D&D 3E/3.5 Why be a 3.5 monk?

[Nifft]

In core it had a decent chance of protecting you, there weren't many ways to boost CL yet. My main issue with it was always the drawback. It also protects you against friendly spells, especially bad if say...you need to be healed.

That's a bit deceptive.

A creature can voluntarily lower its spell resistance. Doing so is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Once a creature lowers its resistance, it remains down until the creature’s next turn. At the beginning of the creature’s next turn, the creature’s spell resistance automatically returns unless the creature intentionally keeps it down (also a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity).

A creature’s spell resistance never interferes with its own spells, items, or abilities.

Cheers, -- N

 

[menacekop]

wow, so many rules so little time, thanks for the clarification Nifft.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Yes, you can lower it, but that costs you most of your turn and makes you vulnerable for an entire round (no option to just lower it for a single spell, for example, perhaps as a readied action). I don't think it's very practical in many situations.

 

[Nifft]

Yes, you can lower it, but that costs you most of your turn and makes you vulnerable for an entire round (no option to just lower it for a single spell, for example, perhaps as a readied action). I don't think it's very practical in many situations.

If you were to say that it interferes with getting healing from someone else in the heat of combat, you'll be saying something much more accurate.

It's usually a lot better to just take some Cleric levels and heal yourself.

(Of course, it's usually a lot better to take mostly Cleric levels and just pretend you're a Monk.)

Cheers, -- N

 

[Eman Resu]

my DM ruled the spiked chain as a Monk weapon, for me, during that campaign, so I took it. He didnt even charge me an exotic weapon feat!

Monks not the strongest class, with this I agree. I remeber 2nd edition there was an article about the Monk and all its short comings. I think it was titled "why the monks cries" or why are they always so angry, something to this effect. Point being, the Monk although vastly improved from the d4 for hit points days til now, they still wane in comparison.

 

[menacekop]

my DM ruled the spiked chain as a Monk weapon, for me, during that campaign, so I took it. He didnt even charge me an exotic weapon feat!

Monks not the strongest class, with this I agree. I remeber 2nd edition there was an article about the Monk and all its short comings. I think it was titled "why the monks cries" or why are they always so angry, something to this effect. Point being, the Monk although vastly improved from the d4 for hit points days til now, they still wane in comparison.

lucky you, seems like your DM sees the monks plight and tries to help him out a bit.

My DM on the other hand thinks monks are gods gift to D&D.

 

[Dandu]

Are we talking about an Old Testament kind of God?

 

[menacekop]

Are we talking about an Old Testament kind of God?

wow, you know as sinister as my DM can be at times... I'm beginning to wonder.

 

[Eman Resu]

I think the DM was trying to make up the difference a bit perhaps. In a earlier campaign the Monk didnt hit as much as the other melee classes, but the big disparity was the lack of damage when he did hit. Its not that hard to see the Monk aint the strongest. The Monks strength, allegedly, is they have no weaknesses, are well rounded. So I think the spiked chain was a test of sorts.

The Monk created with the spk chain was a great member of the party. Just that 1 small twist really made the Monk viable, IMO. I posted elsewhere it was one of my favorite pc's of all time. The damage still wasnt great, but because of the amount of attacks and the amount of people knocked down w/ the trip it was a "fun" pc.

At later levels I took a Psion dip and a Elocater dip. Sounds odd, right? My attack was to "grease" floor and blanket other areas with spiked caltrops. Meanwhile my monk would "scorn earth" and send everybody toppling with my trip attack.

 

[menacekop]

I just spoke with my DM, no dice on the spiked chain. He did say I could create an improvised weapon using a chain or rope and a heavy dart or spike on the end of it, but then i'd take a -4 penalty on attack rolls.

I may just go ahead and take the exotic weapon feat when i roll warrior since ill be getting all the extra feats anyway.