Monks Broken or Not

[Dandu]

You can take Intuitive Attack for +Wis to attack, then go into Shiba Protector for Wis to attack and damage, but not everyone has the source books to do it and it requires a decent investment to pull off.

The simplest way to reduce MAD is to take 2 levels of monk and then go Swordsage from then on, perhaps stopping by Shadow Sun Ninja or some other ToB prestige class. You can take the Shadow Hand feat to add Dex to damage on top of strength.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Or just take Swordsage 20 and ignore monk.

I love monk and martial arts classes in general. But it IS the weakest core class, and one of the weakest classes in the entire game.

 

[HoboGod]

Half-Ogre Monk 11 with Monk's Belt + Superior Unarmed Strike (ToB) + Improved Natural Attack on a full attack will strike three times for 6d8 damage (8d8 if enlarged), then get an extra attack at -5. If all four hit with +10 Strength, that's an average of 148 damage, 296 damage if enlarged. Is that overpowered? It can be if you allow a monk's fists to get weapon enchantments, otherwise it would never hit as often as a fighter/barbarian/paladin.

 

[Dandu]

Superior Unarmed Strike and Monk's Belt might not stack. It's debateable if Improved Natural Attack works by RAW.

 

[HoboGod]

Where would it imply that they don't stack?

And yes, it's indeed debatable on improved natural attack. A monk's unarmed strike is considered both manufactured and natural weapons for spells and effects that improve them, but is a feat considered an effect?

 

[Dandu]

Where would it imply that they don't stack?

They both function off of your real monk levels.

And yes, it's indeed debatable on improved natural attack. A monk's unarmed strike is considered both manufactured and natural weapons for spells and effects that improve them, but is a feat considered an effect?

Effect is never defined, but here's what makes me not consider feats to be effect.

The psionic power Timeless Body does this:
"Your body ignores all harmful (and helpful) effects, beginning when you finish manifesting this power and ending at the end of your next turn. While timeless body is in effect, you are invulnerable to all attacks and powers."

If feats are effects, then you lose all your feats when under the effect of Timeless body. This seems unlikely.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I love monks, hence the database in my sig devoted to them.

In it you will find all kinds of ways to improve them, including ways to minimize MAD issues.

And with all of that, I would NEVER say that Monks are broken or overpowered- at best, they hold their own.

 

[pawsplay]

They both function off of your real monk levels.


Effect is never defined, but here's what makes me not consider feats to be effect.

The psionic power Timeless Body does this:
"Your body ignores all harmful (and helpful) effects, beginning when you finish manifesting this power and ending at the end of your next turn. While timeless body is in effect, you are invulnerable to all attacks and powers."

If feats are effects, then you lose all your feats when under the effect of Timeless body. This seems unlikely.

Timeless Body is an effect.

 

[Road_Runner]

I'm a warblade in my party and my friend in the monk. Knowing monks are underpowered, the DM gave him full BAB and +4 str +2 con. I'm still significantly better than him . Atleast he has a movespeed of 320 (don't ask me how).

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

It's debateable if Improved Natural Attack works by RAW.

No, it's not... Monk's unarmed strike is a natural weapon. The end.

And yes, it's indeed debatable on improved natural attack. A monk's unarmed strike is considered both manufactured and natural weapons for spells and effects that improve them, but is a feat considered an effect?

*eyeroll*