D&D 4E 4E Monk & Melee touch

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Darkthorne

First Post

• Jun 14, 2010

• #1

OK, sorry if I have mised this but how is melee touch any different than a regular attack? The reason I ask is I am not getting the +3 weapon proficiency for my powers yet my weapon focus feat gets counted. According to WOTC Cust Service it is because all the powers state melee touch not [W] yet weapon focus is added in??? A striker that can't hit seeems a bit lame. Help please.

 

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Nichwee

First Post

• Jun 14, 2010

• #2

Melee Touch refers to range not weapon use. If the power has the weapon keyword then proficiency bonus to hit would be included.

Melee Touch just means it has a range = to your "natural reach", so if you were a big creature (or had the right abilities) it would any range upto 2 (or so) while normally it is range 1 - but it would not be effectted by using a reach weapon such as a glaive/polearm as this range would indicated by the range being called Melee Weapon.

 

Mustrum_Ridcully

Hero

• Jun 14, 2010

• #3

Darkthorne said:

OK, sorry if I have mised this but how is melee touch any different than a regular attack? The reason I ask is I am not getting the +3 weapon proficiency for my powers yet my weapon focus feat gets counted. According to WOTC Cust Service it is because all the powers state melee touch not [W] yet weapon focus is added in??? A striker that can't hit seeems a bit lame. Help please.

Click to expand...

Your powers usually will not target AC, therefore you do not need the proficiency bonus to help you hit. Just like Sorcerers and Warlocks don't need it.

 

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spayne

First Post

• Jun 14, 2010

• #4

The proficiency bonus is only added on powers that have the Weapon keyword. Monks are implement users, so their powers do not have the Weapon keyword.

The Weapon Focus feat does not require a power to have the Weapon keyword, so it works when using a weapon as an implement.

 

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Tarrl

First Post

• Jun 14, 2010

• #5

Thank you! I was curious about melee touch as well.

 

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mysticknight232

First Post

• Jun 14, 2010

• #6

spayne said:

The proficiency bonus is only added on powers that have the Weapon keyword. Monks are implement users, so their powers do not have the Weapon keyword.

The Weapon Focus feat does not require a power to have the Weapon keyword, so it works when using a weapon as an implement.

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This seems to be missed the most by players and has been referenced in several Monk threads since the release of 4e. Monks are implement based and therefore they do not gain any weapon properties (proficiency, reach, brutal, defensive etc.). The only time you will gain +3 umarmed weapon proficiency bonus is when you're making a MBA. The Monk powers are all implement based so you will never gain non-magical weapon properties when using a Monk power.

Also, the range of the Monk powers will always be started on the power. Again, this is because they are implement based strikers. Magical properties such as +1 magic item still get added because it's a magical property. Likewise, if you're taking a feat for a Monk, you should take Versatile Expertise with Ki Focus and your weapon of choice. That way you gain the +1 feat bonus TH for both implement powers and MBAs as well.

Hope this clarifies things. People continue to be confused by the Monk, but the most important thing to remember is they are a melee based implement using striker. Think of them as a Wizard, only their spells are martial art moves. Their weapons are used to channel their focus and direct their attacks. The weapons themselves DO NOT deal the dmg, they just focus the dmg.

 

cdrcjsn

First Post

• Jun 14, 2010

• #7

Monks punch you in the NADs.

 

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Darkthorne

First Post

• Jun 15, 2010

• #8

Thank you all. The one thing that was throwing me was the bit of weapon focus being added in when apparently it shouldn't be.

 

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Droogie128

First Post

• Jun 15, 2010

• #9

Darkthorne said:

Thank you all. The one thing that was throwing me was the bit of weapon focus being added in when apparently it shouldn't be.

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Weapon focus works fine with monk powers since it doesn't require the weapon keyword. It's working as intended.

 

Black Knight Irios

Explorer

• Jun 15, 2010

• #10

Darkthorne said:

Thank you all. The one thing that was throwing me was the bit of weapon focus being added in when apparently it shouldn't be.

Click to expand...

Weapon Focus applies if the implement you are using is a weapon. That's why sorcerers like daggers and wizards staffs.