Musashi the Samurai Lord - 15 Monk 5 Fighter

[KingEcl]

This build was inspired by Musashi, legendary sword saint. Out of the novelty of recreating Musashi as a Kensei Ninja arose a powerful build, a Khopesh-wielding monk with dex to hit and damage. This is a newbie-friendly build that requires no investment other than the monk class. It boasts high DPS and survivability from low level to high. Someone with more time than me can break down optimal gear.

Musashi
15/5 Monk/Fighter
Lawful Neutral Human


Level Order

1. Monk . . . . . .6. Monk . . . . . 11. Fighter . . . .16. Monk
2. Monk . . . . . .7. Monk . . . . . 12. Fighter . . . .17. Monk
3. Fighter . . . . 8. Monk. . . . . .13. Monk. . . . . .18. Monk
4. Monk . . . . . .9. Fighter . . . .14. Monk. . . . . .19. Monk
5. Monk . . . . . 10. Fighter . . . .15. Monk. . . . . .20. Monk


Stats
. . . . . . . .28pt. . .32pt. . .34pt . . 36pt . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .----. . .----. . .---- . . ---- . . --------
Strength. . . . .8 . . . 10 . . . 10. . . .10. . . .4: DEX
Dexterity . . . 16 . . . 16 . . . 16. . . .16. . . .8: DEX
Constitution. . 15 . . . 15 . . . 16. . . .16. . . 12: DEX
Intelligence. . 10 . . . 10 . . . 10. . . .12. . . 16: DEX
Wisdom. . . . . 15 . . . 16 . . . 16. . . .16. . . 20: DEX
Charisma. . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . .8. . . . 8. . .


Skills
. . . . . M. M. F .M .M .M .M .M .F. F .F. F .M .M .M .M .M .M .M .M
. . . . . 1. 2. 3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Concent . 4. 1. 1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1 .1. 1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .23
Listen. . 4. 1. . .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . . . . . . . 2. 3. 3. 2. 1. 1. 1. 23
Balance . 4. 1. . .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . . . . . .4 .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .23
Move Si . 3. 1. . .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 .1 .1 .1 .13
Jump. . . 4. 1. 1 . . . . . . . . 1 .1. 1 .1. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Spot. . . . . . . . . 1. 1. 1. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 .1 .1 . 7
Tumble. . 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .20. 5. 3 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .3. 3 .3. 3 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5


Feats

.1. . . . : Two Weapon Fighting
.1 Human. : Stunning Blow
.1 Monk . : Toughness
.2 Monk . : Precision
.3. . . . : Stunning Fist
.3 Fighter: Exotic Weapon: Khopesh
.4 Monk . : Path of Inevitable Dominion
.6. . . . : Dodge
.7 Monk . : Ten Thousand Stars
.9. . . . : Improved Two Weapon Fighting
.9 Fighter: Weapon Focus: Slashing
11 Fighter: Improved Critical: Slashing
12. . . . : Weapon Specialization: Slashing
15. . . . : Greater Two Weapon Fighting
18. . . . : Grandmaster of Forms


Enhancements (80 AP)

Ninja Spy (43 AP)

• Basic Ninja Training, Advanced Ninja Training, Shadow Veil, Poisoned Darts
  
  1. Ninjutsu: Poison Exploit, Sneak Attack Training, Acrobatic III
  2. Ninjutsu: Poisoned Soul, Subtlety I, Sneak Attack Training
  3. Ninjutsu: Wave of Despair, Flash Bang III, Sneak Attack Training, Sting of the Ninja, Dexterity
  4. Ninjutsu: Impending Doom, Deadly Exploits III, Sneak Attack Training, No Mercy II, Dexterity

Kensei (34 AP)

• Kensei Focus: Heavy Blades, Spiritual Bond
  
  1. Weapon Group Specialization, Exotic Weapon Mastery, Haste Boost III, Reed in the Wind III
  2. Weapon Group Specialization, Improved Dodge III, Ascetic Training: Agility III
  3. Critical Mastery I, Weapon Group Specialization, Shattering Strike I, Dexterity
  4. Strike at the Heart, Dexterity
  5. A Good Death: Melee, One with the Blade, Deadly Strike, Keen Edge

Human (3 AP)

• Damage Boost, Dexterity

[Grailhawk]

This build was inspired by Musashi, legendary sword saint. Out of the novelty of recreating Musashi as a Kensei Ninja arose a powerful build, a Khopesh-wielding monk with dex to hit and damage. This is a newbie-friendly build that requires no investment other than the monk class. It boasts high DPS and survivability from low level to high. Someone with more time than me can break down optimal gear.

Musashi
15/5 Monk/Fighter
Lawful Neutral Human


Level Order

1. Monk . . . . . .6. Monk . . . . . 11. Fighter . . . .16. Monk
2. Monk . . . . . .7. Monk . . . . . 12. Fighter . . . .17. Monk
3. Fighter . . . . 8. Monk. . . . . .13. Monk. . . . . .18. Monk
4. Monk . . . . . .9. Fighter . . . .14. Monk. . . . . .19. Monk
5. Monk . . . . . 10. Fighter . . . .15. Monk. . . . . .20. Monk


Stats
. . . . . . . .28pt. . .32pt. . .34pt . . 36pt . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .----. . .----. . .---- . . ---- . . --------
Strength. . . . .8 . . . 10 . . . 10. . . .10. . . .4: DEX
Dexterity . . . 16 . . . 16 . . . 16. . . .16. . . .8: DEX
Constitution. . 15 . . . 15 . . . 16. . . .16. . . 12: DEX
Intelligence. . 10 . . . 10 . . . 10. . . .12. . . 16: DEX
Wisdom. . . . . 15 . . . 16 . . . 16. . . .16. . . 20: DEX
Charisma. . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . .8. . . . 8. . .


Skills
. . . . . M. M. F .M .M .M .M .M .F. F .F. F .M .M .M .M .M .M .M .M
. . . . . 1. 2. 3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Concent . 4. 1. 1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1 .1. 1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .23
Listen. . 4. 1. . .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . . . . . . . 2. 3. 3. 2. 1. 1. 1. 23
Balance . 4. 1. . .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . . . . . .4 .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .23
Move Si . 3. 1. . .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 .1 .1 .1 .13
Jump. . . 4. 1. 1 . . . . . . . . 1 .1. 1 .1. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Spot. . . . . . . . . 1. 1. 1. 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 .1 .1 . 7
Tumble. . 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .20. 5. 3 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .3. 3 .3. 3 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5 .5


Feats

.1. . . . : Two Weapon Fighting
.1 Human. : Stunning Blow
.1 Monk . : Toughness
.2 Monk . : Precision
.3. . . . : Stunning Fist
.3 Fighter: Exotic Weapon: Khopesh
.4 Monk . : Path of Inevitable Dominion
.6. . . . : Dodge
.7 Monk . : Ten Thousand Stars
.9. . . . : Improved Two Weapon Fighting
.9 Fighter: Weapon Focus: Slashing
11 Fighter: Improved Critical: Slashing
12. . . . : Weapon Specialization: Slashing
15. . . . : Greater Two Weapon Fighting
18. . . . : Grandmaster of Forms


Enhancements (80 AP)

Ninja Spy (43 AP)

• Basic Ninja Training, Advanced Ninja Training, Shadow Veil, Poisoned Darts
  
  1. Ninjutsu: Poison Exploit, Sneak Attack Training, Acrobatic III
  2. Ninjutsu: Poisoned Soul, Subtlety I, Sneak Attack Training
  3. Ninjutsu: Wave of Despair, Flash Bang III, Sneak Attack Training, Sting of the Ninja, Dexterity
  4. Ninjutsu: Impending Doom, Deadly Exploits III, Sneak Attack Training, No Mercy II, Dexterity

Kensei (34 AP)

• Kensei Focus: Heavy Blades, Spiritual Bond
  
  1. Weapon Group Specialization, Exotic Weapon Mastery, Haste Boost III, Reed in the Wind III
  2. Weapon Group Specialization, Improved Dodge III, Ascetic Training: Agility III
  3. Critical Mastery I, Weapon Group Specialization, Shattering Strike I, Dexterity
  4. Strike at the Heart, Dexterity
  5. A Good Death: Melee, One with the Blade, Deadly Strike, Keen Edge

Human (3 AP)

• Damage Boost, Dexterity

I think there might be a 12/6/2 monk/fighter/x option that's better. Rogue comes to mind first then Ranger 3 comes after that but that's probably a 9/8/3 build...

You're not trying to use quivering palm right?

[Morroiel]

I think there might be a 12/6/2 monk/fighter/x option that's better. Rogue comes to mind first then Ranger 3 comes after that but that's probably a 9/8/3 build...

You're not trying to use quivering palm right?

This ..

No reason to take 5 fighter.. 1/2/4/6/8 are good breakpoints.

[unbongwah]

.1 Human. : Stunning Blow
.3. . . . : Stunning Fist

Stunning Blow is STR-based; S.Fist only works w/handwraps. No point in taking either on a DEX-based TWF khop build, IMO.

You're not trying to use quivering palm right?

Actually, I was presuming the OP was, b/c there's no other reason for going monk 12 to 15; would also explain the high base WIS. Otherwise monk 12 / ftr 8 would be stronger for two more feats & Weapon Master.

[Grailhawk]

Stunning Blow is STR-based; S.Fist only works w/handwraps. No point in taking either on a DEX-based TWF khop build, IMO.

Actually, I was presuming the OP was, b/c there's no other reason for going monk 12 to 15; would also explain the high base WIS. Otherwise monk 12 / ftr 8 would be stronger for two more feats & Weapon Master.

It does kind of look like that but with out being fully wisdom based I can't see that working.

[KingEcl]

I think there might be a 12/6/2 monk/fighter/x option that's better. Rogue comes to mind first then Ranger 3 comes after that but that's probably a 9/8/3 build...

You're not trying to use quivering palm right?

With 12 monk, you miss out on quivering palm. Quivering palm is more useful than fighter feats we might choose. I switch to handwraps, get a stunning fist off, get a quivering palm off, and with GTWF, unarmed fighting is still a valid option. Another point of consideration is the fact that all monk DCs depend on monk level.

[KingEcl]

Stunning Blow is STR-based; S.Fist only works w/handwraps. No point in taking either on a DEX-based TWF khop build, IMO.

Actually, I was presuming the OP was, b/c there's no other reason for going monk 12 to 15; would also explain the high base WIS. Otherwise monk 12 / ftr 8 would be stronger for two more feats & Weapon Master.

With items, getting a high DC for Stunning Blow isn't too bad, but that is indeed optional because the main prize is Stunning Fist. It's easy enough to switch between handwraps and khopeshes when you need to get a stun off, and with TWF feats, fighting with handwraps is still pretty good. When you're able to get a suitable DC for epic, I see no reason not to take it.

[Grailhawk]

With 12 monk, you miss out on quivering palm. Quivering palm is more useful than fighter feats we might choose. I switch to handwraps, get a stunning fist off, get a quivering palm off, and with GTWF, unarmed fighting is still a valid option. Another point of consideration is the fact that all monk DCs depend on monk level.

On a build that doesn't max wisdom and have 20 monk levels Strike with no Thought is better than Quivering Palm.

[Ziindarax]

With 12 monk, you miss out on quivering palm. Quivering palm is more useful than fighter feats we might choose. I switch to handwraps, get a stunning fist off, get a quivering palm off, and with GTWF, unarmed fighting is still a valid option. Another point of consideration is the fact that all monk DCs depend on monk level.

Correct me if I am wrong, or if I am missing something, but wouldn't you need 8 levels of fighter in order to get the T5 centered-weapons enhancement in order to remain centered while using Khopeshes (which would otherwise uncenter you)?

[Grailhawk]

Correct me if I am wrong, or if I am missing something, but wouldn't you need 8 levels of fighter in order to get the T5 centered-weapons enhancement in order to remain centered while using Khopeshes (which would otherwise uncenter you)?

No Kensei pass changed that.