Looking for a unarmed Monk-Build for NWN2 (Official Campaign)!

[ErzPaladin]

unfortunately NWN2 doesn't have its own board. So I hope the ppl here can forgive me my question and still help me.

I've started the official campaign as elvish monk (Wild Elf)

14 Str
18 Dex
14 Con
10 Int
14 Wis
8 Cha

So far I've reached lvl 3 and I've decided for Hero's Luck and Dodge and I've to decide to appoint my first Stat point.
Actually I didn't want to play a too difficult, too mixed-multiclass build - especially cause Idk much about the rules there well. Originally I thought about a pure monk build.

Now I'm not that sure anymore. I still want to reach the 16 monk-lvls for Ki Strike Adamantine. The rest is more or less discussable.
I've already seen multiclass builds with Sacred Fist. However Sacred Fist requires a +4 Str-modifier which I won't fullfill in the near future.
The other idea would be going for weapon finesse and maxing Dex further - which I guess would grant a reliable hitrate/AC, but would also cripple the dmg output, cause the unarmed dmg still depends on Str, or not?

So, I was wondering about an easy monk-build for the OC with less multiclassing, if possible.
Thx in advance for some ideas =)

[grognardgary]

Monk, in my opinion, for what ever that is worth, is one of the handful of classes I don't think benefit substantially from multiclassing or dual classing. The class is simply so powerful at upper levels that there is no reason to get out of it. Note however while I have zero experience with NWN2 I do know that I has a hole lot of strength boosters. Belts of hill giant strength and gauntlets of Ogre power are common place. So you may manage that +4 strength a lot sooner than you expect.

[Shiroi Ren]

I remember that Monks want STR and WIS for their skills. DEX is pretty much not needed.

[/bin/sh]

The only worthwhile multiclass is a shadow dancer for hide in plain sight. A sacred fist may be interesting too:

https://nwn2.fandom.com/wiki/Sacred_Fist

Originally posted by Shiroi Ren:

I remember that Monks want STR and WIS for their skills. DEX is pretty much not needed.

Only for duel wielding kama builds. Those are very good late level when you can enchant your weapons with elemental damage and have haste. You end up with an insane number of attacks per round. Low level they suck because you barely do any damage and miss all the time. So STR (for damage + attack) and WIS (for armor and abilities/DC) is better.

If you want to go pure unarmed, just use STR/WIS. You can put 15 in DEX to get circle kick for a free attack per round.

[ErzPaladin]

Originally posted by Shiroi Ren:

I remember that Monks want STR and WIS for their skills. DEX is pretty much not needed.

https://nwn2.fandom.com/wiki/Monk

STR is one thing, but WIS doesn't seem that important, cause monks don't learn any divine spells. WIS slightly increases the success of using Quivering Palm, cause you add the WIS modifier for that check.
Aside from this you add the WIS modifier to your AC, which you do with your DEX-modifier, too. But it seems to be easier to lose that WIS-based AC bonus (armor, shield, immobilized, flanked by too many enemies) than the DEX-based one.

You would only need more WIS if you would want to cross-class your character, or am I missing something?

So, technically I've mainly exchanged WIS for a DEX-based AC bonus. With "Weapon Finesse" you could use the DEX-modifier instead of the STR-modifier in terms of hitrate-checks ("unarmed" counts as light weapon).

-------------------------------------------------------

In terms of STR you may be right. I was already wondering, whether it's worth, to multiclass into Red Dragon Disciple after Monk lvl 4 (Ki Strike Magic) or lvl 5 (purity of body). The only problem might be, that RDD fight by biting and using claws and there it's not clear, wheather that still counts as unarmed (even though it sounds so clear).

Then again originally I wanted to go unarmed and reach monk lvl 16 for Ki Strike Adamantine. Also, with 14 STR I actually hit quite reliable since I've Ki Strike Magic. Maybe I restart and trade 2 DEX for STR.

[/bin/sh]

WIS is also used for abilities to determine DC. For instance see:

https://nwn2.fandom.com/wiki/Stunning_Fist

I think it's also needed to get some feats unlocked later on in epic levels.

[ErzPaladin]

Originally posted by aleks:

WIS is also used for abilities to determine DC. For instance see:

https://nwn2.fandom.com/wiki/Stunning_Fist

I think it's also needed to get some feats unlocked later on in epic levels.

I've read to Stunning Fist, that it doesn't work on constructs (like golems, elementals, etc.), undead and any units which have a crit-immunity. Stunning Fist on its own has a decreased hitrate (malus -4 on DC and dmg). In addition you can only use it once per day for every 4 monk lvls on your character. Idk, Stunning Fist doesn't sound that important to me.

The epic-topic is a good point. I must admit, I didn't know about epics. I only knew that it was mentioned in a guide about spellcasting (epic modifier)

https://nwn2.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Epic_feats

I only found Blazing Aura...

https://nwn2.fandom.com/wiki/Blazing_Aura

... however, Blazing Aura requires lvl 21+, 25+ WIS and Diamond Soul. I don't even know how long the Official Campaign is and whether that would be reachable or...

https://nwn2.fandom.com/wiki/Improved_Stunning_Fist

...Improved Stunning Fist.

[/bin/sh]

The OC stops at around level 18, but if you play MOTB (which I highly recommend as it gives closure to your character and is just plain good) goes into epic levels up to 30 . Although the highest I ever managed to get was 28 if I remember, but you can definitely max it out.

Also I got confused with NWN 1 since there for having high wisdom you get Improved Ki strike and more spell resistance feats. But I guess it's NWN it's fairly limited. So I would say don't bother going higher. Just rely on buffs and items to boost your wisdom for extra AC.

[ErzPaladin]

Btw.:

I'm curious. I tested some race/stat-combinations. If you want to have higher stats in STR and WIS together, which class would you recomment?

Cause technically... if you want to play monk, you should've at least 14 CON (CON-modifier +2), cause monks only get W8 HP per lvl up (1-8 HP). So, you want a minimum HP bonus of 3 HP (W8 +2 minimum = 1+2 = 3) per lvl and an average HP bonus of 1/2 W8 +2.
And you especially want this, if you start low on DEX.

Considering the requirements you need to play Half-Orc or Shield Dwarf, cause Half-Orc/Shield Dwarf are the only races without level-adjustment, which fullfill the criteria of...

1.) 16 STR
2.) 16 WIS
3.) 14 CON

... unless you want to play with 6-8 INT or cripple DEX to 12-13.

Only with level adjustment +1 Greyorc could be better, statwise. Which might be good for a Pure Monk- or a Monk/Cleric x-build.

in comparison:

For Human, Wood- and Wild Elf that would look like...

16 STR (+3)
12 DEX (+1)
14 CON (+2)
10 INT (+/- 0)
16 WIS (+3)
8 CHA (-1)

If you want 16 STR, 16 WIS and 14 CON to begin with, then there is no other option statwise.

Shield Dwarf / Half-Orc in comparison:

16 STR (+3)
14 DEX (+2)
14 CON (+2)
10 INT (+/- 0)
16 WIS (+3)
6 CHA (-2)

(*if you exchange 2 INT or DEX for CHA, then it's the same, but with better race bonuses for Shield Dwarf, I guess. On Shield Dwarf it might be better to trade 2 INT or DEX for additional 2 CON)

[/bin/sh]

the benefits humans get is an extra feet + more skills. Up to you to pick which one you prefer. Those +2 DEX only gives you 1 AC, 1 Reflex Save and +1 to certain skills and thats pretty much it. I generally find the extra feat better.

[ErzPaladin]

Originally posted by aleks:

the benefits humans get is an extra feet + more skills. Up to you to pick which one you prefer. Those +2 DEX only gives you 1 AC, 1 Reflex Save and +1 to certain skills and thats pretty much it. I generally find the extra feat better.

So, which 2 feats would you pick on lvl 1? Luck of Heroes + Great Fortitude or LoH + Blind Fight? Or Strong Soul?

[/bin/sh]

I guess LoH and Great Fortitude. The monk already has good will saves, but fortitude is lacking.

EDIT: Is there no combat/general feat you could take instead? Like Dodge/Mobility

[Valor]

https://nwn2db.com/builds/search is a good place for builds, The campaign is cool but the online Mod servers are super fun to, you should check them out before you move on with the game!

[ErzPaladin]

Originally posted by aleks:

I guess LoH and Great Fortitude. The monk already has good will saves, but fortitude is lacking.

EDIT: Is there no combat/general feat you could take instead? Like Dodge/Mobility

Edit:

Nevermind, works. You can skill Dodge with your first feat-point and after this Mobility on lvl 1.

Did a 2nd (human) monk with

16 STR
14 DEX
14 CON
8 INT (could be problematic later on)
16 WIS
8 CHA

On lvl 6 my human monk has

Luck of Heroes
Dodge
Weapon Focus: Unarmed Combat
Mobility

and it works quite well.