Throwing stars would be darts, but can't be "Monk Weapons"

[bedir than]

The rule on monk weapons is pretty simple.

"monk weapons, which are shortswords and any simple melee weapons that don’t have the twohandedor heavy property"

And so no missile weapons are monk weapons, but thrown weapons can be. So one can be a monk that specializes in a thrown axe, but under RAW could not be one that specializes in darts/throwing stars. This seems to miss an important archetype within fantasy.

If darts were allowed to be a monk weapon, what changes? What about allowing slings, shortbows or light crossbows?

 

[steeldragons]

I think it's an oversight. The intention, it seems to me, was for it to read "simple weapons" not "simple /melee/ weapons."

There are plenty of archetypes and fictional martial arts characters that use a bow, sling or "stars/darts."

Just declare/get agreement at the table that it's "all/any simple weapons" and move on. This isn't worth a lot of time in contemplation or consternation. Just an unfortunate slip of the pen/miss by the editors.

 

[Jediking]

What would a Throwing Star look like? Thrown, light, finesse, 1d4, 20/60 ft, slashing or piercing? It's easy enough to reskin Daggers rather than Darts IMO. Doing that wouldn't really change too much about monk weapons now. Spears can be used and they are also Thrown weapons.

I think they wanted to place a limit on ranged weapons to cap any potential problems. WotC has already had to clarify and use errata to distinguish melee vs ranged weapons, and each counts as a separate type of weapon attack even if the melee weapon is thrown.

 

[Xeviat]

I'd be willing to allow a monk to use martial arts with simple ranged weapons. It would add versatility to them. They're supposedly equivalent. Why not?

 

[Herobizkit]

Daggers are virtually identical to darts and are also simple weapons. Issue resolved?

 

[cray5678]

thank you sir