Monk Preview

[jasin]

Probably the Warden, because the designers had to look at the 3e druid and go, "Well, he does so much. So lets split his weapon-using ass-beating schtick into one class, his healing thing into another class, and his shapeshifting spellcasting into a third class."

I've never seen anyone say that the 3E druid had a weapon-using schtick before. Sure, they had shillelagh and flame blade, but everyone I know considered that just something to fill time until they finally got wild shape.

 

[Nymrohd]

What class would be ki-powered, but not Asian in flavour?

Many people thought incarnum could be translated into ki (since they are both based on the power of souls). That alone could allow for several classes and certainly was not Asian in flavor. And yeah, apart from monk and sohei, none of the other Asian classes were really related to Ki to begin with.

 

[Nymrohd]

I've never seen anyone say that the 3E druid had a weapon-using schtick before. Sure, they had shillelagh and flame blade, but everyone I know considered that just something to fill time until they finally got wild shape.

Yup the warden has his own schtick. And frankly the shaman did not get the druid's healing, he had his own healing to begin with. Shamans have been there for a long time. Druids simply lost certain aspects or had them diminished, they did not give them away.

 

[Mentat55]

I could imagine a feat:

Living Weapon
Prerequisite: Monk
Benefit: You gain the ability to use the Enchant Item ritual, but only for the purposes of enchanting your monk unarmed strike. Your level is considered 4 higher for purposes of this ritual.

 

[FDM]

"Psionic magic" ewwww Dear WOTC Please please don't utter those words together again.

In what way are psionics not magic? I'm not getting this here.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I am not sure, but if Enchant Magic Item works, couldn't Transfer Enchantment not also work? I think that will be something that playtesting will - at a minimum - add.

A further option would be some items similar to the Bard instruments - something that's normally not a implement/weapon, but grants similar benefits. For example, a Headband of Martial Arts (a homebrew item my group used for the 3.x Monk), Sandals of Tiger Leap or Monks Belt. Of course, they would then also give unique, monk-flavored abilities and not just your run-of-the-mill magic weapon enchantment.

I suspect that the lack of damage increases in the at-willl is an error, or at least something that will not survive play-testing.


Overall, I like it.
In a way, the Monk reminds me of the Barbarian - a class that adds its own "mini-subsystem" to its power mechanics that no one else gets, and helps to differentiate classes - without destroying the whole game balance concept behind the system.

Another example how much there is still to explore in the game system, even if it initially seems very straight-jacketed.

 

[Mad Mac]

In what way are psionics not magic? I'm not getting this here.

I can see people preferring the term "Psionics", but Psionic Magic isn't any different then saying Divine Magic, or Primal Magic.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Hmm, so what does the Implement keyword in Centered Flurry of Blows signify? It's true that this power phrases the damage in an unusual way, but I suspect that the monk still gets to add her enhancement bonus to damage.

I think it will allow you to add properties as well

I like the class writeup for the most part. The only thing that bugs me is the unwieldy keyword 'Full Discipline'. I've never had a problem with 4e's joined words like Feywild, but this one sounds particularly clunky. Maybe if the powers weren't called Disciplines themselves...

Have they used Focus as a keyword anywhere so far?

how did they miss, and if I am not mistaken noone else had said yet, STYLE...it would have been a better key word

I'm also not a fan of the fact that the weapon enhancements on a monk's fists will almost always be lower than the rest of the party because you can't find magic fists as treasure, and have to spend the actual money to enchant them.

I agree here - it means that a monks magic weapons will typically be up to five levels below that of other party members - that's quite a lot!

you guys are both missing it then. Adventures Vault has a rit to transfer enchantments...find a +2 Flaming longsword at level 4...just transfer it to the fist, and if the fist was already +1 then now the long sword is +1 and can be sold or disenchanted...everyone wins an no one is behind the party.

If no one has the rit caster (like in my saterday game) then just pay 200 gp 175 for the scroll and 25 for the components...Heck my warlord walks around with 3 scrolls of transfer and 75gp of resdium just so I can durring short rest transfer things.

Transfer Enchantment
With great care and concentration, you carefully strip
magical power from one object to imbue it in another.
Level: 4 Component Cost: 25 gp
Category: Creation Market Price: 175 gp
Time: 1 hour Key Skill: Arcana (no check)
Duration: Permanent

 

[darjr]

I really like the idea of some magical piece of kit for unarmed attacks.

Like a silken scarf, confusing and distracting, hiding the killing punch. Or weighted wrist bands. Or straps of dragon hide wrapped around their arms, that would work kinda like a weight lifters belt. Or a small bar of precious metal held hidden within clenched fists. An ornate counter weight strapped to their backs to give them more centrifugal force doing spin kicks.

Maybe some of those things could add a bit of AC as well.

 

[Amphimir Míriel]

Ki was a stupid idea from the start, and I'm glad they're axing it. Psionic magic comes from inner manifested power. Ki was...well, inner manifested power, but I guess it was asian inner manifested power. Glad to see they realized what a bad idea that was.

Do you know what a ninja is? It's a rogue. That's what a ninja is. Seriously, it's a freaking rogue. Samurai? Fighter. There's no reason to give them alternate power sources.

Monk as psionic is a good fit. I can see it either as psionic or as martial, and they went with psionic, so uh, yeah.

You hit the nail right in the head here Cirno (and God knows we don't agree very often)

I remember that Rolemaster used to offer the following explanation (paraphrased from what I remember, bear with me):

Arcane is magic distilled from the universe

Divine is magic channeled from the deities

Psionics is magic squeezed out of your own being

In D&D 4E you could extrapolate that to say that Primal is magic channeled from the living things in the world and Martial...

...

...Martial is magic channeled from your own badassery?

It doesn´t matter anymore. "Waaah, Dragons´ Tail Cut!!!1!" threads were only ways of saying "me fear that Anime will touch unborn D&D edition and corrupt forever into Naruto °° ".

Well, to be fair, in my group we find it very entertaining when, while describing the effect of the power used, the character shouts the name of the power*.

"Rain! Of! Blooooows! Swosh! swish! Snicker-snack!"

Don't know if this has Naruto-fied our D&D experience, but it's a lot of fun

*With encounter and daily powers only, by preference

Does it bother anyone else that Religion isn't on the monk's class skill list?
It really bothers me. Especially with a Paragon path that requires it in the article.
I mean not all monks are religious, but many are, and usually quite learned.

Agreed, lets send an email to WotC

I'm also not a fan of the fact that the weapon enhancements on a monk's fists will almost always be lower than the rest of the party because you can't find magic fists as treasure, and have to spend the actual money to enchant them.

Here I disagree... it is quite simple to add a "scroll with a secret technique that imbues your fists with lightning and crumbles after reading" to the treasure parcels