Monk/Paladin help...

[two]

Honestly, Monks take a lot of work

Even with good stats, a 10th level monk takes a LOT of work to make decent.

If you would be happy with a paladin, I'd say stick with a paladin.

Much easier build, incredibly powerful with those stats.

Str: 18; dex: 16; con: 18; Int: 14; Wis: 16; Cha: 18 (20)

At 10th level, bring the Charisma up to 20 with inherent boosts. Get a +4 to Ch. and +2 to strength item. Also a +2 to Con and +2 to Wisdom item. Affordable, particularly if a pal makes them. Resulting in:

Str: 20; dex: 16; con: 20; Int: 14; Wis: 18; Cha: 24

I mean, what's not to like? The paladin's saves will be insanely good -- fail only on a 1-2, most of the time. I'm talking, Crazy Good.

Damage output with the high strength and Charisma-related feats -- ouch!

Do the spirited charge+smite thing, or whatever. Really, you can't go wrong. Your AC will be nice too with a dex. of 16 and mithril armor of some type. And you even have skill points! C'mon. Don't sneeze at a 20 con. either. Might even take a ranged weapon feat, how is that for goofy?

That's my take on it. Straightforward, fun, can be very damage-optimized, but also has no real weaknesses. What's not to love?

 

[Plane Sailing]

Also, I'm not trying to combine a monk and paladin, those are just the 2 classes I would like to try, one or the other. Also, multiclassing isn't a restriction.

Considering this information in your original request, I'd like to give an option for a straight human paladin with the following stat arrangement (both bonus points on Charisma)

st 18
De 14
Co 18
In 14
Wi 16
Ch 20

One of the feats would be leadership, from the point of view of having your bonded mount as cohort too (IIRC there are rules in the DMG for this, I couldn't see them in a quick glance at the SRD). Something which you can ride but which is also an intelligent ally.

Basic skill ranks
Diplomacy 13
Ride 13
Sense Motive 13
Handle Animal 5
Knowledge (religion) 5
Knowledge (nobility & royalty) 5
Concentration 8
Heal 3


Basic feats I'd go for:
1st Expertise
1st Improved Disarm (to help you take people prisoner)
3rd Mounted Combat
6th leadership
9th Divine Power (the one that lets you add +cha bonus to damage for 1 rd)

Magic items:
49,400gp total
10,650gp +2 full plate with light fortification
4,170gp +2 large shield
4,000gp cloak of charisma +2
4,000gp ring of deflection +2
18,330gp holy longsword +1
750gp wand of cure light wounds
2,000gp Hewards Handy Haversack
1,000gp Phylactery of faithfulness
4,500gp Circlet of persuasion

Total AC is 27 = 10 +10 (magic full plate) +4 (magic shield) +1 (dex) +2 (ring) and he can improve this to up to AC32 by using expertise.

He attacks with his longsword at +15/+10 for 1d8+5, +2d6 against evil creatures. Each round he activates his divine might feat he gets another +6 to hit and damage on the attacks during the round. When he smites evil he gets another +6 hit and +10 damage on a single attack.

His typical spells prepared:
1st level
Bless Weapon
either Divine Favour or Protection from Evil

2nd level
Bulls Strength
Eagles Splendour or Zone of Truth


Any good for you?

 

[Piratecat]

I see those stats and think 'these guys aren't serious.'

That's the equivalent of a 74 point buy. If this guy isn't king of the world by 5th level, I'm going to be knocking on the door and demanding to know why.

 

[Darklone]

That's the equivalent of a 74 point buy. If this guy isn't king of the world by 5th level, I'm going to be knocking on the door and demanding to know why.

You should see his elder brother.

 

[Plane Sailing]

I wrote a little excel sheet that rolled 30 sets of characters using 4d6 drop lowest with each recalc, and highlighted scores of 17 or 18 in particular colours. I could get someone with two 18's in every 90 characters 'rolled' or so, but in a dozen test runs I never got anyone with three 18's.

This was purely a mathematical exercise you understand

 

[Darren Ravenshaw]

I knew a player who would roll stats like those almost all the time(using 4d6 method), and all the rolls were in front of the group. Using his dice, my dice, the DM's dice, it didn't matter.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Stats I rolled was: 18, 18, 18, 16, 16, 14

By the Shadow's Dark Mask!!

Some questions about that.

1. Did you cheat? ;-)
2. How did you roll? (e.g. 3d6, 6 times, 4d6, drop lowest, 12 times, take the best 6...)
3. How often did you roll?
and
4. Did you really not cheat? ;-)

 

[the_bruiser]

...I'd like to give an option for a straight human paladin ...AC is 27...up to AC32 by using expertise...longsword at +15/+10 for 1d8+5, +2d6 against evil creatures.

Any good for you?

Here's what I suggest. I've munchkinned this guy about 75%; there are certain lines I won't cross .

He's a monk, mostly. AC 25, 30 with expertise. Flurry for +18/+18/+13 for d10+10. Movement rate 50. 96 HP. So he's pretty good, I guess.

Let me know (starter or anyone) if you can't see excel and need text.

 

[the_bruiser]

To: Sailing, 'Cat, and KaeYoss - Glad it wasn't just me. I can't help it, I know people play different ways, I just have a negative gut-check to those stats.

 

[Cerowyn]

I presume with all this ridiculous munchkin nonsense, no one's forgetting that both monks and paladins can no longer gain levels if they take a level in another primary class.