zugschef
2010-07-21, 06:10 PM
first off, thanks for taking your time reading this. what i'm asking for is not a theoretical build but a practically optimized build.
***
the basic build idea is based on an old character of mine, a half-drow monk with a major gold dragon bloodline who fought with a sword. i was completely new to the game, thus the horrible build.^^
later i came across a 3rd party product, the quintessential monk II, which features the ki swordsman, a pretty powerful prestige class which gives you a so-called ki sword. an at-will summonable sword which is wielded as a shortsword but increases in damage by leveling and gets enhancement boni (it becomes a brilliant energy weapon without the drawbacks^^). the ki swordsman also gets to ignore any damage reduction.
now with a little more knowledge and insight into the game i'd like to rebuild this character without the use of 3rd party products.
the perfect ability to duplicate the ki sword seems to be the psychic warrior's soulbound weapon acf (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a), combined with the whirling steel strike feat (ecs) and the power weapon power (cpsi). that's why i use tashalatora to combine monk and psychic warrior.
the first 4 levels would probably look something like this:
1, monk1: open feat, monk bonus: monastic training (psywar), improved unarmed strike
2, psywar1: psywar bonus: open feat, soulbound weapon acf (weapon focus (longsword))
3, monk2: tashalatora, monk bonus: whirling steel strike
4, psywar2: soulbound weapon (longsword)
what i need help with is finding a viable fighting style. using improved trip and knock-down with polemaster is pretty obvious (2 lvls passive way monk), but it really has to be a sword which makes things much more complicated.^^ besides, i don't want to use metamorphosis (i think it's broken beyond reapair and i don't like the style) and tome of battle maneuvers.
the real problem is the choice between 2wf or 2h-power attack. 2wf doesn't mesh very well with expansion (dex penalty) and i've got no bonus damage (i'd have a lot of attacks though with greater flurry and 2wf and possibly snap kick), the 2h-power attack route is somewhat suboptimal with a longsword... i know robillar's gambit and karmic strike are nice in theory, but in my experience begging for hits leads to a fast and unheroic death.
i have also thought of using the scabbard as a buckler (i guess no dm would say no to that) but fighting with a buckler is somewhat suboptimal, too...
i'm also bothered by the fact that a character with expansion and monk unarmed damage would be stupid not to take advantage of that. i couldn't find any solutions in the rules for that, i've only got an idea for a (reasonable) houserule to solve it; i.e. letting a monk with a weapon enchanted with ki focus deal unarmed damage with this weapon. but it's only a work-around.
i hope you guys see where i'm stuck and have ideas to help me out.
***
the basic build idea is based on an old character of mine, a half-drow monk with a major gold dragon bloodline who fought with a sword. i was completely new to the game, thus the horrible build.^^
later i came across a 3rd party product, the quintessential monk II, which features the ki swordsman, a pretty powerful prestige class which gives you a so-called ki sword. an at-will summonable sword which is wielded as a shortsword but increases in damage by leveling and gets enhancement boni (it becomes a brilliant energy weapon without the drawbacks^^). the ki swordsman also gets to ignore any damage reduction.
now with a little more knowledge and insight into the game i'd like to rebuild this character without the use of 3rd party products.
the perfect ability to duplicate the ki sword seems to be the psychic warrior's soulbound weapon acf (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070214a), combined with the whirling steel strike feat (ecs) and the power weapon power (cpsi). that's why i use tashalatora to combine monk and psychic warrior.
the first 4 levels would probably look something like this:
1, monk1: open feat, monk bonus: monastic training (psywar), improved unarmed strike
2, psywar1: psywar bonus: open feat, soulbound weapon acf (weapon focus (longsword))
3, monk2: tashalatora, monk bonus: whirling steel strike
4, psywar2: soulbound weapon (longsword)
what i need help with is finding a viable fighting style. using improved trip and knock-down with polemaster is pretty obvious (2 lvls passive way monk), but it really has to be a sword which makes things much more complicated.^^ besides, i don't want to use metamorphosis (i think it's broken beyond reapair and i don't like the style) and tome of battle maneuvers.
the real problem is the choice between 2wf or 2h-power attack. 2wf doesn't mesh very well with expansion (dex penalty) and i've got no bonus damage (i'd have a lot of attacks though with greater flurry and 2wf and possibly snap kick), the 2h-power attack route is somewhat suboptimal with a longsword... i know robillar's gambit and karmic strike are nice in theory, but in my experience begging for hits leads to a fast and unheroic death.
i have also thought of using the scabbard as a buckler (i guess no dm would say no to that) but fighting with a buckler is somewhat suboptimal, too...
i'm also bothered by the fact that a character with expansion and monk unarmed damage would be stupid not to take advantage of that. i couldn't find any solutions in the rules for that, i've only got an idea for a (reasonable) houserule to solve it; i.e. letting a monk with a weapon enchanted with ki focus deal unarmed damage with this weapon. but it's only a work-around.
i hope you guys see where i'm stuck and have ideas to help me out.