Tvtyrant
2011-01-15, 08:54 PM
I was thinking about the MADness that is the monk, and I think there could possibly be a use for it. Using the alternate class feature: Cobra Style the monk can easily meet the pre-reqs for Duelist by level 8. Why would you want to play a monk, the worst class in core 3.5, and then switch over to Duelist, the worst core Prc?
Its essentially because of the ability to take stat scores and transform them into AC. A Monk has both Dex to AC and Wis to AC, which can be fairly easily made into two 18s. This grants to an 18 in AC, which isn't particularly good, but by having a high Int score you can raise this as a Duelist to around 22 with a headband of intellect for 36,000 (assuming you put an extra point in int). Then a natural armor amulet gets you 27, and a bracer of armor eventually gets you to 35. A Continuous Shield of Faith gets you up to 37-40 depending on costs.
So now there is a Monk/Duelist that has the ability to frequently avoid getting hit by high level creatures, and the cost is below WBL. However at this point the question comes up of what in gods name is the Monk-Duelist going to do with its free time? Well, it comes down to the ability of the Duelist to use "Precise Strike." Precise Strike will net an extra 1d6 on every attack at level 13, and it moves up to 2d6 at level 18. Nothing compared to a sneak attack, but as a monk you get a number of extra attacks (5 attacks at level 18, when you get 2d6) and these always work as long as you only use your main hand (which is the only one you can flurry with anyway).
So by using a Siangham you get 15d6 damage a round, compared to 10d6 on a normal level 18 monk, it has a higher to hit (and uses a weapon that can be upgraded more cheaply), higher AC, better initiative and it can still use monk abilities since it doesn't wear armor or use a shield.
Granted, its not a great class option, its still weak. But its better then the monk.
Its essentially because of the ability to take stat scores and transform them into AC. A Monk has both Dex to AC and Wis to AC, which can be fairly easily made into two 18s. This grants to an 18 in AC, which isn't particularly good, but by having a high Int score you can raise this as a Duelist to around 22 with a headband of intellect for 36,000 (assuming you put an extra point in int). Then a natural armor amulet gets you 27, and a bracer of armor eventually gets you to 35. A Continuous Shield of Faith gets you up to 37-40 depending on costs.
So now there is a Monk/Duelist that has the ability to frequently avoid getting hit by high level creatures, and the cost is below WBL. However at this point the question comes up of what in gods name is the Monk-Duelist going to do with its free time? Well, it comes down to the ability of the Duelist to use "Precise Strike." Precise Strike will net an extra 1d6 on every attack at level 13, and it moves up to 2d6 at level 18. Nothing compared to a sneak attack, but as a monk you get a number of extra attacks (5 attacks at level 18, when you get 2d6) and these always work as long as you only use your main hand (which is the only one you can flurry with anyway).
So by using a Siangham you get 15d6 damage a round, compared to 10d6 on a normal level 18 monk, it has a higher to hit (and uses a weapon that can be upgraded more cheaply), higher AC, better initiative and it can still use monk abilities since it doesn't wear armor or use a shield.
Granted, its not a great class option, its still weak. But its better then the monk.