Sohei Monk

[Kasahara]

So I've been lurking around for a while hoping that at some point one of the developers would go ahead and chime in on the intent of the Sohei archetype in regards to wearing armor.

Can a Sohei Monk use his Flurry of Blows while wearing armor? I've seen numerous different player opinions, but seriously, was an official response ever given? The normal monk's weapon/armor proficiency section is where the "can't flurry in armor" notation is given. It could be argued that since the Sohei replaces that section entirely, that it also overwrites the "no flurry" condition. The other side of the argument, is that generally something must state its an exception in order to be one.

Of course, the follow-up question is -- if a Sohei can't flurry in armor, why bother giving him armor? So... yeah, did any of the devs ever clarify?

[Mort the Cleverly Named]

According to the person who wrote the class, no, they cannot flurry in armor. There was a pretty huge thread on it a day or two ago.

His explanation for giving them armor was to "give them options." I still consider it about as useful as giving a wizard archetype armor, but I understand the idea behind it.

[jakebacon]

The sohei is intended to be on a mount for most combats and you can't take a full-attack action if your mount moves. At least not until level 14 or later when you pick up the feat that allows you to do so, that is. Wearing armor gives you the option of better protection while charging around the battlefield on your ki-powered mount.

[Mike Schneider]

I conclude there's a consensus that the archetype needs errata; the armor aside, the ability to stack Flurry with Weapon Training, or with Rapid/Manyshot, renders a Sohei grotesquely strong (particularly in the mid-levels when they have literally twice the number of attacks at a same or better attack-bonus than many other classes). They're actually better archers than Zen archers.

[Kasahara]

Mike Schneider wrote:

I conclude there's a consensus that the archetype needs errata; the armor aside, the ability to stack Flurry with Weapon Training, or with Rapid/Manyshot, renders a Sohei grotesquely strong (particularly in the mid-levels when they have literally twice the number of attacks at a same or better attack-bonus than many other classes). They're actually better archers than Zen archers.

It definitely needs official errata.

I'm in the camp of believing its not gonna break anything to let him flurry in armor, if you actually stop to look at how the archetype is set... for melee attacks. The only thing that would be broken is Flurry + Rapid Shot + Manyshot, however that issue is irrelevant of his armor.

Giving him armor but taking away Flurry makes him a dumbed down fighter without any offensive potential -- Compare it to a two-weapon fighter/ranger and try telling me he isn't left miles in the dust without his Flurry. An "extra option" is useless if that option makes you crappy. No one would ever use it.

Besides, it's already possible to Flurry with a Greatsword without using Sohei, so I doubt it would end to world to give him "flurry with your weapons in armor" even with Weapon Training (which he has to wait until 6th to gain).

I'll add my thoughts to that thread as well.