Talk:Monk/@comment-188.22.101.193-20180205134627/@comment-165.225.36.111-20180212165425

This is so wrong.

Let's compare the monk with a pure fighter and a pure kensai.

Let's look at them all at level 20, just before the end of SOA, with the best class-specific equipment they can get. I will skip on accessories like Ring of Gaxx that everyone can use. Dex AC bonus will also not be factored since everyone can get it.

Monk:

- level 20 single class

- 1d20 + 3 (fist) + 4 (gauntlets) + 9 (str) dmg, for an average of 26.5 dmg per attack

- 4 attacks per round x 26.5 dmg = 106 dmg/round

- base AC -1, additional -6 AC vs missiles

Fighter:

- level 20 single class, sword + shield style

- Crom Faeyr, Sentinel +4, Armor of the Hart +3

- 2d4+3 (cf) + 5 (gm) + 14 (str) dmg, for an average of 27 dmg per attack +5 electrical dmg from Crom Faeyr

- 3 attacks per round x 27 dmg = 81 dmg/round, 96 if enemy is not resistant to electricity

- base AC -2, -5 from shield for a total of -7 AC, additional -4 AC vs missiles from sword + shield style

So right away, you can see that even with the best equipment, a monk out-damages a fighter. The fighter has an advantage in AC, but that is the highest AC the fighter can get, while the Monk continues to improve his AC until it nearly matches that of the fighter at level 40. In addition, the monk can use Stunning Blows and Quivering Palm, has better saves, and can hide in shadows.

Kensai:

- level 20 single class, dual-wield Celestial Fury and Belm

- base THAC0 1, +3 from Celestial Fury, +3 from Grandmastery, +6 from Kensai bonus, +4 from STR 21 with Belt of Frost Giant Strength, for a total of -15 THAC0

- 1d10+3 (celestial fury) + 5 (gm) + 9 (str) + 6 (kensai) dmg, for an average of 28.5 dmg per attack

- 5 attacks per round x 28.5 dmg = 142 dmg / round (actually a bit less as one of those attacks is from Belm, which deals less dmg)

- base AC 10, -2 from Kensai bonus for a total AC of 8

Kensai are insane at damage output, but has a terrible AC. To be viable in melee, they will need to have Spirit Armor cast on him, which brings his AC to a respectable -1, but this costs 4th level spell slots that can be used for Greater Malisons and Stoneskins, and it is still vulnerable to Dispel Magic.

A monk can easily stand toe-to-toe in melee against a fighter, in addition to being more versatile. That magic resistance lets him shrug off spells like Hold Person and Confusion that would incapacitate both fighter and kensai.