Suggested build for Tripitaka, NPC companion?

[MonkeySage]

The group are level 5, and the campaign involves escorting this npc for his three year pilgrimage.

Tripitaka is a monk, fairly weak and not very bright. So i'm wondering how I should build him so that the rest of the group don't feel like i'm just forcing them to escort "the president's daughter" (Everyone hated ashley graham...).

I'm thinking mainly that intelligence should be his lowest stat, and that he's not actually himself a heroic character.

But what else might I consider?

[nedz]

He's quite wise and he doesn't hit people with his fists.

Consider making him a Cloistered Cleric — possibly exalted.

[MonkeySage]

Trouble is, I have no clerics, paladins, bards, rangers, or druids in this campaign. I think there are some variant monks, but I haven't really looked at them.

The setting is directly based on the chinese epic Journey to the West.

[Urpriest]

Trouble is, I have no clerics, paladins, bards, rangers, or druids in this campaign. I think there are some variant monks, but I haven't really looked at them.

The setting is directly based on the chinese epic Journey to the West.

Ah, so your monk is actually an eastern monk, and thus makes sense as a monk!

Hmm...honestly, I'd just make sure that the guy doesn't actually get involved in combat. Shepherding a liability around in combat is annoying, but if he isn't around when they get into fights he can be weak without being annoying.

[nedz]

The setting is directly based on the chinese epic Journey to the West.

Yes, obviously :smallcool:

You should make him a philosopher expert then.