Gestalt 3.5 monk

[Prax4788]

I am makeing a monk in a gestalt game

i need a little help in completing my build
i was thinking of going something like
hexblade/ranger/paladin/occult slayer //monk
mainly for the reason of walking in to mage halls and beating them up with my hands
im in the forgotten realms setting
so nothing from other settings
other than that everything is fair game
so in short whats the best way to make a monk best for max damage
or max defence or max anti spell


please help
and thank you

[Kesnit]

I am makeing a monk in a gestalt game

hexblade/ranger/paladin/occult slayer //monk

Hexblade and Paladin both rely on CHA. Monks need STR, DEX, and WIS. That's 4 attributes you need to keep high. I would recommend you find a class that uses STR, DEX, and/or WIS to use opposite Monk.

[PinkysBrain]

What level? Unless it's 13+ the monk class does nothing for you another class couldn't do better (monks are not all that good at beating up mages with their fists). Even then, 13 class levels for spell resistance is a bit expensive.

[Jack_Simth]

Sorcerer. Take Ascetic Mage (complete Adventurer), and dump Wisdom.

[Asheram]

If you want a proper shaolin monk, go for the Swordsage monk adaption in Tome of battle. ;)

[riddles]

either combine it with cleric to get sacred fist or with psion/ardent/psychic warrior and into slayer.

sorceror into abjurant champion would work too.

[lord_khaine]

I second the Psion/slayer suggestion, with Temporal acceleration you can really pull some cool stuff, like both buffing up and getting into position, before unleashing a flurry of blows.

[Prax4788]

For my build to work. I can have No spell casting of anykind.
And. The. Monk classes stays. Ali important to me mainly. I'm looking for what to do with my second class progression

[Prax4788]

either combine it with cleric to get sacred fist or with psion/ardent/psychic warrior and into slayer.

sorceror into abjurant champion would work too.

The rules of gestalt. Say u can't use classes that are. Already clear combos like sacred fist

[PinkysBrain]

Level? 10ch

[Prax4788]

Level? 10ch

I'm looking. For a long term build. So level isn't important.

[paddyfool]

If you have Paladin on the other side of the build, try to get the Serenity feat allowed from Dragon magazine (Paladin class abilities that are normally based on Chr become based on Wis instead). If you want no spell casting, however, Paladin would only give you three levels unless you use the low magic variant. A couple of levels of Fighter are generally not a bad idea for melee builds. Otherwise... well, I don't know what to recommend from ToB, if anything. I also don't know anything about Occult Slayer so I can't really comment on that aspect of your build.

[riddles]

firstly, apologies for not reading the gestalt rules properly (my group never ever plays with them).

second:

I am makeing a monk in a gestalt game
i was thinking of going something like
hexblade/ranger/paladin/occult slayer //monk
mainly for the reason of walking in to mage halls and beating them up with my hands

For my build to work. I can have No spell casting of anykind.
And. The. Monk classes stays. Ali important to me mainly. I'm looking for what to do with my second class progression

doesn't hexblade have spellcasting? i'm not sure.

thirdly:

so in short whats the best way to make a monk best for max damage
or max defence or max anti spell

For my build to work. I can have No spell casting of anykind.

to max out monk damage requires some form of spellcasting because they need size increases. not only that, if you want to max out your damage and actually get to use it regularly, you need some way of gaining additional movement.

if you can't use spellcasting, can you use psionics? becuase honestly, a psion or psychic warrior going into the prestige class slayer makes monks a heck of a lot better, and i assume the same applies to gestalt monks.

other than that, i second going into paladin and picking up divine might.

[PinkysBrain]

The. Monk classes stays. Ali important to me mainly.

You can't have full monk levels on one side if you want Paladin levels too ... so Paladin goes then?

[Douglas]

You can't have full monk levels on one side if you want Paladin levels too ... so Paladin goes then?

Huh? This is gestalt, he can take Monk and Paladin at the same time.

[Zincorium]

Rules for a fun gestalt build:

1. Do more than one thing (well). Fight, skillmonkey, cast, whatever, don't get stuck in a rut. Gestalt is intended for characters to successfully take on multiple roles.

2. Respect the action economy. Mix a highly passive ability class (monk) with a highly active ability class (say, shapeshifter ranger).

3. Avoid MAD. You get one characters ability scores, but two character's requirements. Don't hurt yourself by avoiding synergy.

4. Optimize. If a Gestalt campaign isn't a TPK waiting for a place to happen, you should be playing non-gestalt characters. Compete with the DM.

5. Be flexible. Don't dismiss ideas just because they're a bit strange.


Anyway, these are my rules, and I've always had a fun character while using them.

[woodenbandman]

Monk is actually a good choice for a gestalt, because you can have a lot of touch AC for defense against spells. Now you need a wisdom based class to help you out, or...

Monk6/Deepwarden2/Fist of the Forest3//Totemist20

Essential item: ring of spell turning. Preferably 2. All of your AC and touch AC abilities are constitution based, and you have very high unarmed strike damage (assuming monk's belt and superior unarmed strike and junk). And you're a totemist, so you can use soulmelds (call it focusing your ki, that sounds much better).

Essential stats are, in order: Constitution, Strength, Dexterity, Wisdom, Intelligence, Charisma. Take Steadfast Determination for real fun.

[Signmaker]

Hum. Jacking up your saves, are you? Interesting.

Max Damage: Unless you've got a thing against UMD items or party buffs, Greater Mighty Wallop is probably the best 'easy' method of maxing damage. It makes base damage actually worthwhile in discussion, it's that good. Swinging fists of 8d8 and higher is never a bad thing to be doing.

Max Defense: You seem to have saves covered pretty well. You've got monk levels supplying base saves with Hexblade/Paladin levels supplying 2xCha to saves (vs spells anyway). If you can somehow find a way to spontaneously cast 2nd level spells, I second the Ascetic Mage vote.
Nevermind, you don't want casting it seems. Anyway, as for AC...you've got problems. Naturally you want your Dex and Wis to be high, which might be a bit hard to do if you're also juggling Charisma for the saves. This is why, incidentally, that I was going to second Ascetic Mage. It really simplifies stat-choice.

Max Anti-Spell: Methods of blocking Line of Effect or Line of Sight will work best, I suppose. Monk SR isn't particularly useful, especially in gestalt campaigns where it's not a hard thing to boost caster levels. A high touch AC will definitely ward against Touch Spells, though.


Meh. Try your best.

[Harperfan7]

It may not be what you are looking for, but monk-scout is a damn good combination if you get that item from the equipment guide that lets you do 10ft. adjustments after training. Think about it.

[Keld Denar]

PsyWar has a LOT of synergy with a monk. Technically, its a Manifester, not a Caster...but you might want to check with your DM about transparency.

That said, Expansion, Grip of Iron, and Psionic Lion's Charge are all pretty amazing for giving your monk the oomph he needs. You'll be a decent grappler, even with only 3/4 BAB. Nab Scorpion's Grasp from Sandstorm so that every hit starts a grapple. Then, attack, hit, grapple, damage, and let go. Repeat for every attack, essentially doubling your size augemented grapple damage. Other feats of note would be Improved Natural Attack, Superior Unarmed Strike, Snap Kick (last 2 from ToB), and Link Power (CPsionic). You might even consider dropping some feats into Illithid Heritage + Illithid Grapple, also from CPsionic, so your face can grapple while you grapple. If you go that far, its only a small step to nab Brain Extraction, fun for the WHOLE family!

Spoiler

Show

WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP!!!!

[Sir Giacomo]

If you want a proper shaolin monk, go for the Swordsage monk adaption in Tome of battle. ;)

Unfortunately there is no useful unarmed swordsage adaptation provided by the ToB, you'd have to ask the DM to houserule it. Too complicated.

I'd suggest the following to the OP:
With no caster class available, go for monk/rogue gestalt.
No MAD to speak of, and you get the great synergy of sneak attacks with the monk's stunning fist attack.

- Giacomo

[Signmaker]

- Giacomo

Who are you and what have you done with Giacomo?

[wadledo]

Unfortunately there is no useful unarmed swordsage adaptation provided by the ToB, you'd have to ask the DM to houserule it. Too complicated.

- Giacomo

What are you talking about?
In the adaptation section, you trade armor proficiency for monk unarmed damage. Pretty simple.

-Obnoxious sig

[Keld Denar]

Adaptation
<snip>
To create a monklike character with a tremendous array of fantastic moves and strikes, give the swordsage the monk's unarmed strike progression and remove his light armor proficiency.
<snip>

The only thing remotely close to a houserule is to change the Wis to AC from light armor only to light or no armor, which was probably intended anyway. To say otherwise is ludacris, and you of all people should know this, considering your stance on buying partially charged wands...

[Faleldir]

Also note that "the Monk's unarmed strike progression" includes either nothing at all, because there is no class feature with that exact name, or everything described under "unarmed strike" in the Monk class features.

[Prax4788]

I should tell u that the only other player in the game is a wizard cleric so he has spell casting coverd

also my dm does not like psionics and devine casting isnt going ot work for me eather


classes that just happen to have spells like hexblade bard paladin are fine

[Aneantir]

partially charged wands...

I saw "Monk Thread" and a post by Giacomo and was waiting for this to show up. I gave it till at least page 2, apparently I was wrong. :P

[Cieyrin]

You might even consider dropping some feats into Illithid Heritage + Illithid Grapple, also from CPsionic, so your face can grapple while you grapple. If you go that far, its only a small step to nab Brain Extraction, fun for the WHOLE family!

Spoiler

Show

WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP WOOP!!!!

It's too bad Dr. Zoidberg never actually extracted any brains. Not that there seems to be many he'd really want to eat in the year 3000, as none of them even vaguely resemble sardines in appearance or flavor.

[Doc Roc]

What, precisely, does tashalatora do in gestalt if you have ardent on one side and monk on the other?

[Xenogears]

What, precisely, does tashalatora do in gestalt if you have ardent on one side and monk on the other?

Either nothing because it counts as a mystic theurge type thing or you get double your level as monk level for unarmed damage?