Are there any decent ones out there, preferably a polearm. All I have is the core rule book, and the APG.
There are three Monk weapons with Reach and none are polearms:
Double-Chained Kama
Kusarigama
Kyoketsu Shoge
All are basically something monk related attached to a chain.
Well, that certainly stinks... There are weapons for every thing... There are even like 10 different versions of the short sword, but not a decent monk polearm to be found? Grr...
If you lunge with a close melee weapon, can you still get AoO as a reach weapon?
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Well, that certainly stinks... There are weapons for every thing... There are even like 10 different versions of the short sword, but not a decent monk polearm to be found? Grr...
Why? What do you need to do that can't be done with at least one of the options available?
Do you want a weapon with reach? Check!
Do you want a 2 handed weapon for extra power attack damage? Check!
Do you want to be able to flurry with it? Check!
My half-elf Weapon Adept that I am building for PFS play is going to take Ancestral Arms alternate racial trait to gain proficiency with the Double Chained Kama at level 1.
The plan is to only use it as a reach weapon - so I threaten 10' with that (using it 2 handed for 3:1 power attack) and I also threaten adjacent with my Unarmed Strikes (power attack is 2:1).
The most recent errata for FoB allows the Monk to make all flurry attacks with a single weapon - so there is no need to use the double chained Kama as a double weapon.
The extra damage from Power Attack (3:1 on every attack) will help make up for only getting 1x STR on all those attacks.
Well, that certainly stinks... There are weapons for every thing... There are even like 10 different versions of the short sword, but not a decent monk polearm to be found? Grr...
Quick, name a polearm that Shaolin monks traditionally received training in--go!
:P
6 levels of Sohei will let you flurry with any polearm you want if it's really that important to you.
There is one in "Ultimate Combat" called the meteor hammer, I'm not entirely sure it is a monk weapon, but it should be IMHO, and I would houserule that it is, but the monk must still take the feats for it.
There is one in "Ultimate Combat" called the meteor hammer, I'm not entirely sure it is a monk weapon, but it should be IMHO, and I would houserule that it is, but the monk must still take the feats for it.
It's still not a polearm, same problem as the others. It's another rope weapon. I find it weird that monks only get reach weapons like that.
There is one in "Ultimate Combat" called the meteor hammer, I'm not entirely sure it is a monk weapon, but it should be IMHO, and I would houserule that it is, but the monk must still take the feats for it.
Yari... There are actually quite a few, and there are more traditions than the shaolin. I'm not trying to be greedy, just think it sucks that its not represented in the RaW. I'm sure I could find a dm that will house rule it, just trying to get my PFS character nailed down.
I wanted to go sohei for sure, but I was hoping to use that first weapon traing for heavy blades. I am taking two levels of ranger as well. I want my character to be a scout, who has had some exposure to eastern fighting styles. I guess it doesn't matter really, I could just as easy use the Kama thing. Just thought that a polearm would be a good traditional hunting and monastic weapon.
Yari...
The Yari is a Japanese weapon, so Shaolin Monks (who are Chinese) would have never touched one.
Yari's weren't all reach weapons, either--saying they're a reach weapon is like saying "spears" are reach weapons. Some of them, sure but not all.
There are actually quite a few, and there are more traditions than the shaolin. I'm not trying to be greedy, just think it sucks that its not represented in the RaW. I'm sure I could find a dm that will house rule it, just trying to get my PFS character nailed down.
Yeah, if you're doing PFS, you can't houserule, unfortunately.
Anyway, I'm a huge fan of polearms, personally, so you're in good company. As a warning, Monks kind of suck, so you might be pretty disappointed if you go that route, with or without a polearm. What about the monk is drawing you in? I bet another class can do it better (and use a polearm!).
The unarmed attack and flurry are the main draws. As are early evasion, great will boost, and the skills acrobatics and sense motive. Actually, ranger is the 2lvl dip so I can track and scout pick up a quick freebooter bonus and aspect of the beast
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Here are some examples:
Yan-gant-y-tan, LE, Guisarme
Belial, LE, Ranseur
Shelyn, NG, Glaive
Crocell, LE, Glaive
Haborym, LE, Longspear
Tsukiyo, LG, Longspear
Fumeiyoshi, NE, Naginata
The crusaders flurry looks cool, but I am staying away from casters this time. Besides, cleric doesn't fit the character. Like I said though, I can use a polearm just fine, I was just hoping there was a monk one out there that I could get a great thematic synergy with.
Monk of the empty hands will essentially give you "proficiency" with every weapon - you just treat them as improvised weapons, and you can flurry with them.
A maneuver master can spend a feat or trait (heirloom weapon) to get a polearm and use flurry of maneuvers.
Or go sohei (but wait until 6th level) to flurry with a polearm.
...and you have discovered that with the monk, you can never quite do the cool stuff you thought it would do.
I still don't get why monks don't get automatic proficiency with 'monk' weapons, it would make the armed a monk a lot more viable.
Monk of the empty hands will essentially give you "proficiency" with every weapon - you just treat them as improvised weapons, and you can flurry with them.
A maneuver master can spend a feat or trait (heirloom weapon) to get a polearm and use flurry of maneuvers.
Or go sohei (but wait until 6th level) to flurry with a polearm.
With the monk of empty hands, you can't use weapon properties because they are improvised, so a long spear with reach and brace, becomes a 2 handed club with a sharp end.
I am sticking with sohei, just wondering what my options were. The role play aspect of the polearm is greater to me than the roll play aspect of the chained Kama or what ever else.
Quick, name a polearm that Shaolin monks traditionally received training in--go!
The pu dao (long staff broad sword) and the yue ya chan (crescent moon spade) were both chinese weapons that could both be considered polearm style weapons. I'm sure if you talked with your GM you could come up with an equivalent version of one of these. Though I'm thinking the yue ya chan would be more of a double weapon than a pole arm. The pu dao is definately a pole arm, similar to a halberd.