Human Monk Build

[darwin.evenwood]

Hello everyone, from my low knowledge of building characters I show you my idea of human monk based on Wisdom.
Let me know if you think i should change something and what do you think about it.
I also would like to receive suggestions based on other builds, my only restriction is the race (human) and possibly a lot of monk levels (min 20). Furthermore i would like to know if should be better to build a plain 30 monk and how to do it, i have never played a monk.
Thanks!

http://nwn2db.com/build/?251315

[Valefort]

It is not bad, you missed mainly the feat "weapon mastery : unarmed" that you can take after getting weapon spec unarmed.

Here are some builds for inspiration :

http://nwn2db.com/build/?115647

http://nwn2db.com/build/?112316

http://nwn2db.com/build/?116349

[Theodore01]

Ki-step is a nice feat.
I would prefer anrmorskin over +2SR.
Extra stunning attacks are barely needed.
And yeah, get weapon mastery unarmed
Get bazing aura asap.

Maybe get a ring of the knight (+2dex,+2con,toughness) and start with even dex+con.

[Thorsson]

Ki-step is a nice feat.
I would prefer anrmorskin over +2SR.
Extra stunning attacks are barely needed.
And yeah, get weapon mastery unarmed
Get bazing aura asap.

Maybe get a ring of the knight (+2dex,+2con,toughness) and start with even dex+con.

I'd agree with this (especially with regard to taking Armor Skin) except Extra Stunning Attacks. Fiery Fist takes two uses, so when you need that fire or extra damage it's very useful.

Oh and even if it takes an extra slot, having +1 on damage and 30HP is worth going the extra yard IMO.

[lostinspace]

Critical hit feats don't make that much of a difference for unarmed strikes. If you have to drop feats to make room for the above suggestions (Ki Step and Weapon Mastery: Unarmed, for example), those would be the first feats I'd drop.

[Theodore01]

Critical hit feats don't make that much of a difference for unarmed strikes.

I disagree, as you flurry you get most out of these feats. And fire damage from blazing aura multiplies on a crit.

[darwin.evenwood]

Well, guys, thanks a lot for your quick answers. I will have a look at my build and try to fix something following your suggestions.

[lostinspace]

Critical hit feats don't make that much of a difference for unarmed strikes.

I disagree, as you flurry you get most out of these feats. And fire damage from blazing aura multiplies on a crit.

Improving a 20/x2 base crit rate isn't really worth two feats. Flat damage boosts help unarmed flurry more.

I feel that improved critical feats only really work with weapons that have a decent base crit rate and multiplier. With kamas or unarmed attack flurries, you're better off using flat damage increases or sneak dice.

Feel free to run the numbers, though. Monks have a lot of options to spend feats on, including the custom Ki ability feats, so improving a lackluster base crit rate seems like a waste of feats to me.

[Thorsson]

I'm with lost on this. People like crits because when those big numbers pop up it makes them feel good, but, if the chances of triggering are low, then there may be better options.

[darwin.evenwood]

Excuse me can someone post a description of ki-step feat? Or can you tell me if there are pre-requisites? I have seen only posts about how much good is the feat (maybe too much) but i can't find a description. Thanks!

[Keenar]

Prereq: Stunning Fist, Dex 13, Wis 13, BaB+6
You expend three uses of stunning fist ability as an instant action to immediately move to the targeted location (You must be able to normally reach the selected destination). To observers you are quicker than the wind and faster than the eye can see.


///Im pretty sure it is free (no stunning fist uses are expended) if you haven't used the feat in like 3 or 5 minutes. So if you only use it every once in awhile it doesnt cost anything. They have made it interruptible. so it isnt really an instant action. Its kinda like dimension door now.

[darwin.evenwood]

Well, this is my work. I think it follows what i found really good in your advices. I like to keep spell resistance higher than 32 ,that is obtainable through items, and keep a lot of monk levels. The only issue i see is about AC, could it be higher? Even with +4 AC items (dodge,armor,deflection) won't it be too low for epic areas?

http://nwn2db.com/build/?251344

[chad878262]

Dodge is really not useful, I'd drop it for Steadfast... If you don't want steadfast, toughness is of dubious value (hey, +30 HP is +30 HP, but still there are other options).

I am also on the anti-power critical side... your damage is not highly related to critical hits and crit immune enemies are not exactly rare, especially where bosses are concerned, when your feats really matter.

Armor skin doesn't really mesh with your stat allocation. For instance, you could start with a 17 WIS and switch Armor skin for another Great WIS feat which nets you 3 more stat points at character creation. You could up DEX to 15 which allows you to take circle kick if you want, or you could make DEX and CON both 14 to use the ring of Knight (which gives toughness for free, if you don't want Steadfast)... Or you could drop SR +2 and Armor skin for two more great wisdoms, which would be a better overall value, in my opinion since WIS impacts your AC, AB, and the duration of your various abilities.

[darwin.evenwood]

Thanks for your answer!

I don't know if you are looking the first build or the one i posted later that is a copy and contains improvements.

Anyway in the second one power critical stands for ki-step and spell resistance stands for blazing aura.

I started with 18 WIS to get blazin aura at 21 lvl.
Do you think it would be better to go for circle kick and get blazing aura later? That will cause every epic feat to move forward and i will probably lose someone, isn't it?
I see that DEX 15 will allow me to get DEX 18 with +3 item but i don't know what would be the best choice. What do you think?

About steadfast determination, i tought it switches CON for WIS, so isn'it useless when wisdom is higher than constitution?

[chad878262]

Thanks for your answer!

I don't know if you are looking the first build or the one i posted later that is a copy and contains improvements.

Anyway in the second one power critical stands for ki-step and spell resistance stands for blazing aura.

I started with 18 WIS to get blazin aura at 21 lvl.
Do you think it would be better to go for circle kick and get blazing aura later? That will cause every epic feat to move forward and i will probably lose someone, isn't it?
I see that DEX 15 will allow me to get DEX 18 with +3 item but i don't know what would be the best choice. What do you think?

About steadfast determination, i tought it switches CON for WIS, so isn'it useless when wisdom is higher than constitution?

Gotcha regarding power critical...I didn't follow the earlier posts and only responded to the last link... Dodge is still something that shouldn't be there though. If you want blazing aura at 21, that makes sense, and I only mentioned circle kick as an option, you can of course leave it as is.

Steadfast makes it so you don't fail a fort save on a 1...with evasion and steadfast you are very sturdy when it comes to saves. Nothing spectacular, but certainly serviceable for PvE... On the other hand I've rolled a 1 when I forgot to have free action up in the Yuan-Ti temple without Steadfast and, needless to say the first Assassin I came up against fugued me (because of said '1' on my fortitude save against death attack).

Overall I always try to look at the 'end game' and in your case blazing aura is not OMG must have at 21 so personally I would love to have the 3 points to put elsewhere, then I would just go Epic Prowess, Expose Weakness and then take Blazing Aura followed by Great WIS and then your filler feat last, if you have one. However, if you can drop armor skin for one more great wisdom and gain 3 ability points to spread around that is a win in my book... others may disagree.