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No more difficult than it is to take a level in Wizard or Alchemist despite not having a history of extensive magical-scientific study. If a player wants levels in a class that I'm allowing, I let them take it.
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I generally hand wave that they spent some time in the past but it never clicked or maybe they have been working on it during adventuring downtime. I see no need to make it difficult.
I do tend to limit players to two classes. Sometimes I allow a third class especially for one of the classic 1st edition 3 class combos (fighter/magic user/thief).
One of my players, a rogue/shadowdancer, with no backstory or roleplay relating to martial arts, monastic training or anything of the sort, wishes to take a few monk levels.
I've said that he'll need three months of training from a sensei to get the first level (which would occur during downtime), and ongoing training for the rest. And that he'll have to maintain a lawful alignment of course.
Interested to know how relaxed other DMs are about random tangent multiclassing. I mean, its what the player wants for their character, it contributes in a big way to his enjoyment, but at the same time you don't want it to be too much of a karate kid montage for realism's sake.
I actually do things similiar to this. I need a better reason than "I want an AC bonus and to hit things with my hands hard." Requiring RP interaction to aquire a teacher or something akin to it, fits my group's RP style.
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Monk, especially the first few levels, can represent someone who's just picked up a few hand-to-hand moves and brawling tactics. It doesn't have to be an actual monastic order's training.
In my own games, if a player wants to multiclass, I ask that they spend some time RPing their decision. The fighter who wants a level of wizard might start studying a captured enemy's spellbook, or a rogue going into druid might spend some time communing with nature. They're not required to, but I feel that multiclassing can add something to the game besides new abilities and powers.
I would tend to require some kind of in story explanation and depending on the story, in game time, but otherwise I'd be fine with it.
One of my players, a rogue/shadowdancer, with no backstory or roleplay relating to martial arts, monastic training or anything of the sort, wishes to take a few monk levels.
I've said that he'll need three months of training from a sensei to get the first level (which would occur during downtime), and ongoing training for the rest. And that he'll have to maintain a lawful alignment of course.
Interested to know how relaxed other DMs are about random tangent multiclassing. I mean, its what the player wants for their character, it contributes in a big way to his enjoyment, but at the same time you don't want it to be too much of a karate kid montage for realism's sake.
For realism's sake:
If he already knows how to fight (which his current classes indicate), he doesn't need a sensei. He only needs a punching bag. That would cover unarmed strike, flurry, and stunning fist.
Combat maneuvers are available to all melee as well, there's nothing really monk particular about them. No special training necessary.
A 1st level monk at the gym down the street could show him everything he needs to know regarding his bonus feats and WIS stuff in realistically a few days. Remember, he's getting MONK FOR DUMMIES basic training, and he already knows how to fight, so he's just looking for a tip here and there. I would let him train fully in this way in 1d6 days minus his WIS modifier (minimum of 1 day) plus some coin for the monk (if he will even take it).
If it were a melee looking to learn the arcane arts, or something the character was really unfamiliar with, it might be a different story. But in this instance, it's not like he's a kid at karate class without a clue, he's a seasoned fighter looking for one or two extra tricks. No problem.