D&D 5E Polearm Master and the Q-Staff

[Werebat]

Human Monk takes Polearm Master at level 1.

He uses a Quarterstaff.

Ordinarily, by level 2 he can use Ki to make a Flurry of Blows and make two unarmed strikes as a bonus action, in addition to his normal quarterstaff (or unarmed strike) attack.

Polearm Master allows a "butt attack" as a bonus action, which can't stack with Flurry of Blows but doesn't require Ki.

I think I have all of that right.

Here's the big question that came up the other night:

The second part of the PM feat says that "other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter your reach" if you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, or quarterstaff.

The quarterstaff is not a reach weapon. Does this mean that this part of the PM feat is basically "wasted"? Or does anyone approaching this monk provoke an opportunity attack whenever they close in for melee (get within 5 feet of the monk)?

 

[77IM]

Rules Algebra

your reach = 5 feet from you
when they enter your reach = when they enter 5 feet from you

So if the are not within 5 feet of you, and they enter a space that is within 5 feet of you, I'd say that triggers the reaction.

I don't see why that logic would work with a weapon with 10 foot reach and not one with 5 foot reach. "Your reach" is different than "a reach weapon."

 

[Sage Genesis]

Regarding the butt attack (man that feels weird to type), yes that is correct. Do note however that the Monk can already make a single extra attack as a bonus action with his martial arts. It's the third bullet point of the description. The flurry of blows ability is to let you spend ki for two additional attacks. So the extra attack from polearm mastery is, in essence, superfluous.

With the feat the Monk can make an opportunity attack when people enter his reach. Reach is defined on page 195 and is by default 5 feet. So as soon as someone steps next to the Monk, he'd be able to attack them. (Assuming he's still got his reaction and such.)

 

[Lidgar]

Or does anyone approaching this monk provoke an opportunity attack whenever they close in for melee (get within 5 feet of the monk)?

This. Works the same if you were wielding a reach weapon. When the enter your reach (i.e., get within 5' of you in this case), you can use your reaction to make one attack with your quaterstaff, doing 1d6 if with one hand or 1d8 with both hands (plus your Dex modifier if a monk).

 

[Werebat]

Ha -- so he's still wasting half a feat, just not the half we thought he might be. OK, thanks.

 

[bganon]

Personally I'd probably grant a free proficiency to the Monk for taking the feat - the image of a Monk with a glaive (naginata) is pretty cool. I've also considered adding a "long staff" as a two-handed d10 reach weapon.

 

[Leatherhead]

Ha -- so he's still wasting half a feat, just not the half we thought he might be. OK, thanks.

Considering that the Quarterstaff is still a Monk Weapon, it is perfectly reasonable to rule that the bonus attack granted from from the feat benefits from dice size bonus from the Monk Martial Arts ability. Which means the "butt end" attack would be merely redundant instead of useless, with a potential to be useful if they ever get their hands on a magic Quarterstaff or Spear

 

[Sage Genesis]

Considering that the Quarterstaff is still a Monk Weapon, it is perfectly reasonable to rule that the bonus attack granted from from the feat benefits from dice size bonus from the Monk Martial Arts ability. Which means the "butt end" attack would be merely redundant instead of useless, with a potential to be useful if they ever get their hands on a magic Quarterstaff or Spear

I'm not sure how this makes the butt end attack useful? Feat or no, the martial arts bonus attack already has all this.

 

[Leatherhead]

I'm not sure how this makes the butt end attack useful? Feat or no, the martial arts bonus attack already has all this.

It's only useful if the weapon is magic (like +1, or flaming), otherwise it is redundant.

 

[Sage Genesis]

It's only useful if the weapon is magic (like +1, or flaming), otherwise it is redundant.

That still doesn't explain anything. Do you think that the Monk's inherent bonus action attack wouldn't benefit from +1/flaming or something? If the weapon was somehow magical, what would the butt end attack provide that the martial arts attack couldn't?