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<blockquote data-quote="Spatzimaus" data-source="post: 3046216" data-attributes="member: 3051">The unarmed damage difference between a level 20 PHB Small Monk and a level 20 Large Monk is a lot more than 1 point, but if you go with a flat bonus, they'll never differ by any more than that.&nbsp; Maybe they shouldn't differ by quite so much, but it's not a minor change.But what I was saying about the modes is this:Take my existing system.&nbsp; Let's say a high-level Monk has three +3-equivalent Ki Modes.&nbsp; One's a simple +3, one's a +2 Flaming, and one's a Shocking Lawful.&nbsp; This goes on top of the 2d8 base damage his fists deal.Now, he carries in his pack a +3 Keen Frost kama.&nbsp; It deals 1d6 base damage (assuming a Medium wielder), so even considering the fact that it's +5-equivalent in cost, it's somewhat weaker than his fists due to the base damage difference (2d8 vs 1d6).&nbsp; It's still sometimes useful, if only for all the weapon specials you can't easily put on fists.Now, if you go with the simple version of what you suggested, the fists would deal only 1d4 base damage, with a +1d12 Monk Damage bonus (no real change), while the kama would now deal 1d6+1d12 (huge increase).&nbsp; The Kama is now CLEARLY better than any Ki Mode; first, because the base damage is higher; second, because the Ki Modes don't scale up in power as fast as weapon enchantments do; and third, because you'll only have a couple Ki Modes, but you can carry the full golfbag of weapons around if you wanted.The only way a Monk would even remotely keep up is if he were a Hand specialist.&nbsp; Without it, no Ki Mode will be higher than +3 and his hands will only crit 20/x2, but a Hand 5 (STR 19) might have up to +5 with a 20/x4.&nbsp; As a rule of thumb, I had the Ki Modes scaling up about half as fast as weapon enchantments would, with the increased fist damage making up the other half.I'm not saying you can't boost monk weapons at all.&nbsp; IMC, we use an &quot;exotic materials&quot; system that makes weapons stronger in general, but it doesn't scale up nearly as quickly as the monk fists do, to compensate for the more powerful enchantments.&nbsp; Maybe half as fast.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Spatzimaus, post: 3046216, member: 3051"] The unarmed damage difference between a level 20 PHB Small Monk and a level 20 Large Monk is a lot more than 1 point, but if you go with a flat bonus, they'll never differ by any more than that. Maybe they shouldn't differ by quite so much, but it's not a minor change. But what I was saying about the modes is this: Take my existing system. Let's say a high-level Monk has three +3-equivalent Ki Modes. One's a simple +3, one's a +2 Flaming, and one's a Shocking Lawful. This goes on top of the 2d8 base damage his fists deal. Now, he carries in his pack a +3 Keen Frost kama. It deals 1d6 base damage (assuming a Medium wielder), so even considering the fact that it's +5-equivalent in cost, it's somewhat weaker than his fists due to the base damage difference (2d8 vs 1d6). It's still sometimes useful, if only for all the weapon specials you can't easily put on fists. Now, if you go with the simple version of what you suggested, the fists would deal only 1d4 base damage, with a +1d12 Monk Damage bonus (no real change), while the kama would now deal 1d6+1d12 (huge increase). The Kama is now CLEARLY better than any Ki Mode; first, because the base damage is higher; second, because the Ki Modes don't scale up in power as fast as weapon enchantments do; and third, because you'll only have a couple Ki Modes, but you can carry the full golfbag of weapons around if you wanted. The only way a Monk would even remotely keep up is if he were a Hand specialist. Without it, no Ki Mode will be higher than +3 and his hands will only crit 20/x2, but a Hand 5 (STR 19) might have up to +5 with a 20/x4. As a rule of thumb, I had the Ki Modes scaling up about half as fast as weapon enchantments would, with the increased fist damage making up the other half. I'm not saying you can't boost monk weapons at all. IMC, we use an "exotic materials" system that makes weapons stronger in general, but it doesn't scale up nearly as quickly as the monk fists do, to compensate for the more powerful enchantments. Maybe half as fast. [/QUOTE]

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