Monks Underpowered?

[pbd]

So a lot of people allude to monks being underpowered, but I guess I don't see it. I am currently playing a monk at 12th level who seems to be doing OK.

He has the best AC in the group (thanks to a lucky find of some bracers) and, while he doesn't have a super high attack bonus, he gets 4 attacks (3 at +18, 1 at +13) (5 with boots of speed) and he usually hits more than the figter. His total damage is somewhat less, but he is consistent. Add to that stunning fist DC 21 (ability focus helps) he seems to hold his own.

In addition he gets good saves, improved evasion, can heal his own damage, and next level he gets SR 23. This seems to be a decent balance with the fighter to me.

So why is the monk class generally thought be underpowered? Not being snotty, I'm really interested in peoples opinion on this.

Thanks

 

[darthkilmor]

I thought the prevailing opinion was that the 3.0 monk sucked, and 3.5 is all right.

 

[Drowbane]

It all comes down to Stats, more so than with other melee Classes. A Rogue with five 10s, and an 18 Dex with Chainshift has the same AC as a Monk with four 10s and an 18 Dex and 18 Wis.... at least at lvl 1. A monk made with pt buy is going to look pretty weak compared to the other PCs.

 

[Shadeus]

He has the best AC in the group (thanks to a lucky find of some bracers) and, while he doesn't have a super high attack bonus, he gets 4 attacks (3 at +18, 1 at +13) (5 with boots of speed) and he usually hits more than the figter. His total damage is somewhat less, but he is consistent. Add to that stunning fist DC 21 (ability focus helps) he seems to hold his own.

A level 12 monk has a +9 BAB. That means you are getting another +9 from some other source be it a combination of amazing stats (Dex or Str), weapon focus, amulet of mighty fists, or a very high magic weapon. I would say that's highly unusual.

I'm currently playing a level 10 monk with a Str 18 and he is consistently outshined by by the fighters. He has a few tricks (stunning fist, spring attack, and tripping), but in general his +11/+11/+6 just isn't enough against CR 10+ monsters.

 

[pbd]

A level 12 monk has a +9 BAB. That means you are getting another +9 from some other source be it a combination of amazing stats (Dex or Str), weapon focus, amulet of mighty fists, or a very high magic weapon. I would say that's highly unusual.

The +18 is +9 (BAB), +1 (weapon focus), +6 (dex; weapon finesse, 18 natural, +4 magic), +2 (amulet of natural fists). The items are well within the wealth limits of a 12th level character.

 

[Jdvn1]

I thought the prevailing opinion was that the 3.0 monk sucked, and 3.5 is all right.

My thought was that the Monk is actually really good if you don't follow the fallacy that Monks are supposed to be front-line fighters.

 

[Thanee]

So why is the monk class generally thought be underpowered?

It sounds like your monk has good ability scores and nice magic items.
Those go a long way to make the class decent.

And yeah, the 3.5 monk is quite a bit better than the 3.0 one.

Bye
Thanee

 

[ARandomGod]

He has the best AC in the group (thanks to a lucky find of some bracers)

Look at how much those bracers cost and you'll find that you could really do better with that money spent on some other AC boosting item. Just FYI. Bracers of Armor are horribly overpriced.

 

[mikebr99]

Monks should have really had full BAB... YMMV


Mike

 

[pbd]

Look at how much those bracers cost and you'll find that you could really do better with that money spent on some other AC boosting item. Just FYI. Bracers of Armor are horribly overpriced.

Bracers are bonus squared x 1000. RIng of prtection and amulet of NA are both bonus squared x 2000. The bracers are priced more reasonably than the others. It doesn't really matter because the character found them so wasn't given a choice.

The over priced item is the amulet of mighty fists; bonus squared x 6000 ridiculous!