Here is the latest preview for the upcoming Monks magic item book.

This took a lot of work! There are probably those who would point out all manner of mistakes with the math, but I did my best!

This article covers the belt structure used in the studio I both teach and train in, with a few minor modifications. This will cover from 1st to 20th level.

Belts – each belt or sash represents an advancement in the monk’s skill and rank among her peers, and can only be used by those of that level or lower. For example, a 8^th level monk can use a Red Slash and any of the lower ranking belts, but could not use a green slash until she achieves 9^th level.  

Only monks can use and gain the bonus with this item, otherwise the belt will detect as magical, but will have no effect.

Belts come in the following colors – white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, black with white stripe, and black. Slashes upon a black belt represent further development and training and come in three colors starting with Red, Green, and Blue. After this point the monk then has degrees or Dans added to their black belt, up to 10^th degree at which point she is considered to be a grand master, the highest ranking possible.

• White Belt

Price: 2,800 Aura: Faint enchantment (CL): 1^st Weight: 1 lb.

The belt of the brand new initiate, this proves the person is ready to dedicate their lives to training and becoming the best they possibly can be. The wearer gains a +1 to hit with any un-armed attack, as well as +1 to any saving throw.  

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless Cost: 1,400

• Yellow Belt

Price: 4,900 Aura: Faint enchantment (CL): 1^st Weight: 1 lb.

Just a step above initiate, the monk is now learning more and more techniques but also how to defend themselves. The wearer gains a +1 to hit with any un-armed attack, and a +1 to their AC.

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Mage Armor Cost: 2,450

• Orange Belt

Price: 7,000 Aura: Faint enchantment (CL): 1^st Weight: 1 lb.

By this time the student is learning the proper techniques when it comes to striking, and their attacks inflict more damage, but only when it comes to unarmed attacks – they gain a bonus of +1 to any unarmed attack damage.

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Mage Armor, Magic fang.  Cost: 3,500

• Green Belt

Price: 13,300 Aura: Faint transmutation (CL): 4^th Weight: 1 lb.

About half way to becoming an instructor herself, the student has become more accurate with their strikes, inflicting more damage. The student gains +1 to damage inflicted with un-armed strikes. This also makes the monk’s unarmed attacks magic, and thus allows them to hit targets which only could be hit by magical weapons.

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Mage Armor, Magic Fang.  Cost: 6,650

• Blue Belt

Price: 21,700 Aura: Faint transmutation (CL): 4th^t Weight: 1 lb.

The longer the student has been training, the more accurate her attacks have become, and the enchantment of the belt reflects this fact.

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Mage Armor, Magic Fang, Cost: 10,850

• Brown Belt

Price: 28,000 Aura: Faint transmutation (CL): 4th Weight: 1 lb.

With increased accuracy has come the increase in knowledge on how to defend against such attacks. The monk is now better able to avoid being hit in combat as a result.

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Mage Armor, Magic Fang, Cost: 14,000

• Black Belt

Price: 32,200 Aura: Moderate transmutation (CL): 4th Weight: 1 lb.

At this point the student has now begun to train in earnest, having mastered all previous techniques. The student is allowed to choose a bonus of +1 to either Strength or Dexterity at this point (this must be chosen upon receiving this belt and cannot be changed afterwards)

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Mage Armor, Magic Fang, Cost: 16,100

• Red Slash

Price: 34,100 Aura: Moderate transmutation (CL): 4th Weight: 1 lb.

Sashes are awarded before the various Dans or degrees for those who have achieved black-belt status. This shows her dedication as well as her improvement over the years of diligent training. She gains a +2 to either Strength or Dexterity – gaining +1 to both is acceptable (must be chosen upon receiving this belt and cannot be changed afterwards). This increase to the monk’s statistic can be used once per day and will last for 4 minutes.

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bull Strength or Cat’s Grace, Bless, Mage Armor, Magic Fang, Cost: 17,050

• Green Slash

Price: 46,900 Aura: Moderate transmutation (CL): 4th Weight: 1 lb.

As with the Red Sash, she continues to perfect her body.

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bull Strength or Cat’s Grace, Bless, Mage Armor, Magic Fang, Cost: 23,450

• Blue Slash

Price: 53,200 Aura: Moderate transmutation (CL): 4th Weight: 1 lb.

The final of the sashes before she begins to gain Dans or degrees.

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bull Strength or Cat’s Grace, Bless, Mage Armor, Magic Fang, Cost: 26,600

• Black Belt 1^st Dan

Price: 64,400 Aura: Moderate transmutation (CL): 8th Weight: 1 lb.

The journey to becoming a Grand Master has begun in earnest. This is represented by a single white stripe located at the end of the black belt. The increase to their statistics now will last up to 4 minutes in total, and can be used once per day.

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Bull Strength, Cat’s Grace, Mage Armor, Magic Fang, Cost: 32,200

• Black Belt 2^nd Dan

Price: 81,200 Aura: Moderate transmutation (CL): 8th Weight: 1 lb.

The second Dan in the journey. This is represented by a pair of white stripes at the end of the black belt.

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Bull Strength, Cat’s Grace, Mage Armor, Magic Fang, Cost: 40,600

• Black Belt 3^rd Dan

Price: 81,200 Aura: Moderate transmutation (CL): 8th Weight: 1 lb.

The second Dan in the journey. This is represented with three white stripes at the end of the black belt.

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Bull Strength, Cat’s Grace, Mage Armor, Magic Fang, Cost: 40,600

• Black Belt 4^th Dan

Price: 114,800 Aura: Moderate transmutation (CL): 8th Weight: 1 lb.

This belt is represented by four white stripes at the end of the belt.  It has the same time limit for both speed and statistic increase as described with the lower ranking belts.   

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Bull Strength, Cat’s Grace, Expeditious Retreat, Mage Armor, Magic Fang, Cost: 57,400

• Black Belt 5^th Dan

Price: 126,000 Aura: Strong transmutation (CL): 12th Weight: 1 lb.

This belt is represented by five white stripes at the end of the belt.  It has the same time limit for both speed and statistic increase as described with the lower ranking belts.   

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Bull Strength, Cat’s Grace, Expeditious Retreat, Mage Armor, Magic Fang, Cost: 63,800

• Black Belt 6^th Dan

Price: 134,400 Aura: Strong transmutation (CL): 12th Weight: 1 lb.

This belt is represented by six white stripes at the end of the belt.  It has the same time limit for both speed and statistic increase as described with the lower ranking belts.   

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Bull Strength, Cat’s Grace, Expeditious Retreat, Mage Armor, Magic Fang, Cost: 67,200

• Black Belt 7^th Dan

Price: 142,800 Aura: Strong transmutation (CL): 12th Weight: 1 lb.

This belt is represented by seven white stripes at the end of the belt.  It has the same time limit for both speed and statistic increase as described with the lower ranking belts.   

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Bull Strength, Cat’s Grace, Mage Armor, Expeditious Retreat, Magic Fang, Cost: 71,400

• Black Belt 8^th Dan

Price: 218,400 Aura: Strong transmutation (CL): 12th Weight: 1 lb.

This belt is represented by eight white stripes at the end of the belt.  It has the same time limit for both speed and statistic increase as described with the lower ranking belts.  The time expeditious retreat is still eight minutes, but now the statistic bonus time is increased to 8 minutes.

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Bull Strength, Cat’s Grace, Mage Armor, Expeditious Retreat, Magic Fang, Cost: 109,200

• Black Belt 9^th Dan

Price: 235,200 Aura: Strong transmutation (CL): 12th Weight: 1 lb.

This belt is represented by nine white stripes at the end of the belt.  The length of time Expeditious retreat lasts is now twelve minutes, once per day.  

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Bull Strength, Cat’s Grace, Mage Armor, Expeditious Retreat, Magic Fang, Cost: 117,600

• Black Belt Grand Master

Price: 476,000 Aura: Strong transmutation (CL): 20th Weight: 1 lb.

This belt is the ultimate achievement for the monk. It is represented by ten white stripes located at the end of the belt.  Both the statistic increase and expeditious retreat will now last 20 minutes in total.

Construction requirements: Craft wondrous item, Bless, Bull Strength, Cat’s Grace, Mage Armor, Expeditious Retreat, Magic Fang, Cost: 238,000

Belt Table