(I think this is a bug in Hero Lab, but I want to confirm before I submit it.)
The text for the monk's robe says (bold annotations are mine):
This simple brown robe, when worn, confers great ability in unarmed combat. (A)If the wearer has levels in monk, her AC and unarmed damage is treated as a monk of five levels higher. (B)If donned by a character with the Stunning Fist feat, the robe lets her make one additional stunning attack per day. (C)If the character is not a monk, she gains the AC and unarmed damage of a 5th-level monk (although she does not add her Wisdom bonus to her AC). This AC bonus functions just like the monk's AC bonus.
This could be read two different ways.
The first reading assumes that A, B, and C are three unrelated conditions, and the robe has multiple effects if more than one condition is true. For example, if A and B are true, then the robe both increases AC and unarmed damage AND gives an additional stunning fist per day.The second reading assumes that A, B, and C are three exclusive conditions, and the robe has only one of these three effects based on which condition is true. This is how Hero Lab implemented it, with condition B overriding condition A.
Which of these two versions is correct?
Since A and C are actually exclusive conditions (one can't both be a monk and not be a monk), I can see how Lone Wolf came up with the "three exclusive conditions" reading. Also, since many other items use the transitional phrase "in addition" when discussing separate, unrelated effects, the lack of the transition in the monk's robe description made me wonder.
On the other hand, there's nothing on the message boards or in the FAQ to indicate the "three exclusive conditions" reading is common. And if the three conditions are intended to be exclusive, it seems odd that a character would not be able to choose which effect the item provide when both conditions are true.
Has anyone else ever run into this interpretation of this item?
Never...always read it as each take effect as applicable
So a monk without stunning fist gets A...B also if he stubbing fist
Non-monk gets C...B also if he has stunning fist
It never says you have to choose
Yar.
Stubbing Fist must be a Pirate thing.
o_O
Yar!
For real this time... No where does it say that it grants "one of three possible effects". It is as you're initial interpretation (Hero lab is, in my opinion, wrong in this case).
The first reading assumes that A, B, and C are three unrelated conditions, and the robe has multiple effects if more than one condition is true. For example, if A and B are true, then the robe both increases AC and unarmed damage AND gives an additional stunning fist per day.
^ This.
~P
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If you're not a monk, all you gain is 1d8 Unarmed Damage and +1 AC.
If you're a monk without stunning fist, you gain a +5 levels in (look at the monk chart) unarmed damage, and AC bonus, meaning it bumps you up to the next level usually.
If you're a monk with the stunning fist, you gain the +5 levels in unarmed damage and AC, and also gain an extra use of stunning fist.
If you're not a monk, and you have stunning fist, you gain the 1d8 unarmed damage and +1 AC, and an additional use of stunning fist.
These are all unrelated circumstances, unless you meet the pre-requisites that are clearly stated in this item's description.
Thanks, everyone!