A thought related to the ability to add icy burst to wraps...

[AMDarkwolf]

Would it be a fair buff to the monk class, or a huge unbalancing effect, to allow monks to add, to any random drop handwraps(as it is now) any touch/element/burst effect (as of the games now, similar process but any elemental effect to any random dropped handwrap)

I was mulling over the idea and thinking it would be quite cool and interesting(and in a way, a poor mans green steel idea for monks) - but then would it be overpowered and unbalanced to have monks with all 4 elemental bursts on thier wraps vs. greensteel users?

(Keep in mind that monks, for most part, are using x2 crit multiplier wraps vs x3 or x4 greensteel weapons, that we have abysmally low chances to find metalline wraps, and that adding elemental bursts to weapons won't assist in bypassing DR)

If this was implemented, and not 'limited', would it put the monk inline with other melees, or put us far ahead of them?

[sinedist]

It's a good question, Dark. And quite an interesting concept!

To be short, I believe that the issues of bypass DR and end-game energy resistances/immunities are a large part of what continues to hinder the class. Because fire actually harms a lot of nothing end-game, it becomes almost worthless (which is why I'm not quite excited for the Henshin PrE when it finally does come out). The same goes for water/ice.

Monks already have a number of elemental/holy damages that can be tacked on via enhancements and loot. Where damage is due is in terms of unresistable additional base damage -- something that all other classes have (rangers: FE, Fighters: kensai related damage, Barbarians: vicious and massive STR boosts, and Paladin abilities). Especially given the high to-hit in epic, DEX based monks will need the kind of boosts that the other classes have to make up for the gap.

Still, it's thoughts such as these that will help bridge the DPS gap between monks and other melees.

Cheers!