Dandu
First Post
Monk's handbook mentions that a Monk/Psywar is stronger than a Monk/Psifist, for what its' worth.
NEW PLAYER Monk/Psionic Class HELP
- Thread starter BENINHB
- Start date
Monk's handbook mentions that a Monk/Psywar is stronger than a Monk/Psifist, for what its' worth.
Well, technically not better BAB- I'm referring to the fact that Monks get a bonus to attacks with FoB when done with their unarmed strikes or Monk weapons.
Tilenas
Explorer
It's certainly in the eye of the beholder what constitutes a stronger character, as both have their advantages. In our case, I'd say the PsyWar's advantages are its bonus feats and status as a base class, which enables a monk to access powers at a lower level.
The PsiFist on the other hand lets a monk advance in unarmed damage, AC and speed, grants more PP/level and a new power level every other class level (faster than PsyWar at +1/3).
But in the end, they're difficult to compare because one is a base class, one a prestige class. Just looking at psionic ability, a Mnk3/PsyWar4 will be *stronger* than a Mnk6/PsiFist1, but move ahead five levels and you'll get a different picture altogether.
I just hit 6th lvl and went from Meh to OMG!!
I got improved trip, wild talent and a deep crystal Guisarme
I dont have access to powers yet but i busted out some potions of enlarge person and bulls strength last battle and OWNED EVERYTHING.
My threat area was huge and with combat reflexes I was making AoO all over the place. Trip and then full Power Attack on the follow up free attack is huge.
The Big Baddy of our last encounter tried to jump me from on top of a big statue but i Tripped him with the AoO and then Hit him with a follow up that did 2d4+2d6+16 then on my turn i 5 foot stepped and Flurried him while he was prone (read as curb stomped) for a total of 6d6+33.
This may not be too impressive compared to whats possible at lvl 6 with other builds but it is a huge jump from 1d8+1d12+6 that I had been doing with a charging flying kick up until this point.
I can only imagine whats going to happen next level when my powers come into play.
I got improved trip, wild talent and a deep crystal Guisarme
I dont have access to powers yet but i busted out some potions of enlarge person and bulls strength last battle and OWNED EVERYTHING.
My threat area was huge and with combat reflexes I was making AoO all over the place. Trip and then full Power Attack on the follow up free attack is huge.
The Big Baddy of our last encounter tried to jump me from on top of a big statue but i Tripped him with the AoO and then Hit him with a follow up that did 2d4+2d6+16 then on my turn i 5 foot stepped and Flurried him while he was prone (read as curb stomped) for a total of 6d6+33.
This may not be too impressive compared to whats possible at lvl 6 with other builds but it is a huge jump from 1d8+1d12+6 that I had been doing with a charging flying kick up until this point.
I can only imagine whats going to happen next level when my powers come into play.
Monks with Reach who can FoB with whatever they have Reach with tend to be quite nasty. They're one of the few builds likely to have the number of AoOs available to make space control viable.
Not that many- there are a couple of paths, depending upon which books you use:
1) 1 you take feats for proficiency, weap. focus and one more feat (Pole Master [PHB2] or Pole Fighter [DCv1], depending on your available sources).
(Yeah, I know that monks are feat starved...but you absolutely can't justify doing without the proficiency part. WeapFoc may be a bit of piling on, though.)
1 level in several of the warrior classes- Ftr, the OA Samurai, PsyWars, Barbarians, etc.,- and a few others like Druid or certain Clerics will get you that proficiency. Then proceed in Monk from then on.
2) OTOH, you could also take levels in the 5 level Shou Disciple PrCl, which lets you FoB with any weapon you're proficient in....and wear armor while doing it.
3) Some of the variant Base class Monks have more weapon options than the one presented in the PHB, so they may start off with a Reach weapon.
4) Some of the various sourcebooks out there add all kinds of simple, martial and exotic weapons to the game, and many of those expand the list of Monk weapons. For instance, the Longstaff in CompAdv is a monk weapon...meaning all you'd need to spend is a single feat (Exotic Weapon Proficiency). Others, like OA or Secrets of Sarlona, add several new weapons. And that's without delving into those various 3PP "armories."
5) There is a spell in the compendium that lets a weapon expand and give reach.
6) While its certainly the minority view, some (including myself) let wielders of certain oversized weapons gain the advantage of reach. That could be very good for a Half-Giant or Goliath monk...
1) 1 you take feats for proficiency, weap. focus and one more feat (Pole Master [PHB2] or Pole Fighter [DCv1], depending on your available sources).
(Yeah, I know that monks are feat starved...but you absolutely can't justify doing without the proficiency part. WeapFoc may be a bit of piling on, though.)
1 level in several of the warrior classes- Ftr, the OA Samurai, PsyWars, Barbarians, etc.,- and a few others like Druid or certain Clerics will get you that proficiency. Then proceed in Monk from then on.
2) OTOH, you could also take levels in the 5 level Shou Disciple PrCl, which lets you FoB with any weapon you're proficient in....and wear armor while doing it.
3) Some of the variant Base class Monks have more weapon options than the one presented in the PHB, so they may start off with a Reach weapon.
4) Some of the various sourcebooks out there add all kinds of simple, martial and exotic weapons to the game, and many of those expand the list of Monk weapons. For instance, the Longstaff in CompAdv is a monk weapon...meaning all you'd need to spend is a single feat (Exotic Weapon Proficiency). Others, like OA or Secrets of Sarlona, add several new weapons. And that's without delving into those various 3PP "armories."
5) There is a spell in the compendium that lets a weapon expand and give reach.
6) While its certainly the minority view, some (including myself) let wielders of certain oversized weapons gain the advantage of reach. That could be very good for a Half-Giant or Goliath monk...
What race?
If Eberron campaign (and secrets of Sarlonna is basically for Kalashtar which are a psionic race already).
If a Kalashtar then go with soulknife using the racial substitution levels from Races of Eberron and then the Atavist prestige class.
In fact I believe that Atavist requires either soulknife or monk levels but not both)
If Eberron campaign (and secrets of Sarlonna is basically for Kalashtar which are a psionic race already).
If a Kalashtar then go with soulknife using the racial substitution levels from Races of Eberron and then the Atavist prestige class.
In fact I believe that Atavist requires either soulknife or monk levels but not both)
As I recall, you're correct about Atavists.
