Quote from: Bill;757680Unarmed strike should probably be 'finesse' so you can use either str or dex.

But yea, without a high stat and any class ability that might add damage, being unarmed is rough.

Then again, that's why we love our weapons.

Any monks in 5E?

I am playing a Monk using the current iteration. Monks are awesome...eventually. They do more damage open-handed, and treat unarmed as finesse, so two strikes a round. They have a pool of ki points that allow them to enact powers specific to their type. I'm playing an elemental type monk, focusing on the "Air" powers. When using Ki, he can perform several feats: grant himself advantage, increase movement, take additional attacks, shoot a stream of concussive art in a 50' line. EVentually, he'll be able to soar through the air, wuxia-like. Monks are proficient with both DEX and WIS saves (two of the big 3 in 5E, with CON being the third). They develop immunities as they progress. Their base armor incorporates CON and WIS bonuses to their natural armor (10+mods). Their attacks are treated as magical weapons, a la the old school version. They're really just mobile fighters, and honestly, the plain fighter eclipses them entirely in raw damage and hit points. Fun to play, overall, however.

Quote from: cranebump;757697The thing about the Axe and sword comparison I found interesting (as posted on the Wiz site by cyberdave), was that the 2d6 does greater consistent damage, while the d12 has a greater chance to spike at 12 points (8% to about 3%, if I remember right). Reversing the two might make sense, especially as the Axe tends to be a Dwarf weapon, and one could see them doing more damage, more consistently.

Yeah frankly I've always felt that it was weird to suddenly include one or two 2DX weapons in a weapons table filled with single die types. Why does a greatsword have a different "bell-curve" than other weapons?

I almost wonder why they just don't just abstract the damage die to categories: Tiny d4, Small d6, Medium d8 and Large d10 and then just differentiate by tags (reload, versatile etc...). Maybe using a weapon two handed brings the die "up one level" d4>d6, d10>d12 etc... Or maybe that's an awful idea too. Oh well. (haha the idea of using a tiny weapon two handed is kind of hilarious)

Quote from: Bill;757698It may seem strange at first, but soldiers have used 8' spears in one hand. A staff's damage one handed should probably be 1d4 though.

In practice, I doubt anyone will use a staff one handed, or with a shield.

Staff: I wouldn't think, so, either.  Spears are actually an awesome weapon in 5E. Versatile, plus you can throw them. So you get ability to use 1H, 2H and you can toss them downrange. Since shields are typically +2 in 5th, I find a spear a pretty decent option.

Quote from: Necrozius;757701I almost wonder why they just don't just abstract the damage die to categories: Tiny d4, Small d6, Medium d8 and Large d10 and then just differentiate by tags (reload, versatile etc...). Maybe using a weapon two handed brings the die "up one level" d4>d6, d10>d12 etc... Or maybe that's an awful idea too. Oh well. (haha the idea of using a tiny weapon two handed is kind of hilarious)

This is a approach used in Microlite here and there. I actually like it a great deal. I don't so see why it couldn't be house-ruled into 5th.

Quote from: Bill;757699I really don't know which weapon is 'better' under various conditions.

I suspect the sword is harder to master.

I'm not sure, either, but it would seem to me a sword would be tougher. I would also think a "Great Axe" as something of a Halberd. You'd have a lot more control that way, and could use the haft to shove people back, or to parry.

Quote from: cranebump;757700I am playing a Monk using the current iteration. Monks are awesome...eventually. They do more damage open-handed, and treat unarmed as finesse, so two strikes a round. They have a pool of ki points that allow them to enact powers specific to their type. I'm playing an elemental type monk, focusing on the "Air" powers. When using Ki, he can perform several feats: grant himself advantage, increase movement, take additional attacks, shoot a stream of concussive art in a 50' line. EVentually, he'll be able to soar through the air, wuxia-like. Monks are proficient with both DEX and WIS saves (two of the big 3 in 5E, with CON being the third). They develop immunities as they progress. Their base armor incorporates CON and WIS bonuses to their natural armor (10+mods). Their attacks are treated as magical weapons, a la the old school version. They're really just mobile fighters, and honestly, the plain fighter eclipses them entirely in raw damage and hit points. Fun to play, overall, however.

Nice to hear Con adds to monk AC. I always thought that should be the case since 3X.

Now that 'concussive art' attack must look cool! the monk hurls heavy wooden framed oil paintings at is foes!

Quote from: Bill;757692Why is that a problem? Just curious.

I've always thought of the quarterstaff as being two-handed and doing 1d6 at that. Could be just me...

Quote from: Tyndale;757706I've always thought of the quarterstaff as being two-handed and doing 1d6 at that. Could be just me...

The way dnd weapons have had questionable damage values, the staff probably should be a d6. But many weapons have always seemed a bit off to me in various dnd versions.

But the staff is a tricky animal. I suppose it should be a 1d6 weapon with a +1 on ac.

I like the staff at 1d8 just so someone might actually use one.

Quote from: Bill;757707The way dnd weapons have had questionable damage values, the staff probably should be a d6. But many weapons have always seemed a bit off to me in various dnd versions.

But the staff is a tricky animal. I suppose it should be a 1d6 weapon with a +1 on ac.

I like the staff at 1d8 just so someone might actually use one.

Wizards would or if they ever have a Magus like subclass that does the staff varient fighting style.

Quote from: Bill;757705Nice to hear Con adds to monk AC. I always thought that should be the case since 3X.

Now that 'concussive art' attack must look cool! the monk hurls heavy wooden framed oil paintings at is foes!

Yeah, I haven't used it much, yet. No opportunity. You hit something, you shoot a line of air 50'. Everything in the path has to save. Damage is pretty low (d6 I think), but a failed save knocks them over.

Since we're on it, I'll provide this illustration of one cool thing my monk did. We were in a boat, taking on an Aboleth and some minions. Main problem for us was "For God's sake, get to land!" Our strongest fighter, who happens to be a Tengu (don't ask), was flying, pulling the boat toward shore. Our halfling rogue was riding the back of the damned Aboleth (don't ask). Our Paladin was in the bought, praying not to fall in the water, armored. Our pair of Gnomes (one a bard, the other a mage), BOTH ended up trying to swim for it. Well, the mage gets grappled and tugged below water. The Bard manages to free her. My turn comes. There's no limit on burning Ki, and he has an ability to not only run additional distance, but to run over liquid surfaces. So I tell the GM I want to try to run across the water and grab BOTH the gnomes, then speed my way to shore. GM says, give it a shot, rattling off a series of STR benchmarks I'd need to meet to grab one/both/not grab, pull to shore and so on (bear in mind, Monk's STR is only a 12). I say, "okey doke," burn 2 ki points, kiss the dice...and roll a damned 20!  Monk leaps out of boat, speeds across the water, grabs BOTH the gnomes, deposit them on shore and say, "No swimming!"

THAT...was pretty awesome, I must say.

Quote from: Marleycat;757710Wizards would or if they ever have a Magus like subclass that does the staff varient fighting style.

I am a big fan of staves; it's just that dnd usually does not support the lowly staff much.

Quote from: RPGPundit;757673Care to dissect? Criticize? Explain all of what's awful about this?

Or do you actually feel excited seeing it?

Not enough polearms.

On a more serious note it makes no sense that a 1 handed spear does the same amount of damage as a one handed staff (1d6). Unless piercing has some effect beyond that of blundgeoning.

Quote from: Bill;757712I am a big fan of staves; it's just that dnd usually does not support the lowly staff much.

I like that it's d8 it means it's a viable choice for a wizard or the like.

Quote from: estar;757715On a more serious note it makes no sense that a 1 handed spear does the same amount of damage as a one handed staff (1d6). Unless piercing has some effect beyond that of blundgeoning.

The spear should have reach.