Monk whirling steel strike

[Jurble]

Hi guys question about interchangeability of feats and campaign settings.

one of my players found the "whirling steel strike" feat in the Eberron Campaign setting which allows him to make the longsword a monk weapon. Basically means he can use a longsword to flurry (but i saw something indicating he'd take a -2 on attacks because its not a light weapon)

My question really is can Eberron feats be given to normal D&D characters (making my own campaign setting) i.e. are all campaign settings by TSR/WOTC addon classes/feats/skills etc considered official/balanced?

Dont want to let him take something that isnt official/definately balanced. Thanks a ton

Marc

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

The longsword is better than other monk weapons. It does more damage and has a better crit range. This said, I don't think it's unbalancing. I gave a monk IMC the katana as a monk weapon (I removed Ki Strike), and he did, IMO, better than average at low levels, he didn't outclass the fighter or the barbarian in the party.

Just incorporate this special feat in your campaign, and make it so that only the character's temple teaches that particular technique. Perhaps people will notice his ability with the longsword, and make way for RP opportunities.

As for your other question, IIRC, only 3 books are "core", the other material, while official, is "DM's approval" only

AR

 

[Christian]

One cannot presume that a feat from a setting book is automatically balanced with core feats. The setting may be, overall, higher powered than a standard D&D milieux. (Eg. the Forgotten Realms.) The core classes may be balanced with each other given all of the extra items from that sourcebook (feats, powers, new spells, etc.) but not with classes that don't have access to those additional rules. So, your 'safe' choices as a DM are to either disallow setting books entirely, or make sure that your whole group, as well as your NPCs and monsters, have the opportunity to take advantage of the bonuses of the alternate setting.

That said, my overall feel (without, mind you, having actually played a campaign in the setting) of Eberron is that it's not much of a power-up. There are core feats that a monk could take that are comparable to things like Whirling Steel Strike, Flensing Strike, and the other special monk combat styles available in Eberron. But they're just not as cool. YMMV, of course.

 

[Jdvn1]

I'd recommend cherry-picking stuff on a case-by-case scenario. If you think the feat might be overpowered, feel free to say no. Obviously. If you think it's a good feat, allow it.

... This just repeats the already-said good advice, thogh. It's all a GM call.

 

[shilsen]

I agree with Altamont Ravenard that it's not unbalancing. While the longsword is better than the regular monk weapons, the PC is having to use two feats to use it (three if he doesn't have levels in a class which is proficient with the longsword) as a monk weapon, which is a big tradeoff.

As for your other question, IIRC, only 3 books are "core", the other material, while official, is "DM's approval" only

AR

Well, technically everything in the game is "DM's approval" only.

 

[Jurble]

two feats? i thought you would need to gain proficiency with the weapon and take the whirlwind steel strike as well?

Another question, one im alot more iffy on. My player wants to take monkey grip as well which allows a medium sized creature to use a greatsword one handed. He would like to combine that with whirlwind steel strike to have a monk who can flurry with a greatsword.

I dont think this fits with what whirlwind steel strike allows since a greatsword isnt a longsword even if it can be held in one hand although i thought id check for other peoples opinions on this.

I will probably let him take whirlwind steel strike but i dont think i will allow the monkey grip the way im looking at it at the moment. Any more educated opinions? Thanks guys!

 

[Jdvn1]

No, the Greatsword wouldn't fit. If Whirlwind Steel Strike is specific enough to specify longsword, I wouldn't allow it for another weapon. House rules, though, are feasible.

 

[Hypersmurf]

My player wants to take monkey grip as well which allows a medium sized creature to use a greatsword one handed.

Not in 3.5, it doesn't. What it does allow him to do, however, is to use a Large longsword as a one-handed weapon.

I dont think this fits with what whirlwind steel strike allows since a greatsword isnt a longsword even if it can be held in one hand although i thought id check for other peoples opinions on this.

You're correct - a greatsword isn't a longsword. However... a Large longsword (which is what Monkey Grip would allow him to use) technically is a longsword

-Hyp.

 

[Christian]

two feats? i thought you would need to gain proficiency with the weapon and take the whirlwind steel strike as well?

Whirling Steel Strike also requires Weapon Focus: Longsword as a prerequisite. So, a nonhuman monk with no other classes would qualify for this feat at, at the earliest, sixth level. (A human, or a multiclass monk, could qualify as early as third level.)

 

[domino]

Not in 3.5, it doesn't. What it does allow him to do, however, is to use a Large longsword as a one-handed weapon.

Which just happens to be identical to a medium greatsword in nearly every aspect except flavor.