More about Monks

[unobserved]

I love the article in #325 about fleshing out your character's home town. While the majority of the information in there is useable for monks, it would be nice to see a feature dedicated to monks that might include information about life growing up in a monastery, typical types of monasteries, items & equipment, skills or lessons learned and reasons for adventuring.

I’ve outlined a couple of areas that could prove to be useful information for anyone playing a monk (or writing an article about playing a monk *wink* *wink*) and included any resource links I had available.

[unobserved]

Code of Conduct
============
The different codes/ethos they may believe in (much is always said about the Paladin's code of conduct, but monks are the only other class required to be Lawful with little said about the guidelines or morals they may follow and why).

What about a short break-down on the typical attitudes or codes that might be common amongst monks of each of the 3 available alignments (good / neutral / evil).

http://rpgworld.ath.cx/article35.html

Day-to-Day Life / Skill Development
===========================
Information about day to day life in the monastery, tasks, chores, schedules. This could be helpful when selecting where to put additional skill points such as: Perform ( Flute / Etc. ), Profession ( Flower Arranging / Caligraphy / Librarian / Accupuncture / Etc. ), Knowledge ( Botany / History / Medicine / Poetry / Etc. )

http://www.britainexpress.com/History/medieval-monastery.htm
http://www.request.org.uk/main/history/middle/monastery00.htm

[unobserved]

Reasons for Adventuring
==================
What about reasons for adventuring and/or average time spent in the monastery or reasons for leaving. Is a certain time away from the monastery considered a good thing for the development of a monk, is it a required thing. How often might monks leave the monastery, how often might they return, does one master maintain the temple for many years, handing it over to another when he comes to pass.

What are some typical "quests" that a monk might leave a monastery to complete. i.e. Collect a rock from the highest mountain, a leaf from the tallest tree, sand from the most remote beach and water from the greatest water fall. Or some other similar guidelines or goals along to road to "enlightenment".

Passing along Knowledge
===================
How do monks pass on knowledge from one generation to the next? Does each monastery / sect / etc, keep a manual or tome (Think: the stolen Wudan manual from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon). What kind of information or secrets would such a book hold?

How would a monk go about starting their own monastery. Would it require them to develop their technique over many years creating a manual of their own? What would drive a monk to do this instead of just returning to the Monastery they learned from.

[unobserved]

Types of Monasteries
===============
Other information could include breif tid-bits on different types or "genres" of monk monasteries (such as the Monks of the Long Death). Just sample descriptions or beliefs that outline and/or emphasize the types of things that a monk would consider worthy of life-long devotion.

Mundane Monk Equipment
====================
Of course other pieces of mundane equipment that you might find on your typical monk would be beneficial, personally my monk does his best to carry as little as possible, some what link Chow Yun-Fat in Bulletproof Monk - his life in a leather sachel. But if you opened that sachel what might you find? Meditation beads, healing salves, caligraphy tools (ink, etc), accupuncture needles?

http://www.mnh.si.edu/treasures/frame_exhibit_gallery2b_pearlinlay_main.htm

Monk Magic Items
==============
One particular aspect I would like to see more of is the idea of monk specific gloves aiding in un-armed combat a-la NWN:

http://www.gamebanshee.com/neverwinternights/equipment/images/glovesofthehi nfistplus1.jpg
http://www.gamebanshee.com/neverwinternights/equipment/images/glovesofthelo ngdeathplus1.jpg
http://www.gamebanshee.com/neverwinternights/equipment/images/glovesoftheye llowroseplus1.jpg

Or for that matter, any other aspect of monastery specific items:

http://www.gamebanshee.com/neverwinternights/equipment/images/bootsofthesun soulplus1.jpg
http://www.gamebanshee.com/neverwinternights/equipment/images/robesoftheshi ninghandplus1.jpg

In general some typical or template-able monks specific items (gloves / boots / robes / belts / bracers) that could be tailored to a particular monastery or sect with different themes or types of attributes & abilities would be helpful.

[unobserved]

Misc
====
Obviously anything in the area of new feats / traits / flaws would be welcome (although I assume these are small things that would be covered in upcoming issues of 'Class Acts').

In general I’ve also found that a having a high wisdom (as many monks do) paves the way for monks to be full of valuable & often cryptic information. I keep a couple pages of riddles close by at all times, as well as a book of ancient chinese proverbs ( in particular this one: http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews25006.html which has an index so if you come across a situation involving ‘a book’ you can look up any proverbs that make reference to it to spout off some very monk-ish information). Even some haikus could be helpful at times.

And a personal request that I've been struggling with: an explanation as to how a monk looks (as a medium sized creature with normal sized legs but a base speed of 50+ feet per round) as he is 'walking'. It's exceedingly hard to visualize a monk *walking* twice as fast or more then his party members without him looking like a tool taking part in an olympic speed walking race. If he is constantly jogging then his base speed would be increased even more, but I'm just talking about walking, does he just have enormous strides .. what's going on here. :-)

[Zherog]

Looks to me like you ought to send in a proposal. :) You've got a bunch of cool ideas here that could make an interesting article. Send in a query and pitch the idea.

[Kei]

unobserved wrote:

Passing along Knowledge
===================
How do monks pass on knowledge from one generation to the next? Does each monastery / sect / etc, keep a manual or tome (Think: the stolen Wudan manual from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon). What kind of information or secrets would such a book hold?

Secret manuals are in fact a common element of kung fu movies. Typically a student will have to pass some sort of test in order to be given access to the manual, or an initiate will have to stop rival monastery or school from stealing the manual and learning the secrets of their style, or a dying father will pass on the family's manual to his son in hopes that he can take revenge later. I've thought this might make for an interesting article, myself, but the game-mechanical aspects are somewhat trickier to implement. The martial arts styles that showed up in Oriental Adventures (and their descendants, the weapon styles in Complete Warrior) are probably the best way; either house-rule that you don't gain the style bonus until you've read the manual and practiced its techniques, or have the manual add a small additional bonus over and above mastery of the style.

You've got some other good article ideas, there. Might want to think about submitting a query yourself.

[Nicolas Logue]

Manuals are a big part of the Shao-lin tradition, it's true. Check out my adventure in Dungeon #117 ("The Winding Way") for more on monks and manuals.

The coolest thing about monks to me is the strange hierarchy of relationships in a temple or a style of martial arts. I'm speaking solely about Chinese styles here, but it is very very very important who your master is, who his master is and who his other students are. As a monk, the temple is your family. Your master's other disciples are sworn brothers, even if their alignments are different from your own, and even if you despise them. Also any one who studied under your master's master is your superior and must always be recognized as such, even if they are not as skilled as you, and even if they are despicably evil people.

I would love to write an article on monks. You guys have some awesome ideas here too! You should submit submit submit. Class acts means something about monks must be printed every issue. Let's swamp them my sworn brothers! ::raises fist and palm in salute:: :)

[unobserved]

Nicolas Logue wrote:

I would love to write an article on monks. You guys have some awesome ideas here too! You should submit submit submit. Class acts means something about monks must be printed every issue. Let's swamp them my sworn...

Nicolas,

I'm not much of a writer, I suggested these ideas because it's something I'd like to read. I would love to help or assist in writing any of these articles, so if you wanted to take a crack at them, be my guest.

if you want to get in touch with me via email you can reach me at steve (at) unobserved.org