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Monk Weapons
- Thread starter Psimancer
- Start date
Lasher Dragon
First Post
The weapon's damage. This is why (especially at later levels) it's almost pointless for a monk to use weaponry. He will never get the kind of damage he can get unarmed.
The only time I use weaponry as a monk is when I am fighting something I'd rather not touch, such as a fire elemental or an ooze.
The only time I use weaponry as a monk is when I am fighting something I'd rather not touch, such as a fire elemental or an ooze.
Doctor Shaft
First Post
Ah, you have located one of the blunders of WoTC regarding the monk class and their complete lack of feasible flexibility within the class, not just in multiclassing. 
I guess the big change that 3.5 did that gives monks an advantage is that they are allowed to, within their attacks, interchange weapon strikes and unarmed strikes FREELY. This is something that many players probably do not take advantage of.
So, say your monk, with flurry of blows, had 3 attacks at +9/9/6
Your first attack could be with the kama at 9, your next attack a kick at 9, and then your next attack another kama strike again, or another unarmed strike.
A strategy you could use with that is to give enchanted monk items that give you defensive bonuses of some sort. Like one of those "Defending" weapons where you take the enhancement bonus and add it to your AC instead of your AB in given arounds. So long as you're wielding the weapon, he can still use the item, and then throw your viscious kicks in at the same time.
Granted... all of this isn't a really big deal. A kama gives you a +2 to Trip, so you trip on +9, get the free attack (smash em with a kick), then do something nasty like Stunning Fist them the next round (or you probably can't, so just kick em again) and then... uh yeah, kick em again.
The only monk weapon that is entirely useless is the quarterstaff, and perhaps the siangham, since both weapons do not provide a bonus in any sort of maneuver the monk does.
I guess the big change that 3.5 did that gives monks an advantage is that they are allowed to, within their attacks, interchange weapon strikes and unarmed strikes FREELY. This is something that many players probably do not take advantage of.
So, say your monk, with flurry of blows, had 3 attacks at +9/9/6
Your first attack could be with the kama at 9, your next attack a kick at 9, and then your next attack another kama strike again, or another unarmed strike.
A strategy you could use with that is to give enchanted monk items that give you defensive bonuses of some sort. Like one of those "Defending" weapons where you take the enhancement bonus and add it to your AC instead of your AB in given arounds. So long as you're wielding the weapon, he can still use the item, and then throw your viscious kicks in at the same time.
Granted... all of this isn't a really big deal. A kama gives you a +2 to Trip, so you trip on +9, get the free attack (smash em with a kick), then do something nasty like Stunning Fist them the next round (or you probably can't, so just kick em again) and then... uh yeah, kick em again.
The only monk weapon that is entirely useless is the quarterstaff, and perhaps the siangham, since both weapons do not provide a bonus in any sort of maneuver the monk does.
Patryn of Elvenshae
First Post
Doctor Shaft said:
That's not a 3.5 change. It was in 3.0, as well.
Quarterstaff is useless?
Doctor Shaft
First Post
Well, sure. Why would you ever use the quarterstaff over, say a kama, or your unarmed strike.
You could use one end and get a 1.5 str. instead of 1X str. bonus. But... it has no bonuses to any action, it's big, you can't sneak in with it, and you might as well just club a person with your hands.
My opinion on that matter.
And, I figured i was wrong somewhere with the 3.0-3.5 thing.
You could use one end and get a 1.5 str. instead of 1X str. bonus. But... it has no bonuses to any action, it's big, you can't sneak in with it, and you might as well just club a person with your hands.
My opinion on that matter.
And, I figured i was wrong somewhere with the 3.0-3.5 thing.
Patryn of Elvenshae
First Post
Doctor Shaft said:
It's innocuous. Sure, it's hard to hide, but everybody and their brother has a walking stick of some sort, so you don't have to hide it.
It's a double weapon, meaning you can get each side enhanced to taste, and always have both sides in-hand. It's faster to draw / ready than two kamas (or any other two-weapon combination).
There are some great staff-fighting feats - ones that prevent flanking when fighting defensively, etc.
It's certainly not the be-all and end-all of weapons, but I think it's far from useless.
Patryn of Elvenshae
First Post
pbd said:
There are a couple in Eberron. They are called, I think, Whirling Steel Strike, Serpent Strike, and ... one other.
They allow you to treat a double-bladed sword, longspear, and longsword as monk weapons, respectively.
Each requires at least Weapon Focus in the appropriate weapon.
billd91
Not your screen monkey (he/him)
A monk might use weapons for the same reason any character might carry more than one weapon - contingencies may arise that require them. A monk's unarmed strikes might eventually be counted as magic, lawful, and adamantine, but they aren't ghosttouch. That would certainly come in handy against incorporeal foes.
A magic weapon might also have a power the monk happens to like using, including a magic bonus to hit that won't be available with his unarmed attacks (short of using spells like Magic Weapon).
A magic weapon might also have a power the monk happens to like using, including a magic bonus to hit that won't be available with his unarmed attacks (short of using spells like Magic Weapon).
RigaMortus
Explorer
Can't you also use a Quarterstaff as a 2handed weapon? Allowing you to get 1.5 Str bonus to damage? Also getting +2 for -1 if you have power attack?
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