Talk:HexMonk (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Suggestions/Comments

Got this build from this website and posted it with permission from the author. Feel free to expand this and make it even better. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Flession (talk • contribs) 19:46, 5 May 2007 (MDT). Please sign your posts.

In that case, why is Template:Author present? --Green Dragon 22:59, 6 May 2007 (MDT)

In place of his own...and as soon as he wants to take credit for it (aka, when I manage for him to get a account here) I'll gladly give it to him. However, it was me who actually spent wrote the code for it...I at least deserve some credit ;) -- Flession 00:18, 7 May 2007 (MDT)

Ah, I see... --Green Dragon 09:41, 8 May 2007 (MDT)

bad build

I posted a few problems on the page, let's see how you resolve them. The basic problem is that both Monk and Hexblade are rather weak classes, and if you combine them there is ZERO synergy. Which means a Monk/Hexblade is even worse than a straight monk or a straight Hexblade.

Charisma is the only real dump stat for a Monk, at least if you want Combat Expertise. But a Hexblade needs Charisma desperately for its class specials to work. For Wisdom, its the other way around.

The funniest thing is that the "big thing" about this build doesn't work, JE already pointed out that the movement bonus doesn't stack, what's funnier, your caster level is -2 = (Hexblade 4) /2 - 4 for Mageslayer. I don't know what the exact ruling on that is, but I guess the PC can't even cast spells. --Mkill 07:01, 20 June 2007 (MDT)

Ya, I've realised this, unfortunatly. I've been trying some min/maxing with it to see where I can go from here. I'll start to work with it once I figure something out, or if I don't, simply remove it. -- Flession 09:00, 20 June 2007 (MDT)

I think CustServ ruled a while back that as long as the spell didn't depend on caster level in some way (duration, possibly range, etcetera) you could still cast it. Their example was True Strike. Kimmuriel 16:12, 11 April 2008 (MDT)

Trying to save the HexMonk idea

It's tough. But there is a feat that switches the monk AC bonus to charisma... Ascetic Mage (CA). You need to be able to spontaneously cast 2nd level arcane spells for it. Luckily, the Hexblade is a spontaneous arcane caster, so you can take the feat from Hexblade level 8. A bit late, though.

Next, take one of the feats that allows you to flurry with weapons like the double sword from the ECS. That way, you can use some monk goodies without relying too much on unarmed damage.

So, what you get is a Hexblade 8/Monk 2 or 5 or 6/... or Hexblade 8/Monk 5

Second level monk grants evasion (yeah), 5th level monk reduces the Flurry penalty by one and grants AC +1 (yeah). 6th level grants another feat and 10 ft. move. But that's as far as I would go.

Build, using the two-bladed sword

Human

Str 14 Dex 15 Con 12 Int 10 Wis 8 Cha 13

1 Hexblade Exotic Weapon Prof (Sword, Two-Bladed), Two-Weapon Fighting

2 Hexblade

3 Hexblade Weapon Focus (Sword, Two-Bladed)

4 Hexblade Cha +1

5 Hexblade Combat Casting (bonus)

6 Hexblade ??

7 Hexblade

8 Hexblade Dex +1

9 Monk Ascetic Mage (CA)

10 Monk

11 Monk

12 Monk Double Steel Strike (ECS)

13 Monk

14 Monk or PrC or Hexblade

It would be really sweet if either Ascetic Mage or Double Steel Strike were available as Monk bonus feats...

Note that you can use Flurry and TWF at the same time.

As for Monk styles, none is really perfect for this, but my favorite is Overwhelming Attack, at least if you only go for two monk levels.

Cobra Strike suffers from weak feats, and neither TWF nor flurry can be used with Spring Attack. Denying stance is nice. Hand and Foot suffers from low Wis. The Invisible Eye special requires you to fight unarmed, otherwise it is okay. Passive Way is rather for Monk/Rogues. Sleeping Tiger is nice but the double sword is not a light weapon. Undying Way has weak feats but a great special ability, but its only really good if you have Combat Expertise.

Variant

A similar build is possible with the longsword instead of the double sword, in that case, EWP and TWF can be exchanged for something more useful. Only WP longsword at lvl is necessary. --Mkill 10:17, 20 June 2007 (MDT)

Problems

Multiple attribute dependency

This build needs pretty much every stat to work, see above

Armor?

Hexblades can cast their spells in light armor, so they better wear one. But monks only get their AC bonus and other goodies when unarmored.

Unarmed damage

There are ways to make up for slow progression in unarmed damage for multiclassed monks, but none is included in this build

Mage slayer

ruins the Hexblade's caster level. Can you even cast that Expeditious Retreat when your caster level is -2?

Saving conversation. Coaldstone (talk) 22:04, 26 February 2019 (MST)