Monks Broken or Not

[Ahnehnois]

The most basic problem with monks is that they're a combat class with 3/4 BAB. Most 3.5 revisions (PF, TB) address this in some way. The second problem is MAD. Monks are the only core class strongly tied to five different ability scores. In a very high-power game (ability-score wise) where you fight a lot of mages and roll a lot of saves, monks are nice to have. The further away from that you get, the weaker they become, to the point of being pretty pathetic.

 

[HoboGod]

Monks are the only core class strongly tied to five different ability scores.

Five? I can see Str, Dex, Con, Wis, but how are they tied to Int or Cha?

 

[Dandu]

Monks need Int to make use of their skills list; you want Tumble, Move Silently, Hide, a bit of Balance, Jump, some climb, Listen, Spot, a bit of Escape Artist...

And of course, UMD, which you have to have a good Cha score to make good use of.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

And of course, UMD, which you have to have a good Cha score to make good use of.

You never get sick of that joke, do you?

 

[Dandu]

If Giacomo were not still at it, I'd let it die.

 

[HoboGod]

Ehhh, that's a bit much. I'd say monks need four stats. If you want your monk to be a skiller as well as a front line beatstick, you're asking too much of monk. If you need the skills, you can probably sac the con and play like a rogue. If you need the durability, you can probably sac the int and play like a fighter.

 

[Ahnehnois]

Five? I can see Str, Dex, Con, Wis, but how are they tied to Int or Cha?

Monks have a great skill list (~14 useful skills IMO) and only 4 base skill points. Assuming the campaign involves use of a decent variety of skills, dumping Int is a bad idea. I generally make monks with *at least* 14 Int and consider it a higher priority than Con and possibly Str.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Monks have a great skill list (~14 useful skills IMO) and only 4 base skill points. Assuming the campaign involves use of a decent variety of skills, dumping Int is a bad idea. I generally make monks with *at least* 14 Int and consider it a hihger priority than Con and possibly Str.

...Stupid "backspace = go back a page" just made me lose a compiled list examining their skill list for the actual good skills. Now I'm just angry.