"Monk" Whats Does it Mean to You?

[Dabbler]

Zardnaar wrote:

There are a million and one threads on why the monk sucks or whatever. However if someone says "monk" you in a D&D context what does it mean to you?

Ignoring images of Greek Orthodix monks on Mount Athos.

I'm thinking of rewriting the class, others probably have before me. The two ideas I have are to build the class around either its fast movement or flurry ability. The 1st idea would be like a 3.5 Scout with a sirmish mechanic (exta dice or damage) the second probbaly would have to let it full attack on the move or make Flury a static bonus to damage. The flurry mechanic as is seems kinda bad. Make the lcass full BAB or enhance the 3/4 BAB in some way (touch attacks, bonuses to hit etc).

Other issues of the monk such as low AC and trouble hitting can be taken care of in various ways such as a more generous monk bonus to AC and a monks fists gaining enhancement bonuses to them.

To me the monk means the following:

A well trained warrior, whose training involves physical, mental and spiritual discipline.

His first weapon is his spirit, his ability to fix on a higher goal and maintain that focus no matter what. Using his spirit a monk can attempt what would be impossible to others, and even call up 'magical' effects on occasion.

His second weapon is his mind, his knowledge of strategy and diplomacy. His ability to win without having to fight, to view his enemy not as a hated foe but as an obstacle or even an errant child.

His third weapon is his body, tempered and trained to resist damage, to be able to win with skill and not strength, to be able to do battle without any weapons or armour. His body is his ultimate tool, and the monk hones his physical skills first and trains with weapons and armour second. This is not to say a monk will not use weapons, but every monk should be able to go without them. He triumphs through skill, strategy and spiritual focus, not strength and weapons.

A monk to me a supreme spiritual martial artist, part-priest and part-warrior, dedicated to peace and yet able to unleash devastating war to preserve it.

That is what the monk concept means to me.

[Ross Byers]

I removed a post.