[RPG] Can a Monk use a Holy Symbol as their Ki Focus

What I've Found

Using only ki-focus implements has a very limiting effect. They are one of the smaller magic item groups and very few of them have properties or powers that add or change damage types. Since I was looking for being able to permanently deal one type of damage, I've ignored ki-focus implements that only have daily or encounter use damage type changes/additions:

• Fire Blazing Arc Ki-Focus
• Thunder Thunderfist Ki-Focus
• Lightning Forked Lightning Ki-focus

Of those, Thunder had the best feat support. There were damage feats for dealing thunder damage (2) and feat letting me slide an enemy 1 whenever I hit them with thunder damage (reinforcing the controller aspect of the home brew class).

Ultimately my solution was to stick with ki-focus implements because switching to any other implement type would have raised my magic item requirements. Using swords as implements would require having 2 magic weapons kept up to par and all other implements would require 3 magic items total (needing to use both a silvered and non-silvered sword to get the most of my class features).

Ok, to answer your bullets in order:

1. Sort of, but not really. When you use your axe as your implement for your monk powers, you would add any properties related to the axe (such as the enhancement bonus), and any crit effects from the enchantment (usually 1d6 per plus, but often other things. However, brutal and high-crit only apply to [W] dice. Implement powers never use the [W] dice and instead use stated damage expressions (like 2d8 or 1d6). So while you get the enhancement and crit effects from the enchantment you don't get the effects that affect weapon dice (similar to how you don't get the proficiency bonus when you use it as an implement).

   Essentially, when you use an item as a weapon, all of the weapon properties apply (weapon damage dice, brutal, high crit, reach etc). However, when you use a weapon as an implement, only the enchantment applies. The only real difference between your executioner's axe and a long sword, or even a heavy crossbow in this case is what enchantments can be applied to them. (HT Oblivious Sage there).

2. They are different item slots, but the bonuses are the same and do not stack. The +1 from a Ki focus is an enhancement bonus, the +2 from the weapon is also an enhancement bonus. To answer your bullets directly

   • No. You only get one or the other, not both.
   • You can use the weapon, but you only get +2, the proficiency bonus only counts on Weapon powers. (Note: weapon power via the Ki focus gets the proficiency from the Axe as well)

   • Yes, you can use it as an implement if it's an implement power. Pay attention to the power's keywords, some powers are Weapon and some powers are Implement, this matters greatly as it determines whether or not you get to add the proficiency bonus.

   • To address the parenthetical, this is kind of actually complicated. It depends heavily on the power. If the power requires a one handed weapon, you need a one handed weapon. If it doesn't say, then no. However, note that to use your monk unarmed strike, you must have a hand free, so you can't do that while wielding your executioner's axe (talk to your DM though, you might be able to hold it in one hand and strike unarmed...whether you can or not is touchy).

3. Is the Flurry of Blows a weapon or implement power? If yes, then you get the enhancement bonus, if no, then you don't. If it's a weapon power you get the proficiency bonus, if its an implement power, then you don't (It's neither, it doesn't even have a to-hit roll...if it were a weapon or implement power, you'd be able to add the enhancement bonus to the damage, but it's not so that's moot).