Is this Possible

[TismeVader]

i have just been reading through my DMG 3.5, and came across the Duelist prestige class. one point grabbed my attention, the fact that you can add your INT mod to armor class. this got me thinking about a Monk/Duelist. the monk gets to add his WIS to armor class and doesnt loss these abilities if he multiclasses. therefore his armor class would be 10+DEX Mod+INT Mod+WIS Mod. assuming that these were 18, this would give an armor class of 22 without any armor/

is this possible or am i missing a rule????

[Siberys]

Yes, that's a totally Legit rule. Even with the whole rule about how once you stop being a monk you can't go back in, it's still pretty insane at the start. But, do remember that you can't wear armor or have a shield, so at a higher level, it'll start to even out pretty well.

[TismeVader]

what about braces of armor, or amu of nat armor

[Siberys]

Bracer's of Armor give an armor bonus of just the enchantment, and while it is completely legal for a Monk to wear them, a Bracer's of armor +4 is far less than a Chain Shirt +4.

Not to mention, to get a good bonus from Dexterity, Intelligence, and Wisdom from all three classes, you really have to build your character just right. Remember, the Intelligence bonus has a limit, only 1 per Duelist level, so an 18 intelligence would still only grant a +1 to armor class at first level of duelist.

If you think about it in the long run, here's an example of Duelist versus fighter; not gonna list the magic armor and stuff like that, but assume that they are there.

Monk 10/Duelist 10- +5 Intelligence, +5 Dexterity, +5 Wisdom, +2 Deflection, +2 Natural Armor, +5 Armor, +2 Monk. Total AC- 36

Fighter 20- +1 Dexterity, +13 Full Plate Armor, +7 Shield, +2 Natural Armor, +2 Deflection. Total AC- 35

So they're pretty balanced actually.

[Rob-hin]

Nice rundown.
I was also curious about the dualist class myself but didn't work it out yet.

When I look at it like this, it seems underpowered if anything.
Don't think I'll burn my fingers on it.

[TismeVader]

i was also thinking of a theif/duelist.

to become a duelist you need dodge and mobility (plus a few other feats and skills), the nex choice would have to be spring attack, right.

a thief gets his sneak attack damge if the foe hasnt acted yet, and duelists get a bonus to initiative.

so, think of it, you spring attack in and out dealing your normal damage and sneak attack damage and presice strike damage..

[GawainBS]

That would work, but you get most damage out of sneakattack by dualwielding and flanking anyway.
While both the Monk/Duelist and Fighter may have about the same AC, the FTR actually hits stuff and does damage and has a decent chance when things like trip and grapple come in to play. (I assume he focused on STR & CON, while the Monk/Duelist has INT, DEX, WIS, CON to worry about.)

[Sabeather]

Maybe a HardHitting class ALONG with the duelist like a Warblade or a Red.

[GawainBS]

What's a Red?
Warblade might mesh quite well, yes, with their INT-based abilities.