Monks belt

Caliban · Sep 26, 2003

The monk AC bonus referred in the belt is the AC bonus on the monk table. That's the one that varies by level. The wisdom bonus to AC is a seperate bonus, and is not provided by the belt.

Expect errata/clarification in the future.

Hypersmurf · Sep 26, 2003

Caliban said:
The wisdom bonus to AC is a seperate bonus, and is not provided by the belt.

If that's what they intended to convey, they seriously screwed up.

-Hyp.

youspoonybard · Sep 26, 2003

Not to mention Customer Service giving the wrong answer...

But from what I hear, that's not particularly new...

Hypersmurf · Sep 26, 2003

youspoonybard said:
Not to mention Customer Service giving the wrong answer...

Customer Service's answer was, in fact, completely accurate, given what went to print.

If the intention of the item is to exclude the Wisdom bonus, then the book is wrong.

Until the book is errata'd to reflect that intention, the rules as written include the Wisdom bonus, and Customer Service's answer reflects the rules as written.

-Hyp.

DreadPollock · Sep 26, 2003

I read a pretty literal interpretation of the rules in the DMG, and the way I see it:

"...she gains the AC and unarmed damage of a 5th level monk. This AC bonus functions just like the monk's AC bonus."

The AC bonus a monk gets includes his/her Wis bonus, and a +1 every 5 levels. Also, since "This AC bonus functions just like the monk's AC bonus.", then:

"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, other than Clerics, Druids, and the occasional Paladin, not many non-monks are going to get much of an AC bonus due to Wisdom. Also, how many non-monks are going to be going around in NO armor, NO shield, and only a LIGHT load? Even if they managed to acquire a Monk's Belt?

Also, unarmed damage is the only thing gained by the wearer. So, that half of the belt's use is only useful in the obligatory tavern brawl, or for the 10th level fighter who actually spent one of his bonus feats on Improved Unarmed Combat.

So, basically, it's not very useful to non-monks. Most characters will end up with no AC bonus, and 1 or 2 extra points of unarmed damage, only after dodging an AoO.

DreadPollock

Lamoni · Sep 26, 2003

DreadPollock said:
So, basically, it's not very useful to non-monks. Most characters will end up with no AC bonus, and 1 or 2 extra points of unarmed damage, only after dodging an AoO.

DreadPollock

I'm glad you posted this because I was thinking the same thing while reading the entire thread.

Let's say a high level cleric has a 22 wisdom score. In order to add the +7 to her AC, she would have to remove her full-plate armor. Let's see, why not remove a +8 AC bonus for a +7 one? Sounds pretty stupid to me.

The fighter specializing in unarmed combat will benefit and so will any sorcerer or wizard with a wisdom score of 14 or higher. +3 AC for 13,000 isn't too unbalanced especially when it is difficult to find sorcerers and wizards that have a good wisdom bonus. (They should be dumping all their efforts into increasing Int or Cha). If they want to sacrifice spell casting ability for the better armor of the monk's belt, that is fine with me. I see no reason to rule 0 this item.

youspoonybard · Sep 26, 2003

The Druid, on the other hand, doesn't buy +5 Wild Armor, and instead wears the belt, which stacks with her huge natural armor while Wild Shaping, her improved Dex while Wild Shaping, and Barkskin...

Dwarmaj · Sep 26, 2003

Or, a Druid who wears Bracers +8 and is Shapechanged into a Planetar and has barkskin cast would have AC57 (10Base+ 8Armor+ 7Wis+ 19Natural+ 5NatEnhance+ 4Dex+ 4Deflection)

Lamoni · Sep 26, 2003

Dwarmaj said:
Or, a Druid who wears Bracers +8 and is Shapechanged into a Planetar and has barkskin cast would have AC57 (10Base+ 8Armor+ 7Wis+ 19Natural+ 5NatEnhance+ 4Dex+ 4Deflection)

Yes, it does benefit the druid more than it should, but looking at that, it seems like the druid needs to be fixed more than the monk's belt.

Taking the monk's belt away, you would still have a 50 AC. Does 57 AC really give you that much more protection?

I haven't played a druid, but it always seemed to me that a druid would normally be wearing light armor while using a shield. That is the cheapest way to boost the AC. Swapping out the armor for bracers of armor and using the monk's belt would be a large boost in AC, but not available until a little later. It is still a huge jump for not too much more money though.

I would probably try to look for some type of fix if it got out of hand with the druid, but as we don't have a druid and it doesn't help anyone else more than a 13,000 item should I see nothing wrong with it.

I hate to rule 0 things until they prove to be a problem. Just making a rule because it sounds too overpowered without testing it first isn't my style. At least within reason. If you showed me an item that gave +40 to AC for one hour/day for 5,000 gold, I probably wouldn't bother to test it first. I'd just say no when a player tried to buy it.