Touch spell rules?

[Amras Seer]

In D&D 3.5, I am planning a multiclass monk/sorceror, using things like shocking grasp and burning hands, do the d6 damage bonuses apply to char levels or class levels??

[Kurald Galain]

Class levels.

Note that monk/sorceror is not a very strong combination; the golden rule for playing a caster is not to lose out on caster levels. Of course, it can be a flavorful choice for playing it anyway.

[Tempest Fennac]

I think they only apply to class levels: here's a quote from http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Shocking_Grasp "Your successful melee touch attack deals 1d6 points of electricity damage per caster level (maximum 5d6)." If you haven;t heard of it, a PrC called Master of the East Wind from page 59 on http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/rules/DnD3.5Index-Classes-Prestige.pdf would help you a lot.

[Talic]

I think they only apply to class levels: here's a quote from http://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Shocking_Grasp "Your successful melee touch attack deals 1d6 points of electricity damage per caster level (maximum 5d6)." If you haven;t heard of it, a PrC called Master of the East Wind from page 59 on http://www.crystalkeep.com/d20/rules/DnD3.5Index-Classes-Prestige.pdf would help you a lot.

That said, Practiced Spellcaster can help boost the power of the low level stuff... But it's still low level stuff. Monk/Sorc isn't very powerful unless it's gestahlt on a high point buy.

[Sstoopidtallkid]

@Talic. Gestalt.

I'm pretty sure theres a prestige dual-progression class for this, and Ascetic Mage(feat, C. Adv) would boost your power a lot.

[Ganurath]

Enlightened Fist from Complete Arcane is the Monk Arcanist PrC. Only lose two caster levels, and the Monk abilities that don't progress by level. In exchange, you can deliver touch spells in unarmed full attacks, convert stuns into flaming burst fists, inate SR, and can deliver rays as touch spells.

However, Ascetic Mage is a must. No caster should turn down their spellcasting stat to AC.

[Person_Man]

A Monk//Sorcerer would have the worst possible MAD.

Spells are almost always based on caster level, not character level.

And in case you were considering it, in most cases you can't combine your normal attacks with spells unless you have a special ability that allows you to do so, like Enlightened Fist, Sacred Fist, or Duskblade.

You'd have a hard time including either of the Fist PrC into a gestalt build, since most Theurge-ish PrC are informally excluded from gestalt because of stacking problems.

What is it that you want to do? Is there a particular fluff you're going for? A combo you want?

[BadJuJu]

A Monk//Sorcerer would have the worst possible MAD.


Asthetic mage would make wisdom a non factor, but yeah, I agree.

[holywhippet]

A few levels of a spellcasting class can be helpful for monks as they can buff themselves up with spells in order to become more effective. Mage armour and shield are both very handy - the former more so as it lasts a long time. This would be handy for spells like shocking grasp as the act of casting incurs an attack of opportunity.

That being said, unless you have a feat that allows it, once you level up in anything other than monk after having taken monk levels, you can never level up as a monk again.

[Draz74]

I agree with Ganurath: if you want a Monk/Sorcerer, take only a level or two of Monk, and head for the Enlightened Fist PrC. And take Ascetic Mage as soon as possible, and don't worry too much about your Wisdom score.

All of that should give you the character you're picturing, while not being too weak (especially at higher levels, once the PrC kicks in).