Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Mitochon Jan 12, 2012 8:24:06	The character builder is not allowing me to choose Monk unarmed strike as my weapon for Kensei Focus for the Kensei paragon path. Choosing to make Unarmed attack as my Kensei Focus option does not cause the character builder to add the Kensei Focus bonuses to my attacks while I have Monk unarmed strike equiped as my weapon.
#2 kenjoon Jan 13, 2012 15:19:26	The character builder is not allowing me to choose Monk unarmed strike as my weapon for Kensei Focus for the Kensei paragon path. Choosing to make Unarmed attack as my Kensei Focus option does not cause the character builder to add the Kensei Focus bonuses to my attacks while I have Monk unarmed strike equiped as my weapon. UNARMED COMBATANT You can make unarmed attacks with much greater effectiveness than most combatants can. When you make a weapon attack such as a melee basic attack, you can use the monk unarmed strike, which is a weapon in the unarmed weapon group. This weapon has the off-hand weapon property and a +3 proficiency bonus, and it deals 1d8 damage. You must have a hand free to use your monk unarmed strike, even if you’re kicking, kneeing, elbowing, or head-butting a target. Also, your monk unarmed strike can benefit from a magic ki focus if you have one (see “Implements” below). Kensei Focus (11th level): You gain a +1 bonus to weapon attack rolls with a melee weapon of your choice. There was some debate out this in the rules Q&A, but I believe that your issue is that your Monk unarmed strike (while it is placed in the "unarmed weapon group") is not actually a weapon and therefore cannot benefit from Kensei Focus which specifically requires a "melee weapon".
#3 Etrigaen Feb 09, 2012 19:28:44	UNARMED COMBATANT You can make unarmed attacks with much greater effectiveness than most combatants can. When you make a weapon attack such as a melee basic attack, you can use the monk unarmed strike, which is a weapon in the unarmed weapon group. This weapon has the off-hand weapon property and a +3 proficiency bonus, and it deals 1d8 damage. You must have a hand free to use your monk unarmed strike, even if you’re kicking, kneeing, elbowing, or head-butting a target. Also, your monk unarmed strike can benefit from a magic ki focus if you have one (see “Implements” below). Kensei Focus (11th level): You gain a +1 bonus to weapon attack rolls with a melee weapon of your choice. There was some debate out this in the rules Q&A, but I believe that your issue is that your Monk unarmed strike (while it is placed in the "unarmed weapon group") is not actually a weapon and therefore cannot benefit from Kensei Focus which specifically requires a "melee weapon".  There's a question if its a weapon? Really? Reread Unarmed Combatant, it clearly defines the monk unarmed strike as a weapon.  This could not be any less ambiguous. Ergo, it qualifies for Kinsei Focus.  Its absence as an option in the CB is an oversight.
#4 kenjoon Feb 10, 2012 8:38:24	UNARMED COMBATANT You can make unarmed attacks with much greater effectiveness than most combatants can. When you make a weapon attack such as a melee basic attack, you can use the monk unarmed strike, which is a weapon in the unarmed weapon group. This weapon has the off-hand weapon property and a +3 proficiency bonus, and it deals 1d8 damage. You must have a hand free to use your monk unarmed strike, even if you’re kicking, kneeing, elbowing, or head-butting a target. Also, your monk unarmed strike can benefit from a magic ki focus if you have one (see “Implements” below). Kensei Focus (11th level): You gain a +1 bonus to weapon attack rolls with a melee weapon of your choice. There was some debate out this in the rules Q&A, but I believe that your issue is that your Monk unarmed strike (while it is placed in the "unarmed weapon group") is not actually a weapon and therefore cannot benefit from Kensei Focus which specifically requires a "melee weapon".  There's a question if its a weapon? Really? Reread Unarmed Combatant, it clearly defines the monk unarmed strike as a weapon.  This could not be any less ambiguous. Ergo, it qualifies for Kinsei Focus.  Its absence as an option in the CB is an oversight. In the red text you underlined you'll note that the word melee is strategically missing. The "unarmed weapon group" is specifically NOT a "melee weapon".  I'm sorry that you disagree, but you can feel free to debate it with the rules gurus in Q&A.
#5 Etrigaen Feb 10, 2012 12:33:39	First of all, I hope that you are not making the argument that Monk Unarmed Strike is a ranged weapon.  Unless you are suggesting that there is a build out there that involves throwing body parts I am sure that we can agree that it is not.  If a weapon is not ranged, then it is by default melee. A melee weapon  is any weapon that does not involve a projectile — that is, both the user and target of the weapon are in contact with it simultaneously in normal use. A weapon that fires a projectile, or is a projectile itself, is a ranged weapon. Furthermore, your basic unarmed attack, which is available in the CB for Kensei Focus, is described in exactly the same terms as Monk unarmed strike.  In other words, there is no reference to normal unarmed strike being specifically "melee" and yet it is a valid choice.  As Monk Unarmed Strike is defined the same way as a known valid option, Monk Unarmed Strike is likewise a valid option. Both prerequisites are met, it is defined as a weapon in the class feature description and is as clearly defined as "melee" as normal unarmed strike. If "melee" being implied is good enough to qualify normal unarmed strike as a "melee weapon", then it is good enough to qualify Monk unarmed strike as a "melee weapon". The reason it does not show up in CB is that it is not a weapon that can be purchased, it is awarded as a class feature.  It was merely over looked by the developers when the list of Kensei  Focus options were being compiled.