Monks and Magic Fang

[Nikosandros]

Hi,
first of all I would like to say hello to everyone on the boards.

Now on to my question....

If a Magic Fang spell is cast on a monk, how many of his attacks are enhanced?

The spell description states that it affects a single natural weapon (a fist, bite etc...), but the monk is assumed to attack with it's whole body...

 

[novyet]

We've always played it as affecting all of the monk's attacks. I mean the monk attacks with all of their body, unlike a creature that uses a claw, a bite, or a slam. YMMV however.

Welcome to the boards btw.

 

[mikebr99]

Welcome Nikosandros!

Now... I would consider the Monk's unarmed combat to be one weapon for this purpose, and allow the spell to help him out.

 

[Nikosandros]

Thanks for the welcome and the reply!

I tend to agree with you... it looked to me as a bit powerfull, OTOH boosting only some attacks would be a bit unwieldy and it would be an unprecedented mechanic.

After all that way the spell is the equivalent of Magic Weapon wich does boost all the attacks.

 

[kreynolds]

...Magic Weapon wich does boost all the attacks.

Hows that? Magic Weapon effects only one weapon. Granted, all of your attacks with that one weapon are effected, but no other attacks are. Magic Fang works the same way. So, in truth, neither of these spells boost all of your attacks, only all of your attacks with the one effected weapon or natural attack. I agree, however, that all of the monk's attacks should be effected, but the Monk is a different matter entirely.

Welcome to the boards too.

 

[Benben]

I agree, however, that all of the monk's attacks should be effected, but the Monk is a different matter entirely.

Well since Monks don't use the monster attack progression it does muddle matters.

Although, if I were to describe a monk character with Monster Manual terminology he would get multiple slam attacks. This would be a legal target for a Magic Fang spell would it not?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Take a look at the Mind's Eye... psychic monks rock, especially if they take the Diamond Warrior PrC.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article1.asp?x=dnd/psi/welcome,3

 

[Mr Fidgit]

just for the sake of arguement...

in FR, there's a monk NPC who has permanent magic fangs , and it states specifically in his description that he has "a permanent magic fang spell on each of his hands and feet"

Sahbuti Shanardanda, pg 155, if you're interested

 

[kreynolds]

Well since Monks don't use the monster attack progression it does muddle matters.

Not really. The monk is already stated to be using his entire body as a weapon, so he is just one big weapon.

Although, if I were to describe a monk character with Monster Manual terminology he would get multiple slam attacks. This would be a legal target for a Magic Fang spell would it not?

Yup. Just like a regular monk.

 

[Nikosandros]

Hows that? Magic Weapon effects only one weapon. Granted, all of your attacks with that one weapon are effected, but no other attacks are.

Well... that's what I meant, even if my wording was unclear.

If you have a sword and do a full-attack, all your attacks with that weapon are affected... so it is reasonable that the complete attack sequence of a monk would be similarly affected.

So, despite the name, Magic Fang is better used on the party's monk than on the dire bear companion...