fighting monk? [Archive] - Wizards Community

fighting monk? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
justin_podur
05-20-05, 10:13 PM Hi folks. I've followed with interest the various threads on the monk, and in particular the very helpful mathematical analysis of the monk vs. the fighter at high levels. These things have convinced me that the monk isn't supposed to be a frontline fighter as currently designed. What I'm wondering is, could I mod the monk to make it so without unbalancing him?

I don't think monks should compete with fighters for hit points. The archetype monks I have in mind are the folks from 'Crouching Tiger', 'Hero', and 'Iron Monkey'. These folks don't generally take hits, and usually when they do, they die (i.e., 'How swift your sword is!'). The wisdom bonus to AC and so on doesn't mean they can compete with an armoured fighter, but oh well. But I do think they should be able to hit as much and as precisely and do as much damage as fighters.

What about leaving everything (including flurry ability) alone, and making a single change: putting the monk on the fighter's BAB table?

Would that give the monk too much of an advantage, given all the other abilities the monk gets?
DM Denubis
05-20-05, 10:21 PM In a word, yes. In two words, bad idea. In three words, very bad idea. You get the point.

I am of the opinion that a monk's BAB is artificially low, so that he's not flurrying like a lunatic and getting six attacks normally, seven when hasted.

Leave the monk as is.
The Captain
05-20-05, 11:35 PM I would agree with Denubis that upping the monks BAB would way overpower them. With all the bonus abilities a monk gets they are, in my opinion, easily a balanced class (if not somewhat overpowered already). They may not be able to go toe to toe with a fighter in a strict melee situation, but set off a fireball in the middle of a fight between the two classes and things should quickly change.
Capt. Pixel
05-21-05, 12:39 AM I think your Monk should study 'The Honorable Art of Getting the H*** Out of the Way'

You needn't worry about hit points if you don't give the opponent the opportunity to hit you in the first place.

Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Evasion, Tumbling, Bluff are all good feats and skills that can improve your survivability in a combat situation.

But all of the above aside, playing smartly will be your best bet in the long term. Why fight if you don't have to? Try talking (or running) out of harms way. :cool:
snowlynx
05-21-05, 02:44 PM If you were to do this, you would also need to remove some of the monk's special abilites: as stands, they can be very powerful warriors as long as you play them smart. If you add in this 'extra advantage' I can really see little reason, other then concept, to play a fighter over a monk.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
justin_podur 05-20-05, 10:13 PM	Hi folks. I've followed with interest the various threads on the monk, and in particular the very helpful mathematical analysis of the monk vs. the fighter at high levels. These things have convinced me that the monk isn't supposed to be a frontline fighter as currently designed. What I'm wondering is, could I mod the monk to make it so without unbalancing him? I don't think monks should compete with fighters for hit points. The archetype monks I have in mind are the folks from 'Crouching Tiger', 'Hero', and 'Iron Monkey'. These folks don't generally take hits, and usually when they do, they die (i.e., 'How swift your sword is!'). The wisdom bonus to AC and so on doesn't mean they can compete with an armoured fighter, but oh well. But I do think they should be able to hit as much and as precisely and do as much damage as fighters. What about leaving everything (including flurry ability) alone, and making a single change: putting the monk on the fighter's BAB table? Would that give the monk too much of an advantage, given all the other abilities the monk gets?
DM Denubis 05-20-05, 10:21 PM	In a word, yes. In two words, bad idea. In three words, very bad idea. You get the point. I am of the opinion that a monk's BAB is artificially low, so that he's not flurrying like a lunatic and getting six attacks normally, seven when hasted. Leave the monk as is.
The Captain 05-20-05, 11:35 PM	I would agree with Denubis that upping the monks BAB would way overpower them. With all the bonus abilities a monk gets they are, in my opinion, easily a balanced class (if not somewhat overpowered already). They may not be able to go toe to toe with a fighter in a strict melee situation, but set off a fireball in the middle of a fight between the two classes and things should quickly change.
Capt. Pixel 05-21-05, 12:39 AM	I think your Monk should study 'The Honorable Art of Getting the H*** Out of the Way' You needn't worry about hit points if you don't give the opponent the opportunity to hit you in the first place. Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, Evasion, Tumbling, Bluff are all good feats and skills that can improve your survivability in a combat situation. But all of the above aside, playing smartly will be your best bet in the long term. Why fight if you don't have to? Try talking (or running) out of harms way. :cool:
snowlynx 05-21-05, 02:44 PM	If you were to do this, you would also need to remove some of the monk's special abilites: as stands, they can be very powerful warriors as long as you play them smart. If you add in this 'extra advantage' I can really see little reason, other then concept, to play a fighter over a monk.