TOPIC: Clarification on Eel Skin + Viper Fang on Monk

All,

So I'm not positive I am reading this correctly. Do the gloves provide the +2 damage for a monk dual wielding the Viper Strike Fang ? From the wording I am unclear but leaning towards no. (Tokendb entry below)

Thank you,
Anthony Brown


Eel Skin Gloves

On a successful hit with metal melee weapon, the wearer deals an additional 2 damage as Shock.

Note: These gloves can be used by a monk performing a flurry of blows attack if the monk is not wearing a bracer weapon or wielding a hand-held weapon. (This restriction includes “punch-daggers”, such as a Viper Strike Fangs.) Monks may equip these gloves in combination with bracelets or non-weapon bracers.

The ruling would say no. However, I've gotta say, I strongly disagree with that ruling. I see no difference whatsoever between a monk and ranger using two viper strike weapons, or any two metallic weapons, for that matter. Thematically, I understand if you want to say that the electric gloves don't electrify bracers, because they are on your forearm, not your hand, but if a ranger and a monk are holding the same weapon, it makes no sense at all for it to work for the ranger and not for the monk.

As another matter entirely, it's not like this is game-breaking for the Monk to be able to use those gloves in the same manner as the Ranger. Some would say that those gloves are inferior to the Guantlets of Ogre Power, because +1 to hit is intrinsically more valuable than +1 to damage, yet the Monk can use those just fine. I'm hoping this is an oversight, and will be corrected.

Well said sir.

That's the precise point on why I'm looking for clarification and possibly a discussion as to why / why not the ruling was implemented as such.

Our people called their people, lunches were done, committees were formed, task forces were mobilized. Here's the result:

Eel Skin Gloves
On a successful hit with metal melee weapon, the wearer deals an additional 2 damage as Shock.

Note: If performing a flurry of blows attack, a monk may only use these gloves while wielding a hand-held metallic weapon–including “punch-daggers”, such as a Viper Strike Fangs. Monks may not use these gloves in combination with bracer-weapons or with bare-handed attacks.

Druegar,

Awesome clarification.

Thank you !