Monks and monk weapons

[Nzifklm]

I remember recently reading in a post that in PnP 3.0 monks could use kamas, nunchucks, and another weapon and keep their unarmed bab.

It's not a bug. 3rd edition Monks use their UAB when fighting unarmed, or with kama, nunchaku, or siangham. All of those weapons are by the way useless to a high level monk, whose base unarmed damage far surpasses those weak little 1d6 weapons.

You cannot dual-wield when fighting with monk weapons. Why not? Because it's already assumed you're fighting with your entire body and all your skill. Look at it this way - a monk's entire body is a weapon. He can attack with fists, feet, elbows, knees, head, or butt, and do the same damage. Thus a monk has 10+ weapons armed at all times. Putting another weapon in one hand doesn't increase the monk's attack potential in any way. Thus though you can freely equip weapons in both hands, it doesn't increase your number of attacks.

- Aloro

I was wondering if this is implemented with the CEP weapons or not. Also, how does this work with dual wielding, there is SOME difference, isn't there?

[Enverex]

Yeah, you can weild those weapons, but I don't think you can duel weild Nunchucks as they are classed as flail type weapons which are not duel weildable.

[Nzifklm]

sure but do you get your unarmed AB with them? ah hell, i guess i'll just go buy some and see

[Enverex]

You do with Kama, but I dont think you do with Nunchucks which is why I dumped them, try anyway just incase (and I hope) I am wrong.

[Nzifklm]

Actually, you can dual-wield nunchaku. Their base item type is a new CEP item type: Nunchaku. Unfortunately my monk is too much of a pansy currently for me to be able to tell if he does get the uab with them. Coincidentally, monks also get access to some of the other CEP exotic type weapons without taking the exotic feat, namely:
sais
tonfa
wind fire wheels
punching daggers (katar)
hope this info isn't considered spoilers.

[Gairus]

No, the CEP weapons do not work like kamas for monks. (for flurry of blows and the special attack progression)

[Nzifklm]

i know this would probably be *REALLY* low on the list but I think it would be really cool if the monk weapons could be made to work like the kama, this way monks could get access to all the damage types for resistance reasons. (albeit at a much lower magnitude than bludgeoning)

[Enverex]

i know this would probably be *REALLY* low on the list but I think it would be really cool if the monk weapons could be made to work like the kama, this way monks could get access to all the damage types for resistance reasons. (albeit at a much lower magnitude than bludgeoning)

Doubt it, it's a Hak/2da issue mostly which is down to CEP, not the team so...

[Midknight]

Unfortunately, the way Bioware coded the Kama using the unarmed BAB is hardcoded into the engine - there is really no way the CEP weapons can be changed to use a monk's unarmed BAB, short of changing the base item of every monk type weapon to kama - which would make them identical to the kama statistically, and also be a heck of a lot of work.

[Nzifklm]

I kinda thought that... lame

[mashimaro_]

So no Bruce Lee style double nunchuka butt kicking?

Ahh....

Guess I'll scrap the idea of ever playing a monk.

[Selric]

I was wondering if weapon finesse applies to the chucks. If so, then I could be a rogue who uses them.

[Shazbot]

I was wondering if weapon finesse applies to the chucks. If so, then I could be a rogue who uses them.

Nope, weapon finesse applies only to the weapons listed in the feat and only if it can be wielded with one hand (ie rapier and halfling = no bonus). The exception to this is the "off attack" of double weapons (two handed sword, dire mace, and double axe?) these will also get the weapon finesse bonus. I don't know about the "off attack" of double CEP weapons.

Shaz...

[Shamtom_spike]

Im new here! May i know whats the best weapon to use?

[Gumble Tinkertumble]

Im new here! May i know whats the best weapon to use?

Whatever makes your character look cool.

[solitude_peace2]

1. Use what you see everyone else use. There's a reason its so popular
2. Use something nobody else uses. You'll get credit for it.

[NayalaGelbert]

YOU are the best weapon. Everything else is purely decorative flavour! (will weaken your damage potential, but increase your intrestingness)


Having said that, gloves are your best chance to enhance the damage you already do with your "fists" which far outstrip any base weapon.

[Tel]

iirc the only weapons which allow you to use your Flurry of Blows ability are a Kama & "unarmed" (gloves)

Kama's free up your bracers/gloves slot for other equipment if you feel the need, and will do d4 with 20/x2 crit chance. They can also be easily enhanced with magic spells like Greater Magic Weapon, Keen Edge and Dark fire/Flame Weapon. At early levels a Kama may not do as much damage without enchantment as your unarmed attacks, but while supported by a mage they *may* average more damage, or have interesting effects "on-hit". Kama's are also much more common than other monk weapons, and come in greater variety.

Unarmed attacks will scale with your character starting at a d6 (d4 if your small) eventually getting up to a d20 (d12? if your small). Unarmed attacks benefit from your Ki-Strike ability you will eventually gain. Gloves can enhance your unarmed attacks by adding unique effects, or elemental damage. Gloves (especially powerful ones) are much less common but for raw damage output later in your monk carer are a good investment.

Avlis Wiki also lists a few other "monk weapons" in which they have proficency, and depending on your monk level you will retain your "monk attacks". Monks progress on two different attack scales the "normal" +15/10/5 and specialized monk weapons which provides 2 more attacks. While these other weapons can't gain the additional attacks from Flurry of Blows, if your high enough level you will keep your enhanced attack bonus for using a monk weapon. Quarterstaves, Nunchaku, Kusari-gama, Tonfa, Wind Fire Wheel etc. are all unique weapons some of which have properties your very unlikely to get on a Kama or pair of Gloves.

At the end of the day the choice is yours. But in specific answer the general philosophy is Kama (early levels), Gloves (late levels).

[Bane TooVall]

But in specific answer the general philosophy is Kama (early levels), Gloves (late levels).

As a monk player, I agree with everything Tel said except this. I would recommend gloves at early levels and kamas at higher levels (if even at all). The reason being is that you start progressing unarmed attack damage almost right away, so you will start at d6 and be at d8 in 3-4 levels (already passing the kama). I would only recommend Kamas if you plan to duel wield, and if so, you dont want to duel wield early (med BAB). So I would suggest gloves first (paws of the bear are nice), and then duel wield kamas later (if you want to max attacks per round/be a parrier/can find a mage to do nice mage stuff to you).

[loki70]

There are a lot more "monk weapons" that are custom to the world as well.