I was thinking of making a new character, a monk (as the title suggests), and I wanted to optimize him at least a little bit. The campaign will probably be a long one (at least level 15, probably level 20). We'll probably be doing advanced start (starting at level 3). I want my monk to be as SAD as possible (the single attribute being Wisdom), hopefully with a wisdom based spellcaster class. The fewer books beyond core I have to go, the better. Thank you!
Hi Arkslayer,
I'd second SorO_Lost's idea of a Shiba Protector build. In case you do not like paladin as a wisdom based spellcaster class, you may consider:
Monk 2/Spirit Shaman 4/Sacred Fist 1/ Shiba Protector 1/Sacred Fist 9/Spirit Shaman 3
Note: Shiba Protector is setting-specific and you have to be human, plus no use druid or cleric as a divine spellcasting class (OA p.32)Also needs only 2 books beyond core as SorO_Lost's idea (OA, plus Complete Divine instead of OA and Unearthed Arcana for the spirit shaman base class and sacred fist prestige class)
Spirit shaman grants Alertness via the spirit guide, you can use the monk bonus feats stunning fist and combat reflexes for Sacred Fist, meaning the following feat choices:
Iron Will (lvl 1), IUS, Stunning fist (monk 1), Combat reflexes (monk 2), Alertness (spirit shaman 1), Combat expertise (lvl 3), Combat Casting (lvl 6, another sacred fist prereq), any (9&up). As Human Bonus Feat, I'd take Zen Archery to get you WIS to attack at least until you enter shiba protector at level 8.
This nets you by level 20:
12 levels of monk unarmed damage (can be boosted futher with feats or magic items), WIS to damage and attack (including double WIS to attack with ranged weapons), 17 levels of spontaneous druid list spellcasting and 9th level spells via spirit shaman (in case you go by RAW reading of the sacred fist spell progression) or 15 levels of spontaneous druid list spellcasting and max 8th level spells (in case you follow the possible RAI of the table progression). Your spellcasting progression interpretation will likely be decided by the DM, depending on the power level of the group.
Your unarmed attacks should also get the ghost touch ability via the ghost warrior class feature of the spirit shaman (again, a DM call, since the ability refers to "held" weapons).
Some alternatives in case you have some preference for a Lawful good or lawful evil monk:
If lawful good, you could take intuitive attack feat from book of exalted deeds (another source). This feat will add your WIS bonus again on attack rolls with your unarmaed strike. You'll need to talk to your DM on this one, since your character then needs to be a shining example of good (also radiating good like a paladin)
If lawful evil, you may wish to replace the spritit shaman divine spellcasting class with the ur-priest prestige class (also from the complete divine rules). It is a faster road to spellcasting power (this time from the cleric spell list, and prepared, not spontaneous), since you'll get 9th level spells already by level 16 or 18 (again, depending on how the spellcasting progression of the sacred fist is interpreted). To achieve the necessary feat requirements, the build is somewhat different (also yielding higher monk unarmed damage, or lvl 12/14 plus potentially some monk damage advancing prestige class in levels 2-4, possibly also from the OA to keep sources limited to core +2 books):
Monk 4/Fighter 1/Cleric (Trickery Domain, to get the Ur-Priest skill reqs) 1/Ur-Priest 1/Sacred Fist 1/Shiba Protector 1/Sacred Fist 7 or 9/Any 2 or 4
Feats taken:
Zen Archery (Human), Iron will (lvl 1), IUS/Stunning Fist (monk 1), Alertness (lvl 3), Combat Expertise (fighter 1), Spell Focus: Evil (lvl 6), Any (9&up)
- Giacomo
