planning clonk life in u18

[Makkuroi]

Hi, I want to TR my caster into a clonk, and am looking for good new ideas for u18.

has:
+4 wis +4 cha +3 dex tomes
3 wiz PLs, 1 sorc PL, 1 fvs PL

must have:

at least 17 cleric
at least 2 monk
max wis
stunning fist
GMoF

what im unsure about:

-which race? she used to be human, is there a better option now?
-what to do with the free level? 3rd monk, 18th cleric, or something else?
-which cleric prestige? RS or caster? definitely RS burst, but not sure about going all the way... divine might seems a must, though.
-which other enhancements to get? (probably basic shintao and ninja spy)

[Makkuroi]

*bump*

nobody wanting to play clonk in u18? shintao healing SP and amp are nice, as is sneak damage (on ninja spy). Biggest problem is the decision between disciple (evo DCs, spell damage) and radiant servant (aura).

[Fefnir_2011]

*bump*

nobody wanting to play clonk in u18? shintao healing SP and amp are nice, as is sneak damage (on ninja spy). Biggest problem is the decision between disciple (evo DCs, spell damage) and radiant servant (aura).

I'm playing an 18/2 clonk split right now. I opted for full caster and no aura, but I still have enough for a good burst. If you're used to playing on a FvS, you won't really miss it, you just have to be more prudent with your SP. I'm sitting at 2.4k sp and 45 evo DC in EA or GMoF, but I'm not far enough in the latter to tell you about EiN.

I will say, it's unfortunate that you no longer have +2 wis over a full cleric. However, you still have consistent SP-free damage, stunning fist, evasion, and high saves over them. You also have to keep in mind that you'll have to use kamas, handwraps, or staves to stay centered, so no eGreen Blade or the like for you.

My clonk is human. It's nice to have the healing amp, wis, and fighting style enhancements, plus clonks can be a bit feat starved. It depends on your focus, though. I think human or possibly elf(spell pen) is best for caster primary, and then possible halfling(sneak attack), human, or even horc for a melee clonk.

On the monk end, I picked up Riddle of Fire and Way of the Tortoise from Henshin, Bastion of Purity from Shintao,
then Ninja and Sneak Attack Training from Ninja Spy. Like I said though, depends on your focus. If you're going full caster with only a little melee, you might find points are better spent on the SLAs and such in Divine Disciple.

EDIT: forgot to mention my evo DC is without any twists. So with those I'll be at 50 evo DC, and that's with no sorc PLs and only a +2 focus item. You'll be able to hit some pretty good numbers as a clonk still, especially with the new enhancements.

[SirValentine]

I will say, it's unfortunate that you no longer have +2 wis over a full cleric.

You can if you want it. 3 feats to get Grandmaster stances, +4 Wis, versus only +2 from a pure Cleric's capstone.

But personally I think it's good that melee-splashes don't easily get big casting advantages over pure casters. The melee & survival advantages are plenty already.

I think human or possibly elf(spell pen) is best for caster primary, and then possible halfling(sneak attack), human, or even horc for a melee clonk.

Half-Elf is probably better than Elf. They get the same Spell Pen line, plus can get Human Versatility, their Dil, and don't take -2 Con. Human's extra feat is REALLY nice though.

[Makkuroi]

Thanks for the hints, I guess ill stick to human... I had all 3 twf feats in my fvs/monk life, and feats were pretty tight. I also dont have half elf or half orc. Still only lvl 17 sorc so some time until I have to make big decisions, Ill probably just go 2 monk levels at first and can still decide to take a 3rd monk level later. Enhancements can be easily reset, so Ill try to go for caster dcs/slas even though I will mostly do unarmed melee. Holy smite blind will be nice complementing the ninja spy sneak attack.

Any opinions on dark path/light path for the caster? tending towards light right now.

One reason to consider elf might be the dragon marks with the level drain SLA. But with a mix of cleric trees, I wont have enough AP to get that anyway. I should have enough spellpen for leveling with 7 spellpen from past lives.

[Fefnir_2011]

You can if you want it. 3 feats to get Grandmaster stances, +4 Wis, versus only +2 from a pure Cleric's capstone.

I'm not sure what you're saying here. I can't find anything on the wiki. I know Monks used to improve their stances through enhancements, but you're saying now it's through feats that a splash could purchase? Even so, that seems like a steep cost. Especially when you could just use one feat to purchase Epic Spell Focus in the school of your choice.

But personally I think it's good that melee-splashes don't easily get big casting advantages over pure casters. The melee & survival advantages are plenty already.

I agree with that. I meant it's unfortunate from a metagaming perspective. From a balance and RP perspective, it makes a lot of sense. And I actually had to think a few days about LRing to clonk instead of it clearly being the better option.

Half-Elf is probably better than Elf. They get the same Spell Pen line, plus can get Human Versatility, their Dil, and don't take -2 Con. Human's extra feat is REALLY nice though.

Good catch. I don't own helf, so I am always a bit fuzzy on their advantages.

[SirValentine]

I'm not sure what you're saying here. I can't find anything on the wiki. I know Monks used to improve their stances through enhancements, but you're saying now it's through feats that a splash could purchase?

The higher stances are now feats, auto-granted for free to Monks at Monk levels 6, 12, and 18, or purchasable by a Monk-splash as long as their character level is at least 6, 12, or 18.

Even so, that seems like a steep cost. Especially when you could just use one feat to purchase Epic Spell Focus in the school of your choice.

Yup. Too expensive for me to seriously consider for my character. I just wanted to point out the option was there.

[Makkuroi]

Between caster feats and some monk melee feats (stunning fist, twf), I dont have any feats left for stances. This might be interesting for a kensai with few monk levels, though. Good to know since Im not an expert on post-u19 character builds.

rethinking heroic feats for clonk (7 base 2 monk 1 human):

normal:
empower healing (for rs burst)
maximize
quicken
PL-wiz
evo focus (to unlock magister +3 evo twist)

monk:
stunning fist
twf

remaining 3 feats
empower?
heighten?
itwf/gtwf?

Epic:
Great Wisdom

what im not taking:
spellpen (too many feats, got 7 from PLs, not that crucial with stunning fist and damage slas)
toughness (after u19)