Monks of the empty hand are proficient with the shuriken only. A monk of the empty hand treats normal weapons as improvised weapons with the following equivalencies (substituting all of their statistics for the listed weapon): a light weapon functions as a light hammer, a one-handed weapon functions as a club, and a Two-handed weapon functions as a quarterstaff.
If I have Weapon Focus (Club) or Weapon Specialization (Light Hammer) or some other weapon specific feat, does that apply to a weapon held by a Monk of the Empty Hand or does this quote solely apply to the damage and damage type of the improvised weapon?
To determine the size category and appropriate damage for an improvised weapon, compare its relative size and damage potential to the weapon list to find a reasonable match. An improvised weapon scores a threat on a natural roll of 20 and deals double damage on a critical hit. An improvised thrown weapon has a range increment of 10 feet.
The MotEH rule is explicitly calling out the "reasonable match" required by the Improvised Weapon rule. That is all.
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Here's how I interpret this:
While RAW I think you can still make a pretty good case because of the "functions as" wording, RAI I would say it doesn't work because it's not saying the weapon actually becomes a club or light hammer. It says "substituting all of their statistics for the listed weapon".
Also the monk requires proficiency with the weapon on question to take weapon focus in the first place. Monk of the Empty Hand specifically states they are only proficient with shurikens.
If the monk somehow does become proficient with those weapons, then they would only function if the monk is actually wielding that weapon.
Stuff
Cool beans. Thanks folks. Good stuff to know all 'round.
Also the monk requires proficiency with the weapon on question to take weapon focus in the first place. Monk of the Empty Hand specifically states they are only proficient with shurikens.
If the monk somehow does become proficient with those weapons, then they would only function if the monk is actually wielding that weapon.
Avian, do you have any sources to back this? If the rules have been updated since the APG was put out, I'd love to see them. I'm juggling a bunch of variations on a concept and a quote could really help me narrow things down. Thanks.
@skaldi ehm, weapon focus prerequisites reads
Prerequisites: Proficiency with selected weapon, base attack bonus +1.
If the monk somehow does become proficient with those weapons, then they would only function if the monk is actually wielding that weapon.
Sorry. I quoted the whole post instead of the part that's actually ambiguous.
You clearly need to gain proficiency with a weapon to gain weapon focus.
In requoting that post, though, I see where I misread Avian's post. I thought he was saying that the monk would no longer treat the weapon as improvised if he were proficient.