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Hey guys, first post here.
The GM of a new game of PFRPG I'm playing has ruled that my monk cannot use Punishing Kick on any creature larger than he is. Was wondering what you guys think.
I tried straight up compromising with him at the start by having me spend a Ki point for each size difference, but he started getting really catty about "physics" and how he'd only do it if I spent 4 Ki points per difference... He does this pretty regularly in response to Monk abilities because he thinks they're "too anime", so I doubt I'll be playing long, but still, there is in fact no size clause at all in P. Kick. Has this come up in anyone else's game? Thoughts?
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There's no such restriction on Punishing Kick and your proposed compromise is quite sensible. The GM is allowed to adjudicate or house-rule things as needed but in this case it seems that power is being abused to deny perfectly legal options to players because of narrow-mindedness. Which is stupid, because any good GM would simply find ways to have the enemy mobs resist these tactics to some degree or, even better, use the same mechanics against the players from time to time. After all, what's fair for one is fair for all.
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No, that has never been a problem for me. For instance, I can easily see a monk kicking a giant's leg so hard that the giant falls over, or kicking the giant in the stomach to make it take a step back.
All I can say is you probably shouldn't play a monk in that GM's game; it's already widely considered among the less-powerful classes, and arbitrary punishing houserules won't help :)
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RAW states no size restriction. Compromise of 1ki per point of size difference is reasonable, based off ki throw.
If he really hates monk's that bad, why not play something he won't make less useful?
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Ki Throw was in fact the feat I used as an example, but he decided that it is easier to throw somebody a distance than kick them, therefore an always-available feat ability is more powerful than a limited uses per day ability based solely on his own opinions.
Also, all rules that do not explicitly disadvantage the players to the benefit of GMPC's are subject to his knowledge of physics. He's studied a few years of Calc and Dynamics in his undergrad, so he fancies himself somewhat of an expert. Why that matters in a fantasy game is beyond me.
As for rerolling, I asked to do so the moment he said "4 Ki points", because I knew then and there it had nothing to do with balance and everything to do with arbitrating against a class he doesn't like, but he is not allowing rerolls. Probably going to just move on.
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As for rerolling, I asked to do so the moment he said "4 Ki points", because I knew then and there it had nothing to do with balance and everything to do with arbitrating against a class he doesn't like, but he is not allowing rerolls. Probably going to just move on.
"My character retires, because he realizes his abilities are worthless in this universe."
"Can I make a new character, or should I see myself out?"If he does let you make a new one, make a wizard/sorc. Anytime he says something about physics, just say "magic."
Ki Throw was in fact the feat I used as an example, but he decided that it is easier to throw somebody a distance than kick them
Right, that makes sense. It's easier to throw a dragon over your head to land on the opposite side of you from where it was, than it is to kick a leg out from under it so it falls down where it currently is.
Moving on seems like the only answer if you want to continue playing in that game, especially if this is a case of "GMPC-favoritism". Perhaps a better option would be to find another game, but that should be a last resort as long you have fun playing.
So, to recap:
1. The GM obviously dislikes your class but allowed you to roll it anyway - he should have warned you that he was going to nerf the monk's abilities (as horrible idea for the weakest core class in the game), so that you would have known to roll something else.
2. The GM won't let you reroll a new character in a class he likes, so you're stuck with playing the weakest class, nerfed to be even weaker, with no options left to make it fun or useful or to try something else.
Honestly, if the GM is unwilling to bend on at least one of these points, then you're screwed. This is a game I would probably walk away from, if I were in your shoes.
Go back and ask yourself "What have I done to this man to anger him such that even my monk has to pay for it?"
If the answer you come up with is NOTHING!!! Then your GM is being completely unreasonable and should have posted a "NO MONKS ALLOWED" poster on the door to his room (or wherever you guys play)
I know it sucks to hear it (I hate it too) but sometimes you just need to find another group (or take the group to another GM)
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His perspective isn't entirely unreasonable as everyone is making out, but the best argument you have is the stomping on a giant's/dragon's foot.
All you need is to be adjacent and deliver a blow to make it punishing, which you can do in normal combat. The fact he sees it as "too anime" is telling - that's not what the ability is like where the character jumps 300ft into the air vertically, then horizontally, primary colours flashing everywhere, then delivers a KA-POW kick.
It's just an attack that happens to be punishing, which you deliver from an adjacent square.
You need to firmly but politely push back on building a new character.
The line you want to take is that you respect his right as GM to define how the game rules work in this universe, but the house-rules weren't given at the time of character creation, and you would have never built a monk if you had known the house-rule restrictions on them. You'd be happy to play along with whatever rules on char-gen he wants, but it's only fair that you know them up front, not when you try to use your special abilities and find they don't work.
If he doesn't like monks, he should not let anyone play the class.
Too anime? In a game with wizards and sorcerers exhibiting powerful magical powers and fighters that that can cleave down giants. Sounds like he doesn't like monks.
Find a better DM.
That's all I can say.
Find a better DM who likes physics but does not try to change a balanced game in a fantasy setting with magic according to what he perceives as real world physics. Or send him to this board here. Many physicists around here, some giving lectures who might be amused to discuss his topic.
Why are dragons, wizards, clerics and druids given a free pass on the physics enforcement law but melee characters need to be punched in the face whenever they try to keep up with their party at high levels by doing something incredible without any added powers like ki, divine intervention or arcane power? This kind of ruling baffles me even to this day, but thankfully it's been discussed before. Maybe not as much here as in other places, but it's not gone completely ignored here either. Since it ties in to this thread's topic, I'd hope to see it discussed. Might need to make a separate thread for it, though.
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Hey guys, first post here.
The GM of a new game of PFRPG I'm playing has ruled that my monk cannot use Punishing Kick on any creature larger than he is. Was wondering what you guys think.
I tried straight up compromising with him at the start by having me spend a Ki point for each size difference, but he started getting really catty about "physics" and how he'd only do it if I spent 4 Ki points per difference... He does this pretty regularly in response to Monk abilities because he thinks they're "too anime", so I doubt I'll be playing long, but still, there is in fact no size clause at all in P. Kick. Has this come up in anyone else's game? Thoughts?
That's actually pretty crappy of him. That's far too strict, especially on the already fairly gimp Monk class. Good god, every time us Monks get something decent, someone has to destroy it. It's already got 60% chance of NOT working as is, leave it the hell alone.
I'd plead with him, as this ability is generally a huge contribution(when it works) and one of the only few ways a Monk actually contributes to the group. If he doesn't like it, I'd say you should leave that DM/Campaign and find another.