Monk Good Aligned Natural Weapons

[Dannyalcatraz]

There are also a couple of variant base class monks that would let you multiclass into classes that have abilities, spells or powers that would let you defeat or bypass DR in some way.

http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/221182-monk-database-now-added-detail.html?pp=15
Monk (OA p18). Note: adds new Monk weapons & free multiclassing

Monk (FR p25, Champions of Valor p36) Broken Ones- multiclassing w/Clerics, Divine Champions, Arcane Devotees, Divine Disciples, Hierophants, and Divine Seekers of Ilmater

Monk (FR p25) Dark Moon- multiclassing w/Sorc, Monk & Sorc must be within 2 lvls of each other

Monk (FR p25, FR:Shining South p32) Hin Fist- multiclassing w/Ftr, Rog, Pal. Note: in FR, it is implied that this is a base class, while in FR:SS it is described as a variant of the Sacred Fist PrCl (see PrCls below).

Monk (FR p25, PGtF p65) Long Death- multiclassing w/Ftr, Assn, Blackguard

Monk (FR p25) Old Order- multiclassing w/Roc, Sorc, Shadowdancer (Monk lvls> all other lvls)

Monk (FR p25) Shining Hand- multiclassing w/Wiz ( Monk Lvls ? Wiz lvls)

Monk (FR p25, Champions of Valor p34 CoS: Waterdeep p41) Sun Soul - multiclassing w/one other class as long as Monk lvls highest

Monk (FR p25) Yellow Rose- multiclassing w/Rgr & Shadowdancers

Monk (UA p52) Fighting Styles: Cobra Strike, Denying Stance, Hand and Foot, Invisible Eye, Overwhelming Attack, Passive Way, Sleeping Tiger, Undying Way

Monk (Eb p38) multiclassing & feat options

 

[glass]

Um, you may not know this, but that only applies to non-monks.
Monks get to treat their unarmed strikes as Natural or manufactored weapon when beneficial (thus they can get Align weapon cast on them).

Align Weapon is a spectacularly badly worded spell, considering that unarmed strikes are not natural weapons to begin with. The problem with align weapon is that it affects "weapon touched" and you can't touch an unarmed strike. The monks ability doesn't explicitly overcome this restriction, but since the ability would largely useless without that provision it is generally read into it. You have to do quite a lot of that with the monk description!

(And no, monks are not proficient with gauntlets, so that means multiclass, spend a feat, or take a -4 attacking with it and REALLY only use it in emergencies.)

Do you need to be proficient with gauntlet? As you mentioned they just adjust you unarmed strike. That said, monks aren't actually proficient with unarmed strikes either...


glass.

 

[Shin Okada]

Monks can use gauntlets. But gauntlets are still weapons (and not monk weapons) and thus, Monks can't use increased unarmed damage dice, flurry of blow and such.

Monks still have Improved Unarmed Strike feat, and it helps when using gauntlets, though.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

The problem with align weapon is that it affects "weapon touched" and you can't touch an unarmed strike.

A monk's whole body can be used as a weapon -- punches, kicks, elbows, knees, headbutts, butt bounces...whatever strikes your fancy. So I don't see why merely touching the monk's body at any location wouldn't be sufficient...

Do you need to be proficient with gauntlet? As you mentioned they just adjust you unarmed strike. That said, monks aren't actually proficient with unarmed strikes either...

I don't know, it is listed as a simple weapon, and unlike the questionable status of unarmed strike (which I've decided is a "manufactured weapon" normally, with monks getting special treatment), is definitely a manufactured weapon. The -4 or get simple weapon proficiency clause also seemed like a nice counter balance to allowing gauntlet-armed monks to overcome material DR (and I suppose even cheaply enhance their unarmed strikes, not that they didn't just get GMW or GMF cast in most parties anyway).

Monks can use gauntlets. But gauntlets are still weapons (and not monk weapons) and thus, Monks can't use increased unarmed damage dice, flurry of blow and such.

Monks still have Improved Unarmed Strike feat, and it helps when using gauntlets, though.

First off, how does IUS help with gauntlets? Gauntlets make your attacks lethal and thus get rid of the act of provoking AoO's. Further, by my interpretation, gauntlets remove the ability to choose lethal or nonlethal that IUS grants. So what exactly is the feat benefiting you in that circumstance?

As to your first point...what?! Gauntlets may be weapons, but they don't have their own damage value. They are unarmed strikes, and deal appropriate (lethal) unarmed strike damage. How would the monk's higher unarmed damage not apply?

 

[Shin Okada]

First off, how does IUS help with gauntlets? Gauntlets make your attacks lethal and thus get rid of the act of provoking AoO's. Further, by my interpretation, gauntlets remove the ability to choose lethal or nonlethal that IUS grants. So what exactly is the feat benefiting you in that circumstance?

From SRD,

Gauntlet: This metal glove lets you deal lethal damage rather than nonlethal damage with unarmed strikes. A strike with a gauntlet is otherwise considered an unarmed attack. The cost and weight given are for a single gauntlet. Medium and heavy armors (except breastplate) come with gauntlets.

Gauntlets lets you deal lethal damages with your unarmed strike without Improved Unarmed Strike feat and that is all the benefit you can get from them. Unarmed strikes are still unarmed strikes and thus provokes AoO if you don't have IUS feat.

As to your first point...what?! Gauntlets may be weapons, but they don't have their own damage value. They are unarmed strikes, and deal appropriate (lethal) unarmed strike damage. How would the monk's higher unarmed damage not apply?

It was my mistake, It the rule clarification was changed in the last FAQ. A monk gains increased Unarmed Damages but not Fully of Blows. In the earlier version of FAQ, the sage was answering that monks cannot use their increased damage.

Can a monk use a +5 gauntlet in an unarmed attack, gaining all of her class benefits as well as the +5 bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls from the gauntlet?

Gauntlets are indeed a weapon. If a monk uses any weapon not listed as a special monk weapon, she does not gain her better attack rate. She would, however, gain the increased
damage for unarmed attacks.

The main reasoning is that monk is using a non-monk weapon. But while Flurry of Blows rules prohibit a monk from using a non-special-monk weapon, Unarmed Strike class feature does not specifically says so.

From SRD,

The monk can’t use any weapon other than a special monk weapon as part of a flurry of blows.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Align Weapon is a spectacularly badly worded spell, considering that unarmed strikes are not natural weapons to begin with.

Though (admittedly) WizCustServ insists that unarmed strikes ≠ natural weapons, all the language equating unarmed strikes and natural weapons from the PHB on was all added in 3.5 sources...

Besides that, StreamOfTheSky's response rings true to me.

A monk's whole body can be used as a weapon -- punches, kicks, elbows, knees, headbutts, butt bounces...whatever strikes your fancy. So I don't see why merely touching the monk's body at any location wouldn't be sufficient...

Anyway, if you want to be a stickler about it, but you have access to DCv1, just have the PC take WFoc: Gauntlet and Unorthodox Flurry: Gauntlet and voila- the Gauntlets will be treated as a monk weapon for that PC.

...or use the aforementioned Sohei class or Shou Disciple and you'll still get to use some kind of FoB type ability with the Gauntlets.