Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Baree Mar 13, 2009 20:52:11	I'm playing a Warforged Monk in a sort of everything-goes campaign in 3.5. A while ago, my DM told me about a belt that makes me hit as if I were 5 levels higher. I've been saving for it ever since. In today's campaign, after defeating a lvl 11 lich, I managed to roll two 99's in a row for the loot. This resulted in us getting a mirror of mental prowess, worth 175k gp. So, if all goes well and we actually manage to get it back to our home town in one piece and sell the thing I might have the funds for it. I thought I looked the item up in my DMG, but although there is a monk's belt in there it does not have the same abilities as I was told. After some searching on the net however, I do see mention of a "monk's belt" that does increase unarmed abilities by 5 levels. Is this thing in a different book or something?
#2 crossblade Mar 13, 2009 21:12:01	Straight from the SRD http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/srd35 Belt, Monk’s: This simple rope belt, when wrapped around a character’s waist, confers great ability in unarmed combat. The wearer’s AC and unarmed damage is treated as a monk of five levels higher. If donned by a character with the Stunning Fist feat, the belt lets her make one additional stunning attack per day. If the character is not a monk, she gains the AC and unarmed damage of a 5th-level monk. This AC bonus functions just like the monk’s AC bonus. Moderate transmutation; CL 10th; Craft Wondrous Item, righteous might or transformation; Price 13,000 gp; Weight 1 lb. Looks to me like your DM misread the item description. Of course, there's always the possibility your DM just made a homebrewed item to make you RP quest for it, or to up your power (as some people think the monk is underpowered)
#3 entropy_judge Mar 13, 2009 21:17:37	He might also have been referring to this: The wearer’s AC and unarmed damage is treated as a monk of five levels higher. If I weren't being specific, I could say that you're *hitting* as if you were five levels higher.
#4 crossblade Mar 13, 2009 21:20:54	Yup, I read it too fast. Caught it after I dug out my DMG instead of looking at the SRD. I was about to edit it, but EJ posted too fast. There's your answer, Baree. That's the belt in question. DMG p248, right hand column. Under :Belt, Monk's".
#5 koradzi Mar 13, 2009 23:42:51	The item was a lot less awesome in 3.0; you might've had the wrong book.
#6 Baree Mar 14, 2009 4:31:32	Ah, that must be it. I bought this DMG together with a PHB, now I wonder if perhaps both books are not the ones I wanted. The DMG probably definitely isn't then, the belt listed in my DMG just has a different description. Thanks for all the answers though, at least I now know exactly what I am saving for
#7 Kerrus Mar 14, 2009 14:17:31	Well, it depends which DMG you have. The 3.5 DMG and PHB do say 3.5 on the covers. They should look like this, for 3.5, respectively:
#8 tafkamhokie Mar 16, 2009 11:45:05	Keep a few things in mind: A monk's belt is a 13,000 gp magic item. It's net effect is +1 to AC and it increases your unarmed damage die by one type. That increased damage die typically translates into about +1 or +2 to damage at low-to-mid levels. For example, changing from a d6 to a d8 damage die is +1 to your average damage. Depending on your other magic items and feats, +1 to AC and +1 or +2 to damage is not really worth 13,000 gp. A 16,000 gp +4 belt of of strength gives you +2 to hit and +2 to damage and may be a better use of the cash. Where a monk's belt gets useful is when you have the Improved Natural Attack feat (from the Monster Manual) to boost your damage die then add in the monk's belt. That gets useful at about 7th level where your normal damage die is a d8, the monk's belt boosts it to 2d6, and the improved natural attack feat boost that to 3d6. That is a hefty damage boost that a belt of strength cannot equal for the same cost.