Confusion in Monk's Belt

[Drowbane]

Do note that you also get the unarmed strike damage of a 5th level monk, 1d8, which is considerably better than the standard 1d3. There aren't many ways of improving your unarmed strike damage without levels of monk. It offers these benefits together in a single item, and is useful for both monks and non-monks. 13,000 gp seems reasonable for that.

The ultimate conclusion we can draw is that the item is poorly worded, and you'll need to establish how the item functions in your game. The RPGA has set a precedent for just the +1 AC bonus, however.

[drama]Are you F'n high?![/drama]

13k for +1 to Ac and deal the same base damage as a Longsword?

Seriously, who'd pay for that?

 

[Drowbane]

It's funny everyone keeps bringing up the infinite resource bit and high-level tradeoffs of the monk's belt.

The question comes from our 42nd level campaign, actually. I have 20 levels of monk, so I get the wisdom bonus from class. The character that bought the monk's belt, however, is not a monk and in fact a cleric....wisdom through the roof.

In my perspective it seems ridiculous to grant a stat to AC through monetary means. Why don't they just throw in Intelligene like the duelist and Charisma deflection to deflection like some creatures.

Seems there is no agreed ruling on the situation, could we duke it out a bit longer?

For a 42nd level campaign your friend could have easily just been a 40th level Cleric (or whatever he is now) 1st level Monk, 1st level Shiba Protector (OA, 1 level dip gives you Wis to hit and damage).

He'd never notice whatever he lost from two levels of his current build.

 

[glass]

13k for +1 to Ac and deal the same base damage as a Longsword?

...except non-lethal.

Seriously, who'd pay for that?

Who indeed?


glass.

 

[Rystil Arden]

[drama]Are you F'n high?![/drama]

13k for +1 to Ac and deal the same base damage as a Longsword?

Seriously, who'd pay for that?

Ummm...I've seen people buy +5 Amulets of Natural Armour and Rings of Protection instead of +4. That's 18k for just a +1 AC, one of which is not to touch attacks. Monk's Belt is a decent high-level option even without Wis.

 

[Sejs]

Personally, I'm really not a big fan of the "Class Levels In A Can" aspect that the Monk's Belt offers, but yeah.. officially it does grant the Wis bonus to AC thing.

If it didn't, it'd be a lot cheaper.

What I want to know is where is the "Rage as a 5th lvl barbarian" or "Sneak Attack as a 5th lvl rogue" belt?

 

[Thanee]

Kinda funny, that the monk's belt is much better for non-monks that way, even though it's a more of a monk item.

Bye
Thanee

 

[robberbaron]

I agree Thanee, that's why my group has ruled that it doesn't give the WIS bonus to non-monks (readily agreed to by the player of the druid who wanted to use it).
Seemed very silly to us that an item made for a Monk would be of more benefit to a non-Monk.

And, to a monk, 13k is a pretty good deal for what you get.

 

[robberbaron]

The question comes from our 42nd level campaign, actually.

Holy Cr*p! How much do you have to play to get to 42nd level?

 

[Hypersmurf]

Seemed very silly to us that an item made for a Monk would be of more benefit to a non-Monk.

Like the Belt of Dwarvenkind is better for non-dwarves?

-Hyp.

 

[robberbaron]

Exactly.