Monks belt

[sierzadon]

I've been wondering what really happens when a non-monk wears a monks belt.

Quotes from SRD:
**********
Belt, Monk’s: This simple rope belt, when wrapped around a character’s waist, confers great ability in unarmed combat. The wearer’s AC and unarmed damage is treated as a monk of five levels higher. If donned by a character with the Stunning Fist feat, the belt lets her make one additional stunning attack per day. If the character is not a monk, she gains the AC and unarmed damage of a 5th-level monk. This AC bonus functions just like the monk’s AC bonus.
**********
AC Bonus (Ex): When unarmored and unencumbered, the monk adds her Wisdom bonus (if any) to her AC. In addition, a monk gains a +1 bonus to AC at 5th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every five monk levels thereafter (+2 at 10th, +3 at 15th, and +4 at 20th level).
These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the monk is flat-footed. She loses these bonuses when she is immobilized or helpless, when she wears any armor, when she carries a shield, or when she carries a medium or heavy load.
***********

So, does a non-monk wearing a monks belt get +1 ac +his wisdom bonus ac, presuming the other conditions mentioned are met?

Same about the unarmed damage?

 

[Dwarmaj]

I asked the same question a couple of months ago (can't find the thread) and the consensus was that you only gain +1 AC, not the whole Wisdom Bonus to AC.

Reading the text of the belt and the monks ability seems that you should get the "Wisdom to AC" benefit, but that would make the belt everpowered when used by a high level Cleric or Druid.

 

[Zaruthustran]

I asked the same question a couple of months ago (can't find the thread) and the consensus was that you only gain +1 AC, not the whole Wisdom Bonus to AC.

Reading the text of the belt and the monks ability seems that you should get the "Wisdom to AC" benefit, but that would make the belt everpowered when used by a high level Cleric or Druid.

?

I'm surprised. This forum is usually pretty letter of the rules, and the monk's belt--by the letter of the rules--gives an AC bonus that "functions just like the monk’s AC bonus."

So, searching for "AC bonus" under "MONK" in the SRD we find:

"AC Bonus (Ex): When unarmored and unencumbered, the monk adds her Wisdom bonus (if any) to her AC. In addition, a monk gains a +1 bonus to AC at 5th level."

To break it down: a non monk wearing a monk's belt has the AC bonus of a 5th level monk. A 5th level monk's AC bonus is [wis bonus] + 1. Therefore, a non monk wearing a monk's belt gets an AC bonus of [wis bonus] +1.

That's pretty clear to me.

-z

 

[youspoonybard]

I voted for Wis+1 to AC and damage die + 2, but no IUS or Lethal/Nonlethal.

 

[DM2]

?

I'm surprised. This forum is usually pretty letter of the rules, and the monk's belt--by the letter of the rules--gives an AC bonus that "functions just like the monk’s AC bonus."

So, searching for "AC bonus" under "MONK" in the SRD we find:

"AC Bonus (Ex): When unarmored and unencumbered, the monk adds her Wisdom bonus (if any) to her AC. In addition, a monk gains a +1 bonus to AC at 5th level."

To break it down: a non monk wearing a monk's belt has the AC bonus of a 5th level monk. A 5th level monk's AC bonus is [wis bonus] + 1. Therefore, a non monk wearing a monk's belt gets an AC bonus of [wis bonus] +1.

That's pretty clear to me.

-z

Its pretty crazy to let the AC Bonus include the wis bonus to AC, though.

Pretty much elminates any reason to take a single level of monk as part of multiclassing, which we used to see some druid or sorcerer builds do precisely to pick up the Wis bonus.

My guess is that it is just a poorly worded item description, and that the intention was to add only the value from the "AC Bonus" column of the monk table to the belt wearer's AC.

The item description doesn't really support that though. It just says it works as a 5th level monk, which would include the wisdom bonus...

DM2

 

[Dwarmaj]

Found the link that I mentioned earlier. It's here

I'm currently playing a Druid with 30 wisdom, +10AC from a 13k item would be pretty sweet. Though a bit unbalancing when you look at bracers, barkskin, Natural AC for use of Shapechange, .....

 

[Zaruthustran]

Found the link that I mentioned earlier. It's here

I'm currently playing a Druid with 30 wisdom, +10AC from a 13k item would be pretty sweet. Though a bit unbalancing when you look at bracers, barkskin, Natural AC for use of Shapechange, .....

Unbalancing or not, them's the rules.

I built a gold dragon paladin character for use in an epic campaign. His wisdom and charisma were both over well over 30. He had a headband of perfection (+6 to Str, Dex, Wis) and a monk's belt. His AC was 40+. Pretty good (not even close to Great), but he wasn't built for pure power--he was built because I'd never played as a dragon.

Anyway, while Monk's Belt does seem like a candidate for a DM's rule zero or a house rule the actual printed rules say that it gives the AC bonus of a 5th level monk. A 5th level monk's AC bonus = [wis bonus] +1.

-z

 

[marshaldwm]

Unbalancing or not, them's the rules.
Anyway, while Monk's Belt does seem like a candidate for a DM's rule zero or a house rule the actual printed rules say that it gives the AC bonus of a 5th level monk. A 5th level monk's AC bonus = [wis bonus] +1.
-z

I would have to agree it gives a lot of abilities, way too much in my opinion. Reading it straight, I see it giving....

Wis to AC
+1AC
Improved Unarmed Strike
Other feat(no -4 to hit for lethal damage with IUX)
Other feat(IUS damage to d8)

Wow, not bad for 13,000gp.

I have banned it in my games except for monks, as it just kills a whole class. Why take monk? Why do monks exist with this belt? Also, I don't see any other magical items giving people other clases's class abilities.

It really should be only usable for monks, then it is sweet, but not overbalanced at all.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Wis to AC
+1AC
Improved Unarmed Strike
Other feat(no -4 to hit for lethal damage with IUX)
Other feat(IUS damage to d8)

I actually read it (in line with youspoonybard) that Improved Unarmed Strike is not included, by the letter of the description, and lethal damage is debatable.

It doesn't say you can make unarmed attacks as a 5th level monk; it says you gain the unarmed damage of a 5th level monk, which (for a Medium character) is either a. 1d8 damage, or b. 1d8 lethal/non-lethal as desired.

But it certainly doesn't include the ability to attack unarmed without drawing an AoO; that's an effect that has nothing to do with damage, and thus is not a benefit bestowed by the Belt.

-Hyp.

 

[Zaruthustran]

I actually read it (in line with youspoonybard) that Improved Unarmed Strike is not included, by the letter of the description, and lethal damage is debatable.

It doesn't say you can make unarmed attacks as a 5th level monk; it says you gain the unarmed damage of a 5th level monk, which (for a Medium character) is either a. 1d8 damage, or b. 1d8 lethal/non-lethal as desired.

But it certainly doesn't include the ability to attack unarmed without drawing an AoO; that's an effect that has nothing to do with damage, and thus is not a benefit bestowed by the Belt.

-Hyp.

Agreed. The feat Improved Unarmed Strike is not "damage". The belt doesn't confer this.

Plus, the monk has plenty of other cool features besides wis bonus to AC and better unarmed damage. This belt does not invalidate the monk class any more than a masterwork sword invalidates a +1 BAB class.

-z