What makes the best monk in your eyes?

[Doc Roc]

I'm with DocRoc there; I didn't look it up either.

I've also noticed that I've started being able to tell friends what page numbers things are on, without actually having the book. Tome of Battle's maneuver list starts on page 48; the Crusader's table is on 10, Swordsage's 16, and Warblade's 21; the feat table is on 30. Tome of Magic's Binder's class table is the bottom of page 12; the Warlock's is on the bottom of page... 10? of Complete Arcane. Oh, and the Binder feats start on page 72 of Tome of Magic. The Incarnum classes are on... I wanna say 19, 24, and 28 of Magic of Incarnum? I definitely knew that at one point.

Okay, time to head for the extraction point, Veyr.

[Kaeso]

I'm kind of fond of the monk/sorc/enlightened fist with ascetic mage. It allows all monk features to be keyed off cha instead of wis, creating some synergy, and enlightened fists can deliver touch spells (and later ray spells) through unarmed full attacks (which is perfect if you can find some way to get pounce).

[Veyr]

Oh, and the Artificer starts on page 28 of the Eberron Campaign Setting and its Infusion List is on page 103; the actual Infusion/Spell Descriptions start on page 110. The Symbionts are on page 305? Hah, you'd think that in particular I'd remember. Page 73 of Magic of Incarnum is either Alchemist Savant or Impure Prince, IIRC, while 37 is Daelkyr Half-blood... that book's symbionts are about page 150 or so?

It must be said that I do have a pretty good memory for this kind of thing. In high school I played so much Morrowind that I memorized Daedric without actually "trying" to do so.

[Eldan]

The only page I know is the WBL table in the DMG.

[Veyr]

Ah, page 135!

...yeah... this is probably not healthy.

[Ason]

Well, it depends on how your DM reads the rules, but you could possibly choose changeling as your race and then take a few levels of Warshaper to make your natural/unarmed attacks have reach. However, there has been a ton of debate on the legality of taking that class using changeling to qualify (let's not derail the thread with that argument), so definitely ask that person before planning a whole build around the PrC.

You can also take Soul Eater (from Book of Vile Darkness, I believe) as a dip class to make your character drain levels from opponents whenever he touches them, but that seems a tad unfair and definitely not a classic monk ability. Additionally, you have to force your character through a lot of strange hoops to qualify for it (such as gaining the monstrous subtype), so it's mileage may vary. If your group is into heavy optimization (and if the DM lets you play a very evil character), it might help.

[Telonius]

If i may, towards the kensai

Ye can only imbue one part of your natural weapon. Like kicking? Imbue your feet. Like punching etc.

I do agree with kensai not being ABSOLUTELY worth it, however you don't have to have +5 fists to touch the other enchantments available. Make your fists keen? SURE! Make your fists ... Dancing? Uhm... Maybe? I guess? Ghost touch etc. etc.

Wounding is a favorite of mine.

Monk does synergize fairly well with Kensai, though. Concentration, which fuels Power Surge, is on the Monk's class skill list. Power Surge makes up for 4 points of BAB.

Monk2/Cleric3/Sacred Fist10/Kensai5 would end up casting as a level 11 Cleric (6th-level spells are nothing to sneeze at), have unarmed damage as a level 16 Monk (assuming you have a Monk's Belt), and have 17 BAB. If you take the Travel domain, you'd have easy access to Travel Devotion. This has the benefit of being both very thematic to a wandering Monk, as well as giving him the option to actually use both his flurry of blows and his enhanced movement in the same round. It's not the most powerful build out there, but in a moderate optimization group it should help you hold your own.

[Malkav]

Superior Unarmed Strike+Improved Natural Attack+Monk's Belt+Jotunbrun(sp)=Monk-sauce.

Edit:Snap kick, flying kick, powerful charge, greater powerful charge.

[Kaeso]

Wounding is a favorite of mine.

Monk does synergize fairly well with Kensai, though. Concentration, which fuels Power Surge, is on the Monk's class skill list. Power Surge makes up for 4 points of BAB.

Monk2/Cleric3/Sacred Fist10/Kensai5 would end up casting as a level 11 Cleric (6th-level spells are nothing to sneeze at), have unarmed damage as a level 16 Monk (assuming you have a Monk's Belt), and have 17 BAB. If you take the Travel domain, you'd have easy access to Travel Devotion. This has the benefit of being both very thematic to a wandering Monk, as well as giving him the option to actually use both his flurry of blows and his enhanced movement in the same round. It's not the most powerful build out there, but in a moderate optimization group it should help you hold your own.

I'm not too sure about that build, a straight cleric with IUS and SUS would be better. Perhaps even a straight cleric with a monks belt.

[Doc Roc]

Monk 2/Cleric 3/Sacred Fist 10/Windrider 5

BAB 18, CL 18, MonkL 18 with monk's belt && tattoo.

[gallagher]

Monk/Wizard/Unseen Seer. it adds a little sneak to your attack

[Greenish]

Monk/Wizard/Unseen Seer. it adds a little sneak to your attack

No, it doesn't. You need to have SA (or skirmish, or sudden strike) from some other source for Unseen Seer to advance, otherwise you gain no benefit from that class feature.

[gallagher]

No, it doesn't. You need to have SA (or skirmish, or sudden strike) from some other source for Unseen Seer to advance, otherwise you gain no benefit from that class feature.

then monk2/spellthief1/wizard3/USS10/X4

get the master spellthief feat and you are good to go.

[dextercorvia]

Oh, and the Artificer starts on page 28 of the Eberron Campaign Setting and its Infusion List is on page 103; the actual Infusion/Spell Descriptions start on page 110. The Symbionts are on page 305? Hah, you'd think that in particular I'd remember. Page 73 of Magic of Incarnum is either Alchemist Savant or Impure Prince, IIRC, while 37 is Daelkyr Half-blood... that book's symbionts are about page 150 or so?

It must be said that I do have a pretty good memory for this kind of thing. In high school I played so much Morrowind that I memorized Daedric without actually "trying" to do so.

I'm fairly certain you didn't mean Magic of Incarnum.

I like Aberrant Reach or Deformity (Tall), combined with some natural attacks, either from feats or a Totemist dip. Sudden Leap can get you into position for a Full-attack.

[Doc Roc]

then monk2/spellthief1/wizard3/USS10/X4

get the master spellthief feat and you are good to go.

Ugh, master spellthief. Only one of the most commonly debated feats around.

[gallagher]

Ugh, master spellthief. Only one of the most commonly debated feats around.

let us not turn a monk thread into a Master Spellthief thread. instead, let us pretend that the OP's DM is nice, and even if he doesnt agree how well it works, is nice enough to let it happen

[dextercorvia]

Ugh, master spellthief. Only one of the most commonly debated feats around.

Only for the purpose of stealing spells. Everything else is fairly straightforward. It's not really necessary to his build though, unless he was planning on stealing spells....

[gallagher]

Only for the purpose of stealing spells. Everything else is fairly straightforward. It's not really necessary to his build though, unless he was planning on stealing spells....

the stealing spells part is mostly for sillies. i am picturing a monk doing an unarmed attack as a flick to someone's ear, having it be a stunning fist attack, and then stealing a spell.

talk about an irritating flick to the ear!

[Thrice Dead Cat]

No, it doesn't. You need to have SA (or skirmish, or sudden strike) from some other source for Unseen Seer to advance, otherwise you gain no benefit from that class feature.

Debatable, actually, due to Hunter's Eye.

[Telonius]

I'm not too sure about that build, a straight cleric with IUS and SUS would be better. Perhaps even a straight cleric with a monks belt.

A Wizard20 with a Monk's belt would be superior, too, but that's not what the OP is looking for.

[braxsus]

What makes the best monk in your eyes?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The one that you never play....

The idea in your head of how your monk should be, will always be better then actually flushing one out in RAW.

Better to just let the dream live in your mind and avoid disappointment

[dextercorvia]

Debatable, actually, due to Hunter's Eye.

I actually looked into this a while back. USS requires that you choose an existing form of precision damage to advance. You can't retroactively apply USS when you get some later.

[Kaeso]

A Wizard20 with a Monk's belt would be superior, too, but that's not what the OP is looking for.

Maybe you're right, but I doubt it. A wizard, unlike a cleric, has only half of the monks hd and a significantly worse BAB with no way to increase it (unlike a cleric with divine power)

[dextercorvia]

Maybe you're right, but I doubt it. A wizard, unlike a cleric, has only half of the monks hd and a significantly worse BAB with no way to increase it (unlike a cleric with divine power)

This is a Wizard we are talking about. Hit points and BAB are immaterial.

[Thrice Dead Cat]

I actually looked into this a while back. USS requires that you choose an existing form of precision damage to advance. You can't retroactively apply USS when you get some later.

Fair enough, so the first +1d6 does nothing, but you could argue for the rest!

[Taelas]

Maybe you're right, but I doubt it. A wizard, unlike a cleric, has only half of the monks hd and a significantly worse BAB with no way to increase it (unlike a cleric with divine power)

Tenser's transformation. (It's a terrible spell, yes, but it gives full BAB.)

[Tytalus]

Never choose a race, class, or feat when you can solve the problem with gp. Don't pick a race just to get wings; buy a Feathered Wings graft instead. Don't dip into Kensai just to add magic to your unarmed strikes; buy a Necklace of Natural Attacks instead. Don't squander a feat on Superior Unarmed Strike for unarmed damage as if you were 4 Monk levels higher; buy a Monk's Belt for unarmed damage as if you were 5 Monk levels higher instead.

While not a bad idea, that's a bit of an oversimplification, IMHO. Depending on the game, those might not be an option. Feathered Wings, for example, won't work in most campaigns.

[Greenish]

Monk 2/Cleric 3/Sacred Fist 10/Windrider 5

BAB 18, CL 18, MonkL 18 with monk's belt && tattoo.

Where's Windrider from? The one in Masters of the Wild doesn't progress casting.

[Curmudgeon]

Feathered Wings, for example, won't work in most campaigns.

Really? I've found them to be a mainstay of most D&D campaigns in which I've played and DMed, just as most Druids and Clerics tend to pick up a Monk's Belt (with a Wilding Clasp for the Druid), and everybody picks up a Heward's Handy Haversack. Some items are just too useful to resist.

[Tytalus]

Really? I've found them to be a mainstay of most D&D campaigns in which I've played and DMed, just as most Druids and Clerics tend to pick up a Monk's Belt (with a Wilding Clasp for the Druid), and everybody picks up a Heward's Handy Haversack. Some items are just too useful to resist.

I see you tend to play in evil games, which I presume is the not most common kind.

The others are fine examples, but, of course, don't come with such a considerable drawback, either.