[Pathfinder] The monk and the combat scabbard

Several of this year’s top RPG Superstar 2012 wondrous items included several that addressed niche and/or relatively new rules. Amongst the top 32, we have items that address firearms, caravans, haunts and spellblights. In light of this, I’ve decided to look at a few other niches and build characters around those concepts.

First up, let’s look at the Equipment Trick feat and the sharpened combat scabbard (both originally appearing in the Adventurer’s Armory).

This PFS-legal, 20 point buy fighter/monk (master of many styles, monk of the sacred mountain) build uses a human.

S 18 D 14 C 14 I 10 W 12 C 8

F1 – Quick Draw
F1 – Equipment Trick (Heavy Scabbard) (Human)
F1 – Power Attack (Fighter)
F2 – Opening Volley (Fighter)
M3 – Improved Bull Rush / Blind-Fight
M3 – Improved Unarmed Strike (Monk)
M3 – Stunning Fist (Monk)
M3 – Dragon Style (Monk)
M4 – Toughness (Monk)
M4 – Dragon Ferocity (Monk)
F5 – Mantis Style
F6 – Mantis Wisdom (Fighter)
F7 – Combat Style Master
F8 – Furious Focus (Fighter)
F9 – Improved Critical (scimitar)
F10 – Mantis Torment (Fighter)
F11 – Critical Focus
F12 – Bleeding Critical (Fighter)

This build aims to wear heavy armour and deliver stunning fists through a ki focus scimitar. A monk in armour does not benefit from the monk’s fast movement and AC bonus and cannot use the flurry of blows ability. However, since I only use 2 levels of monk, we do not have to worry about the fast movemement, and a master of many styles does not get flurry of blows in any event. However, I still had a tough time choosing between 12 Intelligence and 12 Wisdom. Wisdom powers several skills, saves and the Stunning Fist DC. However, this build relies on several skills to get the most out of the Equipment Trick feat (Climb) and qualify for several of the other style feats (Acrobatics and Heal) used. In the end, I thought that +1 DC and +1 AC when ambushed while sleeping made Wisdom the better choice.

At level 5, assuming that the build takes 5 ranks in Climb, this build qualifies for 3 of the tricks tied to the heavy scabbard: grab purchase, hurl scabbard (which works well with Opening Volley) and a choice between find the hidden and steer opponent. Level 3 requires another tough choice between feats: do you go for a defense (Blind-Fight) or offense (Improved Bull Rush)?

In the end, we land up with a heavily armoured, yet mobile combatant (thanks to Dragon Style and armor training). Quick Draw allows for a fairly effective switch hitter using chakrams and quickdraw shields as needed (heavy blade weapon training boosts chakrams too).

- Jerall