Monk Weapons

[Cogidubnus]

Why would a monk use a weapon, especially after the first few levels? His Unarmed Strike damage scales far beyond the monk weapons, and he gets no benefits from using a weapon other than it being slightly easier to enchant (but Necklace of Natural Attacks effectively finishes off that bugbear).

So, why would you do it? And is there anything that can be house-ruled to make them more useful? I mean, it makes sense for a monk to be able to do unarmed strike damage through a quarterstaff, maybe even unarmed strike + staff damage, but then you make unarmed strikes useless. So, what do you do?

[Daftendirekt]

Why would a monk use a weapon, especially after the first few levels?

He wouldn't.

Unless he was a Drunken Master using improvised weapons, then he's doing his unarmed PLUS MORE!

[Miscast_Mage]

One reason I can think of for monks to use weapons isn't damage, but rather the weapons special abilities; for example: kama for trip attacks, nunchaku and sai for disarming, quarterstaff for TWF, shuriken just... to do more than scratch their rear if they can't reach an enemy?

Also, some monk weapons do damage other than blunt, which a monk's unarmed strike can't do without Versatile Strike. So to overcome some types of DR as well.

If i'm not mistaken, I think Pathfinder monks can do their unarmed damage with special monk weapons. Those piddly little shuriken are doin' more than scratch damage now, aren't they? :smallamused:

[Curmudgeon]

Some opponents you just don't want to touch. If the enemy has cast Babau Slime you'll take acid damage on every hit, and if they've cast Balor Nimbus you definitely won't want to grapple them.

Plus unarmed strikes are no good if you can't reach your opponent. A simple sling gives you something better to do than just stand around twiddling your thumbs.

[Cogidubnus]

Some opponents you just don't want to touch. If the enemy has cast Babau Slime you'll take acid damage on every hit, and if they've cast Balor Nimbus you definitely won't want to grapple them.

Plus unarmed strikes are no good if you can't reach your opponent. A simple sling gives you something better to do than just stand around twiddling your thumbs.

Sling isn't a Monk Weapon though, just a weapon they're proficient with. Still, the point stands.

[Curmudgeon]

Sling isn't a Monk Weapon though, just a weapon they're proficient with.
I know that, but realistically the combination of shuriken + flurry of blows is pretty ludicrous. Your maximum range is going to be 50', and with a -10 range penalty to each shot at that distance. Include your flurry of blows penalty (if under level 9) and you might as well aim all those shurikens directly for the trash heap. :smallannoyed:

Among many other lacks, Monks definitely need a better ranged attack option.

[ericgrau]

Magic monk weapons deal more damage than unarmed strikes. Half of them have special options (unless you get into "not good at what it's good at" RAW debates). Heck with ki focus monk weapons there's no reason to even use unarmed strikes with a stunning fist. Depending on the build, there's often little point to using unarmed strikes over monk weapons.

Shuriken tangent (short version: never take as a focus, always carry as a backup option):

Shurikens are pretty lousy most of the time compared to a bow, but they do have the advantage of being both ammo and thrown. That means you get strength to damage even at low levels, and if you drop someone in a melee full attack you can use your remaining attacks on shurikens without blowing a feat on anything like quick draw. And since you're in melee it means the next opponent is probably close to the dead one. You can likewise do some bow-specific things like carrying shurikens of various metal types for DR, all while still focusing on being melee not an archer. So they're backup, mostly, never a focus but almost free to tack on to an existing build. And since they're only backup and ammo you can enchant a few magically for not too much money, unlike, say, thrown daggers. If you wanted to focus range then ya a bow is better. Basically bows > shurikens > other thrown weapons. I've likewise used other thrown weapons as backup options on melee builds before, especially at low levels.

[Urpriest]

Necklace of Natural Attacks is 3.0 content, so many DMs won't allow it. Plus, without the MIC you're not going to get to combine it with all the other neck slot items monks want.

Monk weapons can pierce metal-based DR, plus the aforementioned DR/slashing or piercing.

They're supposed to be just-in-case weapons, that's why they're not very good to begin with.

[Curmudgeon]

Necklace of Natural Attacks is 3.0 content, so many DMs won't allow it.
Actually, the Necklace of Natural Attacks is 3.5 content from here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fc/20060707a) (bottom of the page). This item is updated from the Savage Species Necklace of Natural Weapons (page 58). With the new name and new date (2006) it's fully official 3.5 content.

[Urpriest]

Actually, the Necklace of Natural Attacks is 3.5 content from here (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/fc/20060707a) (bottom of the page). This item is updated from the Savage Species Necklace of Natural Weapons (page 58). With the new name and new date (2006) it's fully official 3.5 content.

Ooh nice catch. I will have to use that the next time a DM tries to keep that Necklace from me.

[Cogidubnus]

Ooh nice catch. I will have to use that the next time a DM tries to keep that Necklace from me.

My necklace. All mine... Mwahahaha. I've personally always played with 3.0/3.5 transparency, but I know some don't.

[Arutema]

Some opponents you just don't want to touch. If the enemy has cast Babau Slime you'll take acid damage on every hit, and if they've cast Balor Nimbus you definitely won't want to grapple them.

This. One of my games saw out monk trying to punch out a leper priest.

One failed Fort save and a Remove Disease later, he bought a weapon.

Also, good luck making your fists Cold Iron or Silver.

[jpreem]

Silversheen oil might actually work on monks fists (you are applying a spell effect from an item to a weapon(monk's unarmed strikes work also as a manufactured weapon for this purpose)). But yes with a cold iron you are just out of luck I guess.

[Rasman]

If you're LUCKY enough to be playing Pathfinder, Paizo saw it fit to fix the whole "Monk can't enchant his fists" problem.

Look at the Brass Knuckles (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/weapons) at the top of the page under "Unarmed" weapons. The See Text part is particularly important. If you're in a 3.5 game, I don't see why you couldn't at least ask your DM if you can get a pair of these since Pathfinder and 3.5 are conversion compatible.

It's an easy fix to a long standing problem for Monks and it solves all those "I can get past this DR" BS problems, along with the "can't enchant my fists" issues.

[RebelRogue]

Plus unarmed strikes are no good if you can't reach your opponent. A simple sling gives you something better to do than just stand around twiddling your thumbs.
Most of the time flurry of blows with shuriken is better than the single stone you can fire with a sling in a round:

Sling

Your Strength modifier applies to damage rolls when you use a sling, just as it does for thrown weapons. You can fire, but not load, a sling with one hand. Loading a sling is a move action that requires two hands and provokes attacks of opportunity.

[MeeposFire]

This. One of my games saw out monk trying to punch out a leper priest.

One failed Fort save and a Remove Disease later, he bought a weapon.

Also, good luck making your fists Cold Iron or Silver.

Well silver can be found in a set of magic gloves (gloves of magic might or something, it gives you the ability to pierce magic and silver damage reduction).

Cold iron is a little harder to get though I admit without using a battlefist or being warforged. Ah Eberron without you monks would have almost nothing.

[Curmudgeon]

I know that, but realistically the combination of shuriken + flurry of blows is pretty ludicrous. Your maximum range is going to be 50', and with a -10 range penalty to each shot at that distance. Include your flurry of blows penalty (if under level 9) and you might as well aim all those shurikens directly for the trash heap.

Most of the time flurry of blows with shuriken is better than the single stone you can fire with a sling in a round:
I already covered this, and I disagree for the reason noted above. With their enhanced movement the Monk can close that 50' gap in one move. That's got to be more effective than taking a -10 range penalty, flurry of blows penalty, iterative attack penalties, and maybe TWF penalty with shurikens.

[Draconi Redfir]

If i'm not mistaken, I think Pathfinder monks can do their unarmed damage with special monk weapons. Those piddly little shuriken are doin' more than scratch damage now, aren't they? :smallamused:

Yup it's true. and i'm not 100%, but i think weapons that are treated as unarmed (such as brass knuckles, possibly punching dagger and quarterstaff) can be used as one of the attacks in flurry of blows. However this might just be a special rule i made for myself and forgot about.

[Dalek-K]

Some opponents you just don't want to touch. If the enemy has cast Babau Slime you'll take acid damage on every hit, and if they've cast Balor Nimbus you definitely won't want to grapple them.

Plus unarmed strikes are no good if you can't reach your opponent. A simple sling gives you something better to do than just stand around twiddling your thumbs.

HEY! Grappling the balor was the plan (originally back up plan but it was cooler than the plan) .... Along with bull rushing/pushing it into a prismatic wall.... Yeah that monk died but so did the balor XD (we were on it's native plane).

But yeah I think Monk weapons should have been beefed up a bit and really the whole class seems like they said "HEY THIS IS COOOL... oh wait we need to make the wizard more awesome" and then forgot to fix the monk when t got published.

[MeeposFire]

If i'm not mistaken, I think Pathfinder monks can do their unarmed damage with special monk weapons. Those piddly little shuriken are doin' more than scratch damage now, aren't they? :smallamused:

I am just curious on where it says that since I cannot find it in the class description. Is it a feat or something? All I can see is that it says that monk weapons can be used with a flurry of blows.

[Ashram]

Luckily if you're doing Pathfinder, once you get to a certain enhancement bonus on weapons, they start counting as metals or alignments for purposes of bypassing DR.

+3: Cold iron and silver
+4: Adamantine
+5: All alignments (Good/evil/law/chaos)

Also, I never knew PF monks could do unarmed strike damage with monk weapons. Awesome. =o

[MeeposFire]

As far as I can tell they can't. I have checked the monk section and the weapon section in the online SRD for PF and have not seen anything that alludes to this. I could be missing it every time but as far as I can tell PF monks use standard weapon damage for the typical monk weapon like the staff.

[OracleofWuffing]

Well silver can be found in a set of magic gloves (gloves of magic might or something, it gives you the ability to pierce magic and silver damage reduction).
I'd like to track down the wording on that item, but I can't find anything fitting that description (I want to check if it's a gauntlet or a glove, for silly reasons)... There's a feat in Champions of Valor for piercing silver, and the Argent Fist in Faiths of Eberron gets class features for silver and cold iron, but the closest thing I can find for that sort of thing is the Metalline weapon enhancement.

[Ashram]

As far as I can tell they can't. I have checked the monk section and the weapon section in the online SRD for PF and have not seen anything that alludes to this. I could be missing it every time but as far as I can tell PF monks use standard weapon damage for the typical monk weapon like the staff.

Hmm, I think someone confused monk's unarmed strike with their flurry of blows.

[MeeposFire]

Hmm, I think someone confused monk's unarmed strike with their flurry of blows.

Perhaps though that makes little sense in context since the poster said no longer doing piddly damage with shuriken and extra attacks do not cause damage of the individual weapon to go up.

Gauntlets of weaponry arcane are what I was thinking. Apparently you will need to hold your unarmed attack to use them since it uses an odd wording.

[Cogidubnus]

Perhaps though that makes little sense in context since the poster said no longer doing piddly damage with shuriken and extra attacks do not cause damage of the individual weapon to go up.

Gauntlets of weaponry arcane are what I was thinking. Apparently you will need to hold your unarmed attack to use them since it uses an odd wording.

So you cut your leg off, use Regenerate to grow a new one, and beat your opponents with your own foot? Pretty awesome.

As for shruiken, if they confused unarmed strike damage and being able to Flurry, then it makes perfect sense they thought you could use unarmed strike damage with Monk weapons.

[Miscast_Mage]

Hmm, I think someone confused monk's unarmed strike with their flurry of blows.

Yeah, I was mis-remembering this (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/extras/community-creations/treatmonks-lab/treantmonk-s-guide-to-monks), which I read ages ago. I don't know why I thought it said somewhere that you could do unarmed strike damage with monk weapons, I really don't. :smallsigh: Though to be fair, it would be an interesting power boost to the monk.

[Cogidubnus]

Yeah, I was mis-remembering this (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/extras/community-creations/treatmonks-lab/treantmonk-s-guide-to-monks), which I read ages ago. I don't know why I thought it said somewhere that you could do unarmed strike damage with monk weapons, I really don't. :smallsigh: Though to be fair, it would be an interesting power boost to the monk.

It would also make a great deal of sense. I do martial arts and I can tell you, I'd do a lot more damage with a staff than just my bare hands.

[Leon]

Why would a monk use a weapon, especially after the first few levels? His Unarmed Strike damage scales far beyond the monk weapons, and he gets no benefits from using a weapon other than it being slightly easier to enchant (but Necklace of Natural Attacks effectively finishes off that bugbear).

So, why would you do it? And is there anything that can be house-ruled to make them more useful? I mean, it makes sense for a monk to be able to do unarmed strike damage through a quarterstaff, maybe even unarmed strike + staff damage, but then you make unarmed strikes useless. So, what do you do?

Because there are some things you just don't want to touch and sometimes a different damage type is needed and if you don't want to use a feat to make your unarmed strike do slashing or piercing then a back up weapon is a very good idea.

[Miscast_Mage]

It would also make a great deal of sense. I do martial arts and I can tell you, I'd do a lot more damage with a staff than just my bare hands.

What bugs me about it is how unarmed strike are dynamic; growing more powerful with increased monk levels; whereas monk weapons are static; just staying as is. Why does a master martial artist do 2d10(same as two greatswords. What.) damage with his fists/kicks/general body but instantly reverts to a 1d6 when he starts hitting someone with a stick? Hells, even anyone with 4+ monk levels starts doing more damage with his fists than with *double check* every monk-proficient weapon in the SRD except the crossbows. :smalleek:

Oh, and an interesting little tidbit I found; according to the "Larger and Smaller Weapon Damage" table in the SRD, there is no way to get a 2d10 weapon.:smallbiggrin:


Because there are some things you just don't want to touch and sometimes a different damage type is needed and if you don't want to use a feat to make your unarmed strike do slashing or piercing then a back up weapon is a very good idea.

Expanding on this: You can also carry back-up weapons to have 'useful-in-certain-situations' only weapon enhancements, such as bane or disruption off the top of my head. Maybe 'fire once and forget' enhancements like spellstoring, to a lesser degree.

[MightyIgoo]

Look at the Brass Knuckles (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/weapons)

vorpal fists

vorpal fists

VORPAL FISTS

VORPAL FISTS

I is excited.

[Cogidubnus]

vorpal fists

vorpal fists

VORPAL FISTS

VORPAL FISTS

I is excited.

If you can make your fists slashing.

[Keld Denar]

One reason I can think of for monks to use weapons isn't damage, but rather the weapons special abilities; for example: kama for trip attacks, nunchaku and sai for disarming, quarterstaff for TWF, shuriken just... to do more than scratch their rear if they can't reach an enemy?

Because nobody addressed this...
You don't need a kama to trip. Tripping with a kama doesn't give you any bonus to trip. The only benefit it gives you is that you can elect to drop the Kama if you fail to trip your foe to avoid being counter-tripped. Otherwise, you can trip just fine with an UAS.

As for disarming, you are better off disarming with a quarterstaff than you are with a sai or nunchaku. Sure, they a +2 bonus by virtue of being "disarming" weapons, but they also suffer a -4 penalty for being light. If you disarm with a quarterstaff, you get a +6 bonus OVER the bonus you get from a sai, after all bonuses and penalties are applied. Thats...ouch.


If you can make your fists slashing.

Versatile Unarmed Strike says "hi!".

[Daftendirekt]

vorpal fists

vorpal fists

VORPAL FISTS

VORPAL FISTS

I is excited.

Yeah... no. Vorpal = slashing. Brass Knuckles = bludgeoning.

[The Cat Goddess]

Well, since a Monk's hands are considered manufactured weapons... and thus, both Greater Magic Fang & Greater Magic Weapon work on them...

And you can Permenancy Greater Magic Fang...

You could, theoretically, put Weapon Crystals into your Fists.

Also, you could always go Kensai.

[Cogidubnus]

Well, since a Monk's hands are considered manufactured weapons... and thus, both Greater Magic Fang & Greater Magic Weapon work on them...

And you can Permenancy Greater Magic Fang...

You could, theoretically, put Weapon Crystals into your Fists.

Also, you could always go Kensai.

You could even have WEAPON CRYSTALS FOR FISTS!!!

Apologies.

[MightyIgoo]

If you can make your fists slashing.

Awwwwww........ I is sad.


... Unless I spend a feat on Versatile Unarmed Strike. Which is probably a waste. So I guess my dream of punching mooks' heads off is ruined.

[Cogidubnus]

Awwwwww........ I is sad.


... Unless I spend a feat on Versatile Unarmed Strike. Which is probably a waste. So I guess my dream of punching mooks' heads off is ruined.

Well, not really. Just do Shock Trooper tactics with a Monk xD

[McSmack]

As a DM I've always been big on letting players have the kind of characters they want. I've always allowed Monks to use their unarmed damage or the base damage of the weapon, whichever is greater -with the caveat that I can nerf it at will if I think it's being abused. So far there haven't been any problems. If one develops I usually just kill off the character then laugh about it while my player weeps. But I kick it old school.

[Miscast_Mage]

Because nobody addressed this...
You don't need a kama to trip. Tripping with a kama doesn't give you any bonus to trip. The only benefit it gives you is that you can elect to drop the Kama if you fail to trip your foe to avoid being counter-tripped. Otherwise, you can trip just fine with an UAS.

I never said you couldn't trip without a weapon. It just gives that; a slight benefit.


As for disarming, you are better off disarming with a quarterstaff than you are with a sai or nunchaku. Sure, they a +2 bonus by virtue of being "disarming" weapons, but they also suffer a -4 penalty for being light. If you disarm with a quarterstaff, you get a +6 bonus OVER the bonus you get from a sai, after all bonuses and penalties are applied. Thats...ouch.

I've seen a slight RAW arguement on whether or not sai and nunchaku suffer a total of +2/0 (sai actually gives +4 to disarming. Also, wouldn't a staff just be +4?) or +4/+2, but whatever; I know enough not to try and explain WotC's reasoning for their mechanics.

[Draconi Redfir]

Yeah... no. Vorpal = slashing. Brass Knuckles = bludgeoning.

Attatch a a razorblade to the part of the knuckles that comes into contact with the flesh?

[Miscast_Mage]

Attatch a a razorblade to the part of the knuckles that comes into contact with the flesh?

You could argue that it's like a punch dagger, as well. Though then you have to convince the DM to allow you your unarmed damage with a punch dagger(or there abouts), but it's progress, at least.:smallbiggrin:

[Cogidubnus]

There is a Vorpal Strike Epic feat...

[Miscast_Mage]

There is a Vorpal Strike Epic feat...

Yeeeeaaah... But that be, y'know, epic. Then again, a whole lot of epic feats should just be regular feats and vice versa.

[fracas]

I usually house rules that monks using weapons do their unarmed damage PLUS their weapon damage. It makes Monks a bit less of a suckfest, especially considering that my players don't optimize much and therefore aren't finding all kinds of little tricks to make monks anything but a walking heap of fail that they don't know is a walking heap of fail until they get into combat and end up being very disappointed.

I also houserule that Monks get full BAB, but replace Flurry with either Northern School (treat unarmed strikes at 2H weapons and free Improved Trip; increase Power Attack multiplier by 1 at lvl 6) or Southern School (free Improved Grapple or Improved Disarm and Dex to damage at lvl 6). Might be broken in the hands of a high op player, but I only have one of those and he doesn't play monks. Also, every class is broken in the hands of a high-op player so whatever. If players bring broken characters, they can expect their characters to be broken. :)

<rant>I'm not a big fan of 4e, but I love how fast turns go in it. High level beaters already take too long with their iterative attacks, and TWF/Flurry/crit fishing/Haste is just bleak, especially in a big party and/or inefficient players. Crit fishers should get better crit threats rather than more iteratives (let them drop a couple attacks to get auto-confirming crits a la 4e), and weapon damage should just be maximized a la 4e. Players should never get more than 2-3 attacks.</rant>

[Curmudgeon]

Well, since a Monk's hands are considered manufactured weapons... and thus, both Greater Magic Fang & Greater Magic Weapon work on them...

And you can Permenancy Greater Magic Fang...

You could, theoretically, put Weapon Crystals into your Fists.
The bolded part is needlessly restrictive. Unarmed strike isn't limited to hands; you can also use kicks, head butts, elbow jabs, hip checks ─ any strike your form can dish out. Your whole body is the weapon, so the weapon augment crystal can go anywhere on that body; it doesn't have to be on a fist where it would attract attention.

[fracas]

Good points - monks' entire bodies are considered weapons... which, methinks, makes them legal targets for sundering.

...

What kind of penalties does a monk take if you sunder his nuts? :o

[The Cat Goddess]

The bolded part is needlessly restrictive. Unarmed strike isn't limited to hands; you can also use kicks, head butts, elbow jabs, hip checks ─ any strike your form can dish out. Your whole body is the weapon, so the weapon augment crystal can go anywhere on that body; it doesn't have to be on a fist where it would attract attention.

Yes, but the idea is "The Rule of Cool".

"I jam this gemstone into the back of my hand so I can pimpslap the ghost!"

[Curmudgeon]

Yes, but the idea is "The Rule of Cool".

"I jam this gemstone into the back of my hand so I can pimpslap the ghost!"
I prefer the gem in the navel fashion statement, followed by a full body slam. :smallcool:

[MeeposFire]

Sounds like the Darkwing Duck "Belly Bounce".

[Ravens_cry]

I remember an immortal from prehistoric times in some comic book who had a jewel lodged in the centre of his chest, over his heart. That is how I imagine it anyway. Either that, or stuck in the brow like a bindi.

[archon_huskie]

You can also inscribe a symbol of death on the shruiken. Full plate Enemy gets struck, looks at shruiken sticking harmlessly out of his armor. falls over dead.

[Curmudgeon]

You can also inscribe a symbol of death on the shruiken. Full plate Enemy gets struck, looks at shruiken sticking harmlessly out of his armor. falls over dead.
Sorry, but there's nothing left to look at after impact.

Generally speaking, ammunition that hits its target is destroyed or rendered useless, while normal ammunition that misses has a 50% chance of being destroyed or lost.

Although they are thrown weapons, shuriken are treated as ammunition for the purposes of drawing them, crafting masterwork or otherwise special versions of them (see Masterwork Weapons), and what happens to them after they are thrown.

[Keld Denar]

The bolded part is needlessly restrictive. Unarmed strike isn't limited to hands; you can also use kicks, head butts, elbow jabs, hip checks ─ any strike your form can dish out. Your whole body is the weapon, so the weapon augment crystal can go anywhere on that body; it doesn't have to be on a fist where it would attract attention.

Which leads to an interesting predicament when you take a few Kensi levels and enchant your UAS with the Brilliant Energy property. Every part of your body is a weapon, and thus every part of your body passes through non-living matter.

Its the no clipping cheat code for the whole world.

[archon_huskie]

Sorry, but there's nothing left to look at after impact.

Ah yes, my group ignores that in most of our games because we think that's stupid (in most cases anyway, ie: shooting an arrow into a solid rock wall should break it, but it should survive the impact into most targets)

The DM might go with mithril or adamantium shuriken being more resistant for this trick.

[Ravens_cry]

Which leads to an interesting predicament when you take a few Kensi levels and enchant your UAS with the Brilliant Energy property. Every part of your body is a weapon, and thus every part of your body passes through non-living matter.

Its the no clipping cheat code for the whole world.
Better damn well hope you have some form of fly, because, depending on how gravity works in that world, you're now plummeting to the centre of the planet.
*blows smoke from gun as I survey the small pile of dead catgirls*

[Cogidubnus]

Which leads to an interesting predicament when you take a few Kensi levels and enchant your UAS with the Brilliant Energy property. Every part of your body is a weapon, and thus every part of your body passes through non-living matter.

Its the no clipping cheat code for the whole world.

Don't walk down. Don't. Walk. Down.

[Souhiro]

Well, the whole thing about some monsters that do some damage if you touch them is covered. And the thing about that some monk weapons give you special attacks, like Trip or Disarm.

But a monk can use magic weapons. And that is a plus. That +2 or +3.

And don't forget the whole DR thing. If you're fighting zombies, they have some DR unless you're using slashing weapons. So it don't mind if your Lvl-20 monk has Ki Strike Adamantine, since your fists are Blunt weapons. True, your "Blunt Knucles" will do 2D8 and your kama will do 1D6, but your GM surely will have homebrewed for you an "Extra Sharp Kama of 2D6" or something.

In low levels, a Cold Iron Kama, or Silver Nunchakus aren't THAT expensive, and you can use your unarmed strike with your feet while you carry the weapons in your hands "Only if you need to".

And don't forget: If you go to Acererak's, you can only damage him with vorpal weapons. Unless you're epic and have Vorpal Strike or carry a Vorpal (Monk) Weapon... well. Carry a comfy chair and sit down to see your partners to do all the work, because you can only sit down and see.

[The Cat Goddess]

Also, the Scorpion Kama in the Magic Item Compendium is enchanted (in some unexplained way) to deal damage equal to your unarmed strike +1 (+1 for the base enchantment).

[Jayabalard]

Also, good luck making your fists Cold Iron or Silver.Well, you can manage that with levels of Kensai (along with the vorpal bit).

[kaiguy]

Meteor Hammer is my favorite monk weapon, especially for early levels. Has reach but also threatens next to you. Plus, I got my DM to house rule that I can treat a whip dagger as a monk weapon, using the meteor hammer as a precedent. I'm trying to get him to let me flank from 15ft now, but so far, it's a no go.

[The Cat Goddess]

Meteor Hammer is my favorite monk weapon, especially for early levels. Has reach but also threatens next to you. Plus, I got my DM to house rule that I can treat a whip dagger as a monk weapon, using the meteor hammer as a precedent. I'm trying to get him to let me flank from 15ft now, but so far, it's a no go.

The weapon you're referring to is a "Rope Dart". It's in the same Dragon Magazine as the one with "Kung Fu Genius".

I believe it's also in the Dragon Compendium.

[Leon]

Also, good luck making your fists Cold Iron or Silver.

Warforged Can

[Cogidubnus]

Warforged Can

Other than naturally reproduce, is there anything Warforged can't do?

Also, mind the derogatory terminology about Warforged. They have feelings too, meat =P.

[MeeposFire]

Other than naturally reproduce, is there anything Warforged can't do?

Also, mind the derogatory terminology about Warforged. They have feelings too, meat =P.

That's Meat bag droid!

[silvra13]

Just gonna leave this here...

Amulet of Mighty Fists

Aura faint evocation; CL 5th
Slot neck; Price 4,000 gp (+1), 16,000 gp (+2), 36,000 gp (+3), 64,000 gp (+4), 100,000 gp (+5)*; Weight —

DESCRIPTION

This amulet grants an enhancement bonus of +1 to +5 on attack and damage rolls with unarmed attacks and natural weapons.

Alternatively, this amulet can grant melee weapon special abilities, so long as they can be applied to unarmed attacks. See Table: Melee Weapon Special Abilities for a list of abilities. Special abilities count as additional bonuses for determining the market value of the item, but do not modify attack or damage bonuses. An amulet of mighty fists cannot have a modified bonus (enhancement bonus plus special ability bonus equivalents) higher than +5. An amulet of mighty fists does not need to have a +1 enhancement bonus to grant a melee weapon special ability.

[Âmesang]

Speaking of kensai, I'm sort of imagining one taking the throwing/returning enhancements for his unarmed strike, allowing his unarmed attacks to strike with such speed/force that they create an air pressure to strike foes from a distance. A bit of a flavor readjustment, and I can see one ruling that the monk's body becomes "numb" until the beginning of his next turn, preventing him from making attacks of opportunity (to match a returning weapon having not yet returned to its owner's hand).


Silversheen oil might actually work on monks fists.
Is anyone else picturing Johnny Tremain: Revolutionary Monk?


I also houserule that Monks get full BAB, but replace Flurry with either Northern School (treat unarmed strikes at 2H weapons and free Improved Trip; increase Power Attack multiplier by 1 at lvl 6) or Southern School (free Improved Grapple or Improved Disarm and Dex to damage at lvl 6).
Now you've got me wanting to stat out Kenshiro from Fist of the North Star, whom I recall hearing the 3rd Edition monk was mostly based upon.


I remember an immortal from prehistoric times in some comic book who had a jewel lodged in the centre of his chest, over his heart. That is how I imagine it anyway. Either that, or stuck in the brow like a bindi.
My first thought was Mammoth Mogul from Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog series, though it wouldn't surprise me if he was inspired by a previous character; I recall DC had some-sort of prehistoric immortal. Vandal Savage, I think? Astaroth from SoulCalibur has a similar chest-jewel, though he's an intelligent construct. Curmudgeon's mention of a navel-housed crystal (and that laughably bad Barbarians movie) has me wanting to apply a gemstone of fortification from the Draconomicon to a female character in much the same way.

[Necroticplague]

If you're LUCKY enough to be playing Pathfinder, Paizo saw it fit to fix the whole "Monk can't enchant his fists" problem.

Look at the Brass Knuckles (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/weapons) at the top of the page under "Unarmed" weapons. The See Text part is particularly important. If you're in a 3.5 game, I don't see why you couldn't at least ask your DM if you can get a pair of these since Pathfinder and 3.5 are conversion compatible.

It's an easy fix to a long standing problem for Monks and it solves all those "I can get past this DR" BS problems, along with the "can't enchant my fists" issues.

Um, in 3.5, you can just enchant gauntlets. They're considered an unarmed attack, so it gets the damage bump from Monk. So you can use gauntlets the same way you'd use those brass knuckles.

[frost890]

I tend to use the defending property on a rod. Since many count as a mace/club and then you can use the utility aspects of the rods. at one point I got a dancing rope dart and braided it in to my hair. I never had to worry about when it dropped.

[zergling.exe]

2011 guys, 2011.