Innate Spell and Monks

[Keraki]

Was building a spellscale monk when I noticed the ruling on Innate Spell Proficiency increase. Should the Monk Ki Spell Proficiency help progress my Innate Spell Proficiency?

[Ravingdork]

I don't see why not. Focus spells are spells, and you get proficiency in a spellcasting tradition as a result of having access to them. Innate spells use your highest spellcasting proficiency, which you have through your ki spells. It all seems above board to me.

[Castilliano]

It's also not "Monk Ki Spell Proficiency" at its root. It's either Divine or Occult. You level of proficiency counts for innate spells just as much as if you were a Cleric or Bard (of the same level of proficiency). As you likely know, but for any lurkers, innate spells don't care that your highest spellcasting tradition proficiency matches the innate spell's tradition. They use your highest anyway.

The only drawback is you'd be using Charisma with innate spells, so offensive/counteract abilities lose a bit of luster unless you have Charisma higher than most Monks.

[Keraki]

Yeah, i didnt actually choose any ki spells for my build (momastoc archer) and I am rocking out my charisma

[Castilliano]

Gisher wrote:

If you haven't taken any ki spells then you don't have any spell proficiency from being a Monk.

Correct.

Whoopsies...

[lemeres]

Castilliano wrote:

It's also not "Monk Ki Spell Proficiency" at its root. It's either Divine or Occult. You level of proficiency counts for innate spells just as much as if you were a Cleric or Bard (of the same level of proficiency). As you likely know, but for any lurkers, innate spells don't care that your highest spellcasting tradition proficiency matches the innate spell's tradition. They use your highest anyway.

The only drawback is you'd be using Charisma with innate spells, so offensive/counteract abilities lose a bit of luster unless you have Charisma higher than most Monks.

However, both entry level ki spells- ki strike and ki rush- are completely independent from stats. So it isn't too much of a problem if you are going CHA anyway (example- dragon or stumbling stance users).

I am not sure how useful that would end up being, but you could probably at least get a cantrip high enough that it is better than using a poorly enhanced ranged weapon. Which helps for people that can't use that ranged weapon while in their stance (example- stumbling stance).

[Cordell Kintner]

You're always at least trained with your Innate Spells so you won't have a super low hit rate or DC for them. Monks become Expert at level 9 and Master at level 17, so you have time to pick up at least one Ki Spell. Ki Rush is a really good one.

[Keraki]

Yeah, I'm going to puck ki rush up. Just sad that Wholeness of Body has a pre-req of ki spells

[RPGnoremac]

I also feel it is odd that ki spells/warden spells have such hard prerequisites. It would be so nice to be able to just pick your favorite focus spells.

Monks/Rangers also have those prerequisites for focus regen too.

It definitely isnt a huge deal but a lot of times I dont even want ki rush/gravity weapon/ki strike but if you want a "focus build" I need to get them.