Monastic Weaponry now allows weapons you have familiarity with as Monk weapons as they gain the monk trait.
pg 118 Player Core 2
"If you have familiarity with an agile or finesse weapon (such as from the Catfolk Weapon Familiarity feat} the weapon gains the monk trait for you."
Weapon Familiarity isn't defined anywhere but with most of the races they have a weapon familiarity feat identical to the Catfolk one, it is pretty clear in terms what counts as weapon familiarity for those races.
Humans however don't have a Weapon Familiarity Feat but they do have Unconventional Weaponry. The wording of which is different to that used in the racial familiarity feats {and is a different name}.
pg 64 Player Core
"You’ve familiarized yourself with a particular weapon, potentially from another ancestry or culture. Choose an uncommon simple or martial weapon with a trait corresponding to an ancestry (such as dwarf, goblin, or orc) or that is common in another culture. You gain access to that weapon, and for the purpose of proficiency, you treat it as a simple weapon.
If you are trained in all martial weapons, you can instead choose an uncommon advanced weapon that has an ancestry’s trait or is common in another culture. You gain access to that weapon and have familiarity with that weapon. For the purpose of proficiency, you treat it as a martial weapon."
Although Unconventional Weaponry doesn't have the word familiarity in the name, the Monastic weaponry feat just states that you need familiarity with the weapon and Unconventional Weapon does use that language.
Is this how others see this?
I was wondering that myself. It seems pretty wide open letting you use almost any finesse or agile weapon as a monk weapon.
It does. As you pointed out, Unconventional weaponry gives you familiarity with a specific weapon, and monastic weaponry plainly states weapons you have familiarity with that are finnesse or agile count as monk weapons.
However do note it only applies if you use Unconventional Weaponry to gain access to an Advanced weapon. There is no language granting familiarity for the simple/martial option, though whether it's intended or not is anyone's guess.
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However do note it only applies if you use Unconventional Weaponry to gain access to an Advanced weapon. There is no language granting familiarity for the simple/martial option, though whether it's intended or not is anyone's guess.
I'd disagree, as the first sentence says "You’ve familiarized yourself with a particular weapon, potentially from another ancestry or culture." I take that as covering the first paragraphs weapon. The second paragraph just states that the second option is also familiarity [or restating that all options are a familiarity]. It seems a pretty fine point to quibble over familiarized vs familiarity.
This will be another feat GM fiat will play a big part in it.
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Unconventional Weaponry has always had a lot of GM fiat attached to it. Like there's a good case that this lets you use any ancestry's weapon, but it's a hard sell that a "bladed hoop" or a "chain-sword" is "is common in another culture."
But "what is common where" is ultimately a GM's call and nobody else's.
Unconventional Weaponry has always had a lot of GM fiat attached to it. Like there's a good case that this lets you use any ancestry's weapon, but it's a hard sell that a "bladed hoop" or a "chain-sword" is "is common in another culture."
Culture isn't limited to whole societies or countries. Any group of people or society that has shared traditions, behaviors and/or beliefs can have a culture. As culture isn't a specific defined term in PF2, circus culture is as valid as nations of Nirmathas and Molthune [that are noted as valuing the chain sword] or High Seas. Religion also falls under culture, so picking a religion with a favored weapon you want should work also.
Of course, since it's an undefined term in game, it's as broad or narrow as the Dm running it. From my experience, Dm tend to fall on either side of this either pretty much allowing whatever weapon you want or being really picky on what qualifies with fewer in the middle.
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Another way to look at it is "what is the most unreasonable thing someone could get by ruling Unconventional Weaponry lets you treat any one agile or finesse weapon as a monk weapon."
Considering monks already get unarmed stances with d8 finesse, and agile probably the best thing you could get is reach and there are already reach options available through ancestries (e.g. the elven branch spear.)
Like you could maybe say a monk with an Aldori Dueling Sword is too much, but the only thing that weapon has over like Tiger, Stumbling, or Wolf Stance is "Versatile P" for which it loses agile (which is generally better.)
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Like you could maybe say a monk with an Aldori Dueling Sword is too much, but the only thing that weapon has over like Tiger, Stumbling, or Wolf Stance is "Versatile P" for which it loses agile (which is generally better.)
And it loses a free hand too. At its best, it's definitely a push and with most weapons, you could be better with a stance. Seems balanced enough to allow picking whatever you want.
Like in terms of "weapons monks can use" the bo staff is already very good! I think the "only agile or finesse" thing already cuts off the things you'd really want to prevent (i.e. no flurrying with greatswords) so the main reason to say "no a monk can't flurry with that" is aesthetic (i.e. "that would be ridiculous") and aesthetic preferences are always a conversation between people at the table.
