Tweak my Monk

[ForceUser]

Here is a monk made with a 28 point-buy:

HAN WOO

Male human (Viet-Xiao) Monk 2: CR 2; Size M (5 ft., 8 in. tall); HD 2d8+4; hp 17; Init +2 (+2 Dex); Spd 30 ft.; AC 14 (+2 Dex, +2 Wis); Attack +3 unarmed strike or bang (Chinese quarterstaff), or +1/+1 flurry of blows unarmed strike or bang, or +4 masterwork jiann (Tai chi sword), or +2/+2 flurry of blows masterwork jiann, or +3 shuriken; SV Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +5; AL LN; Str 14, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10.

Languages Spoken: Viet.

Skill points: Monk 25
Skills and feats/abilities: Balance +6, Climb +6, Hide +6, Jump +6, Move silently +6, Tumble +7; Choke hold, [Deflect arrows], [Evasion], [Flurry of blows], Improved grapple, [Improved unarmed strike], [Stunning fist].

Possessions of note: Masterwork jiann crafted by renowned weaponsmith Lin Me Mao, black monk's sash (meaning "blindness").

He's no gimpier than any other level 2 PC, for the record.

 

[Dremen]

How do you like playing this monks feat choices? Do you find that grappling is effective? How often does choke hold come into the picture?

-D

 

[Thanee]

Going high Strength is a lot better than high Dexterity for a Monk!

Our Monk has that blinding strike feat (dunno the name right now, from OA), which is quite nasty!

My poor Githyanki Psychic Warrior/Soulknife NPC was blinded for the whole combat...

But I revenged me later, when my Arcane Trickster Polymorph Any Object'ed an incredibly nasty Air Elemental into a plain old rock, when the Monk-player was DM'ing... Muahahaha!

Well, actually those two events were completely unrelated, but thinking about it now and comparing them is funny!

Bye
Thanee

 

[stefantb]

The monk which I have played in a campaign since 3E was released, who by the way, has not died once and is now 20th level took the following feats.

Weapon Finesse (Unarmed), Improved Initiative, Blind-fighting, Blindsight 5' Radius, Improved Grapple, Combat Reflexes, Close Quarters Fighting, Circle Kick.

Not the feats everyone would select, but he is definately a threat to be reckoned with.

 

[Plane Sailing]

If you (and your DM) would consider including some other feats which are not from WotC sources, you might find some of the ones on my website interesting - such as Circle Kick, Jump Kick, Scissors Kick and others. When linked with OA feats such as Roundabout Kick and Flying Kick you could have an interesting monk who has an entirely kicking style of combat.

You will find them towards the bottom of my feats page
http://www.starguild.freeserve.co.uk/frp/kyri_feats.htm

Cheers

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Using OA feats.

chain 1: improved grapple, earths embrace, choke hold.

chain 2: unbalancing strike, improved initiative, expert tactician.

Both of these chains focus on aspects the monk is good well suited for.

I like the way you think.

The grapple route is extremely effective when you go up against M-sized humanoid opponents that are not notably physically tougher than you. Because your unarmed attacks are effective and they are probably disarmed, you are at a big advantage. This tactic works poorly against monstrous creatures; they are likely to be completely armed in a grapple, and often stronger and/or larger than you.

The second route is more flexible. Unbalancing Strike sounds questionable against monstrous opponents, but the other two feats are still reasonable enough. Expert Tactician has Combat Reflexes as a prereq BTW.

I would go with the first route if you expect your principal enemies will be humanoids, the second for a campaign with lots of monstrous opponents.

 

[Dremen]

Thanks for letting me know about the pre req. on Expert Tac. Change teh feat chain form I.I. to C.R.

-D