Gestalt Monk Archetype

[HammerStrike]

I've taken my first stab at creating Gestalt character archetypes to support our 4 man home game. This user file includes 3 gestalt archetypes: Ninja/Monk, Druid/Monk, and Ranger/Fighter.

I'd like to share my work and solicit any comments or feedback on what I've done wrong or could do better.

Also, I am not sure how to get the Monk Vows working with the archetype. Any clues or suggestions?

 

[Pezmerga]

I modified this to be a Bard/Monk (Master of Many Styles)

Any ideas how I can get the Bard to ignore the prereqs for style feats chosen as the MOMS bonus feats?

 

[HammerStrike]

Good catch. I have no idea and I'd like to know the answer as well.

Is there a way to enable the tab for a different class in the archetype configuration? This might provide the ability to choose Monk Vows and provide the "Monk Bonus Feats" selector. I'm guessing this just isn't possible or that's how other more knowledgeable people would have done gestalt archetypes already.

Is the only solution to write eval scripts? Do I need an eval script to remove the prerequisites for the Monk style feats? Another eval script for creating the Monk Vows interface? If so, can anyone point me to where to start looking for examples?

 

[Pezmerga]

Also the monk robe is calculating wrong for the archetypes. because it upgrades the damage die 3 times for non monks and you count as both it seems.

 

[Aaron]

I modified this to be a Bard/Monk (Master of Many Styles)

Any ideas how I can get the Bard to ignore the prereqs for style feats chosen as the MOMS bonus feats?

Assign Helper.BonFtNoPre to the class helper to take a classes bonus feats without regard to the pre-reqs.

 

[Aaron]

Good catch. I have no idea and I'd like to know the answer as well.

Is there a way to enable the tab for a different class in the archetype configuration? This might provide the ability to choose Monk Vows and provide the "Monk Bonus Feats" selector. I'm guessing this just isn't possible or that's how other more knowledgeable people would have done gestalt archetypes already.

No, you can't have the tab for a different class show, but you can change the tab for the archetyped class so that it can access the same abilities. Monk Vows are just custom class abilities, so you can have them shown on another class by setting the cCstS2Expr field. Look at the Myrmidarch Magus archetype for an example (it's the one that runs at Final 99999999), that sets fighter weapon training up as a secondary ability for the magus.

Is the only solution to write eval scripts? Do I need an eval script to remove the prerequisites for the Monk style feats? Another eval script for creating the Monk Vows interface? If so, can anyone point me to where to start looking for examples?

Scripting is required when you want to make big changes, though we try to set up the editor to make the most common ones easy.

 

[Aaron]

Also the monk robe is calculating wrong for the archetypes. because it upgrades the damage die 3 times for non monks and you count as both it seems.

Sounds like a bug, you should submit it.

 

[HammerStrike]

Assign Helper.BonFtNoPre to the class helper to take a classes bonus feats without regard to the pre-reqs.

I have this as a child node in the archetype's thing node:

<tag group="Helper" tag="BonFtNoPre" name="BonFtNoPre" abbrev="BonFtNoPre"/>

Is that not what you mean?

 

[HammerStrike]

Monk Vows are just custom class abilities, so you can have them shown on another class by setting the cCstS2Expr field.

I tried adding this eval script, but I don't see anything showing up in the Druid tab:

<eval phase="PostLevel" priority="99999999" index="7"><![CDATA[
linkage[varies].field[cCstS2Expr].text = "(SpecSource.cHelpMnk) & !Helper.Secondary & !Helper.Tertiary"
]]></eval>

I'm just starting to learn HL scripting. I am a programmer by trade and really appreciate your advice, Aaron!

 

[Mathias]

Try other phase & priority combinations for the same thing.

In this case, it looks like you want to be after Final/9999999, so you're currently too early.

 

[HammerStrike]

Try other phase & priority combinations for the same thing.

I tried this without success:

<eval phase="Validation" priority="99999999" index="7"><![CDATA[
linkage[varies].field[cCstS2Expr].text = "(SpecSource.cHelpMnk) & !Helper.Secondary & !Helper.Tertiary"
]]></eval>

I'm still learning the ropes on HL scripting. Am I misunderstanding your suggestion?

In fact, is "SpecSource.cHelpMnk" correct? I just copied this script from the archetype Aaron suggested above. Is the line above going to get the Monk Vows to appear in the Druid tab?

 

[HammerStrike]

Also the monk robe is calculating wrong for the archetypes. because it upgrades the damage die 3 times for non monks and you count as both it seems.

I think i just resolved this by adding this eval script:

<eval phase="UserFirst" index="8">perform hero.assign[Classes.Monk]</eval>

Anyone think that's a good or bad approach?

 

[ShadowChemosh]

I think i just resolved this by adding this eval script:

<eval phase="UserFirst" index="8">perform hero.assign[Classes.Monk]</eval>

Anyone think that's a good or bad approach?

Most likely bad as your telling HL you have another Monk level. So without testing I am assuming your Hit Dice will be considered one higher than it should be.

 

[Mathias]

Validation is too late.

Try later in the Final phase than 9999999

 

[HammerStrike]

Most likely bad as your telling HL you have another Monk level. So without testing I am assuming your Hit Dice will be considered one higher than it should be.

I was worried about the same thing, but the "tHitDice" hero field is accurate as I add and remove levels. Is that the right way to test that?

 

[HammerStrike]

Try later in the Final phase than 9999999

My eval tag looks like this:

<eval phase="Final" priority="9999999999" index="7"><![CDATA[
linkage[varies].field[cCstS2Expr].text = "(SpecSource.cHelpMnk) & !Helper.Secondary & !Helper.Tertiary"
]]></eval>

Does priority make it later or earlier? If so, is a higher number later or earlier? What should my eval tag above look like for me to try your suggestion?

Thanks!

 

[HammerStrike]

I think what I'm not understanding is how to configure the secondary abilities in the archetype.

To get Monk Vows to show in the Druid tab, what do I select for "Allow Secondary Abilities" and for "Modified Secondary Ability Count"?

 

[Mathias]

Secondary ability count is the number of selections of that ability type that the class gets at each level (row 0 = level 1, row 1 = level 2, etc.). If a level doesn't change from the previous level, you can leave it blank and Hero Lab will fill it in for you.

For the eval script, the timing is correct. As currently written, though, you'll get both the primary abilities (which for the monk is the Qinggong monk's set of abilities), and the quaternary abilities (the vows). You'll probably want to revise that to require Helper.Quaternary, instead of excluding Secondary and Tertiary.

 

[Mathias]

"Allow secondary abilities" would be a way to automatically write that cCstS2Expr for you, but it can't be used in this case, since you want to move the quaternary monk abilities into the secondary slot for druids, and the automated method can only handle secondary -> secondary.

 

[HammerStrike]

Things are starting to make a little more sense. I see "Add optional Monk Vows" in the Driud tab now, but when I click it I get a prompt saying "Nothing to choose from!".

I also tried doing this, something I sort of copied from the Monk class:


~ if the Ultimate Magic source is enabled, then we have access to Monk
~ Vows as a custom ability
if (hero.tagis[source.UltMagic] <> 0) then
linkage[varies].field[cSpec4thSi].text = "Monk Vow"
linkage[varies].field[cCustQuTot].arrayvalue[0] = 99
perform linkage[varies].assign[Helper.OptCustQua]
endif

Still nothing to choose from when I click to add vows.