suggestion: monk weapon variety

[Angelus_dead]

The following suggestion is not a 100% good idea, and that is particularly dependent on whether there is a plan in the works to make unarmed combat viable high-level DPS (and also whether some bonuses to Warforged monks (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=154413) will be added). However, the suggestion has some benefits and should be considered. AP costs are not very exact.

New monk enhancements

Humble Stick Style- 1 AP, req Monk 2. You treat clubs as a special monk weapon, and may use them with Flurry of Blows and Ki powers.

Vulkoor Sting Style- 1 AP, req Monk 3, Drow race. Activate this mode to treat Shortswords as a special monk weapon, usable with Flurry of Blows and Ki powers. When used in this way, the weapon is reduced to 20/x2 base crits.

Diligent Blade Style- 2 AP, req Monk 4, Dwarf race. Activate this mode to treat Handaxes as a special monk weapon, usable with Flurry of Blows and Ki powers. When used in this way, the weapon is reduced to 20/x2 base crits.

Whirling Steel Strike- 2 AP, req Monk 5, Longsword proficiency. Activate this mode to treat Longswords as a special monk weapon, usable with Flurry of Blows and Ki powers. When used in this way, the weapon is reduced to 20/x2 base crits.

Notes
The name and concept for Whirling Steel Strike comes directly from the Eberron Campaign Setting (although that version is a feat with many prereqs). In this suggestion, the weapons are all reduced to the same critical power as regular monk weapons, meaning that very little overall DPS is added, except that racial enhancements can be applied. This increases fairness between monk races, because although halfling and warforged monks can presently add their racial weapon bonuses to monk attacks, dwarves, elves, and drow cannot.

The other main benefit is additional weapon availability, instead of relying on only one item. The club enhancement would be much more powerful for multiclass monk1/cleric15 builds if it were allowed at level 1, because they'd use it for spellcasting scepters. (For visual results, it would be nice if the monk used an alternate grip for some of those weapons, but that's unnecessary work)

[Strykersz]

Warforged battle fists!

[Angelus_dead]

Warforged battle fists!
A simple way to get some of that effect (without needing any changed artwork) is to allow Warforged a racial enhancement for +1/+2 damage with unarmed attacks.

[Gennerik]

They could also just include the Ki Focus weapon effect, which should at least allow a Monk to use the weapon without becoming uncentered, as well as use Ki powers through them. Not sure which way would be easier, though the Ki Focus effect would limit the usefulness of non-named scepters for casters, since it would take up either a prefix or a suffix slot.

[Dimicron]

What if this was tied in with the elemental stances instead? Like with a tier of any stance you get that weapon profiency/ki use with it?

Air could be shortsword(air is finesse), Fire could be longsword(fire is strength, longswords are STR based), Earth could be handaxe(gives a more powerful weapon to the weakest stance), and Water could be club(maybe a light mace instead, or some other blunt weapon that monks get proficiency with).

I could also see a restriction of you can only use the associated weapon while you are actually in that stance, but would not prefer that as we're trying to keep monks flexibility while giving them more options for upping their DPS.

[Lorien_the_First_One]

Isn't the point of needing to use monk weapons is that you need to use monk weapons? you know, you trade a limitation for a specific benefit?

[QuantumFX]

Isn't the point of needing to use monk weapons is that you need to use monk weapons? you know, you trade a limitation for a specific benefit?

This would be a good point if monks actually had all the monk weapons they're supposed to have. They're still missing a peircing weapon (Saigham in P&P) that destroys their ability to do CON damage. And 2 of their finessable bludgeon weapons are missing (Nunchaku and Sai.) Also Quarterstaves aren't working as the double weapon that they should be. (Not having a double weapon mechanic also screws up 2 Eberron specific monk weapons - Double Sword and Longspear.)

[MysticTheurge]

Isn't the point of needing to use monk weapons is that you need to use monk weapons? you know, you trade a limitation for a specific benefit?

And the point of the feats/enhancements being discussed here is that "monks" can train with other weapons.

Think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

[Jay203]

i just want them to add in two-handed piercing weapons D=
like... spears!

[branmakmuffin]

Humble Stick Style- 1 AP, req Monk 2. You treat clubs as a special monk weapon, and may use them with Flurry of Blows and Ki powers.
To what end, dual-wielding Muckbanes?

[ShaeNightbird]

Monkbanes.

[MysticTheurge]

To what end, dual-wielding Muckbanes?

Caster 15/Monk 1s and scepters is an example provided in the first post.

[Geonis]

I don't know if I like this idea, do we really need more Monk/Tempest builds around here?

[hu-flung-pu]

Warforged battle fists!

That goes in, and the harbor will have a million Warforged monks roaming around. I like being one of the few, and the surprise that goes along with it thank you.

Throw in the new class of artificer, and it's game over man.

Also, to the OP, I'm a bit confused, what Warforged specific weapon enhancement are we talking about here? WF Power attack enhancements?

[QuantumFX]

A_D: You could also break down enhancements based off of Monastic Tradition (Like Paladins or clerics.) See Players Guide to Eberron pg 109.

Order of the Broken Blade: Monk Level 6, 2 AP, Must have Weapon Prof Longsword and Weapon Focus: Slashing. Grants benefits of Whirling Steel Strike
The Flayed Hand: Monk level 2, 2 AP, Weapon Focus: Slashing; Grants benefits of Flensing Strike feat (The DC of which is based off of Character level not monk level.)
Long Arm: Monk Level 2, 1 AP, Stunning Fist Feat; Grants the benefits of Sudden Willow Strike (The ability to use stunning fist through a qstaff.)

Drow should also have access to White Scorpion Strike as a feat or enhancement. (Races of Eberron pg 112.)