VoP and Monk

[abri]

The only way VOP can be powerfull is in the hand of a druid (or any other class that can change shape really). Otherwise, even though the bonuses looks like the'd cost a fortune in gear to get. they could be obtained with a smart selection of gear.
For any melee character the loss of energy/holy weapons really restruct their damage, and the loss of gear harmstring AC.
For any caster the loss of metamagic rods, wands and scrolls is murder.
Now on a sentinel of Barhai (BOED) or a druid... You end up with forms that makes pit fiends and balor cry for their mommies...

 

[rowport]

I am playing a Vow of Poverty (and Peace) Monk, currently at level 12. He is *not* overpowered. If anything, he is much weaker than the rest of the party-- even beyond the roleplaying restrictions, characters have some pretty darn powerful items at higher level.

The VoP Monk is very tough to hurt in melee, but spells can still ruin his day quickly. And, his defense is much, much, much stronger than his offense. Think of taking the normal attributes of the Monk class (strong defense, weak offense) and then exaggerating that like crazy.

That said, really playing the traits of the Vows makes a fun character to play. Just try to find alternative ways to be useful than combat, like rescuing nearby innocents.

 

[rafzic]

Well in that case I'm quessing he's going for pretty high-powered campaign. And it could mean that your friend's monk might even find himself being underbalanced with the rest of the group in higher levels. And doesn't that mean he has scores of 10, 18, 10, 10, 18, 10. Which means he will definetly be underbalanced.

With 76 stat points he can have 18, 18, 18, 14, 18, 14 not 10, 18, 10, 10, 18, 10

 

[shilsen]

With 76 stat points he can have 18, 18, 18, 14, 18, 14 not 10, 18, 10, 10, 18, 10

It's 76 stat points, not point buy (or so it sounds). WHich means your six ability scores add up to a total of 76.

 

[Dimwhit]

I have a VoP Monk. As far as power level with the group, he's on par. Tough to hit, but fairly routine with everything else. But he's one of my favorite characters to role play. I think that's the strength of VoP...fun to roleplay.

 

[Wonko the Sane]

A monk with VoP can mitigate the "no magic weapons" thing by taking some levels in kensai (Complete Warrior). At each level, he can "enchant" his favored weapon (i.e. unarmed strike) with either an enhancement bonus or any of the various weapon enchantments. This goes a little way towards making them suck less at higher levels.

 

[werk]

The DM gave the players 76 stat points to distribute as they see fit, with no stat lower than a 10.

I prefer rolling the dice, but this is the DM's choice.

I prefer point buy, but that is double the usual. [EDIT: and not point buy, oy.]

Don't let this experience decide your opinion of 3.5.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Is this right? Do all of those bonuses stack?

Yeah, they stack. Big f---ing deal. There's no point having an uber defence if you can't contribute anything ie deal damage. Which your friend's monk can't, with a str of 10.

Tell your friend I think his PC sucks big time.

 

[Dagredhel]

Yeah, they stack. Big f---ing deal. There's no point having an uber defence if you can't contribute anything ie deal damage. Which your friend's monk can't, with a str of 10.

Tell your friend I think his PC sucks big time.

That was f---ing funny! Very true, too.

 

[Shin Okada]

Regarding strength, VoP monk is .... not bad. But still tend to be on a weaker side as a combatant comparing to other warriors full of magic items. And possibly, weaker than other monks with tons of magic items.

And, his choice in ability score distribution is pretty bad. High wis is OK. High Dex is useful. But he still better have high strength instead of high dex. And having only descent con score may give him very small amount of hp in a long run, as he cannot boost it up with magic items.

Is he realizing that his melee attack bonus is +0 and can inflict only 1d6 damages per hit?
He cannot even take Weapon Finesse until he hits the 3rd-level.

Tell him that his attack is now weaker than that of a CR 1/3 Goblin Warrior (+2/1d6 damages). He may re-think about his build.