Monk Build Thread

[Tshern]

Best Monk Ever:
Start with any huge + wis race, boost wis as much as possible.  Take 1 monk level, the Saint template, (+2 LA), 2 levels of Swordsage, 2 levels of Paliden (Serenity feat and the 1 ACF that switches divine grace to AC), and a monk's belt. You nowhave Wis x 5 to AC. Then add 1 Shiba Protector and Intuitive attack for wis x2 to attack and wis to damage.
Vow of Poverty's nice, but it does prevent you from using the magic items that make Monk's viable. Having a Monk's Belt, a Monk's Tattoo, and Superior Unarmed Strike (feat) Raises your unarmed damage to Level 20 with only 7 monk levels. With high AC and strength useless, you're also an extremely SAD character. (only 10's in str and dex necessarily)

The stacking issues have been mentioned, but there is more to mention. Firstly, Vow of Poverty is not nice. In fact, it sucks. Secondly, Saint requires three exalted feats, which tend to be all but useless.

[X-Codes]

Best Monk Ever:
Start with any huge + wis race, boost wis as much as possible.  Take 1 monk level, the Saint template, (+2 LA), 2 levels of Swordsage, 2 levels of Paliden (Serenity feat and the 1 ACF that switches divine grace to AC), and a monk's belt. You nowhave Wis x 5 to AC. Then add 1 Shiba Protector and Intuitive attack for wis x2 to attack and wis to damage.
Vow of Poverty's nice, but it does prevent you from using the magic items that make Monk's viable. Having a Monk's Belt, a Monk's Tattoo, and Superior Unarmed Strike (feat) Raises your unarmed damage to Level 20 with only 7 monk levels. With high AC and strength useless, you're also an extremely SAD character. (only 10's in str and dex necessarily)

The stacking issues have been mentioned, but there is more to mention. Firstly, Vow of Poverty is not nice. In fact, it sucks. Secondly, Saint requires three exalted feats, which tend to be all but useless.

Intuitive Attack, Nymph's Kiss, and Sanctify Ki Strike aren't bad for this kind of build.

[Satori]

Monk2/Totemist2/Ardent2/Swordsage2/Shadow Sun Ninja 5/Teflemmar Shadowlord 5/something+2

Use the Shadow Mantle soulmeld and the shadow sun ninja's bonuses against foes who can't see him to gank people.  Also, shadowpounce + sun school, using Dimension Hop and Blink Shirt.  With a Monk's belt, you're fists are those of a 12th level monk. 

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Satori ... if you don't mind playing a Maened for the 1/2 hd ML ability,
that can contribute MLs to the Ardent  festing. More goodies.
Of course Metamorphic Transfer must be mentioned (wink).

X-codes ... Twice Betrayer + Monk = 

[OblivionSmurf83]

Best Monk Ever:
Start with any huge + wis race, boost wis as much as possible.  Take 1 monk level, the Saint template, (+2 LA), 2 levels of Swordsage, 2 levels of Paliden (Serenity feat and the 1 ACF that switches divine grace to AC), and a monk's belt. You nowhave Wis x 5 to AC. Then add 1 Shiba Protector and Intuitive attack for wis x2 to attack and wis to damage.
Vow of Poverty's nice, but it does prevent you from using the magic items that make Monk's viable. Having a Monk's Belt, a Monk's Tattoo, and Superior Unarmed Strike (feat) Raises your unarmed damage to Level 20 with only 7 monk levels. With high AC and strength useless, you're also an extremely SAD character. (only 10's in str and dex necessarily)

The stacking issues have been mentioned, but there is more to mention. Firstly, Vow of Poverty is not nice. In fact, it sucks. Secondly, Saint requires three exalted feats, which tend to be all but useless.

Intuitive Attack, Nymph's Kiss, and Sanctify Ki Strike aren't bad for this kind of build.

This one's always puzzled me. It a natural weapon the same as an unarmed strike? The Rules Compendium seems to treat them differently, but then makes a further distinction between unarmed strikes and 'armed' unarmed strikes, like a Touch spell or Improved Unarmed Strike.

[Amechra]

Twice Betrayer, Monk Version:

Halfling Monk 7/Ranger 1/Harper Paragon 2/Trapsmith 1/Swiftblade 9

Customized Classes:
Halfling Monk (RotW) @ 1
Dark Moon Disciple (CoV WE) @ 3 and 7
Mystic Ranger
Trap Expert Ranger

Feats:
Swift Hunter, Improved Skirmish
Sword of the Arcane Order if your DM lets you boost Mystic Ranger casting with Swiftblade
Extra Favored Enemy x2

Notable Features:
Almost-always-on Total Concealment
Favored Enemies: Arcanists +6, Undead +2, Constructs +2, Evil +1 (technically no hit bonus for this one, so I don't like it as much)
Skirmish +5d6 damage/+5 AC/+2 Reflex as long as you move 20' or more each round, and it applies to all FE's above.

Sadly, because of retarded stacking rules, the movement speed of the build is only 40' per round, so it's not that awesome of a spring-stunner.  It's not bad, but if you replace the Monk levels with the Dark template and Scout levels, you get a better build, overall.

Sorry, my friend, but Swift Hunter only stacks your Ranger and Scout levels; so you only have 4d6/+3 for you Skirmish, taking Improved Skirmish into account.

[SolEiji]

Best Monk Ever:
Start with any huge + wis race, boost wis as much as possible.  Take 1 monk level, the Saint template, (+2 LA), 2 levels of Swordsage, 2 levels of Paliden (Serenity feat and the 1 ACF that switches divine grace to AC), and a monk's belt. You nowhave Wis x 5 to AC. Then add 1 Shiba Protector and Intuitive attack for wis x2 to attack and wis to damage.
Vow of Poverty's nice, but it does prevent you from using the magic items that make Monk's viable. Having a Monk's Belt, a Monk's Tattoo, and Superior Unarmed Strike (feat) Raises your unarmed damage to Level 20 with only 7 monk levels. With high AC and strength useless, you're also an extremely SAD character. (only 10's in str and dex necessarily)

The stacking issues have been mentioned, but there is more to mention. Firstly, Vow of Poverty is not nice. In fact, it sucks. Secondly, Saint requires three exalted feats, which tend to be all but useless.

Intuitive Attack, Nymph's Kiss, and Sanctify Ki Strike aren't bad for this kind of build.

This one's always puzzled me. It a natural weapon the same as an unarmed strike? The Rules Compendium seems to treat them differently, but then makes a further distinction between unarmed strikes and 'armed' unarmed strikes, like a Touch spell or Improved Unarmed Strike.

An unarmed strike is a natural weapon, but its also a manufactured weapon.  You can use it as either.
If you're not a monk or don't have IUS, you'll provoke, but that doesn't otherwise change how it works or what its counted as.
If you're holding a touch spell, you're 'armed' as if you were holding a weapon so you don't provoke if you're making a touch attack.  If you make an unarmed strike attack (a normal attack, not a touch attack) then you'll provoke if you're not a monk or don't have IUS.

[Jackinthegreen]

Swift Hunter (and pretty much all those multiclass feats) can be cheesed with retraining.  In this case, it's possible to have scout3/ranger1 turned into ranger4+ and still qualify for the feat because the feat itself grants the prereqs.

Reminds me of how equipping items in Diablo 2 worked, since an item with say a Strength prereq could support itself.

[X-Codes]

Twice Betrayer, Monk Version:

Halfling Monk 7/Ranger 1/Harper Paragon 2/Trapsmith 1/Swiftblade 9

Customized Classes:
Halfling Monk (RotW) @ 1
Dark Moon Disciple (CoV WE) @ 3 and 7
Mystic Ranger
Trap Expert Ranger

Feats:
Swift Hunter, Improved Skirmish
Sword of the Arcane Order if your DM lets you boost Mystic Ranger casting with Swiftblade
Extra Favored Enemy x2

Notable Features:
Almost-always-on Total Concealment
Favored Enemies: Arcanists +6, Undead +2, Constructs +2, Evil +1 (technically no hit bonus for this one, so I don't like it as much)
Skirmish +5d6 damage/+5 AC/+2 Reflex as long as you move 20' or more each round, and it applies to all FE's above.

Sadly, because of retarded stacking rules, the movement speed of the build is only 40' per round, so it's not that awesome of a spring-stunner.  It's not bad, but if you replace the Monk levels with the Dark template and Scout levels, you get a better build, overall.

Sorry, my friend, but Swift Hunter only stacks your Ranger and Scout levels; so you only have 4d6/+3 for you Skirmish, taking Improved Skirmish into account.

Swiftblade.

[Amechra]

...Which doesn't advance Skirmish; you just get a further bonus to attack rolls and base land speed.

Unless there is an alternate version of which I'm not aware.

[X-Codes]

...Which doesn't advance Skirmish; you just get a further bonus to attack rolls and base land speed.

Unless there is an alternate version of which I'm not aware.

It has an ability that is, basically, skirmish.  It does more than Skirmish and isn't called Skirmish, but it works on the same basic principles as Skirmish, so I stacked it with Skirmish.

[Amechra]

But they aren't Skirmish; that's like saying, "Well, a Scout gives me Skirmish, which is basically Sneak Attack, so my levels in Rogue and Scout stack for the purpose of my Sneak Attack dice."

Seriously, Swift Surge doesn't even add to the same things that Skirmish does; you're getting +2 attack rolls/+20 Base Land Speed, not +2d6 damage/+2 AC, as you would with Skirmish.

Unless your talking about the extra damage it gives you, in which case that still ain't Skirmish; you get +6d6 extra damage when moving 20', and you get only 3d6 after moving 10'.

Sure, at the end of the day, all that matters is that it adds damage, but I am a stickler for terminology.

So I'm not really having a problem with the build (though you need 20' of movement, which is hard to get in an enclosed room).

And your DM should definitely NOT allow you to advance Mystic Ranger levels with Swiftblade; Ranger's casting is Divine, no matter what.

Sword of the Arcane Order allows you to prep Wizard spells in your Ranger/Paladin spell slots. Rangers cast Divine spells, and spell lists are not inherently one type of casting or the other.

Seriously, check Dragons (some cast Arcane spells off of the Cleric spell list), or Divine Bards (there is no statement that "if you use this variant, the Bard spell-list is now Divine"; it just says that Bards now cast Divine spells from the Bard spell list.).

So, yeah, Sword of the Arcane Order gives you those Wizard spells in a Divine manner. Sorry.

[X-Codes]

Oh, I add that to my attack rolls, too.

Seriously, let me do some basic math for you:

Halfling Monk gives me +1d6/+1 AC when I move 10'
Ranger with Swift Hunter gives me +1d6 when I move 10'
Swiftblade gives me +1d6 damage when I move 10'

I have +2d6/+1 of actual "Skirmish" bonuses, so I qualify for Improved Skirmish, which adds +2d6/+2 when I move at least 20'.

Also, you're right.  This all adds up to +5d6/+3, not +5d6/+5.  Little did I know, I got that last +2 dodge bonuses ALL THE TIME.

So spare me.  Next time you feel like writing a 1-page bitch about something COMPLETELY MEANINGLESS, do it on some folder paper.

[Amechra]

I know it was meaningless; I even said so.

And no need to get pissy; I was just stating terminology (which only would be useful if stuff like Ambush feats sacrificed Skirmish as well as Sneak Attack, or Skirmish had some equivalent.)

Besides, I'm trying out this "Troll" thing. Seems other people get some benefit out of it. It kinda isn't my thing.

So, in the end, I learned to not troll. Isn't that a good thing?

[SorO_Lost]

Besides, I'm trying out this "Troll" thing. Seems other people get some benefit out of it. It kinda isn't my thing.
So, in the end, I learned to not troll. Isn't that a good thing?

Leave the trolling to me. Only I am blunt enough to call you out on things, only I am willing to challenge your thoughts on a matter because you learned them from hearsay, and only I can throw in bits of humor and none seq-  Oooh hey new Goblins. Is it me or did Dies just grow some balls?

[Amechra]

Ah, good, at least I'll get some use out of these "Summon Sor0_Lost" scrolls I got at discount from the local magic emporium.

Man, 75% off AND on clearance, whoda thunk? But they still cost me an arm and a leg...

[Incidentally, Thunk is apparently a word, and I'll post something Monk related later, as recompense for my derail.]

[Solo]

Besides, I'm trying out this "Troll" thing. Seems other people get some benefit out of it. It kinda isn't my thing.
So, in the end, I learned to not troll. Isn't that a good thing?

Leave the trolling to me. Only I am blunt enough to call you out on things, only I am willing to challenge your thoughts on a matter because you learned them from hearsay, and only I can throw in bits of humor and none seq-  Oooh hey new Goblins. Is it me or did Dies just grow some balls?

We are not amused.

[X-Codes]

Besides, I'm trying out this "Troll" thing. Seems other people get some benefit out of it. It kinda isn't my thing.
So, in the end, I learned to not troll. Isn't that a good thing?

Leave the trolling to me. Only I am blunt enough to call you out on things, only I am willing to challenge your thoughts on a matter because you learned them from hearsay, and only I can throw in bits of humor and none seq-  Oooh hey new Goblins. Is it me or did Dies just grow some balls?

We are not amused.

Yes we are.  We've got a Batroll Royale going, now!

[SorO_Lost]

Besides, I'm trying out this "Troll" thing. Seems other people get some benefit out of it. It kinda isn't my thing.
So, in the end, I learned to not troll. Isn't that a good thing?

Leave the trolling to me. Only I am blunt enough to call you out on things, only I am willing to challenge your thoughts on a matter because you learned them from hearsay, and only I can throw in bits of humor and none seq-  Oooh hey new Goblins. Is it me or did Dies just grow some balls?

We are not amused.

Amused is a synonym of diverted, like.

Hey Solo, look here.

(click to show/hide)

Red mage stole your cube, red mage stole your cube, nananahnana.

[Solo]

We are not.