D&D 5E Monk with Q-Staff -- why not?

[seebs]

So far as I can tell, quarterstaff is the best choice until you have 1d8 unarmed, but you can't use it for the martial arts or flurry bonus attacks, because those are specifically unarmed strikes no matter what. Which I think is there to reduce the impact of a +1 or better weapon.

 

[Stalker0]

Though the OP was incorrect in the interpretation, the initial concern is still valid. I have seen no reason not to use a Quarterstaff as a monk until later levels.

 

[Paraxis]

We are talking about the difference between a d6 and a d8 for every other weapon, not that big of a deal average is only 1 point of damage per turn.

So the players who care about that 1 point of damage will use a staff or spear, that is like saying more people will go with the maul over the great axe because of 2d6 vs 1d12.

Some players will still choose short swords, darts, or other simple weapons just for the look of them. I wouldn't be one of these people, but they exist.

I have an idea for a monk character who will use a staff reflavored as a bokken (wooden practise sword) just because it fits and looks cool. Basing him off an old anime about a demon hunter, going to take magic initiate feat and use ofuda paper charms to cast the spells. The idea is a monk exorcist (protection from good & evil) who can also convince minor spirits to aid him and others (guidance).

 

[Shiroiken]

My one monk build I'd considered was a spear uses. I wouldn't likely give it up at 11th level either, since I can still use it 2-Handed and throw it if needed.

 

[Hjorimir]

Unless you've got the Two-Weapon Fighting Fighting Style, you won't be adding your ability modifier to the off-hand attack of the quarterstaff.

 

[Paraxis]

Unless you've got the Two-Weapon Fighting Fighting Style, you won't be adding your ability modifier to the off-hand attack of the quarterstaff.

It is not an off hand attack, it is a bonus attack gained from the martial arts ability so it is not an attack with the staff and it does add in your ability modifier to damage.

 

[redrick]

Unless you've got the Two-Weapon Fighting Fighting Style, you won't be adding your ability modifier to the off-hand attack of the quarterstaff.

I made this mistake my first 5e game when we had a monk player, but, as Paraxis says, this is not true.

The "no ability modifier to damage" is a limitation specific to two-weapon fighting, which is to say that it only applies to a bonus attack granted by wielding two light weapons. There are lots of of other features that grant bonus attacks (monk martial arts, pole-arm mastery, to name two that I can think of) and these receive their normal damage bonus.

 

[PnPgamer]

It is a monk weapon, all monk weapons can use Dex instead of Str.

Gah! damnit! I missed that.

 

[redrick]

The quarterstaff appears to be a monk weapon (because it is a simple weapon that doesn't have the "Two-Handed" quality), even though it can be wielded in two hands.

If used with two hands, it does 1d8 damage.

If a monk makes their bonus martial arts attack with the quarterstaff (while wielding it with two hands), does it do 1d8 damage?

If so, why wouldn't every monk use the quarterstaff?

While the "bonus martial arts attack with quarterstaff" has already been addressed elsewhere, one other reason that a monk would use a weapon other than a quarterstaff or spear is because he or she has found a magic weapon. As a DM, I like the idea of early magic weapons being something other than the most optimal weapon for a character. (Magic daggers, etc.) This gives characters a tradeoff when choosing a magic weapon, which may have a beneficial property, but doesn't necessarily do as much damage as a mundane greatsword, quarterstaff, or what have you.

It also gives you a finer gradient when handing out magic weapons at low level, because a +1 greatsword is a pretty darn valuable item.

 

[aramis erak]

Unless you've got the Two-Weapon Fighting Fighting Style, you won't be adding your ability modifier to the off-hand attack of the quarterstaff.

Unless you've got the polearm master feat, you don't get the offhand attack with the quarterstaff... nor any other pole weapons.