Tweak my Monk

[Wolf72]

not here to help actually ... I wasn't paying attention and I saw "Tweak" and thought immediately of the southpark caffiene addict (twitch?) ...

then thought, name your monk Tweak!

okay ... I'm going back to my padded kennel now

 

[barsoomcore]

Grapple Mastery?

So I wanted a grappling monk and came up with a homebrew Mastery which, due to my complete lack of imagination, I called Grapple Mastery. Does this seem broken or out of line to anyone?

Grapple Mastery
Requirements: Improved Unarmed Attack, Stunning Fist, Choke Hold, Fists of Iron, Improved Grapple, Earth's Embrace
Benefit: gain a +2 competency bonus on all grapple checks.

It just gives a stronger advantage to want to close with the enemy and start rasslin'

 

[Ashtal]

HEE, and I was only gonna tweak the Monk's nose, but I've been outdone before I even started!

 

[Jeph]

I haven't played many monks, but I played a rogue with a spidermonky once, which was very useful. It's like a cute little at will mage hand spell-like ability that can also spit and hiss.

 

[Morose]

That feat seems completely fine barsoomcore. Especially given the reqs.

 

[Dremen]

I would give it a +4 grappling check personaly. Basically you grapple like a creature 1 size cat larger.

As the soonest a monk could take this is 9th level it seems balanced

 

[Ferret]

Chain...

Not sure if this is a chain as such.

Dodge
Mobility
Spring attack
Combat reflexes
Defensive throw
Mantis leap.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

I almost never allow dfensive throw into the game, and I'd never take it. The amount of dice rolling it can bring to the game can slow things to a crawl.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

I played a 1/2 orc monk who I really enjoyed. This was before we had OA though. My feats were power attack, cleave, combat reflexes by 6th then at 9th I took expert tactian. At 12th I took weapon focus unarmed. Then again I started with a 20 str so power attack, cleave really seemed to fit the concept.

 

[Gizzard]

This monks stats will be WIS 16 STR 16 DEX 12.

Well, if you lurked in the "Monk Sucks" thread then you know the standard response to that stat layout: "Why not just go ahead and be a Fighter or Barbarian and put your WIS points into something else useful instead?"

Actually, thinking about it again, since you are going the Fighter STR route, I'm not sure it makes much difference whether you leave your DEX or your WIS low. Saying that you keep your AC even if surprised doesnt matter much when your AC starts around 14. ;-) Personally, I chose to max DEX because it fit my mental image of what a Monk does; it boosted my Balance-Tumble style skills. There are a lot of subtle plusses and minuses here; DEX or WIS is probably equally viable.

I will be curious what you think of your Monk, whatever way you make him.

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Addendum: I finished FoF after the "Monk Sucks" thread died off, so I dont think I've mentioned the final battle from a Monks perspective or my current thoughts on going to 6th level. In short, 1) I'm really excited about being 6th level, hopefully the increase in power will bring me closer to the regular frontline Fighters, 2) --- SPOILERS for FoF -- --- SPOILERS for FoF -- --- SPOILERS for FoF -- --- SPOILERS for FoF -- --- SPOILERS for FoF -- --- SPOILERS for FoF -- --- SPOILERS for FoF -- Is there anything in the last half of that module that doesnt have at least DR5? Good lord, the FoF is a bad place to take a Monk. Ugh.