Monk Unarmed Ability Change
Posted: 2014-06-16
Proposal: Make the follwing changes to the Monk Unarmed Fighting Rule (changes in Bold):
Also at 1st rank, the Monk gains the skill of unarmed fighting. As a representation of unarmed fighting skill, the player uses two minimum length bars (12" length blade + 6" handle) covered in orange fabric. These do Yellow damage, and may have Yellow stab tips. At no time may a player use the skill of unarmed fighting without such a bar.
The monk is considered unarmed for roleplaying purposes and may be use this ability at any time. This includes climbing, swimming or swinging on ropes. However, any time a monk drops an unarmed bar (either from being disarmed by another player or accidentally dropping the bar) the monk immediately takes a light wound to that arm regardless of Iron or Leather skin. This represents a monk’s hand having been broken or badly damaged
Reasoning: Honestly, as it stands there is zero incentive for a monk to use their unarmed ability in combat. This change actually gives the class an advantage when using these low damage weapons, and comes with a price (lose your bar, lose your limb). Now if your initial reaction is “A CLASS THAT CAN ATTACK WHILE CLIMBING/SWIMMING?? THAT’S BROKEN! HERESY!! RAGGLE RAGGLE!”, please allow me to put this in perspective: Remember that a monk climbing the wall or swimming your way in this situation is doing so with two minimum length yellow bars, not to mention the monk will be crawling (as per the rules of climbing walls and swimming). Also remember that the monk will not be able to attack a player within a keep/boat until they are within physical reach of that player (and in the case of walls, able to physically reach over the wall) so the primary advantage is not in a monks offensive capability, but their ability to defend against incoming attacks while climbing/swimming. If anyone thinks this is overpowered, please explain why so I can fix it.
Tl;dr: A monk may now use their unarmed attack while climbing or swimming, but if they are disarmed they take a light wound to that limb no matter what
Also at 1st rank, the Monk gains the skill of unarmed fighting. As a representation of unarmed fighting skill, the player uses two minimum length bars (12" length blade + 6" handle) covered in orange fabric. These do Yellow damage, and may have Yellow stab tips. At no time may a player use the skill of unarmed fighting without such a bar.
The monk is considered unarmed for roleplaying purposes and may be use this ability at any time. This includes climbing, swimming or swinging on ropes. However, any time a monk drops an unarmed bar (either from being disarmed by another player or accidentally dropping the bar) the monk immediately takes a light wound to that arm regardless of Iron or Leather skin. This represents a monk’s hand having been broken or badly damaged
Reasoning: Honestly, as it stands there is zero incentive for a monk to use their unarmed ability in combat. This change actually gives the class an advantage when using these low damage weapons, and comes with a price (lose your bar, lose your limb). Now if your initial reaction is “A CLASS THAT CAN ATTACK WHILE CLIMBING/SWIMMING?? THAT’S BROKEN! HERESY!! RAGGLE RAGGLE!”, please allow me to put this in perspective: Remember that a monk climbing the wall or swimming your way in this situation is doing so with two minimum length yellow bars, not to mention the monk will be crawling (as per the rules of climbing walls and swimming). Also remember that the monk will not be able to attack a player within a keep/boat until they are within physical reach of that player (and in the case of walls, able to physically reach over the wall) so the primary advantage is not in a monks offensive capability, but their ability to defend against incoming attacks while climbing/swimming. If anyone thinks this is overpowered, please explain why so I can fix it.
Tl;dr: A monk may now use their unarmed attack while climbing or swimming, but if they are disarmed they take a light wound to that limb no matter what