Multi-classing the monk

Nifft · Jan 16, 2003

Monk/Druid is an awesome idea -- consider it stolen

Monk/PsiWarrior had occured to me, but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. It seems like it would be a very good fit.

Monk/Shadowdancer might be interesting, too.

-- Nifft

Psion · Jan 16, 2003

francisca said:
Has anyone here taken the multi-class restriction off the monk in your campaign?

Yes, I think they are stupid. I use conventions by deity/order similar to FR.

As for effects in the game: most have not found that deviating from single class monk or paladin is especially abusive. Someone that his sorcerer/paladin was going to be hot stuff, but it really wasn't all of a big deal. One player was very dissatisfied with his monk/fighter, and retooled him as a straight monk. Finally, we had one monk/psy warrior that did not seem abusive at all.

Arnwyn · Jan 16, 2003

Of course not. I like flavor rules.

BigFreekinGoblinoid · Jan 16, 2003

Monk/Psychic Warrior was featured as an offical WotC option in Dragon Magazine 281.

Besides - Mike Mearls says you can do it ( Psionics Toolkit from Fiery Dragon ). If its good enough for Mike, it's good enough for me!

I'm playing one now in a FR Campaign and it's a really great ( and natural ) combo.

Also, FYI : Monks in OA do NOT have multiclass restrictions

Remember - some "flavors" just... taste bad.

francisca · Jan 16, 2003

Thanks for the feedback guys!

CrusadeDave · Jan 16, 2003

Pal/Mnk/Sor

I'm currently playing a Pal1/Mnk1/Sor X.

My saves are nice, but I'm nowhere nere the power of our level Wizard X+2. When he was casting level 3 spells, I was still playing with Magic Missile.

Mostly I get used as a decoy, due to my High AC, Extremely high Saves, and the fact that I look like a caster, to draw attention away from the Wizard. I also am the back up artillery, and eventually I'll be used as the escape plan, when I have some teleport spells, to get the party out of trouble when everyone but me fails their saving throws.

Acmite · Jan 17, 2003

Zerovoid said:
Taking one level of Monk might be attractive, since you get +2 to all your saves, and wisdom bonus to AC, but neither of these benefits is worth trading off a point of BAB or losing a spellcasting level, IMHO.

Hmmm...I'm not sure I agree with you on this. For some casters (particularly arcane casters), I agree with you. They gain basically nothing for a tremndous loss.

But, many classes can benefit from receiving such a large package up front by multi-classing with a monk. Druids get the Wis bonus to AC while wildshaped, which makes the "big cats" a viable wildshape option. A +2 bonus to all your saves is at least as good as 1, probably 2, feats--and I'd place a +1 BAB as about 1.5 feats (better than Weapon Focus, but not better than PBS and Rapid Shot, or Expertise and Improved X), wich is good for any class.

Rogues can benefit from the unarmed damage and stunning attack, nevermind the decent skill synergy.

Most clerics probably wouldn't benefit from this, and would be better off taking teh unarmed combat feat if they want to do a lot of touch attack like inflict.

That's my view on it, anyway.

Storminator · Jan 17, 2003

Nifft said:
Monk/Druid is an awesome idea -- consider it stolen

Monk/PsiWarrior had occured to me, but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. It seems like it would be a very good fit.

Monk/Shadowdancer might be interesting, too.

-- Nifft

I've been angling my monk towards Shadowdancer. It'll be a while until I get there (my DM thought it would be cool to give us templates as a divine favor, and I'll be paying off the CR bump in XP for a while), but I'm quite looking forward to stepping out of Hide in Plain Sight and stunning fisting people.

Some of my template powers stack with this as well, and it'll all be good.

PS