Ghost Monk? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ghost Monk? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Flay Crimsonwind
06-23-07, 01:09 AM I was just wondering to myself, deep in character design, what damage would a Ghost monk do? It deals everything as a touch attack, yes, and it deals it's full unarmed strike damage, yes? In addition, would it be able to use any touch attack it has applying it's unarmed damage to it's touch attack?
Mr_Teapot
06-23-07, 08:43 AM According to the SRD entry (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/ghost.htm):

Damage
Against ethereal creatures, a ghost uses the base creature’s damage values. Against nonethereal creatures, the ghost usually cannot deal physical damage at all but can use its special attacks, if any, when it manifests (see below).

So you do full unarmed damage against creatures on the ethereal plane, but can't do any unarmed damage against normal creatures (those on the Material Plane). You can use you ghost special attacks when manifested, though.
penchant
06-23-07, 03:39 PM According to the SRD entry (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/ghost.htm):

So you do full unarmed damage against creatures on the ethereal plane, but can't do any unarmed damage against normal creatures (those on the Material Plane). You can use you ghost special attacks when manifested, though.

However there is nothing that says that a ghost Can't use a ghost touch weapon. Go with a ghost monk/ninja (with Aesetic Stalker feat) or straight ninja for their innate ghost touch ability.
Khatoblepas
06-23-07, 05:37 PM What about Kensai, so you can imbue your.. eh.. body? with the Ghost Touch ability? A Ghost Touch ghost? Does that work? Would people be able to affect you? Would you be able to affect material goods normally, since you are ghost touch?

This is as confusing as brilliant energy monks.
Part-Human2
06-23-07, 05:42 PM Rules of the Game: There, Not There - Part Three (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20040928a)
Ghost Touch Weaponry

An incorporeal creature can pick up and wield a ghost touch weapon even though the creature lacks a Strength score. When the creature makes an attack, it uses its Dexterity modifier to modify the attack roll (even for a melee attack) and no Strength modifier applies to the damage roll. (Because the incorporeal attacker does not have a Strength score, its Strength modifier is +0.)

According to the Dungeon Master's Guide, a ghost touch weapon functions as either a corporeal or incorporeal object, whichever is better for the wielder at the time. This is convenient for an incorporeal creature that wants to carry a ghost touch weapon through a wall. What this means when an incorporeal wielder uses a ghost touch weapon to attack a corporeal foe is not quite clear, though. Presumably, an incorporeal wielder can choose which way the weapon acts at the time of the attack; this does not require an action on the wielder's part, and the wielder can make the choice even when it is not the wielder's turn. (For example, when the wielder uses the ghost touch weapon for an attack of opportunity.)

When an incorporeal attacker wields a ghost touch weapon as a corporeal weapon, the attack is resolved against the defender's normal Armor Class. An incorporeal attacker wielding a ghost touch weapon in this manner can use the weapon to make a disarm or sunder attack. If the weapon can be used for a trip attack (see the weapon's description in Chapter 7 of the Player's Handbook), an incorporeal attacker can make a trip attack with it.

When an incorporeal attacker wields a ghost touch weapon as an incorporeal weapon, the attack is resolved as an incorporeal touch attack. If the attack hits, the weapon deals the normal damage for a weapon of its kind, plus any bonus damage from its enhancement bonus, but no Strength modifier applies. If an incorporeal creature fires ghost touch ammunition or throws a ghost touch weapon, the projectile or weapon becomes corporeal the moment it leaves the incorporeal creature's possession, though it retains the ghost touch property.
Thomar_of_Uointer
06-23-07, 06:22 PM A level 1 ghost monk could not use his unarmed strike against corporeal creatures, he has to resort to magic weapons.

However, at level 4, the monk gets ki strike. Most DMs will interpret this to mean that monks with this ability can strike incorporeal creatures with a 50% miss chance (as a magic weapon), and conversely an incorporeal monk could strike corporeal creatures with the 50% miss chance.
KurenaiYami
06-23-07, 06:36 PM A level 1 ghost monk could not use his unarmed strike against corporeal creatures, he has to resort to magic weapons.

However, at level 4, the monk gets ki strike. Most DMs will interpret this to mean that monks with this ability can strike incorporeal creatures with a 50% miss chance (as a magic weapon), and conversely an incorporeal monk could strike corporeal creatures with the 50% miss chance.

In that case, "most DMs" are wrong.

Ki Strike specifically says that your unarmed strike is treated as magic for the purpose of dealing damage to creatures with Damage Reduction. Your fists are not magic.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Flay Crimsonwind 06-23-07, 01:09 AM	I was just wondering to myself, deep in character design, what damage would a Ghost monk do? It deals everything as a touch attack, yes, and it deals it's full unarmed strike damage, yes? In addition, would it be able to use any touch attack it has applying it's unarmed damage to it's touch attack?
Mr_Teapot 06-23-07, 08:43 AM	According to the SRD entry (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/ghost.htm): Damage Against ethereal creatures, a ghost uses the base creature’s damage values. Against nonethereal creatures, the ghost usually cannot deal physical damage at all but can use its special attacks, if any, when it manifests (see below). So you do full unarmed damage against creatures on the ethereal plane, but can't do any unarmed damage against normal creatures (those on the Material Plane). You can use you ghost special attacks when manifested, though.
penchant 06-23-07, 03:39 PM	According to the SRD entry (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/ghost.htm): So you do full unarmed damage against creatures on the ethereal plane, but can't do any unarmed damage against normal creatures (those on the Material Plane). You can use you ghost special attacks when manifested, though. However there is nothing that says that a ghost Can't use a ghost touch weapon. Go with a ghost monk/ninja (with Aesetic Stalker feat) or straight ninja for their innate ghost touch ability.
Khatoblepas 06-23-07, 05:37 PM	What about Kensai, so you can imbue your.. eh.. body? with the Ghost Touch ability? A Ghost Touch ghost? Does that work? Would people be able to affect you? Would you be able to affect material goods normally, since you are ghost touch? This is as confusing as brilliant energy monks.
Part-Human2 06-23-07, 05:42 PM	Rules of the Game: There, Not There - Part Three (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20040928a) Ghost Touch Weaponry An incorporeal creature can pick up and wield a ghost touch weapon even though the creature lacks a Strength score. When the creature makes an attack, it uses its Dexterity modifier to modify the attack roll (even for a melee attack) and no Strength modifier applies to the damage roll. (Because the incorporeal attacker does not have a Strength score, its Strength modifier is +0.) According to the Dungeon Master's Guide, a ghost touch weapon functions as either a corporeal or incorporeal object, whichever is better for the wielder at the time. This is convenient for an incorporeal creature that wants to carry a ghost touch weapon through a wall. What this means when an incorporeal wielder uses a ghost touch weapon to attack a corporeal foe is not quite clear, though. Presumably, an incorporeal wielder can choose which way the weapon acts at the time of the attack; this does not require an action on the wielder's part, and the wielder can make the choice even when it is not the wielder's turn. (For example, when the wielder uses the ghost touch weapon for an attack of opportunity.) When an incorporeal attacker wields a ghost touch weapon as a corporeal weapon, the attack is resolved against the defender's normal Armor Class. An incorporeal attacker wielding a ghost touch weapon in this manner can use the weapon to make a disarm or sunder attack. If the weapon can be used for a trip attack (see the weapon's description in Chapter 7 of the Player's Handbook), an incorporeal attacker can make a trip attack with it. When an incorporeal attacker wields a ghost touch weapon as an incorporeal weapon, the attack is resolved as an incorporeal touch attack. If the attack hits, the weapon deals the normal damage for a weapon of its kind, plus any bonus damage from its enhancement bonus, but no Strength modifier applies. If an incorporeal creature fires ghost touch ammunition or throws a ghost touch weapon, the projectile or weapon becomes corporeal the moment it leaves the incorporeal creature's possession, though it retains the ghost touch property.
Thomar_of_Uointer 06-23-07, 06:22 PM	A level 1 ghost monk could not use his unarmed strike against corporeal creatures, he has to resort to magic weapons. However, at level 4, the monk gets ki strike. Most DMs will interpret this to mean that monks with this ability can strike incorporeal creatures with a 50% miss chance (as a magic weapon), and conversely an incorporeal monk could strike corporeal creatures with the 50% miss chance.
KurenaiYami 06-23-07, 06:36 PM	A level 1 ghost monk could not use his unarmed strike against corporeal creatures, he has to resort to magic weapons. However, at level 4, the monk gets ki strike. Most DMs will interpret this to mean that monks with this ability can strike incorporeal creatures with a 50% miss chance (as a magic weapon), and conversely an incorporeal monk could strike corporeal creatures with the 50% miss chance. In that case, "most DMs" are wrong. Ki Strike specifically says that your unarmed strike is treated as magic for the purpose of dealing damage to creatures with Damage Reduction. Your fists are not magic.