Monk Question

[Kel]

The way I read the revised monk class (recently released by WotC), monks no longer get a +3 proficiency bonus (applicable to their "unarmed strikes") when attacking with most monk powers. Basically, in order to get the bonus, the power has to have the "weapon" keyword (and I'm not sure any of them have that keyword, actually).

Of course, they'll still get the +3 bonus if they decide to try an unamred strike as a melee basic attack, but since none of their actual powers seem to rely on the unarmed strike anymore, they won't get it when using their powers.

Is everyone else reading it the same? Is that an oversight by the designers? A drop of -3 in the attack modifier seems like a significant decresase in power to me...

 

[chitzk0i]

They don't use their proficiency bonus for attack rolls because none of their attacks target AC.

 

[Droogie128]

All monk powers are implement powers now, so you don't get the proficiency bonus. However, the powers all attack NADs, so the loss of the proficiency doesn't hurt so much.

 

[Kel]

Good point. I hadn't considered the defenses being targeted.

 

[Eric888]

Unfortunately they seem to have replaced most instances of AC with Fortitude, which is usually close to the same, so expect monks to start missing a lot.

 

[Mort_Q]

Unfortunately they seem to have replaced most instances of AC with Fortitude, which is usually close to the same, so expect monks to start missing a lot.

I'm far too lazy... anyone have anything quantitative to add to this?

 

[Destil]

(by level, keep in mind we only have one build)

-At Wills-
F 2
R 2
W 0

-Encounters-
F 1 1 1 0 0 1 1
R 1 1 1 1 2 1 0
W 0 0 0 1 0 0 1

-Dailies-
F 1 1 2* 1 0  0 0
R 1 1 1* 1 2+ 2 2
W 0 0 0  0 0  0 0
*Strength to Weakness is Fort or Reflex, I've counted it as 1 for each
+Rising Dragon Fire is Dex +2 vs. Reflex, in effect it's like a weapon power that targets reflex.

Reflex wins by a bit, Will looses by a lot.

 

[Mr. Teapot]

I'm far too lazy... anyone have anything quantitative to add to this?

"Fortitude is the highest defense" is true of MM1 monsters, but not monsters in the MM2 or later publications. In more recent books, the NADs have been closer to balanced, whereas in the MM1 Fort was on average only slightly below AC, and sometimes above it. Depending on what monster books your GM looks at, it may or may not be an issue (and as conventional wisdom, it needs taken with a grain of salt).

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Additionally, it depends on what level your characters are - I know in low heroic, there are a lot of monsters with really good reflex defences.