Monk Preview

[Rechan]

I'm certainly interested in seeing a spear-using monk. Mm, reach.

Although, I kinda am wondering how you would do "I pick up improvised weapons" ala Jackie Chan. Lifting up a sewer grate and using it like a shield, etc etc.

 

[ppaladin123]

Monks have thievery, stealth and perception as class skills. They also have reason to boost their wisdom. They might end up as better trap specialists than rogues oddly enough.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Mighty Monk Merge (since there were 4 threads about it at once)

 

[No Name]

There's something I'm not sure I understand.

When I use a full discipline power, can I use both techniques in the same round, or must I choose between them?

This is how I think it works.

If I use Dancing Cobra, I can do both the move technique and the standard technique in that round, in any order. Since it's at At-Will, I can do the move technique twice (dropping my standard to a move).

If I use Drunken Monkey, I can still do both move and standard techniques in the same round, but I can't use the move technique twice because it's an Encounter power.

I do get the part about not mixing powers - so no Dancing Cobra move with Drunken Monkey attack.

 

[MadLordOfMilk]

There's something I'm not sure I understand.

When I use a full discipline power, can I use both techniques in the same round, or must I choose between them?

This is how I think it works.

If I use Dancing Cobra, I can do both the move technique and the standard technique in that round, in any order. Since it's at At-Will, I can do the move technique twice (dropping my standard to a move).

If I use Drunken Monkey, I can still do both move and standard techniques in the same round, but I can't use the move technique twice because it's an Encounter power.

I do get the part about not mixing powers - so no Dancing Cobra move with Drunken Monkey attack.

Correct. As far as the last example, though, it IS possible if you wanted to burn an Action Point on it (though you'd still be left with a standard action that can't be spent on the Drunken Monkey attack again).

 

[Mentat55]

I like it. While the monk's power source is psionic, the flavor of the powers (descriptions, names, even mechanics) screams wuxia to me. I like the extreme mobility -- something the 3rd edition monk had, but pretty much lost because you wanted to full attack and flurry. This monk seems really slippery.

The extra damage mechanic is actually pretty close to what I expected for a monk -- a free action extra attack (in this case, auto-damage) after you hit with another attack. It is unclear to me right now whether the extra damage is really enough to make it the monk a good striker -- but I guess as you reach levels where you can hit two targets, or all adjacent targets, you'll get an interesting blend of striker and controller. And the Str build might be harder hitting, a la the difference between the Brutal Scoundrel and Artful Dodger.

I am continually impressed with how the designers come up with different ways to express a role. I still need to give the monk a try in-game (I think I might fire up an NPC shortly for one of my play-by-post games).

The Full Discipline keyword needs to be explained much more clearly -- as it stands right now, the way I read it is that when you use an encounter Full Disciple power, you can use either the move action or the standard action, not both. But stricter wording and perhaps a very clear example would be much more helpful.

 

[vagabundo]

I have to say - and I really wasn't expecting it - that this might turn out to be my favourite class in 4e.

I wasnt even really looking forward to the article, but this is how the Monk should have always been, a bad ass.

Damn, now I'm itching to play again - that seven year itch - but noone in my group will DM...

 

[Rechan]

I do think that you could, for instance, use the Drunken Monkey movement technique twice (A double move; one move action, and trading your standard for a move action). You could only do this on the turn you use the Drunken Monkey encounter power.

 

[Dice4Hire]

I do think that you could, for instance, use the Drunken Monkey movement technique twice (A double move; one move action, and trading your standard for a move action). You could only do this on the turn you use the Drunken Monkey encounter power.

The number of times you can use a full
discipline power’s techniques during a round
is determined by the power’s type—at-will or
encounter—and by the actions you have available
that round. For example, you can use the
techniques of an at-will full discipline power as
many times during a round as you like, provided
you have enough of the required actions, but
you can use the techniques of an encounter full
discipline power once during a round.

As it says on page 4, and quoted above, I do not think so, but it seems odd that you cannot. As the above it quoted, it does not even seem like you can do a double move technique on an encounter power. It does see clear you can use an at-will Full technique power's movement multiple times a round.

 

[No Name]

Thanks for the replies.

Glad to see I didn't fail my reading comprehension check.