A couple of questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

A couple of questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Twonky
01-07-06, 05:54 AM I just have two questions related to game mechanic:

- When a character is mounted on a warhorse, and succeeds a ride check to have his mount attack together with him, can the warhorse use its hooves to attack (this seems pretty odd to me, because it seems to me the rider would be unable to attack then, but nothing says it can't)?

- When a monk uses Two-weapon fighting, do his off-hand attacks have reduced damage just like with the standard two-weapon fighters?

Thank you :)
draconic_swine
01-07-06, 01:22 PM 1) Yes. When riding on a mount, both you and the mount get to perform a full set of actions (double move, move & attack, full attack, etc.). It's really no different than if the warhorse and you were going into battle separately -- it just so happens that you both go on the same initiative count. Since you can attack in the same round that the horse moves (albeit at penalty), you can both attack in the same round too.

2) Everyone attacking using TWF suffers the x0.5 strenght modifier for damage in the off-hand. The only way a monk avoids this is by actually using flurry of blows. Note though that the monk can still use two different weapons in flurry of blows at no penalty, as long as they are both special monk weapons.
Twonky
01-07-06, 01:26 PM So when a monk uses both Flurry of Blows and Two-weapon fighting, he avoids the penalty? Or did I understand you wrong?
mvincent
01-07-06, 09:34 PM So when a monk uses both Flurry of Blows and Two-weapon fighting, he avoids the penalty?No. If a monk takes the extra attack from TWF, he uses only the x0.5 str damage modifier for that attack, and gets the TWF penalties on all attacks.

The other attacks still get the x 1 str damage modifier (regardless of which limb was actually used).
SALDAR
01-07-06, 10:51 PM - When a monk uses Two-weapon fighting, do his off-hand attacks have reduced damage just like with the standard two-weapon fighters?

Thank you :)
Except when using his Unarmed Strike class feature. See Unarmed Strike in the Monk class description.
mvincent
01-08-06, 02:00 AM Except when using his Unarmed Strike class feature. The monk does reduced damage (for the extra attack) while TWF, even if the extra attack is an Unarmed Strike. From the 3.5 FAQ:
"The rules don’t come right out and say that a monk can’t
use an unarmed strike for an off-hand strike (although the exact
wording of the unarmed strike ability suggests otherwise), and
no compelling reason why a monk could not do so exists.
When using an unarmed strike as an off-hand attack, the monk
suffers all the usual attack penalties from two-weapon fighting
(see Table 8–10 in the Player’s Handbook) and the monk adds
only half her Strength bonus (if any) to damage if the off-hand
unarmed strike hits."
Twonky
01-08-06, 03:59 AM Ok, thank you for clearing this up.
SALDAR
01-08-06, 07:15 AM From the 3.5 FAQ:"The rules don’t come right out and say that a monk can’t use an unarmed strike for an off-hand strike (although the exact wording of the unarmed strike ability suggests otherwise), and no compelling reason why a monk could not do so exists. When using an unarmed strike as an off-hand attack, the monk suffers all the usual attack penalties from two-weapon fighting (see Table 8–10 in the Player’s Handbook) and the monk adds only half her Strength bonus (if any) to damage if the off-hand unarmed strike hits."
From the PHB under Monk's Unarmed Strike:
"There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a monk striking unarmed. A monk may thus apply her full Strength bonus on damage rolls for all her unarmed strikes."

Somone should have read the PHB before trying to rewrite it in the FAQ. In this case the FAQ is incorrect.
Inigo Carmine
01-08-06, 11:34 AM From the PHB under Monk's Unarmed Strike:
"There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a monk striking unarmed. A monk may thus apply her full Strength bonus on damage rolls for all her unarmed strikes."

Somone should have read the PHB before trying to rewrite it in the FAQ. In this case the FAQ is incorrect.

You're right in some respect. That line means a monk gets full str bonus on all his unarmed strikes. But that same line also means a monk cannot TWF with an unarmed strike as his offhand attack. I think the FAQ just chose to ignore that sentence in its entirety.
mvincent
01-09-06, 01:56 PM I think the FAQ just chose to ignore that sentence in its entirety.Objectively, I think you chose a different interpretation than the FAQ. Subjectively, your interpretation seems odd to me.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Twonky 01-07-06, 05:54 AM	I just have two questions related to game mechanic: - When a character is mounted on a warhorse, and succeeds a ride check to have his mount attack together with him, can the warhorse use its hooves to attack (this seems pretty odd to me, because it seems to me the rider would be unable to attack then, but nothing says it can't)? - When a monk uses Two-weapon fighting, do his off-hand attacks have reduced damage just like with the standard two-weapon fighters? Thank you :)
draconic_swine 01-07-06, 01:22 PM	1) Yes. When riding on a mount, both you and the mount get to perform a full set of actions (double move, move & attack, full attack, etc.). It's really no different than if the warhorse and you were going into battle separately -- it just so happens that you both go on the same initiative count. Since you can attack in the same round that the horse moves (albeit at penalty), you can both attack in the same round too. 2) Everyone attacking using TWF suffers the x0.5 strenght modifier for damage in the off-hand. The only way a monk avoids this is by actually using flurry of blows. Note though that the monk can still use two different weapons in flurry of blows at no penalty, as long as they are both special monk weapons.
Twonky 01-07-06, 01:26 PM	So when a monk uses both Flurry of Blows and Two-weapon fighting, he avoids the penalty? Or did I understand you wrong?
mvincent 01-07-06, 09:34 PM	So when a monk uses both Flurry of Blows and Two-weapon fighting, he avoids the penalty?No. If a monk takes the extra attack from TWF, he uses only the x0.5 str damage modifier for that attack, and gets the TWF penalties on all attacks. The other attacks still get the x 1 str damage modifier (regardless of which limb was actually used).
SALDAR 01-07-06, 10:51 PM	- When a monk uses Two-weapon fighting, do his off-hand attacks have reduced damage just like with the standard two-weapon fighters? Thank you :) Except when using his Unarmed Strike class feature. See Unarmed Strike in the Monk class description.
mvincent 01-08-06, 02:00 AM	Except when using his Unarmed Strike class feature. The monk does reduced damage (for the extra attack) while TWF, even if the extra attack is an Unarmed Strike. From the 3.5 FAQ: "The rules don’t come right out and say that a monk can’t use an unarmed strike for an off-hand strike (although the exact wording of the unarmed strike ability suggests otherwise), and no compelling reason why a monk could not do so exists. When using an unarmed strike as an off-hand attack, the monk suffers all the usual attack penalties from two-weapon fighting (see Table 8–10 in the Player’s Handbook) and the monk adds only half her Strength bonus (if any) to damage if the off-hand unarmed strike hits."
Twonky 01-08-06, 03:59 AM	Ok, thank you for clearing this up.
SALDAR 01-08-06, 07:15 AM	From the 3.5 FAQ:"The rules don’t come right out and say that a monk can’t use an unarmed strike for an off-hand strike (although the exact wording of the unarmed strike ability suggests otherwise), and no compelling reason why a monk could not do so exists. When using an unarmed strike as an off-hand attack, the monk suffers all the usual attack penalties from two-weapon fighting (see Table 8–10 in the Player’s Handbook) and the monk adds only half her Strength bonus (if any) to damage if the off-hand unarmed strike hits." From the PHB under Monk's Unarmed Strike: "There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a monk striking unarmed. A monk may thus apply her full Strength bonus on damage rolls for all her unarmed strikes." Somone should have read the PHB before trying to rewrite it in the FAQ. In this case the FAQ is incorrect.
Inigo Carmine 01-08-06, 11:34 AM	From the PHB under Monk's Unarmed Strike: "There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a monk striking unarmed. A monk may thus apply her full Strength bonus on damage rolls for all her unarmed strikes." Somone should have read the PHB before trying to rewrite it in the FAQ. In this case the FAQ is incorrect. You're right in some respect. That line means a monk gets full str bonus on all his unarmed strikes. But that same line also means a monk cannot TWF with an unarmed strike as his offhand attack. I think the FAQ just chose to ignore that sentence in its entirety.
mvincent 01-09-06, 01:56 PM	I think the FAQ just chose to ignore that sentence in its entirety.Objectively, I think you chose a different interpretation than the FAQ. Subjectively, your interpretation seems odd to me.