[Psi/PHB/Dragon] Monks, Psions and Psychometabolism!

[Angelsboi]

ok

1) It saus Monks can multiclass and they keep their monk abilites BUT they cant go back. How come in Dragon 198, it shows a monk going back and forth between Monk and Psionic? Can you duel class just fine?

2) Say i am a 2nd level monk and a 5th level psion. Would Claws of the Vampire STACK with my Unarmed damage?

 

[Magus_Jerel]

1. And My players wonder why I don't allow Dragon Magazine stuff in My campaign as a matter of routine. Yep - you hit a preety big inconsistency right on the head as far as I can tell.

2. No - but you DO get your monk unarmed attack progression - if you wanted it. It changes your bare hands to "claws" by the descriptive text.

 

[Zerovoid]

ok
1) It saus Monks can multiclass and they keep their monk abilites BUT they cant go back. How come in Dragon 198, it shows a monk going back and forth between Monk and Psionic? Can you duel class just fine?

It has been stated by the 3e designers that the multiclassing restrictions on monks and paladins are only there for flavor. Allowing monks unrestricted multiclassing won't unbalance the class, and it is a common house rule.

There are a lot of official rules that bypass this restriction also. Most monk riented prestige classes have a note saying they can be multiclassed without penalty. It only makes sense in this case, as the monk has taken a slightly different focus, but hasn't abandoned his studies, and become, a druid or wizard or something. The FRCS also has special rules allowing monks and paladins of specific orders to multiclass freely.

Because of this, I think you could assume that there is such a rule for the multiclass combinations presented in dragon, even if you normally restrict monk/paladin multiclassing. I believe they are described as belonging to a specific order, so its easy to say that monks of that order can multiclass freely.

 

[Avatar of the North]

OA allows monks to multiclass however they feel like multiclassing. The dragon artical could (though i doubt it) have been taking that option in to consideration

 

[Henrix]

1) As has been stated above; some settings allow for monks (and paladins) to multiclass freely, or monks/paladins of certain orders to multiclass in specific combinations. Oriental adventures is an example of the fromer, and Forgotten Realms of the latter.

2) Claws of the Vampire gives you a claw attack, which is something else than an unarmed attack, so it does not stack with your unarmed attacks, nor can you use your (perhaps) more favorable unarmed attack.

 

[Dinkeldog]

1) What Henrix said. The Dragon article talked about the multi-classing as a special case.

2) Countering Henrix, I would allow it, even if it required a rule-0. It doesn't seem unreasonable to me to allow claws as monk weapons. I would probably go so far as allowing it for a character that progressed enough as both a monk and druid to have wildshape abilities. After all, by that time, they're a fairly high level.

 

[Henrix]

2) Countering Henrix, I would allow it, even if it required a rule-0. It doesn't seem unreasonable to me to allow claws as monk weapons.

No need to counter me.
I'm talking about what the rules say. I could imagine allowing a specific order (or martial arts fighting style) that allowed the monk to use Claws of the Vampire as a monk weapon (i.e. not increasing the damage), probably as a PrC ability, or a feat only allowed those monks.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Can a monk use CotV? Yes they can!

Bruce Cordell (author of PsiHnd) has said yes (at montecook.com). Check the messageboard http://pub58.ezboard/fokayyourturnfrm18 for damage options.
His If Thoughts Could Kill adventure has a monk using psionic claws.
WotC has said yes (on their Fight Club site).
etc etc etc

 

[Angelsboi]

AWESOME Psi!!! Thats what i was looking for because the power says its a unarmed attack. By the way to the first poster ...

Its a Githzerai monk/psycometabolist.

 

[RigaMortus]

It says that the Psionic's Handbook that Psions get along great with Monks because they appreciate their dedication to self-mastery or something like that. Anyway, I don't think it would be too unreasonable to allow a Monk/Psion to multiclass freely based on this notion.