Silence is 1 per 6 levels
So I was gearing up to play a monk with a Vow of Silence from Ultimate Magic. This is the first time I will be playing instead of DMing in years, and I was excited to try a different roleplaying style and thought me being less vocal would give our new DM more space. However I am not sure how to proceed; my copy of Ultimate Magic is second printing and lists Vow of Silence on page 51 as giving an increase of "1 ki point for every monk level he possesses." Online all the sources say that the increase is "1 ki point for every 6 monk levels (minimum +1)." Which of these is correct?
I checked my own second printing of Ultimate Magic and found, as you stated, that it lists 1 ki point for every monk level. The PRD does indeed state that it is 1 ki point for every 6 monk levels. So we have a clear contradiction.
It would seem that either:
1.) The PRD is wrong and should be corrected or
2.) The PRD is correct and is acting as errata for Ultimate Magic.
Either way, this should be FAQ'd.
I still have the first printing saved and it reads:
Vow of Silence: The monk must speak no words and attempt to be quiet in his actions. Accidental noises and the sounds of battle (such as the sound of a fist or weapon striking an opponent) do not affect his vow, though most monks with this vow choose their weapons and opponents
so as to minimize even these sounds. The monk is allowed to make a nonvocal noise to warn another of danger (such as by stomping or clapping). The monk is allowed to use gestures and motions to communicate with others (including sign language) and is allowed to write.A monk with this vow increases his ki pool by 1 ki point for every 6 monk levels (minimum +1).
My guess is that the second printing is correct.
I'd go with ultimate magics ruling 1ki per 1 lvl, my ultimate magic says the same . Either way I've checked and this is a current issue that's being FAQ'd. For something like not being able to talk 1 per 1 seems more fair.
I still have the first printing saved and it reads:
My guess is that the second printing is correct.Vow of Silence: The monk must speak no words and attempt to be quiet in his actions. Accidental noises and the sounds of battle (such as the sound of a fist or weapon striking an opponent) do not affect his vow, though most monks with this vow choose their weapons and opponents
so as to minimize even these sounds. The monk is allowed to make a nonvocal noise to warn another of danger (such as by stomping or clapping). The monk is allowed to use gestures and motions to communicate with others (including sign language) and is allowed to write.A monk with this vow increases his ki pool by 1 ki point for every 6 monk levels (minimum +1).
Ok. So the first printing said "1 ki point for every 6 monk levels." This matches the PRD. The second printing says "1 ki point for every monk level" so it is the one that doesn't match.
I just checked the errata for the first edition and it does not list any changes to the Vow of Silence entry. Based on this I now think that the second printing picked up an error, and that "1 ki point for every 6 monk levels" is correct.
I still have the first printing saved and it reads:
My guess is that the second printing is correct.Vow of Silence: The monk must speak no words and attempt to be quiet in his actions. Accidental noises and the sounds of battle (such as the sound of a fist or weapon striking an opponent) do not affect his vow, though most monks with this vow choose their weapons and opponents
so as to minimize even these sounds. The monk is allowed to make a nonvocal noise to warn another of danger (such as by stomping or clapping). The monk is allowed to use gestures and motions to communicate with others (including sign language) and is allowed to write.A monk with this vow increases his ki pool by 1 ki point for every 6 monk levels (minimum +1).Ok. So the first printing said "1 ki point for every 6 monk levels." This matches the PRD. The second printing says "1 ki point for every monk level" so it is the one that doesn't match.
I just checked the errata for the first edition and it does not list any changes to the Vow of Silence entry. Based on this I now think that the second printing picked up an error, and that "1 ki point for every 6 monk levels" is correct.
I think it is much more likely that they forgot to make the change in all locations rather than the change magically appeared in a new book.
Even if it is a magic book!
So you think it's more likely they made the ability six times more powerful and didn't note it anywhere rather than they left out a 6 in the reprint?
So you think it's more likely they made the ability six times more powerful and didn't note it anywhere rather than they left out a 6 in the reprint?
Absolutely. It is a lot easier to make a mistake of omission rather than to accidentally change something.
I imagine that when a change is made it is written down on a list so that they can update it in all other locations. My thought is that it never got to that list so the other places were not updated.
It is not like they re-typed the whole book and left off the 6. Someone had to go in and delete it.
But it is not impossible that the second printing is a mistake either.
In the end, the power level is what does it for me. Clearly losing the ability to talk is worth more than any other vow. It absolutely should not be the least valuable, in terms of the Ki mechanic.
The PRD and the book are modified via the erratum file. If the errata did not change anything then the first printing is still correct.
I would disagree with the penalty being severe enough to warrant a nigh-doubling of one's ki pool. It hampers social skills to be certain, but the presence of other party members renders that moot. Communication with the party is easily nullified by writing or having everyone learn sign language, and while communication in combat will be low, you can still hear commands and act for yourself.
Compared to Poverty which is a crippling penalty that must be actively kept up at all times in a variety of ways that often go against natural player instinct, Silence is not nearly so bad.
I will agree however that Silence is a worse penalty than Cleanliness or Celibacy, and would petition the DM to raise the rate.
I see a vow of silence as virtually guaranteeing you aren't multiclassing into any caster class. Sure, it's still possible, but it becomes that much harder. I don't know if 1-1 is the right ratio, but I consider limiting class potential a major negative. Add in, that also would mean the monk can't use spell completion items, if I'm not mistaken. And many magic items. Can't use a carpet of flying (it's controlled via spoken command). No figurines of wondrous power (called with a command word). The Wayfinder of the pathfinder society, for instance, requires a command word for it's light spell effect. This is a bigger negative than most would think at first glance.
I do not consider limiting class potential a major negative, especially when its limiting a melee class from a caster class (though maybe its just because I prefer mono-class builds).
Admittedly the 'no spell completion items' WOULD be a big penalty, though not one that would cripple a character.
And no command word activation items. Isn't that a lot of items?