3.5 Monk questions. [Archive] - Wizards Community

3.5 Monk questions. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DamnYouAll
01-23-06, 12:59 AM Okay, so, my group has just made the switch to 3.5, and I want to play a Monk. But I don't really understand the new ki strike advancement. In 3.0 is was +1, +2, and +3, but now, it's confusing.

Can anyone explain the magic/lawful/adamantine advancement to me?

Does lawful mean that your unarmed strike deals +2d6 vs. chaotic creatures?

Does adamantine mean your unarmed strikes count as +3?

Can anyone explain it to me?

Does Improved Natural Weapon (from the Monster Manual) apply to a Monk's unarmed attacks?
CzarGarrett
01-23-06, 09:46 AM Back in 3.0, damage reduction was listed as 20/+2 or something like that.

In 3.5, damage reduction is now 10/magic or 5/lawful, meaning you need any type of Magic Weapon or a Lawfully aligned weapon (respectively) to overcome damage reduction.

So, a monk with Lawful Ki strike bypasses any creature with the damage reduction rating of X/lawful. Just as a monk with Adamantium Ki strike bypasses the DRs of 3/Adamantium.
Keenath
01-23-06, 10:08 AM Can anyone explain the magic/lawful/adamantine advancement to me?

Does lawful mean that your unarmed strike deals +2d6 vs. chaotic creatures?Nope. That would be an axiomatic weapon. Lawful just means your fists count as lawful, as if they'd had Align Weapon cast on them.

Does adamantine mean your unarmed strikes count as +3?Um... no? And remember that as of 3.5, NO adamantine weapon counts as 'naturally magical' or whatever. Adamantine weapons ignore hardess, and that's all.

In 3.5, DR works differently than 3.0. In 3.0, there was a heirarchy -- silver can be defeated by silver or magic, +1 can be defeated by +1 or better, and so forth. In 3.5, there IS no heirarchy. Silver DR can't be pierced by anything but a silver weapon. Lawful DR can only be bypassed if your weapon is lawfully aligned. Magic DR can be bypassed by ANY magical weapon, and DR never cares what "plus" your weapon is. And if it's "magic and cold iron", DR is only bypassed if you meet BOTH -- a +1 cold iron sword, at least.

You can use spells like Magic Weapon and Align Weapon, and items like Alchemical Silver, to meet some of the DR requirements. There's no way to emulate Adamantine, as far as I know, short of a monk's ki strike, so that's a very valuable ability.

Anway, this all means it's a lot harder to overcome DR. In exchange for that, DR is now much lower -- typically, half what it was in 3.0.
Does Improved Natural Weapon (from the Monster Manual) apply to a Monk's unarmed attacks?Possibly. That's the biggest monk-related debate on the boards. The "against" argument is based on the idea that the monk's weapon counts as natural "for the purpose of spells and effects", and feats may or may not count as effects.

That said, it's probably not an issue; if the guy wants to buy a couple extra damage with a feat, it won't break the game.
DamnYouAll
01-23-06, 06:42 PM In 3.0, there was a heirarchy -- silver can be defeated by silver or magic, +1 can be defeated by +1 or better, and so forth. In 3.5, there IS no heirarchy. Silver DR can't be pierced by anything but a silver weapon. Lawful DR can only be bypassed if your weapon is lawfully aligned. Magic DR can be bypassed by ANY magical weapon, and DR never cares what "plus" your weapon is. And if it's "magic and cold iron", DR is only bypassed if you meet BOTH -- a +1 cold iron sword, at least.

Woah...you're right. Even after spending several hours looking through my new 3.5 Monster Manual, I failed to notice. Things like the Tarrasque, which had some rediculous (DR 30/25+ I think it was...) now has DR/epic.

Many thanks to Keenath for clearing it up.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DamnYouAll 01-23-06, 12:59 AM	Okay, so, my group has just made the switch to 3.5, and I want to play a Monk. But I don't really understand the new ki strike advancement. In 3.0 is was +1, +2, and +3, but now, it's confusing. Can anyone explain the magic/lawful/adamantine advancement to me? Does lawful mean that your unarmed strike deals +2d6 vs. chaotic creatures? Does adamantine mean your unarmed strikes count as +3? Can anyone explain it to me? Does Improved Natural Weapon (from the Monster Manual) apply to a Monk's unarmed attacks?
CzarGarrett 01-23-06, 09:46 AM	Back in 3.0, damage reduction was listed as 20/+2 or something like that. In 3.5, damage reduction is now 10/magic or 5/lawful, meaning you need any type of Magic Weapon or a Lawfully aligned weapon (respectively) to overcome damage reduction. So, a monk with Lawful Ki strike bypasses any creature with the damage reduction rating of X/lawful. Just as a monk with Adamantium Ki strike bypasses the DRs of 3/Adamantium.
Keenath 01-23-06, 10:08 AM	Can anyone explain the magic/lawful/adamantine advancement to me? Does lawful mean that your unarmed strike deals +2d6 vs. chaotic creatures?Nope. That would be an axiomatic weapon. Lawful just means your fists count as lawful, as if they'd had Align Weapon cast on them. Does adamantine mean your unarmed strikes count as +3?Um... no? And remember that as of 3.5, NO adamantine weapon counts as 'naturally magical' or whatever. Adamantine weapons ignore hardess, and that's all. In 3.5, DR works differently than 3.0. In 3.0, there was a heirarchy -- silver can be defeated by silver or magic, +1 can be defeated by +1 or better, and so forth. In 3.5, there IS no heirarchy. Silver DR can't be pierced by anything but a silver weapon. Lawful DR can only be bypassed if your weapon is lawfully aligned. Magic DR can be bypassed by ANY magical weapon, and DR never cares what "plus" your weapon is. And if it's "magic and cold iron", DR is only bypassed if you meet BOTH -- a +1 cold iron sword, at least. You can use spells like Magic Weapon and Align Weapon, and items like Alchemical Silver, to meet some of the DR requirements. There's no way to emulate Adamantine, as far as I know, short of a monk's ki strike, so that's a very valuable ability. Anway, this all means it's a lot harder to overcome DR. In exchange for that, DR is now much lower -- typically, half what it was in 3.0. Does Improved Natural Weapon (from the Monster Manual) apply to a Monk's unarmed attacks?Possibly. That's the biggest monk-related debate on the boards. The "against" argument is based on the idea that the monk's weapon counts as natural "for the purpose of spells and effects", and feats may or may not count as effects. That said, it's probably not an issue; if the guy wants to buy a couple extra damage with a feat, it won't break the game.
DamnYouAll 01-23-06, 06:42 PM	In 3.0, there was a heirarchy -- silver can be defeated by silver or magic, +1 can be defeated by +1 or better, and so forth. In 3.5, there IS no heirarchy. Silver DR can't be pierced by anything but a silver weapon. Lawful DR can only be bypassed if your weapon is lawfully aligned. Magic DR can be bypassed by ANY magical weapon, and DR never cares what "plus" your weapon is. And if it's "magic and cold iron", DR is only bypassed if you meet BOTH -- a +1 cold iron sword, at least. Woah...you're right. Even after spending several hours looking through my new 3.5 Monster Manual, I failed to notice. Things like the Tarrasque, which had some rediculous (DR 30/25+ I think it was...) now has DR/epic. Many thanks to Keenath for clearing it up.