asceticRogueHand2.1

8/11/2019 asceticRogueHand2.1

1/6

Ascetic Rogues Handbook

Contents

0.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.2 Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.3 Races . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.4 Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.5 Class Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

0.5.1 Monk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.5.2 Rogue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

0.6 Feats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.7 Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

0.1 Introduction

Ascetic rogue is a feat from complete adventurer that combines some classfeatures of the rogue and monk classes. It requires you to have improvedunarmed strike and sneak attack, both easily attained with one level in eachof your classes. To reward you for using stunning fist and not sneaking atarget, the feat gives you a minor boost to your stunning fist DC when alsodelivering a sneak attack. A minor boost, but where the feat really shines isin second paragraph: your levels in rogue and monk stack for the purpose ofdetermining your unarmed damage. That means that if you spend a single

level in the monk class and a feat, your monk1/rogue19 build just got anunarmed damage of 2d10! And thats only when not using unarmed damageboosters (increasing size, using feats, etc).

For those of you that actually read the table description, yeah, thatsright! It says right there that monk and rogue levels add for the purpose

James Raviolos 1 Dictum Mortuum


2/6


of determining your sneak attack dice. In this handbook i am going to

assume that the feat lets you stack monk and rogue for both sneak attackand unarmed damage. You however should consult your DM for this matter.Also note that if you go with the obvious optimal choice of using one or twomonk levels and the rest into rogue, you are only going to lose 1 dice of sneakattack, so its not that big of a deal. Last but not least, ask if you can swapascetic rogue for one of your monk bonus feats at levels 1, 2 or 6 (look at thespecial part of the ascetic stalkers description in complete scoundrel, page71).

0.2 Attributes

Overall, without the use of various sources to reduce MAD, you are going toneed quite a few stats at respectable levels (around 14). The up side is thatyou dont have to excel anywhere, most average scores will do. Also you willlove belt of magnificence, as any item that boost all of your stats.

Strength: Your main source of damage is going to be sneak attackand unarmed damage. While this is ok to have, so that you boost yourattack roll, its not your first priority.

Dexterity: Your reflex saves are going to be high and its not the most

optimal way of boosting your stealth skills. However you can use thisif going for a ranged character. Also, investing some points for a goodinitiative modifier is not half bad.

Constitution: Yeap, you guessed it. This should be as high as youcan afford and you need the boost to the fortitude save.

Intelligence: With rogue at 8+ and monk at 4+ skill points, you area good skill monkey candidate. I usually end up spending my pointshere and intelligence is my primary stat. If you feel those skill pointsare ok for you, theres no point investing here.

Wisdom: You have the luxury of choice here. Either go unarmedwith a good wisdom modifier to boost your scouting skills and ACfrom monk, or wear light armor for your AC and completely forgetabout wisdom and stunning.



3/6


Charisma: This is quite useful actually, especially if you plan on using

skills like diplomacy, intimidate, bluff, UMD, etc.

0.3 Races

Note that if you use a race that doesnt have rogue, monk or any asa favored class, you are probably going to face multiclassing penalties. Alsonote that any small race will nerf your unarmed damage. The best races youcan pick are:

Human: The standard optimal race, cant go wrong here :p

Changeling: Awesome race, due to the popular changeling rogue sub-stitution levels and the fact that they can change shape at will.

0.4 Skills

Balance: 5 ranks will do here, to protect you when balancing frombeing flat-footed.

Bluff: 5 ranks are perfect for the synergy bonuses this skill provides(to both diplomacy and intimidate! both great skills).

Craft: Unless you want to fulfill a requirement, skip this.

Decipher Script: You can hit 5 ranks to get the synergy bonus.

Diplomacy: Max this.

Disable Device: You have trapfinding, so you can get the job done ifneed be.

Disguise: Skip this. A hat of disguise and/or changeling race will takecare of your disguise needs.

Escape Artist: Unless your grapple check lacks, dont go for it.

Gather Information: No reason to max this, since you can use thisuntrained.



4/6


Hide: Candidate for maxing, if you want to act sneaky.

Intimidate: Max this.

Knowledge: Get at least 1 rank in monster identifying knowledgesand 5 in those that provide cool synergy bonuses (like, say, nobility).

Listen: Quite good, another candidate for maxing.

Move Silently: This is usually coupled with hide.

Open Lock: With utility spells like knock, this is not needed.

Search: Max it if you are going to be the trapfinder.

Sense Motive: 5 ranks will do for the synergy bonuses.

Spot: Max it.

Tumble: Spend some ranks until you hit 15 or 25.

Use Magic Device: Max it.

0.5 Class Features

0.5.1 Monk

Flurry of Blows: Flurry of blows is a nice ability when flankingsomeone, so you can get more sneak attack dice. The alternative tothis is decisive strike, which is obviously better to characters buildaround attacks of opportunity. If you encounter enemies immune toyour sneak attacks, decisive strike may be better. An added benefitis that it is also usable in armor and boosts your stunning DC evenfurther.

Evasion: Although its a cool ability, chances are, you are not goingto keep this, especially if exemplars of evil is in the allowed sources.

The alternative class feature Invisible Fist is just too good to pass by,enabling you to turn invisible as an immediate action for 1 round every3 rounds, and thus making sneak attacking without any help possible.Since you are getting evasion from rogue anyway, if you cant selectinvisible fist, just go with spell reflection.



5/6


Bonus Feats: Stunning fist is probably the best option for your first

level bonus feat. The main point is that although the benefit is minor,you get a scalling DC according to your level, not your monk class level.Soulwarp strike is also good, if you are ok using it only 2-3 times a day.Id never pick draconic fist. For your second level bonus feat, the bestoption is to convince your DM to let you swap it for ascetic rogue, asyou probably read earlier.

0.5.2 Rogue

Trapfinding: I find it useful, but i personally dislike being the personresponsible for finding and disabling traps, because that means that i

have to dedicate at least 2 skill points per level to disable device/searchskills. If you share my point of view, you can get Mimic from exemplarsof evil if you are a human or the first changeling rogue substitution levelotherwise.

Evasion: Here youve got some options. Staying with evasion is ok,although if you get the improved evasion special abilty, it is pointless.Feign death is a cool ability as a safety measure or in case you want toinfiltrate a morgue :p. Spell reflection is an awesome ability, too.

Trap Sense: Swapping this for penetrating strike is probably the bestoption, which lets you sneak attack targets normally immune with 1/2your dice, but only when flanking. Quick fingers is not especially useful.

Uncanny Dodge: Disruptive attack is strictly better because whenfull attacking you can gain the benefit for the rest of your attacks, too,by giving up only one attacks sneak attack dice.

0.6 Feats

Knowledge Devotion: Good feat that gives you at least +1 to attackand damage for each of your knowledges. Monk gives you arcana andreligion, rogue gives you local. The feat provides you with an additionalknowledge as a known skill. This fits very well with the minor lorefeature of the changeling rogue alternative class features.



6/6


Imperious Command: Again, this is a fairly powerful feat that relies

on your skill ranks. Max out intimidate and you can take care of asingle enemy by demoralizing him. In the same book with this feat,the fearsome armor enhancement is a very good asset, requiring just amove action to demoralize.

Snap Kick: Its an extra attack, especially useful after using invisiblefist alternative class feature.

Carmendine Monk: It reduces your MAD, linking your monk abili-ties to Int. This helps out a lot, especially if you are fond of using yourstunning fist and wearing no armor, while keeping your skills (and manyof your skill modifiers) high. As an added benefit, you get a +2 levelboost to some of your monk abilities.

0.7 Items

Scorpion Kama: This item is a gem from Magic Item Compendium.Its base damage is your unarmed strike damage if it is higher. Basicallyits the best way to make use of weapon enhancements (like greaterdispelling, collision, vampiric).

Ghost Shroud: A deflection bonus and the ability to affect incorpo-

real creatures with your attacks for the low price of 5.000 gp.

Belt of Battle: Invisible fist + belt + full attack, or whatever really.The initiative bonus is an icing on the cake.


asceticRogueHand2.1

Documents

Transcript of asceticRogueHand2.1