Monks & Psionics question

[Egres]

Then it's a ranged weapon, eh?

No.

It's an Unarmed Strike.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

No.

It's an Unarmed Strike.

So, how far away from / close to someone do I have to be in order to hit them with an Unarmed Strike?

 

[Egres]

So, how far away from / close to someone do I have to be in order to hit them with an Unarmed Strike?

Patryn, you are mixing up a melee attack made with an Unarmed Strike with a melee weapon.

Kindly read the PHB Glossary and you'll agree with me.

I'm not challenging you: just try.

 

[RigaMortus]

Patryn, you are mixing up a melee attack made with an Unarmed Strike with a melee weapon.

Kindly read the PHB Glossary and you'll agree with me.

I'm not challenging you: just try.

Are you proposing that Unarmed Strikes are not melee weapons, but you can still make melee attacks with them. As strange as it sounds, I think you're right. That would mean though, you could not use an Unarmed Strike when a melee weapon is required (as it may apply to spells, feats, or class abilities). Although I can not seem to find any instance where this applies (I am sure they are out there). For example, if Smite Evil required a melee weapon, you could not use Unarmed Strike. As it stands, it requires a melee attack, so it is a non-issue.

Unarmed Strikes are simple weapons.
Unarmed Strikes are unarmed attacks.
Unarmed Strikes are Light Weapons.
Unarmed Strikes are melee attacks.
Unarmed Strikes are NOT melee weapons.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

So, they're simple weapons that can only be used as a melee attack, but are not actually melee weapons?

OK ...

Reading through the lit., I'll buy that for a nickel. It's a fine distinction, but it's a game of fine distinctions, eh?

So what does it get us?

 

[Jdvn1]

Is there any other place in any of the books that mention 'manufactured weapons'? If a spell only affects 'melee weapons', it wouldn't work with a Monk's attack because it only counts as a manufactured weapon and a melee weapon? So the fact that a Monk's unarmed strike is a manufactured weapon is worthless?

I don't think I buy that.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

<~~~ Not buying it. As far as I am concerned, an unarmed strike is a melee weapon.

melee = a. Confused, hand-to-hand fighting in a pitched battle.

b. A violent free-for-all.


weapon = a. An instrument of attack or defense in combat, as a gun, missile, or sword.

b. (Zoology) A part or organ, such as a claw or stinger, used by an animal in attack or defense.

c. A means used to defend against or defeat another

 

[Egres]

<~~~ Not buying it. As far as I am concerned, an unarmed strike is a melee weapon.

melee = a. Confused, hand-to-hand fighting in a pitched battle.

b. A violent free-for-all.


weapon = a. An instrument of attack or defense in combat, as a gun, missile, or sword.

b. (Zoology) A part or organ, such as a claw or stinger, used by an animal in attack or defense.

c. A means used to defend against or defeat another

You are mixing up real life definitions with D&D defintions.

This isn't the first time you'll find big differencies between them.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

I realize that these are real-world definitions. I have exhausted all RAW quotes I can find, and they all (as far as I am concerned) point to an unarmed strike being a melee weapon. I hoped perhaps real world etiology might shed some more light on exactly what is a melee weapon. It matters not to me, I say unarmed strikes are melee weapons, you say they aren't and you are sticking to your guns. Good for you.

 

[RigaMortus]

Is there any other place in any of the books that mention 'manufactured weapons'?

I am sure there is, but I can't seem to find any atm.

If a spell only affects 'melee weapons', it wouldn't work with a Monk's attack because it only counts as a manufactured weapon and a melee weapon?

A melee weapon can be "manufactured" or "natural". A Monk's unarmed strike (or anyone's unarmed strike for that matter) would be considered a natural weapon. So if a spell affected "melee weapons" I think it would affect both.

So the fact that a Monk's unarmed strike is a manufactured weapon is worthless?

A Monk's unarmed strike is NOT a manufactured weapon. It is a natural weapon. I am not sure why you are suggesting it is worthless though. Care to explain?

I don't think I buy that.

That is why there is a Rule 0.