Monk - what do you like and dislike?

Cactot said:
because in all but the highest point buy campaigns or the highest magic campaigns, a monk would be utterly gimping himself by spending 16 points initially on strength.

I played in a campaign where my monks highest starting stat was Str, and he performed very well indeed. Not gimped at all in fact.

The only fact is that comparisons of this sort don't really make any difference when it comes down to it - it reflects someones own predetermination more than anything else. You know what results you want and you produce a set of things to support that.

After all - how many D&D games are just about arena combat? Not many I'll wager.
 

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glass said:
Longsword, then. The particular type of sword wasn't the point.


glass.

There's a pretty big damage difference between the two. And dual-wielding longswords is still quite gimpy.

If monks could d0 1d8 damage per attack, that wouldn't be breaking the suspension of disbelief, and doesn't really do more than a short sword/longsword dual-wielding ranger.
 

And dual-wielding longswords is still quite gimpy.

:confused:

I must be playing in a different universe...

As for current escalating monk unarmed strike damage, I don't have a problem with it. I think it fits neatly within the archetype of the "mythical martial artist"- some of whom were able to punch through armor, etc.
 

Dannyalcatraz said:
As for current escalating monk unarmed strike damage, I don't have a problem with it. I think it fits neatly within the archetype of the "mythical martial artist"- some of whom were able to punch through armor, etc.

Also, I'm not entirely sure how a fixed d6 or d8+Str fist/foot/knee/elbow/forehead/whatever is going to punch through DR very well at all. "Sorry, Mr. Unarmed Combat monk. My DR 10/silver laughs at your 9 attack attempts."

If someone was going to seriously do that, they'd have to seriously ramp up Ki Strike, or realize they'd be pushing the monk into weapon use.

Brad
 

Monk class mechanics go against core combat design

The reason that the monk tends to fare poorly in practice is that the class cannot in any real way benefit from the same things that other melee capable classes benefit from.

To put it simply, high level non spell casters are very equipment dependant to remain competitive, and the Monk is designed that not only is it intended to not use equipment, but it gets penalized if it tries to.

A 20th level Fighter, Paladin, or Barbarian will have magic armour, maybe a shield, and definitely a weapon. He also has a high Bab, so he can plow through the AC of his opponents and deliver damage.

A 20th level Rogue wont have the BAB, but he can still use much of the same equipment, and it can make up for the low Bab by flanking and inflicting scary levels of sneak attack damage.

A 20th level monk will have a large number of attacks, great saves, and lots of neat abilities. However, he will have a low Bab, and if he uses magic weapons, he loses his high damage output. He cannot wear Armour if he wants to benefit from his wisdom bonus to AC. And unless he has a great many stat boosing items, his AC is going to be much lower than a comparible warrior type. He does not even have the BaB to use the Expertise feat to mitigate the low AC.

The Monks primary method of killing opponents is to use melee attacks, and there is no point at which a Monk can function effectively against level appropriate opponents.

END COMMUNICATION
 

"Sorry, Mr. Unarmed Combat monk. My DR 10/silver laughs at your 9 attack attempts."

Of course, there's nothing to say they couldn't revise the class in the future, an fix the monk's damage to a d6 that never improves, but state that it explicitly ignores DR (as a class ability).
 

Dannyalcatraz said:
I must be playing in a different universe...

Gimpy means weak, right?

I think the monk might be better off getting actual enhancement bonuses to their attacks and damage. The Amulet of Mighty Fists takes up the Periapt of Wisdom slot anyway. That would also save them money so they could get better defensive items.

And, of course, they can deal with DR the same way rangers deal with it.
 

How Rangers deal with DR? You don't mean...the "Crouch of the Wild Tiger?" (Obscure Anime reference. Bonus points for anyone who gets it)
 


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