Monk - what do you like and dislike?

[Hussar]

Drowbane, you are mistaken and I'll tell you why. Without the massively high scores, fighters cannot take the feats that make them better unarmed combatants. You cannot take improved trip, for example, without a 13 Int. Try making a decent fighter with 25 points when you have to do that.

No, I am not joking. Monks and Rangers become far more powerful because they do not have to qualify for those bonus feats. Good luck taking Greater Two Weapon fighting with a 25 point buy.

 

[Felon]

Don't like the name? Don't like the flavor? Change it.

Right.

Or--here's a whacky idea--don't use it. So what if there's an oriental-flavored base class in the PHB. How does that tarnish or diminish the rest of the content? If a DM doesn't want it in his world, then drop it.

 

[Dog Moon]

Right.

Or--here's a whacky idea--don't use it. So what if there's an oriental-flavored base class in the PHB. How does that tarnish or diminish the rest of the content? If a DM doesn't want it in his world, then drop it.

Although if that were the only problem anyone ever had with the Monk, there wouldn't be as much arguing about it, since many of the abilities and what it does are also argued about, not just the oriental flavor or the name.

 

[TheLe]

Quivering Palm

What are all your thoughts about the Quivering Palm ability? Personally I was a bit surprised they made it so complicated.

`Le

 

[Mad Mac]

Ah yes, Quivering Palm...it's a once per week save or die ability with more restrictions than any spammable save or die spell that I remember reading.

Though, the ability for the Monk to "activate" the ability within a week after nailing someone with it is a pretty cool bit of fluff, allowing you to do stuff ranging from attempted blackmail "Tell me where the princess is, or I'll rupture all your internal organs with a thought" to simple anime style posing. "You're already dead!"

 

[CF]

I like the idea of a unarmed fighter, but I really think that the monk as we all know should be a prestige class for a more simple martial arts class (such as the fighter). IMO the base-class monk might be traded for a unarmed fighting feat progression (with a decent first feat, not that cheap improved unarmed strike).

The monk seems good at running. And saving his own skin. And... jumping. If WotC ever releases a sport themed scenario, monk would be my first choice. Until then, I'd rather stay with my rogues and rangers.

On the other hand, I've seen many players happy with their monks.

 

[TheLe]

Ah yes, Quivering Palm...it's a once per week save or die ability with more restrictions than any spammable save or die spell that I remember reading.

LOL

Touche'!

~Le

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

How does that tarnish or diminish the rest of the content?

Diminish it? Not at all.

Tarnish it? Well, its a strongish word, but it does jar with the other PHB classes, and that really bugs some people. It jostles one out of the sense of coherence. Its a polar bear among camels.

It would not be so if the PHB contained a greater array of non-european archetypes. Expand the Core classes to include Ninjas, Samurai, Wu Jen and a bunch of other stuff- say, every base class thus far released by WotC- and people woudn't notice.

 

[messy]

like: the idea of an unarmed, unarmored fighter.
dislike: flavor- exotic weapons, ki strike, and the name all make me think of the far east.
dislike: abilities- too magical/supernatural. diamond soul? tongue of the sun and moon? seems a bit silly.
dislike: bab- should be same as fighter.
dislike: unarmed damage- 2d10? that's rediculous.
dislike: slow fall- i am speaking from inexperience, but how often does this come into play??

if i want to be an unarmed, unarmored fighter, i'd play, well... a fighter. with all the feats, they are highly customizable. just make improved unarmed strike increase unarmed damage to 1d6 (like brawl from d20 modern), and it works for me.

messy

 

[Felon]

Although if that were the only problem anyone ever had with the Monk, there wouldn't be as much arguing about it, since many of the abilities and what it does are also argued about, not just the oriental flavor or the name.

Yes, and if you scroll back, you'll see me doing plenty of the arguing.