A Monk's Punch [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Monk's Punch [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
hussey_graham
03-14-05, 06:36 PM Is a monk's punch a touch attack or a attack with amor counted? My group has a thing called "presure points" would those be a touch attack with a -4 penalty (specific area) or a normal attack with a -4 penalty?
Capt. Pixel
03-14-05, 06:52 PM A Monk's punch is a standard melee attack (armor counts).

A Touch Attack only means that you only need to make physical contact (Stop touching me!!!) rather than attempting to deal damage through protective covering such as armor. :cool:
psionichamster
03-14-05, 06:54 PM well, i can't speak for any house rules your group has,

but a monk's unarmed strikes count as weapons, same as a longsword, mace, hammer, or any other melee weapon in the game

they have their own progression of damage, and the monk can choose to deal lethal or non-lethal damage without taking a -4 to hit

also, it's not just punches. knees, elbows, hips, shoulders, and even headbutts count for a monk's unarmed damage, furthermore, they can make an unarmed strike even when their arms are full

namaste,
the hamster
mcnoo
03-14-05, 09:30 PM they can make an unarmed strike even when their arms are full

I've always found this one's a bit badly worded. The way you put it, the monk fights just as well with his hands tied behind his back as normally. Sure, he can use his legs and the like pretty effectively, but he's not AS good as when he's using both hands.
Sjorna
03-14-05, 10:16 PM Well, I can atest to this personally. I'm currently taking Karate and if my Sensai tied his hands behind his back he would still woop me.

I guess thats kind of like the "monks" training. Now, if I had a mace or a spear it would be more of a fair fight but after I missed him once he would still woop me. My skill is probably compared to a 1st or 2nd level character and my Sensai being a 20th level character if not epic so this comparison is a little off but you get the jist of it I hope.
Fixxxer
03-14-05, 10:23 PM I've always found this one's a bit badly worded. The way you put it, the monk fights just as well with his hands tied behind his back as normally. Sure, he can use his legs and the like pretty effectively, but he's not AS good as when he's using both hands.

Go rent a copy of Drunken Master with Jackie Chan and then tell me a monk can't be as good with his hands full.

hussey_graham, as has been stated before, a monk's unarmed strike counts exactly the same way as any other weapon, such as a sword, mace or axe. The difference between a touch attack and a normal attack is that a normal attack may still be blocked by armor and the link, but a touch attack has some charactaristic about it that makes armor useless. For instance, using the spell Shocking Grasp is a touch attack. All you have to do is make physical contact with the target. It doesn't matter if he's wearing full plate armor...the electrical damage is going to go right through it to the target. A normal attack, on the other hand, is still affected by armor in that it can be blocked.

Regarding your pressure points rule, what exactly is it?
mcnoo
03-14-05, 10:24 PM You know, on second thoughts, you're right, when I've had my arms in a lock behind my back I've kicked arse far batter than when I've hands to distract from my tusty old hiking boots. Still, that was slightly helped by the fact that i had my full weight supported so I could run my legs up the wall and kick his friend in the solar plexus from shoulder height.
Salla
03-15-05, 02:32 AM The closest thing to 'pressure points' that I've ever come across with the Monk is the Stunning Attack (at least, in the PHB). Is that what you mean?
Fixxxer
03-15-05, 04:52 PM The closest thing to 'pressure points' that I've ever come across with the Monk is the Stunning Attack (at least, in the PHB). Is that what you mean?

I seem to recall The Quintessential Monk contained something dealing with pressure points. However, I remember thinking that it seemed clunky and not worth the effort to use.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
hussey_graham 03-14-05, 06:36 PM	Is a monk's punch a touch attack or a attack with amor counted? My group has a thing called "presure points" would those be a touch attack with a -4 penalty (specific area) or a normal attack with a -4 penalty?
Capt. Pixel 03-14-05, 06:52 PM	A Monk's punch is a standard melee attack (armor counts). A Touch Attack only means that you only need to make physical contact (Stop touching me!!!) rather than attempting to deal damage through protective covering such as armor. :cool:
psionichamster 03-14-05, 06:54 PM	well, i can't speak for any house rules your group has, but a monk's unarmed strikes count as weapons, same as a longsword, mace, hammer, or any other melee weapon in the game they have their own progression of damage, and the monk can choose to deal lethal or non-lethal damage without taking a -4 to hit also, it's not just punches. knees, elbows, hips, shoulders, and even headbutts count for a monk's unarmed damage, furthermore, they can make an unarmed strike even when their arms are full namaste, the hamster
mcnoo 03-14-05, 09:30 PM	they can make an unarmed strike even when their arms are full I've always found this one's a bit badly worded. The way you put it, the monk fights just as well with his hands tied behind his back as normally. Sure, he can use his legs and the like pretty effectively, but he's not AS good as when he's using both hands.
Sjorna 03-14-05, 10:16 PM	Well, I can atest to this personally. I'm currently taking Karate and if my Sensai tied his hands behind his back he would still woop me. I guess thats kind of like the "monks" training. Now, if I had a mace or a spear it would be more of a fair fight but after I missed him once he would still woop me. My skill is probably compared to a 1st or 2nd level character and my Sensai being a 20th level character if not epic so this comparison is a little off but you get the jist of it I hope.
Fixxxer 03-14-05, 10:23 PM	I've always found this one's a bit badly worded. The way you put it, the monk fights just as well with his hands tied behind his back as normally. Sure, he can use his legs and the like pretty effectively, but he's not AS good as when he's using both hands. Go rent a copy of Drunken Master with Jackie Chan and then tell me a monk can't be as good with his hands full. hussey_graham, as has been stated before, a monk's unarmed strike counts exactly the same way as any other weapon, such as a sword, mace or axe. The difference between a touch attack and a normal attack is that a normal attack may still be blocked by armor and the link, but a touch attack has some charactaristic about it that makes armor useless. For instance, using the spell Shocking Grasp is a touch attack. All you have to do is make physical contact with the target. It doesn't matter if he's wearing full plate armor...the electrical damage is going to go right through it to the target. A normal attack, on the other hand, is still affected by armor in that it can be blocked. Regarding your pressure points rule, what exactly is it?
mcnoo 03-14-05, 10:24 PM	You know, on second thoughts, you're right, when I've had my arms in a lock behind my back I've kicked arse far batter than when I've hands to distract from my tusty old hiking boots. Still, that was slightly helped by the fact that i had my full weight supported so I could run my legs up the wall and kick his friend in the solar plexus from shoulder height.
Salla 03-15-05, 02:32 AM	The closest thing to 'pressure points' that I've ever come across with the Monk is the Stunning Attack (at least, in the PHB). Is that what you mean?
Fixxxer 03-15-05, 04:52 PM	The closest thing to 'pressure points' that I've ever come across with the Monk is the Stunning Attack (at least, in the PHB). Is that what you mean? I seem to recall The Quintessential Monk contained something dealing with pressure points. However, I remember thinking that it seemed clunky and not worth the effort to use.