SangoProduction
2023-11-09, 04:12 AM
Preamble: The Monk of Many Stances (http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/master-of-many-stances) is a monk archetype that focuses on stance talents. The most notable benefits are being able to maintain multiple stances at once, and for each such stance, they gain a flex talent in the associated sphere.
So what are the most interesting / potent combinations that make use of this feature?
[Alchemy] Virulent Basilisk's Cloak + [Wrestling] Embracing Bear + [Brute] Giant Physique + [Lancer] Defensive Leverage
These two talents are remarkably synergistic, while also both having the three-hit-kill features. The first gives basically an AoE around you that inflicts your desired poison, and the second gives an ability to trap your opponent in that AoE (if they try and hit you). The third, gives bonus CMB, and might enable grappling on creatures you couldn't otherwise. The fourth doesn't directly interact, save for the obvious defensive usage, but implicitly has you take the Lancer sphere, which helps keep people in your AoE as well, but more actively, and without needing to mess with grapple rules for the your actions you take on your turn.
Notably, you can go for whatever poison you wish for a given situation...
You can. Then you use that poison in combat. So awkward, but doable.
Not a lot of reason to particularly care about flexing wrestling spheres, but does that mean there are no options. Why do you want that sphere, which you clearly want to make use of, and progresses unarmed damage. As a monk.
[Guardian] Defiant Boar: Grants you basically healing equal to adrenaline.
[Dual Wield] Gemini Dancer: gives greater leeway to at least deal some damage, 25% is better than none.
[Equipment] Versatile Fighter: Power attack.
Yeah, this speaks for itself. Nothing particularly notable though.
[Alchemy] Dynamite Throwing Form + [Alchemy] Virulent Basilisk’s Cloak
Basic idea: You can flex 2 alchemy talents on demand out of combat.
War Paint? War Paint! But with the specific bonuses you expect to need, during that 15 minute prep time.
Also, you get to, of course, simply prepare any of the formulae you expect to need. Do you lose access to any that are over your limit once the flex runs out? Yes. But still, you don't need the extra capacity (assuming you at least have some). Getting the entire list of formulae, on demand, is pretty good.
Oh, and of course, as a monk, with in-archetype synergy with unarmed, you will probably be wanting the unarmed spheres, making the damage from Dynamite throwing form marginally less pitiful.
[Beastmastery] Two As One + [Shield / Legendary] Turtle Mimicry + [Lancer] Defensive Leverage + [Dual Wielding / Legendary] Spinning Reflection
With a tower shield, you can force one of your character edges to count as total cover, for attacks against you (as a swift action, as a stance, as opposed to Flexible Cover's typical Move action).
And as an AoO, while sharing a space with your animal companion, you can redirect an attack targeting them to instead target you. And you potentially have full cover, plus a 20% chance to make it hit your impaled target.
And even if it gets through all of that, you get an opportunity to reduce the damage by up to 100% with Spinning Reflection, given that you can dual wield your unarmed strikes with shield bash, with no controversy.
If you are particularly large, it can not only be much more difficult to get around your cover, but you can also hide a bunch of animal allies under your space. How many will be able to usefully attack? That would depend.
Additionally, if they are particularly large, you need only partially overlap, in order to gain this bonus, potentially allowing a Large Master of Many Stances and Large Animal Companion to flank while benefitting therein.
https://imgur.com/gallery/biq1iad
Special Mentions:. [Barroom] Improved Martial Arts. Basically equates to an additional +2 damage size for your unarmed strikes, between Drunken Boxer and Barroom Expert. Pretty neat for a monk.
[Athletics] Friction Manipulation: Lets you make climb checks while having your hands free. Most useful for ranged builds, since you get effective capability of attacking from well out of reach. But, it does have generally useful movement utility, while also letting you flex athletic talents, which also, while not being strong, can offer said movement utility, basically on demand.
So what are the most interesting / potent combinations that make use of this feature?
[Alchemy] Virulent Basilisk's Cloak + [Wrestling] Embracing Bear + [Brute] Giant Physique + [Lancer] Defensive Leverage
These two talents are remarkably synergistic, while also both having the three-hit-kill features. The first gives basically an AoE around you that inflicts your desired poison, and the second gives an ability to trap your opponent in that AoE (if they try and hit you). The third, gives bonus CMB, and might enable grappling on creatures you couldn't otherwise. The fourth doesn't directly interact, save for the obvious defensive usage, but implicitly has you take the Lancer sphere, which helps keep people in your AoE as well, but more actively, and without needing to mess with grapple rules for the your actions you take on your turn.
Notably, you can go for whatever poison you wish for a given situation...
You can. Then you use that poison in combat. So awkward, but doable.
Not a lot of reason to particularly care about flexing wrestling spheres, but does that mean there are no options. Why do you want that sphere, which you clearly want to make use of, and progresses unarmed damage. As a monk.
[Guardian] Defiant Boar: Grants you basically healing equal to adrenaline.
[Dual Wield] Gemini Dancer: gives greater leeway to at least deal some damage, 25% is better than none.
[Equipment] Versatile Fighter: Power attack.
Yeah, this speaks for itself. Nothing particularly notable though.
[Alchemy] Dynamite Throwing Form + [Alchemy] Virulent Basilisk’s Cloak
Basic idea: You can flex 2 alchemy talents on demand out of combat.
War Paint? War Paint! But with the specific bonuses you expect to need, during that 15 minute prep time.
Also, you get to, of course, simply prepare any of the formulae you expect to need. Do you lose access to any that are over your limit once the flex runs out? Yes. But still, you don't need the extra capacity (assuming you at least have some). Getting the entire list of formulae, on demand, is pretty good.
Oh, and of course, as a monk, with in-archetype synergy with unarmed, you will probably be wanting the unarmed spheres, making the damage from Dynamite throwing form marginally less pitiful.
[Beastmastery] Two As One + [Shield / Legendary] Turtle Mimicry + [Lancer] Defensive Leverage + [Dual Wielding / Legendary] Spinning Reflection
With a tower shield, you can force one of your character edges to count as total cover, for attacks against you (as a swift action, as a stance, as opposed to Flexible Cover's typical Move action).
And as an AoO, while sharing a space with your animal companion, you can redirect an attack targeting them to instead target you. And you potentially have full cover, plus a 20% chance to make it hit your impaled target.
And even if it gets through all of that, you get an opportunity to reduce the damage by up to 100% with Spinning Reflection, given that you can dual wield your unarmed strikes with shield bash, with no controversy.
If you are particularly large, it can not only be much more difficult to get around your cover, but you can also hide a bunch of animal allies under your space. How many will be able to usefully attack? That would depend.
Additionally, if they are particularly large, you need only partially overlap, in order to gain this bonus, potentially allowing a Large Master of Many Stances and Large Animal Companion to flank while benefitting therein.
https://imgur.com/gallery/biq1iad
Special Mentions:. [Barroom] Improved Martial Arts. Basically equates to an additional +2 damage size for your unarmed strikes, between Drunken Boxer and Barroom Expert. Pretty neat for a monk.
[Athletics] Friction Manipulation: Lets you make climb checks while having your hands free. Most useful for ranged builds, since you get effective capability of attacking from well out of reach. But, it does have generally useful movement utility, while also letting you flex athletic talents, which also, while not being strong, can offer said movement utility, basically on demand.