Monk weapon damage

[Quasqueton]

What would be the ramifications in allowing monks to do their unarmed damage with "monk weapons"?

I have a conceptual problem with monks doing damage to non-humanoid creatures with their bare hands. I was considering allowing them to get their improved damage with monk weapons (staff, kama, etc.).

Is adding magical enhancements to their damage really that much of a potential problem?

Quasqueton

 

[DanMcS]

What would be the ramifications in allowing monks to do their unarmed damage with "monk weapons"?

I have a conceptual problem with monks doing damage to non-humanoid creatures with their bare hands. I was considering allowing them to get their improved damage with monk weapons (staff, kama, etc.).

Is adding magical enhancements to their damage really that much of a potential problem?

I don't think that would be a very good idea; monks (especially high level oness) typically resort to weapons when they need a material or type (like slashing, holy, whatever) to penetrate DR. It's a tradeoff for them because they can penetrate the DR, and often get a magical bonus to-hit and damage, but do less damage overall. If they could do full monk damage with their weapons, all monks will use weapons all the time, because then you get your +3 cold iron flaming burst kama and you're doing way more damage than you would be with your fists, you hit more often due to the enhancement bonus, and you penetrate a couple more types of DR.

 

[Minosis]

big difference

I am currently running a monk and the big difference is the improved crit range afforded by a weapon, especially a keen or impact version. Often times more attacks than a fighter with equivalent numbers but many more chances to crit.

 

[Plane Sailing]

It is also (for some strange reason) far more cost-effective to enchant items than your fists (compare the amulet of mighty fists with weapons enchantments some time!)

You might want to consider a compromise whereby monk weapons could do damage one size less than the monks current unarmed ability - giving them some improvement but giving them a reason to use their unarmed attacks at least some of the time.

Cheers

 

[Anax]

Also note that Shuriken are a special monk weapon, but you probably don't want to count them in this.

 

[ARandomGod]

What would be the ramifications in allowing monks to do their unarmed damage with "monk weapons"?

I have a conceptual problem with monks doing damage to non-humanoid creatures with their bare hands. I was considering allowing them to get their improved damage with monk weapons (staff, kama, etc.).

Is adding magical enhancements to their damage really that much of a potential problem?

Quasqueton

Adding magical enhancements isn't... but doing so at weapon cost is. You have to do it at the cost of doing it to unarmed attacks.

I don't, however, see a problem with houseruling a special monk staff that does damage equal in all ways to their unarmed damage... which would attack completely as if unarmed, but not having to touch the opponent. You just couldn't enchant it and remain fair.

 

[NilesB]

Monks would continue to be underpowered.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

I'd LOVE to have that.

Quarterstaff + Monk Unarmed Damage + Power Attack = Vast quantities of damage. My epic monk kept his Ki Strike quarterstaff just so he could unleash massive Power Attack damage on easy targets.

I think it'd make a good PrC ability, but it's probably a bit too potentially powerful to let the monk do normally.

Brad