[RPG] How do monk attacks work

dnd-4eimplementsmonk

I've skimmed through the books but I'm a little confused about powers. Unarmed monks for example get +3 Atk and 1d8 naturally. Is the +3 only added to rolls when you make a basic attack or does it get added to your abilities? For instance I use Drunken Monkey, it is only my D20 roll + Dex modifier to hit vs. Will, and whatever damage it does right? If so, do weapon proficiency bonus' add to abilities for other classes that use weapons or does that work the same way or does it count if the ability uses x[w] key?

Best Answer

Monk's +3 unarmed proficiency bonus is only added to weapon attacks, not monk "Implement" attacks. Monks are confusing.

The difference is in the keyword of the power.

Drunken Monkey has the following keywords: Full Discipline, Implement, Psionic

The one we care about is "Implement"

Because monk attacks are implement attacks, they do not use weapon proficiency. Instead, they use Half-Level + Dex Mod for attack versus Will, and 1d8 + Dexterity modifier damage (note lack of half-level) for damage.

To increase the attack mod, you need to invest in feats like "Ki Focus Expertise"

The Melee Basic attack on the other hand would have the weapon keyword. Therefore you would, on an opportunity attack, use +3 + Half Level + Strength Mod versus AC.

Conclusions

So, in heroic, we have a minotaur charger, focused on the augment 2 charger. Your weapon is the sword, echoing your paragon path. (Theme this as your monastic weapon) First feat is Monastic Disciple, to get your iron soul flurry of blows. Choose an appropriately monky theme. You'll want a very high strength to power your basic attacks, which... isn't very good from a theoretical perspective, but survivable.

Equipment is generally the charge chassis, which must be reflavoured not as ubermagicitems, but as monastic tricks to make your damage more interesting. I urge you to grab a book on aikido and Kenjutsu and theme all your attacks appropriatly. Throw in a hint of tai-chi, just becuase it's appropriate to explain your elemental effects.

You'll want to grab the utility multiclass into monk, and the monk PP.

That provides a solid defender who is focused on doing damage and is themed around being a "monk." Your heavy armor focus is a touch unfortunate, but my recommendation is to accept it, and just call it unusually heavy robes.

[RPG] How do magic weapons affect attack and damage rolls for weapon or implement powers

There are three issues here, I think: Keywords, the two different kinds of proficiency, and permission by omission.

But before I go into those, a word: As always there are explicit features/feats/enchantments which break the rules, and that's why we call D&D an "exception-based" system: it deals in rules which apply universally unless (until) exceptions are made, so there is no need to enumerate the possible exceptions. We simply assume the rule unless told otherwise in a particular instance.

Keywords

If a power has the weapon keyword, and only if the power has the weapon keyword, does a weapon enchantment (enhancement bonuses and other features) apply to that power. Ditto with the implement keyword and implement enchantments.

Proficiency and the Proficiency Bonus

"Proficiency" means that you've had training in the use of a weapon or implement, but mechanically it means totally different things whether you're talking about a weapon or an implement.

Weapon Proficiency and the Proficiency Bonus

Proficiency with a weapon means that you can add that weapon's "proficiency bonus" to attack rolls. Only weapons have proficiency bonuses, they only apply to powers with the weapon keyword, and they have nothing to do with whether enhancement bonuses can be applied (see below for that bit).

Implements, Enhancement Bonuses, and Permission by Omission

You need to be proficient with an implement in order to add its enhancement bonus to attacks and damage with implement powers. You do not need to be proficient with a weapon in order to add its enhancement bonus to attacks and damage with weapon powers, but you don't get its proficiency bonus to the attack roll. (In either case, you can only add the enhancement bonus of one item at a time to an attack unless you have a rules exception which says otherwise.)

I arrived at this conclusion because the magic implement rules say you need to be proficient for the enhancement bonus, but the magic weapon rules don't. Permission by omission is sloppy, but has solid precedent.