Deep gnome monk build?

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I was about to start my second run through the game and had a question.

I was wanting my party leader to be really hard to hit etc etc.

Thinking Deep Gnome Monk of the old order (5) / rogue (x)

amidex/weap finesse/two handed/dodge etc (daggers)

high wis/dex
+0 str
+0 con
-2 charisma
+0 int

Am I on the right track or do nowhere near it?

 

Why 5 Monk levels? Is it for Purity of Body?

If that's the case perhaps you'd be better off as a fulltime Monk instead. In normal mode you won't get so many levels so spending 3 or 5 on another class means you'll never get to level 15 in your main class.

This character is going to be the leader but is he going to be the main speaker? I would consider putting a high CHA character in that position. Remember that as a Monk he will refuse rewards for quests.

What is going to be his role as a Rogue? I'm asking because average INT for a Deep Gnome means less skillpoints to spend as you level up than a Human or a higher INT character.

 

The deep gnome monk with 20 Dex and Wis will be a good tank/decoy. However, with a Level Adjustment of +3, he will have no offence for quite a long time. He needs to reach level 3 before he can take Weapon Finesse which will be equivalent to a level 5 character with no LA. You have to accept the fact that he will do practically nothing other than take hits until he reaches the hoard fortress. If you take Dodge at level 1 for AC, he will have to take Two-Weapon Fighting at level 6 and then Ambidexterity at level 9. If you are willing to have him make practically no contribution offensively for the first quarter of the game, then you can take this route.

I have personally tried to go this route, but got impatient with his lack of offence. What I ended up doing is was take one level of Ranger at level 1 then I switched to a Monk. By being a Ranger at level 1, you already gain TWF and AD. Also, your BAB is +1 so you can take Weapon Finesse at level 1. I found this to be more enjoyable as he contributes offensively as well as being a hard to hit character that draws the first wave of attacks towards him. I use the 1-3-2 formation with the monk in front followed by my other 3 melee character in the second rank and then my ranged charactes in the third rank. After a few monk levels, his speed increases, so in a big melee, he reaches the enemies first and draws a lot of fire. Along with mirror image, his high AC allows him to absorb a lot of attacks without much danger of going down. Even with the 20% XP penalty, he is still effective offensively. There is a very good light blade weapon that enables him to keep up offensively even with the LA and XP penalty.

My deep gnome Ranger 1/Monk X has the following stats:
Str 12
Dex 20
Con 18
Int 3
Wis 20
Cha 1

Feats are 1) Weapon Finesse, 3) Dodge, 6) Weapon Focus Small Blades, 9) Dirty Fighting.
The only skills I increase are Hide and Move Silently.
I always increase Dex because it contributes both to AC and attack bonus.

I was also wondering the reason for your rogue levels. Without high Int, you will be very limited in what skills you can develop. If you boost your Int, you will have less to put to Str and Con. Con is needed because you are already 3 levels behind and will be behind in hit points. You will get hit occasionally, so you need hit points to survive the odd hit now and then. Str still counts towards weapon damage and carrying capacity.

 

I guess for some reason I was under the impression that rogues got extra skill points and a couple of save boosts. His damage isn't really of any concern to me because I already have a half-orc barbarian, 2 high str/char pally/sorcerers, a bard/cleric and a long range drow bow fighter.

As of now he's monk (5)/rogue (1) and already pretty unhittable. SHould I keep advancing in rogue or monk? Since he's 'Old Order' I have the choice obviously.

 

You have to start as a Rogue to get the skill bonus.

Your character already gets XP penalty (unless if you have some level squatting scheme going on), I would have skipped the Rogue level, a pure Monk would work better. For a Rogue to work you have to invest enough levels to get a good sneak attack bonus. IMO the other way round would have been better (Monk 1/Rogue X).

 

I recommend advancing only as monk. Monk levels grant +1 to will and fortitude saves every 6 levels, +2 hitpoints per level and +1 AC every 5 levels compared to rogue levels which grant 1.75 extra sneak attack damage and 3 extra skill points per level.
If you think your defense is good enough you can take 3 rogue levels total, but I wouldn't take more.

 

thanks guys

 

I don't see much benefit for advancing any further in rogue. If you are not concerned with attacking, then the extra sneak attack damage is not really that useful. Advancing in Monk gives you better saves at least and even more AC later. You will also get the ability to heal yourself which may come in handy.

 

Yea, I decided to go rogue 3 monk as high as possible, i'll probably get it to around 13 which will be fine with me.