"Shield" spell for monks

[K-rad]

I got my hand on a "Wand of Shield" and it got me thinking. Is it perhaps worth dipping 1 point in to an arcane class to be able 2 cast shield? It's +4 ac for monks via shield which is a slot not easily filt.

Thoughts?

[belangf]

Just put skill points into Use Magical Device and you can use wands and scrolls (with a chance of failure based on your score). This skill is based on charisma but there are feats to improve your bonus.

[Mork]

A alchemist with infusion can cast it on you or vivisectionist is a always a good choice for multiclass.

[K-rad]

Originally posted by Mork:

A alchemist with infusion can cast it on you or vivisectionist is a always a good choice for multiclass.

Isn't "Shield" personal?

[belangf]

Originally posted by THE RIDER:

Isn't "Shield" personal?

Alchemists work differently. Their spells are in reality infusions (like a potion) that normally work only on them. With a special feat they can give it to anyone, even if the spell is personal. Therefore they also have to stand next to the target to give them the spell, even if the spell normally has a range.

[Mork]

Alchemist are one of the best buffer in the game.. they can bypass "personal" restriction with the infusion discovery.

[Schanez]

You can always dip 1 lvl into Eldritch Scion as a Scaled Fist. Although alchemists with Infusion would be the better choice.

[jonnin]

a dragon disciple / monk gets AC and extra stats and some lowbie buff spells. I think level 4 is +4 str total, then back to monk? It costs a lot of monk levels, so you give up a bit to get there...

edit... more thiinking..
I havent done it yet, but couple of threads have me dancing around the monk idea.
looks like you need 4 levels of monk and 1 of caster to get dragon disciple. then 4 levels of that nets you +4 str and +2 ac. The lost BAB to casting is nearly recovered with the +2 from the str. now you have shield and maybe 1-2 more spells? Its a bummer you can't get wis-sorc to fit. You are stuck with CHA at 11 (but you may want 12 to get level 2 spells?). Probably have to have a 2-stat +2 race to make this shine.


Gave it a try in my current game, @ level 7. 20 ac unbuffed and no gear, can cast mage armor, enlarge, and barkskin (choice from bloodline?). Bite attack tiefling. A wee bit on the stupid side. I think this is playable, not sure about unfair level of hard, but challenging-OK. one ac is from dodge. with gear and spell, 30 ac or so... not going to be your main tank. I have a racial blur too.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1796200483

[xunlaiAgent]

Originally posted by Mork:

Alchemist are one of the best buffer in the game.. they can bypass "personal" restriction with the infusion discovery.

Yup, this is why I don't go anywhere without Jubilost. Problem with shield scrolls and wands is that they all have caster level 1 in this game.

[Darth Cannabis]

Originally posted by xunlaiAgent:

Originally posted by Mork:

Alchemist are one of the best buffer in the game.. they can bypass "personal" restriction with the infusion discovery.

Yup, this is why I don't go anywhere without Jubilost. Problem with shield scrolls and wands is that they all have caster level 1 in this game.

Well that is not a problem for a certain subclass of wizard.

All those level 1 scrolls, become extremely valuable, yet powerful tool for scroll scribe.

At level 10+, they replace that scroll's level, with their caster level. This can be extremely useful since scrolls are easy to throw onto belt and use during battle, with no need to rest, or to insure the most powerful potential buffs when using scrolls.

(Has saved mine, and the parties life when we run out of rations in a dungeon.)

[SIlverblade-T-E]

with an arcane caster you can get Mage Armour, which is a huge boost until your around lvl 12+ or so and find +4 armour bracers
mage armour lasts for HOURS, not insignificant!

bark Skin lasts 10 mins/level, so handy for tougher areas (the spell will eventually be much more potent than most amulets of natural armour)

Shield's duration is 1 minute level so best for boss or severe fights

potions and spells of Blur are also really useful, that +20% mis chance AND Concealment do help

IIRC I found some items not just scrolls/wand with a Shield casting ability?
Sigh I know such existed in Icewind Dale 2 and used them a lot for monk and rogues, but think I found such here in Pathfinder as well?

mage Armour (or similar spells), shield, bark skin and a Wisdom build = very high AC monk :)

remember also, things like scrolls of Mirror image so Belangf points out a serious thing to consider : Use magic Device skill!

[xunlaiAgent]

Originally posted by Darth Cannabis:

Originally posted by xunlaiAgent:

Yup, this is why I don't go anywhere without Jubilost. Problem with shield scrolls and wands is that they all have caster level 1 in this game.

Well that is not a problem for a certain subclass of wizard.

All those level 1 scrolls, become extremely valuable, yet powerful tool for scroll scribe.

At level 10+, they replace that scroll's level, with their caster level. This can be extremely useful since scrolls are easy to throw onto belt and use during battle, with no need to rest, or to insure the most powerful potential buffs when using scrolls.

(Has saved mine, and the parties life when we run out of rations in a dungeon.)

Yes, that sounds like very powerful subclass. With large enough collection of scrolls, you could have the right spell available for almost any situation. And if your arcane rank is high, then you can actually buy quite many different scrolls from the capital.

[Schanez]

Honestly you want at least 11 levels of Monk, for the second strike of Flurry of Blows.

You could go Sclaed Fist 11/Eldritch Scion 5/Dragon Disciple 4. Get Cha to AC from Monk, Cha to spells from Magus and buffs from Disciple.

EDIT:
You cannot use Spell Combat/Strike with Flurry of Blows.

[jonnin]

FYI it looks like armor bracers don't stack with mage armor spell, so by chapter 2 the spell adds a whopping 1 AC. Why ES over Sorc? BAB retention? Why 5 levels, you only need 1 level to get DD? (Trying to understand why you did what you did). Does stone fist spell stack with monk?

[haplok]

Mage Armor is nice at the start of the game (and lasts a good while!), but seeing how I tend to find +5 bracers around level 5-6, it becomes obsolete pretty fast.

Shield spell is nice. But a good option could be to go for Archeologist Bard 2 / DD4. That would provide Uncanny Dodge, which is great for monks, as well as access to Mirror Image, which is an awesome defensive buff. Plus the usual DD benefits, such as +2 AC, Bite, +4 Str.

[SIlverblade-T-E]

only thing I can imagine mage armour regarding monks at higher level, might be if they had bracers of some powerful kind (like extra attack or osme such?? I dunno what might exist from Pitax onwards) that might be better than AC buff from armour bracers?

anyway, mage armour is usually a superb spell for any arcane caster to have because, crucially , it can be used on monks AND high Dex rogues, until they get better AC items in later part of the game, but also, pets all through the game!