Respeccing feats to get Stunning Fist...Should I?

[Detton]

Okay, so trying to get Stunning Fist by respeccing is annoying, as many of you know. Despite the fact that I could take the feat at level ONE, the ONLY feat Fred allows me to swap out for it is Weapon Finesse (got at level 2 as a monk special feat)

I'm looking for advice on if I should go ahead and do it. WHAT kind of impact will it have on my hit chance? The difference in my strength and dex isn't much, buffed. I have 20 dex, 18 strength, at level 9 (With a +4 str gloves, and +3 dex boots that take me to an even number)

My main weapon is +5 handwraps, as I haven't found anything with interesting other mods yet for higher levels. With them, in Air stance, my to-hit is +19.

Would I lose anything other then 1 to-hit by dropping weapon finesse for stunning fist? (just making sure). I put my first two level-up points into dex, and i'll probably put my next two there as well, so in the end i'll want to pick it back up, but i'll be able to do it easily before it becomes an issue.

(I don't know exactly how the respec system works, so like I said, i want to be sure before I blow my freebie)

[Angelus_dead]

Okay, so trying to get Stunning Fist by respeccing is annoying, as many of you know. Despite the fact that I could take the feat at level ONE, the ONLY feat Fred allows me to swap out for it is Weapon Finesse (got at level 2 as a monk special feat)

List the feats you have, and the level at which they were obtained. It also might help if you say which server you're on.

[Detton]

Going by memory, as i'm not at Fred (The Pit is a rough solo...)

Level 1: Dodge, Skill Focus: Concentration, Discipline (Yes, i'm a Con/Ki junkie )
L2: Weapon finesse
L3: Power Attack, Path: Harmonious Balance
6: Spring Attack, Mobility (I still wasn't comfortable taking stunning fist at this point with my concentration)
9: Cleave (No option to take SF)

Thelanis server, monk's name is Roska

[Angelus_dead]

Level 1: Dodge, Skill Focus: Concentration, Discipline (Yes, i'm a Con/Ki junkie )
L2: Weapon finesse
L3: Power Attack, Path: Harmonious Balance
6: Spring Attack, Mobility (I still wasn't comfortable taking stunning fist at this point with my concentration)

I'm not really sure yet, but possibly the reason you can only swap Finesse for Stunning Fist is that you have taken Dodge and Power Attack as your other bonus monk feats, and you cannot respec either of those because Mobility and Cleave depend on them. Apparently Stunning Fist is only allowed to be chosen in a monk bonus feat slot, and you only have 1 monk bonus feat that isn't being used as a requirement for something else. (That reasoning doesn't fully make sense, because I don't see why you can't go Discipline->Stunning Fist)

Looks like you can swap Finesse->Stunning Fist and then Cleave->Finesse, and re-learn Cleave at a higher level.
You could also go Cleave->Skill Focus Haggle, Power Attack->Stunning Fist, Skill Focus Haggle->Power Attack, and once again pick up Cleave at 12.

[Detton]

It doesn't make sense, but it does, and it would explain it. It wouldn't have been the kind of thing I would have paid attention to while going on because, well.. i didn't do a lot of pre-planning.

I decided to take out Weapon Finesse for now though - I only lose 1 to-hit, which still leaves me with plenty, and i'll pick it back up next chance I get. I might drop cleave for it. I REALLY like cleave, but my hotkeys are a bit crowded (And only got more-so with stunning fist)

Still, thank you for all your help

[Rameses]

SF: Concentration?
Really... not worth it.

Stunning Fist with a HIGH Wisdom and Eternal Ocean Stance... is.

[wolfy42]

Unless the difference between your dex and strength is going to increase don't waste a feat on weapon finess.

Why?

Well what weapon are you using the finess on most of the time.....unarmed I'm guessing.

If there is only a 1 AB point difference between your strength and dex...then instead of weapon finess get weapon focous bludgeoning.

This allows you to use a QS and unarmed both with the same AB bonus.

Weapon finess does not worth with Quarterstaves at all.

Of course......this brings up the problem of not being able to use stunning fist while wielding a QS.

That is true, but you can build up your Ki while using a QS then switch to unarmed to use stunning fist.

What is more...with a high strength (especially if your a dwarf...I don't know your race) you can use a weighted QS and grab Stunning BLOW as well as stunning fist.

The combo is much greater then having just one or the other. Stunned monsters are always crit hit building up your Ki quickly. you can start off with a STunning Blow (Which resets often) build up ki, and use stunning fist as a backup when stunning blow fails.

That requires a decent Strength and wisdom build.

Dex in a strange way is not that important for monks. Yes it helps with evasion..but you eventually get improved evasion anyway.....so even if you fail your reflex save (Which is quite high without investing a ton into dex) you still only take half damage.

Wisdom on the other hand adds to AC (very nice) and to your DC for stunning first and Quivering Palm.

A dwarven Strength/wisdom based build like this:

Str 16 (10)
Dex 14 (06)
Con 16 (06)
int 08 (00)
wis 16 (10)
cha 06 (00)

Works quite well indeed.

You get a fairly decent AC (nothign super but decent).

Quite nice max hp (toughness + dwarven toughness + high con)

A very nice bonus to your STunning blow (+3 from dwarven tactics and 18 strength base while in fire stance)

And a very nice DC for stunning fist (+3 to wisdom from enhancements, + 3 from tome + 6 from item = 28 wisdom or +8 DC

Strength gets boosts from level up......giving you 16 base + 4 from lvl + 3 from fire stance + 3 from tome + 6 from item = 32

This allows for nice dmg while using a QS and power attack. Fairly decent AC and great saves + evasion/improved evasion etc.

Fairly nice max hp as well