Make Monks have schools of training

[Saurstalk]

One of the things I really liked in the days of Dragon magazine (and Unearthed Arcana) was the notion that different monks were trained differently, including with weapons and special strikes.

I really hope Paizo takes this step.

I'd love to see a dual-sword wielding monk, or a monk trained specially with a spiked chain.

Martial Arts did not originate solely in Japan or China, which our monks seem to model. But even with that model, there were a lot of weapons that monks were trained to fight with - more than in the standard list.

So, how about developing schools of monastic training?

[Joshua James Gervais]

I could really go for a spear fighting Monk that used a combination mobility and reach.

[Eyebite]

While I think this is a really cool idea, and I'm all for fighting schools, I respectfully don't think it has a place in the RAW PHB.

Too many options, too lengthy, and not backwards compatible are just a few thoughts that come to mind. Plus, it overshadows or does away with the "plain vanilla" monk in the PHB.

I think fighting schools are fine for supplements, but not for the PHB.

For example, I really like the SRD alternate schools for monks, where you swap the automatic feats that monks get at certain levels for certain "school" feats. As a supplement, that's great! I just don't think it belongs in the basic PHB.

But, since I *am* a fan of fighting schools, if anyone has any ideas for a fighting school I'm all for seeing them . . .

[newless cluebie]

I like where this is going.

Would it work like feat trees, or would it be more like the way Champions work from Arcana Evolved, where you pick a path at 1st level and gain benefits at certain levels as you progress?

[Eyebite]

Although, now that I think about it, fighting schools wouldn't be really all that different from specialist wizards, which *are* in the Alpha PHB. You could have a plain monk, and then several variations thereof representing the fighting schools.

Then again, several requests were made for paladins, and the inclusion of multiple options they could take, i.e. feat trees or paths, where they could elect to take a weapon bond, or a special mount, grow wings, etc. etc. and this request was "denied." (For lack of a better word.)

Hm.

[Kobajagrande]

For setting reasons, I had a feat called Swordthane which gives you a proficiency in a weapon and makes it a monk weapon. There you go, all your fighting styles problems resolved.

[eric kim]

This isn't a monk school issue, but more of something that to me seems like a problem for monks. In 3.5 monks, they pretty much can't use an armor slot or shield slot, thus unable easily bump their AC or use crystals in the MIC.

I'll admit to not playing a monk beyond 2 levels, but it seems that not being able to use those slots puts monks at a disadvantage...especially at lower levels, so my comments are based on what seems to be a challenge for pure monks.

To some extent their weapon slot isn't that useful either since their unarmored damage increases, but at least they can use magical weapons.

[Weylin Stormcrowe 798]

Would not mind seeing unarmed combat variant be only two (striking or grappling) schools among many that monks could choose from learning. While I like the unarmed and unarmored aspect of monks, I would rather see more options than limiting monks to that. Perhaps incorporating something similar to the Sohei from OA as a school...monks who focus on entering a fighting trance that it similar to barbarian rage. Also schools that focus on a set of weapons...leading to changes to what is considered a monk weapon and using flurry of blows with this set ("Let's see if you can withstand my Taifun Spear Technique!").

-Weylin Stormcrowe

[Kirth Gersen]

And monk weapon damage still needs to scale with unarmed damage, or they need some other useful benefit for wielding them. Otherwise weaponed monks are no good. Yeah, you can have a flaming nunchaku or whatever, but compare that with an amulet of mighty fists with a base 2d8 damage.

[PHGraves]

Not that this matters, as the signal-to-noise ratio on these forums are cranked all the way into "noise", but I feel the need to say this:

What in the Nine Hells does any of this have to do with Alpha 2?

There is already enough Alpha 2 re-post spam to drown out the few good nuggets of information. Can we wait for Alpha 3 before drowning out its few useful posts with this dreck?

Rant done. Go about your business.

[Weylin Stormcrowe 798]

Kirth Gersen wrote:

And monk weapon damage still needs to scale with unarmed damage, or they need some other useful benefit for wielding them. Otherwise weaponed monks are no good. Yeah, you can have a flaming nunchaku or whatever, but compare that with an amulet of mighty fists with a base 2d8 damage.

Perhaps something like the Force Adept had in SW D20, Kirth. The ability to imbue a specific weapon to do extra damage. Or grant abilities similar to some of the feats favored by Psychic Warriors (inertial armor and such). Actually many of the psionic feats and the Psychic Warrior abilities would make fine ki-abilities for monks. There are often days that I think the Psychic Warrior is more what a monk should have been than the actual monk class.

-Weylin Stormcrowe

[Saurstalk]

PHGraves wrote:

Not that this matters, as the signal-to-noise ratio on these forums are cranked all the way into "noise", but I feel the need to say this:

What in the Nine Hells does any of this have to do with Alpha 2?

There is already enough Alpha 2 re-post spam to drown out the few good nuggets of information. Can we wait for Alpha 3 before drowning out its few useful posts with this dreck?

Rant done. Go about your business.

You are correct. This was the inappropriate board to post this. Rather, I should have posted it under future rules. My bad.

Still, I like seeing that I'm not the only one who feels this way. And to a fellow poster, yes, I envision this to be line Unearthed Arcana.