Is my monk the Flash?

[Lucius Foxhound]

I've got a Monk 8/Wiz 1 that I'm making. His normal movement rate is 50'. If he gets himself a pair of Boots of Striding and Springing (doubles movement) and then casts Expeditious Retreat on himself (also doubles movement)... how fast is he going? Is he like the Flash or something?

The description of Expeditious Retreat mentions that they are enhancement bonuses.. but the boots don't mention what sort of bonus it grants.

A followup, would the +10 jumping bonus of the Boots of S&S stack with a Ring of Jumping? The Boots grant you a "competency bonus" but the ring (like the spell) gives an unnamed bonus.

Thanks!

 

[Shin Okada]

If we read the rule by the words, yes, Expeditious Retreat and Boots of S&S do stack. So the speed of your Monk is now 150 (double + double = triple). But many DMs are thinking that a spell effect and an effect of magic item which requires that spell as a prerequisite should not stack. So your DM may say so.

Same can be said for bonuses to your Jump skill.

 

[Jay Lofstead]

I just read either on ENWorld or over at Monte Cook's site that this has been clarified to not allow stacking. Further, once a monk's speed becomes supernatural (when it gets to 60' per round), that additional speed is not doubled. So the max movement rate for a medium monk would be 100' (when it is doubled).

The reasoning behind this is twofold:
1. Supernatural abilities are effectively magical effects.
2. Like magical effects do not stack unless explicitly stated that they do.

I was bummed by this as well. With a 12th level monk, I was looking forward to the 140' movement rate when I got my boots.

 

[Spatzimaus]

First of all, I think it's been clarified that the boots are an Enhancement bonus, although I wouldn't know where to find it. Second, it's been said (by the Sage, I think) that if an item uses a spell in its construction (and more or less duplicates the effect of the spell) that it's assumed not to stack with that spell. That's the guideline Shin Okada was referring to; I think it first came up when someone asked if Armor of Speed stacked with Haste.

So, by these rulings, Expeditious Retreat wouldn't stack with the boots, and neither would stack with Monk movement over 50'.

 

[Magic Rub]

He needs Haste, or boots of speed(haste) what ever they're called.

 

[Mr Fidgit]

Is he like the Flash or something?

not until he can run up buildings, run through walls and travel trough different dimensions. (hmmm...spider climb, passwall, planeshift -- he's not the Flash yet, but he could be! )

i would rule against the effects stacking precisely because of what Shin said:

But many DMs are thinking that a spell effect and an effect of magic item which requires that spell as a prerequisite should not stack.

 

[Gaiden]

The boots description specifically states that the bonus does not stack with Exp. Ret.

 

[Shin Okada]

The boots description specifically states that the bonus does not stack with Exp. Ret.

??? What is your source. My DMG & official errata PDF, do not have sentence.

I am on "should not stack" side. But anyway I cannot find that description you have mentioned.

 

[Tom Cashel]

That Saeito is going to be one tough hombre.

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

Yep ... even without the stacking, he's moving at 100' a round and he's got Spring Attack and a Monk's Belt (grants Haste for 10 rounds). Plus, he'll buff himself with Shield and Mage Armor. Toss in a ring a jumping, and he's gonna go all-Matrix on your a**!

Of course, I'm in the category that monks are still underpowered at high levels. But damn, they can be so much more fun than crappy fighters.

PS Tom up there is my DM. He'd never allow stacking anyway. Hell, he wouldn't allow Bull's Strength to stack with my normal 20 strength because in his words: "Eh? You're strong enough. Now roll for initiative against the 7 Mind Flayers..."

He's a magnificent bastard, though, isn't he?