The Monk's Hit Dice Should Be a d8! [Rant]

[Creamsteak]

If you have EVER played a monk, then you can understand my opinion. Every other class that is expected to perform in melee combat at least sparcely during thier career -has at least a d8 for a hit die.

The psionic warrior isn't that far from a Monk if played a certain way. They have a d8.

Clerics, of all things, have a d8 hit die. They can cast miracle at some point. Why would a monk have a lower hit die? Wouldn't a monastic lawful neutral religions monks be expected to defend the clerics?

Sorcerers have the same hit die as a Monk. How many sorcerer's are expected to fight at close quarters?

The Monk gets some ranged weapons, but the monk doesn't get improved abilities with any ranged weapons.

So why then would a DM I know force Monks to play with a d6 hit die, claiming that Monk's get more class abilities and are broken?

 

[nameless]

Chill out, there's two good reasons to not get worked up over this:

1. Monks suck, and there is really no good reason to play one, ever.

2. Monks do in fact get a d8 hit die.

-nameless

 

[rounser]

So why then would a DM I know force Monks to play with a d6 hit die, claiming that Monk's get more class abilities and are broken?

Because he doesn't understand how much power that the fighter classes, rogues and clerics get from merely having access to magical weapons and armour? Maybe you should explain his oversight to him.

 

[nsruf]

Creamsteak, to get this straight: you are talking about house rules here, right? By the PHB, a monk has a d8 HD and a sorcerer a d4.

But IMO you are right to complain about giving the monk only a d6. Half of the supposedly "overpowered" monk class abilities only serve to make up for their equipment restrictions and of the remaining ones, many are passive (resistancs, etc.) and really don't turn them into combat monsters. The best chance a monk has against a fighter of similar level wearing heavy armor is to run away, because the fighter is too slow to ever catch him

 

[The Forsaken One]

Quickling lich monk, that guy will have killed any fighter before he ever saw him comming =]

(That is actually my backup char in the IR aftermath Lich Monks Hahahahaha, total ownage with paralysing touch)

 

[Bonedagger]

So why then would a DM I know force Monks to play with a d6 hit die, claiming that Monk's get more class abilities and are broken?

A Monk scared him as a kid?

 

[Darkness]

Suggestion: Tell him to sends lots of monks (with d6 for hit dice) against your party from now on, and also to take note on how well they perform (measured against other classes).

edit - Or, better yet, tell him to just make up a couple monks and do some test fights against some creatures or characters of other classes...

 

[Gargoyle]

If you have EVER played a monk, then you can understand my opinion. Every other class that is expected to perform in melee combat at least sparcely during thier career -has at least a d8 for a hit die.

The psionic warrior isn't that far from a Monk if played a certain way. They have a d8.

Clerics, of all things, have a d8 hit die. They can cast miracle at some point. Why would a monk have a lower hit die? Wouldn't a monastic lawful neutral religions monks be expected to defend the clerics?

Sorcerers have the same hit die as a Monk. How many sorcerer's are expected to fight at close quarters?

The Monk gets some ranged weapons, but the monk doesn't get improved abilities with any ranged weapons.

So why then would a DM I know force Monks to play with a d6 hit die, claiming that Monk's get more class abilities and are broken?

Because your DM is basing his opinion on the numbers he sees on paper instead the months of playtesting done by WOTC.

 

[Lady Dragon]

Your DM is also not considering that most of the monk's best abilities come at later levels. Maybe he just doesn't like the class and is trying to disuade players from choosing them.

 

[Fenes 2]

Or it could be that in that particular campaign monks would be overpowered. I know that in my two campaigns, where magic items, especially magic armor are rare, the innate abilities of a monk would be overpowered.