I need your opinion- Halfling Dragonmarked 18monk/1wiz/1FvS

[Auh]

Ok. So I need yall's opinion.

My main question - Comparing the benefits of splashing those two classes, compared to being pure monk, do you think My decision is a good move?

Feats: Max. spell (from wiz) Least and Lesser Dragonmark, Emp. Healing. Then from Monk feats, you can take what you wish. I have Dodge and Weapon Finesse. (Soon TWF will be in monk feats, and I will def. be taking that.) This is at level 6, I plan to take Empower Spell at lvl 9.


Benefits From Multiclassing:
-+1 metamagic feat (taking so many feats for the dragonmarks and metamagic feats leaves you with little feats to work with. This is very valuable)
-+10% to heals (affects dragonmarks)
-Ability to get Empower Healing Spell. 'Cuz you need to be able to cast healing spells =)
-Slightly better saves (FvS get +2/+2/+2 at level one and wiz 0/0/+2)
-Use of nearly all wands
-Command and Cure Light wounds from FvS (Monks have high wis. You can actually command things decently.. I've been able to pretty reliably up to level 7 so far)
-270 SP, with only a +1 to intelligence mod, and FvS Energy of the Scion 1 (Why is this a boon? Cuz you can empower/maximize/empower healing this 1d8+1 to cure for around 45ish.. I like to consider it a little dragonmark of healing =)
-Use of Featherfall, Detect Secret Doors, Shield, and any of the level 1 wiz spells that are handy to have. Gotta love the little things.

Losses to Multiclassing:
-Monk Capstone (+10 concentration, +1 centered ki regen)
-Lose 1 ac from monk level 20
-Perfect Self from monk level 20
-1 step of unarmed damage (this could be remedied with a Past life feat of monk)
-Last step of slowfall
-Shining Star( Dance finishing move)
-Empty Body (Shadow Walk)

____

Background Info (This char build from me so far)
Halfing 5monk/1fvs/1wiz

Feats: Max. spell (from wiz) Least and Lesser Dragonmark, Emp. Healing. Then from Monk feats, you can take what you wish. I have Dodge and Weapon Finesse. (Soon TWF will be in monk feats, and I will def. be taking that.) This is at level 7, I plan to take Empower Spell at lvl 9. Feats after that will probably go towards toughness and more two weapon fighting. I'm not sure if I will take the last dragonmark.. it would give me a lot more heals, But I'm not sure If I need more, heh)

This character is a halfling dragonmarked monk character. It's suppose to be able to heal himself exceptionally well, why still being able to melee and DPS. I have this character up to level 7 right now, Auh - 5monk/1W/1FvS. Right now, his lesser dragonmark heals for ~75 x 4 casts, least ~50 x 6 casts, and then Cure Light Wounds (from FvS) 18-35ish x 7 casts. This is with Extra Dragonmark II, FvS healing +10%, Maximize Spell, Empower Healing Spell, and Greater potency 1 item. (So, right now, the cure serious is not being affected by an item. I have a sup. devotion 3 item in bank for higher levels, will test out then.) I'm guessing lesser dragonmark will heal for ~150 at lvl 9, because it gets Superior Devotion 3 and Empower Spell added to it. I don't have a stat with a modifier below 0. I started with 12 int and 10 charisma (**** stats for a normal build, but I wanted to have INT for more skill points and Combat Expertise, and then Charisma to use the FvS spells. used +1 tomes on each. Dex is main stat.

[Auh]

Just occured to me that I could have switched out FvS for Paladin. I would gain saves, +1 ac, and smite evil from pally. I would lose the cure light wounds and command. It's one way to make up for the AC loss from multiclassing out of monk, though

[WeaselKing]

Just occured to me that I could have switched out FvS for Paladin. I would gain saves, +1 ac, and smite evil from pally. I would lose the cure light wounds and command. It's one way to make up for the AC loss from multiclassing out of monk, though

You won't get access to empower healing until you hit Pal 4 though.

[Auh]

You won't get access to empower healing until you hit Pal 4 though.

Great point. I feel better, lol.

[rimble]

I think that's a really neat and unique idea. I'd definitely change to be Strength based (yes, you can do that on a Halfling) to free up that Weapon Finesse Feat.

Let's see, in regards to Feats:

Monk 1: TWF
Monk 2: Toughness
Monk 6: Power Attack

Wizard 1: Maximize

Level 1: Least DM
Level 3: Empower
Level 6: Lesser DM
Level 9: Greater DM
Level 12: ITWF
Level 15: GTWF
Level 18: Empower Healing Spell

Something like that...?

Although, in a personal sense, I imagine DR 10/Epic works out to an equivalent amount of personal damage negated/healed, your build would offer more help to the group.

Extrapolating this to a Fighter build (with tons more Feats to spare and less innate self-healing options) might also be interesting. Also, Bard won't get you an extra Feat, but should qualify for Maximize, Empower, and Empower Healing too, some minor song buffage, UMD, and a decent Wand Enhancement.

[Auh]

I think that's a really neat and unique idea. I'd definitely change to be Strength based (yes, you can do that on a Halfling) to free up that Weapon Finesse Feat.

Let's see, in regards to Feats:

Monk 1: TWF
Monk 2: Toughness
Monk 6: Power Attack

Wizard 1: Maximize

Level 1: Least DM
Level 3: Empower
Level 6: Lesser DM
Level 9: Greater DM
Level 12: ITWF
Level 15: GTWF
Level 18: Empower Healing Spell

Something like that...?

Although, in a personal sense, I imagine DR 10/Epic works out to an equivalent amount of personal damage negated/healed, your build would offer more help to the group.

Extrapolating this to a Fighter build (with tons more Feats to spare and less innate self-healing options) might also be interesting. Also, Bard won't get you an extra Feat, but should qualify for Maximize, Empower, and Empower Healing too, some minor song buffage, UMD, and a decent Wand Enhancement.

Yes, Those are great ideas. You have me going on a different route here. Next time, when I TR this character, it will be something along the lines of Monk2/Ranger12/fighter6 ... It will take longer to get all the empower feats, but this way I get all my TWF feats for free, freeing up feats, 4 fighter feats, 2 monk feats, and Ranger Devotion 4 which is much better than the FvS route before. Ranger tempest 2, fighter kensai 1.. This sounds like a better route to the same style character. And it will be completely strength/con based, with a little bit of dex just to use max dex bonus with fighter armor mastery 1. Gotta go to work, leave me your thoughts =)

[Auh]

Rimble, I made a new setup with your suggestions. Please read my other post - Jorasco, Dragonmarked Ranger Multiclass

[Skull_49]

stay pure its for the best

[Auh]

Please tell me why.

[Lleren]

The monk capstone is more powerfull then it sounds. Just the effect on Ki is worth going 20 monk.

If you where going 2-7 Monk, then multiclass away; any more then that I think you are better off going pure.

[zealous]

The monk capstone is more powerfull then it sounds. Just the effect on Ki is worth going 20 monk.

Please explain, I personally have a hard time seeing where the need to save moderately more ki for an extended period of time would be beneficial apart from going afk before a difficult encounter, might be missing something though.

[Lleren]

Others have explained it bettere on the monk board, however. It is something in the range or 2 to 3 times the ki reserves active most of the time in comparison to without it.

You do use multiple ki strikes don't you?

[OldAquarian]

Staying pure will also give you 20 BAB (unless you multiclass monk with melee types), worth having iirc it's not just plus to hit - its +3% speed

Not to mention all the Monk Granted abilities at 20 (+fist damage and AC and more)

[zealous]

Others have explained it bettere on the monk board, however. It is something in the range or 2 to 3 times the ki reserves active most of the time in comparison to without it.

You do use multiple ki strikes don't you?

The way I see it is that if you have any ki reserve to talk about for an extended period of time it's either:
A. A regular quest with people who want to go slow, in which case it might be nice.
B. Any other situation where it means you're not really using your ki fast enough and thus have little need for a ki reserve.

If it's good or not would depend on how you play imo.

...
+1 ki/6s would be what, ~2% higher ki generation in combat?
2.21 animations/s * 4 ki/animation * 6s

That makes for some 0.5-1 DPS and that's not much at all.
...
On the other hand, it does make for easier ki management which can be quite useful if you're not a robot =)

Staying pure will also give you 20 BAB (unless you multiclass monk with melee types), worth having iirc it's not just plus to hit - its +3% speed

Not to mention all the Monk Granted abilities at 20 (+fist damage and AC and more)

Well madstone should relieve the attack loss and gaining two out of emp.healing+full ranks in umd, hp+feat+haste boost+intim+ac boost, sprint boost+3 fe damage, intim+umd+traps+d6+3sa etc. could very well outweigh the loss of dr,2 damage and 1 AC.

Then again, if you are not proficient at rolling your head across the keyboard and juggle 3 item sets it's probably better to stick to one thing and do that thing good.
---
I'm not saying that monk 18 + splash is better than monk 20, just that it isn't worse, juss same same but different =)

[LordKalkin]

What are you trying to accomplish with your Healing from FvS and Dragonmark? Are you trying to supplement the Cleric in a party? If you are doing this for self healing then you don't need to and are wasting effort.

At lvl 7 or 8 the monk gets Wholeness of Body. With 10 Ki, he can sit down, concentrate and regenerate. The amount is insane, its like 12 hp/round. I have a L10 monk, and he can easily fully heal himself.

The monk can do this as long as he has Ki, in other words its basically INFINITE FULL HEALING.
And if he is out of Ki, he has meditation where he can meditate and build up a small reserve of Ki (40+),
then Self Heal or do a few strikes and buff the party with a finishing move.

[chrislb20]

What are you trying to accomplish with your Healing from FvS and Dragonmark? Are you trying to supplement the Cleric in a party? If you are doing this for self healing then you don't need to and are wasting effort.

At lvl 7 or 8 the monk gets Wholeness of Body. With 10 Ki, he can sit down, concentrate and regenerate. The amount is insane, its like 12 hp/round. I have a L10 monk, and he can easily fully heal himself.

The monk can do this as long as he has Ki, in other words its basically INFINITE FULL HEALING.
And if he is out of Ki, he has meditation where he can meditate and build up a small reserve of Ki (40+),
then Self Heal or do a few strikes and buff the party with a finishing move.

yes and no the wholeness of body is on a 1 minute timer the hp's gained is based off wisdom and while you may be ablwe to fully heal now my monk build only gets 170 hp back from it and thats only 1/3 of his hp's.

Also not useable in combat because getting hit kicks you out while you can regenerate between fights by sitting down for 20 seconds or so one click from a dragonmark or 2 from a max empower cure light wounds and this build is back up and running getting quests done faster and with less resources.