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## Alternate Tome Monk Class Feature?

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angelfromanotherpin
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### Alternate Tome Monk Class Feature?

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Post by angelfromanotherpin » Tue Aug 24, 2010 9:16 pm

So, a Tome Monk is a Str/Wis class, with a strong incentive to dump Dex because Willow Step. I have a player who wants to play a Dex/Wis Monk build.
So, if one were to substitute the Willow Step class feature out for a Gentle Fist (or whatever) class feature, letting Wisdom sub for certain uses of Strength instead of Dex, what should such a substitute do?
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CatharzGodfoot
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Post by CatharzGodfoot » Wed Aug 25, 2010 1:20 am

Will she be using Insightful Strike or Weapon Finesse?
Monks are normally Wis/Con/Str.
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angelfromanotherpin
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Post by angelfromanotherpin » Wed Aug 25, 2010 1:37 am

Well, Con is everyone's second or third pick, depending... sometimes 1st for the Soldier. I didn't feel the need to mention it.
The answer to your question is 'maybe.' It depends on what the substitute class feature works out to do. If it replaces the Strength attack bonus already, then probably not, naturally.
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Maxus
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Post by Maxus » Wed Aug 25, 2010 2:25 am

The monk -could- dump Str and just grab Insightful Strike and put Wisdom as the main stat. Take feats which boost initiative to help out the one thing they still use Dex for (I think Danger Sense, and either Elusive Target or Lightning Reflexes).
But this won't be a damage-heavy build. Instead, you take fighting styles which force saving throws (DCs are Wis based, I believe) and lock down and harrass and make them easier for the rest of the party. But, on the plus side, you're fairly likely to hit, since you're using Wisdom as your attack bonus stat.
Which may fulfill the request--a graceful, more elegant Monk.
He jumps like a damned dragoon, and charges into battle fighting rather insane monsters with little more than his bare hands and rather nasty spell effects conjured up solely through knowledge and the local plantlife. He unerringly knows where his goal lies, he breathes underwater and is untroubled by space travel, seems to have no limits to his actual endurance and favors killing his enemies by driving both boots square into their skull. His agility is unmatched, and his strength legendary, able to fling about a turtle shell big enough to contain a man with enough force to barrel down a near endless path of unfortunates.
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CatharzGodfoot
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Post by CatharzGodfoot » Wed Aug 25, 2010 3:42 am

The main thing that keeping Dexterity as a monk allows you to capitalize on are attacks of opportunity. There is a fighting style that lets you make a trip or disarm as an AoO whenever you are attacked.
Wisdom to damage (instead of strength) probably wouldn't be too over powered. The flavor is that she extends ki when attacking rather than using brute strength.
A disarm check is an attack roll, so it will be using Dex or Wisdom already anyway. A trip attempt, on the other hand, is a Strength-based check. Iw would be sensible to use her primary attack attribute instead. You could also let her use Wisdom or Dexterity to make grapple checks.
I was recently thinking about a softer monk. One of the abilities I brainstormed was a 'Kiai', which allowed them to use Diplomacy to feint or demoralize as a swift action (or in the case of a stance-using monk, probably a free action 1/round). Not a MAD-reducer (although you could use Wisdom instead of Charisma), but something to offset the reduced synergy.
The law in its majestic equality forbids the rich as well as the poor from stealing bread, begging and sleeping under bridges.
-Anatole France
Mount Flamethrower on rear
Drive in reverse
Win Game.
-Josh Kablack
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RobbyPants
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###

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Post by RobbyPants » Wed Aug 25, 2010 12:18 pm

That makes sense to me. Since Willow Step is all about replacing Dex with Wis, then this feature should replace Str with Wis. So Wis to things like Grapple, Bull Rush, and Trip all make sense to me.
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angelfromanotherpin
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###

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Post by angelfromanotherpin » Wed Aug 25, 2010 1:27 pm

Okay, so:
A Monk can take the class feature Willow Fist instead of Willow Step.
Willow Fist: A Monk can use their Wisdom mod instead of their Strength mod for damage rolls and for combat maneuvers.
Then they'll probably take Insightful Strike, because at that point Weapon Finesse has quite a bit of overlap. Works for me, thanks, the Den!
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