Can a monk turn Ki strike off?
- Thread starter Mort
- Start date
LoneWolf23
First Post
I would even go as far as to say that normally, the Monk's hand to hand strikes aren't magical, until he focuses his Ki to enhance them. Thus, if he wants to make a normal, unenhanced strike, there are no penalties for him to do so.
Magic Rub said:
But you can attack to subdue with a magic weapon as well or with just about any melee weapon for that matter (most just have a minus). Besides, anyone with improved unarmed strike can choose to do subdual or regular damage, it’s not a function of being a monk. Ki strike is a function of being a monk.
But that opens up a whole can of worms. Is "focusing" Ki a free or a standard action? If it's like most abilities that require activation it's a standard action, and then it sucks to be the monk for the first round of combat.
Intrope
First Post
Actually, I'd say that Mort's monster should not only take damage from a monk's fist but also from magical weapons[1]. After all, a magical weapon is a normal sword with a enchantment on it; even if the creature is metaphysically oblivious to the enchantment, the 'sword' part of 'magic sword' is still there. Ditto for a monk's fist. It'd be much like the effect of an antimagic zone.
If the monster had some kind of reality-bending power where a normal piece of steel could effect it, but anything with any enchantment passes through it I'd find that incredibly weird. And really easy to defeat, too: Any character with even a single buff spell could simply ignore the monster entirely! (It can't touch enchanted things at all...)
As a practical matter, I can only think of one circumstance where a monk would want to be able to suppress his Ki strike power: a monk trying to disguise himself as a weaker monk.
1: except for Brilliant Energy weapons, which don't have a physical part.
If the monster had some kind of reality-bending power where a normal piece of steel could effect it, but anything with any enchantment passes through it I'd find that incredibly weird. And really easy to defeat, too: Any character with even a single buff spell could simply ignore the monster entirely! (It can't touch enchanted things at all...)
As a practical matter, I can only think of one circumstance where a monk would want to be able to suppress his Ki strike power: a monk trying to disguise himself as a weaker monk.
1: except for Brilliant Energy weapons, which don't have a physical part.
Magic Rub
First Post
Mort,
IMO, You are making things WAY more complex then they need to be.
If you're talking about a 'monks' unarmed strike, then yes it is a function of being a Monk, just as much a Ki strike is.
...
If it's a big deal, & you feel it needs more "Balance". Then just give the PC a negative to hit equal to the bonus he would have gained from his Ki stike. As a penalty for him not using his Ki "Classes Bonus".
IMO activation time should not even be an issue, look at it like... oh I don't know... off the top of my head lets say the Power attack feat. The PC simply will declare it if need be at the beginning of the battle. ie; "Unless I tell you otherwise, I will not be using my Ki during this fight"
Ki strike is a supernatural ability which reflects the monks increasing control of his Ki (flow of energy/power). A monk should have enough control to turn off his power. Is it your opinion that a lower level monk (one without a Ki strike) should have the benefit being able to Damage/kill these magical weapon immune creatures. Then one day when they level & get there Ki strike & suddenly not be able to?
The fact of the matter is a Ki strike is a character Bonus. Bonus's are meant to be beneficial to the character.
IMO, You are making things WAY more complex then they need to be.
If you're talking about a 'monks' unarmed strike, then yes it is a function of being a Monk, just as much a Ki strike is.
...
If it's a big deal, & you feel it needs more "Balance". Then just give the PC a negative to hit equal to the bonus he would have gained from his Ki stike. As a penalty for him not using his Ki "Classes Bonus".
IMO activation time should not even be an issue, look at it like... oh I don't know... off the top of my head lets say the Power attack feat. The PC simply will declare it if need be at the beginning of the battle. ie; "Unless I tell you otherwise, I will not be using my Ki during this fight"
Ki strike is a supernatural ability which reflects the monks increasing control of his Ki (flow of energy/power). A monk should have enough control to turn off his power. Is it your opinion that a lower level monk (one without a Ki strike) should have the benefit being able to Damage/kill these magical weapon immune creatures. Then one day when they level & get there Ki strike & suddenly not be able to?
The fact of the matter is a Ki strike is a character Bonus. Bonus's are meant to be beneficial to the character.
Last edited:
RigaMortus
Explorer
Ki Strike is a (Su) ability...
Does it take a Standard Action to activate Ki Strike?
Does it take a Standard Action to activate Ki Strike?
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