Community

 
Jump Menu:
Post Reply
Switch to Forum Live View Optimizing an Unarmed Monk
1 year ago  ::  May 03, 2012 - 8:40AM #1
RickDeckard
Date Joined: Feb 23, 2012
Posts: 178
I know that the monk class really doesn't work with unarmed as well as it should/could compared to using a quarter staff, but the flavor was very important for my wife (tried to sell her on a brawler fighter with a monk veneer painted on) as its her first D&D character. I'm not sure if its the DM using creatures that have decent fort vs. other creatures he could be using, an inherent flaw in the class, or mistakes I made in helping her create the character but she misses about 80 percent of the time and seems to do defender level of damage rather than striker level. I'd really appreciate any help/advice you guys could give so I can help her enjoy playing this character more.

QUICK EDIT: I should mention that we have an artificer to supply her with arcane ammo for her alchemical launcher.

======Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder======
Whoa-Bot, level 7
Warforged, Monk
Build: Stone Fist Monk
Monastic Tradition Option : Stone Fist
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Unarmed)
Versatile Expertise Option: Versatile Expertise (Ki Focuses)
Unstoppable Soldier ( +2 to Athletics)
FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 15, CON 12, DEX 16, INT 14, WIS 14, CHA 10
STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 15, CON 10, DEX 16, INT 11, WIS 13, CHA 10
AC: 21 Fort: 18 Ref: 19 Will: 20
HP: 54 Surges: 8 Surge Value: 13
TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +11, Athletics +12, Perception +10, Stealth +11
UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana +6, Bluff +4, Diplomacy +4, Dungeoneering +6, Endurance +7, Heal +6, History +6,
Insight +6, Intimidate +6, Nature +6, Religion +6, Streetwise +4, Thievery + 7
POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Warforged Racial Power: Warforged Resolve
Monk Feature: Stone Fist Flurry of Blows
Monk Attack 1: Crane's Wings
Monk Attack 1: Dragon's Tail
Monk Attack 1: Awaken the Slumbering Hurt
Monk Attack 1: Spinning Leopard Maneuver
Monk Utility 2: Swift Flight
Monk Attack 3: Twin Thunders
Monk Attack 5: Supreme Avalanche Combination
Acrobatics Utility 6: Tumbling Dodge
Monk Attack 7: Strike the Avalanche
FEATS
Level 1: Improved Monk Unarmed Strike
Level 2: Unarmored Agility
Level 4: Versatile Expertise
Level 6: Quick Draw
ITEMS
Monk unarmed strike x1
Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing)
Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds
Blastpatch (level 4)
Blurred Strike Ki Focus + 1
Delver's Light
Amulet of Protection +2 x1
Stoneskin Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing) + 1 x1
Alchemical Launcher x1
Fire Beetle Potion
Exceptional Factotum Helm (heroic tier) x1
====== End======
Quick Reply
Cancel
1 year ago  ::  May 03, 2012 - 9:29AM #2
Reg06
Date Joined: Jul 14, 2008
Posts: 3,850
Certainly the stat spread doesn't help with the missing.
I recommend 16 STR 12 CON 18 DEX 10 INT 11 WIS 10 CHA, if Warforged is a necessity. 14 points in INT is a waste.
Also, by level 7 you should be looking at getting a +2 implement.
Superior implement training could net an additional +1 to hit.

Other than that, it's either poor rolls, or high level monsters.

Improved Monk Unarmed Strike is a waste.


Why play Monk? If she really wants a brawler style character, there could be better options that work with a Warforged. 
One-half of the tabletop gaming news podcast Going Last
Co-author on AoA 2-3 and 4-1.
Quick Reply
Cancel
1 year ago  ::  May 03, 2012 - 10:18AM #3
RickDeckard
Date Joined: Feb 23, 2012
Posts: 178
The race and class of this character are not changing and stats are really iffy. I Made the same recommendations about intelligence when the char was rolled saying those points should be put into her primary stat. Maybe I can steal some points out of charisma since whoa-bot is played as not understanding humaniod society at all.  I think she really likes the full discipline ability to have lots of movement powers, its just that there aren't as many enemy wizards and crossbowmen and whatnot that would be the ideal targets for her.

Is changing the d8 to a d10 really that much of a waste? Quickswap is up for grabs so I do think it is possible to swap that out for superior implement training as I was talking to the dm about getting her an accurate ki focus.

Right now I think part of the problem monster-wise  is that we are fighting lots of abberant creatures that seem to have fort either as their highest or second highest defense.

Would an exorable ki focus (through the superior ki focus training for it) be better? I know the to hit is only for fortitude but that's what almost all of her attacks target. Also, would retrain some powers so that the energized (force) woudl apply.
Quick Reply
Cancel
1 year ago  ::  May 03, 2012 - 10:43AM #4
fluffmonster
Date Joined: Jun 18, 2010
Posts: 57
Without explicitly knowing what her "must haves" are...

Improved Unarmed Strike really is a waste.  Hitting is more important, especially since you need to hit to trigger FoB.

Monks have to maximize dex.   So much of their effectiveness depends on it, especially attacks.  If this isn't feasible, then monk isn't a good choice.

Its a risky choice to have your powers almost all hit fort.  Monks have plenty of powers that target reflex, why not pick some?

 
Quick Reply
Cancel
1 year ago  ::  May 03, 2012 - 10:54AM #5
RickDeckard
Date Joined: Feb 23, 2012
Posts: 178
So stat wise this is what I proposed and she went for that at least for right now:

Lvl 7 Total
S:14
Co:12
D:18
I:14
W:14
Ch:8

Your do raise a point, I can tank a look at some of her powers again and try to optimize more.
Quick Reply
Cancel
1 year ago  ::  May 08, 2012 - 7:47PM #6
Reg06
Date Joined: Jul 14, 2008
Posts: 3,850
Improved Monk Unarmed Strike isn't worth picking up because a Monk will very, very rarely make a MBA on their own turn. 
One-half of the tabletop gaming news podcast Going Last
Co-author on AoA 2-3 and 4-1.
Quick Reply
Cancel
1 year ago  ::  May 09, 2012 - 6:10AM #7
RickDeckard
Date Joined: Feb 23, 2012
Posts: 178
DM was against changing the stats but allowed pretty much everything else to change. Swapped out improved monk unarmed strike for Superior Implement Training (accurate ki focus). Our artificier made her a new key focus (accurate +2 emerald fire ki focus) and she swapped dragon's tail for fallen needle lvl 1 at will and also traided her tumbling dodge lvl 6 utility for quicksilver motion.

Her to hit is now a respecatable +10 and she has more options now. Thanks for the help everyone.
Quick Reply
Cancel
Jump Menu:
 
    Viewing this thread :: 0 registered and 1 guest
    No registered users viewing