advantages of a level in Wiz:
At Int=14, he gets an extra spell at 1st level, and 3 cantrips. Spells known: Mage Armor. Magic Missle. Summon Critter. + cantrips (prestidigitation, flare, dancing lights, ray of frost)
With mage armor in battle he would have a +4 to his AC, total=20, making him so much tougher to hit. You can't ask for much more throughout the levels, and I can see this monk casting it on himself at 20th level before tumbling into the mix.
I was considering Dodge and Defensive Strike to really pump up the AC, but I will save that for future levels.
MarauderX
Explorer
Tellerve said:
Using 3.0, a human's favored class is his highest class in levels. With this PC build, the idea is not to go back to wizard or fighter levels and just advance in Monk, which means he would only take a penalty if he raised a level in fighter (why bother, really) or 3 in Wizard (no real reason to keep going with that either, as Int=14, his spells aren't too vicious, but only possibly utilitarian).
