[RPG] Making epic combat interesting and challenging but not complicated

Combat is frustrating when you are unable to act. Combat is challenging when you are threatened, at risk, but able to respond.

In order to reduce frustration, make things that reduce actions with save-ends effects staged. A stun or dominate should never be the first thing dropped on someone with a save-ends (End of next turn is fine, however.)

I prefer using the progression of: Granting Combat advantage, dazed, stunned for my save-ends effects that were originally stunned, and dazed -> Dominated for my dominates, especially if they originate from an at-will.

The best way to make combat challenging and exciting is to scatter terrain features that both allies and enemies can use to great (and lethal) advantage while stationing fairly beefy enemies at them. Then the combat has a sub-goals of, for example "control the [really nasty thing shooting fire at us] and reorient it so we can rain fire on the enemies" as opposed to the "clear the battlefield." By increasing tactical complexity, you increase the challenge, but also increase the opportunities for innovative tactics and player self-expression.

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).