How to make monk vows more viable?


Pathfinder First Edition General Discussion

Scarab Sages

Looking a bit at the monk vows, i'm not al lthat excited about em, and losing out on still mind just to get a vow with drawback is unfortunate.
(Ofcause the vows gives role play options)

Here's something i think that could be interesting:

Feats being unlucked by undertaking vows, be it either can take this feat as long as having this vow or be it can't take this feat till you've live through x amount of lvls with said vow.

For instance a feat like this might be interesting:

"Trail of Vows"
req: must have spend an entire lvl with each of the 8 vows successfully.

Benefit: Not sure what this should be, perhaps a permanent Ki bonus like the vows, just without the drawbacks, except for costing a feat.

Anyone know if something liek this exist?


There is the "Extra Ki" feat, if I recall. Not related to the vows, but it adds ki.

Scarab Sages

Thanks, guess this would probably need to get a different kind of reward then.(that is if they made something like this)

Any suggestions to what kind of reward would be befitting a monk having passed such trials?

Perhaps gain a new use for Ki then?
for instance spend a ki point to get + 10-20 on stealth or sense motive

Or a bigger reward and have him able to spend 2 ki points instead of 1 for his tests(ofcause having em stack)

Shadow Lodge

Might consider adding new Ki Powers for each vow. For instance, a Vow of Cleanliness monk might get a Ki Power prestidigitation to clean himself and his gear for no Ki, a power that gives him a bonus to AC v. "Unclean attacks"(such as ranged spells that aren't rays, like Acid Splash and Mudball), a power that gives him a bonus on saves v. "unclean" forced saves(such as stinking cloud), or a power that gives a bonus v. poison saves, because you have incredible personal hygiene.


The drawbacks for the vows are okay, as is the payoff. The penalty for breaking one is just ludicrous, though. I worked it out with my GM to just have it so that breaking a vow willingly made you lose an amount from your current and max ki equal to what the vow provides. Far more reasonable than RAW.


I found vows to be very binary.

Some are so good that you basically always take them, such as vow of truth. Being able to choose "No Answer" instead of breaking your vow is very powerful.

Some are so bad as to be basically unplayable, such as vow of poverty. Magic is really a necessity in pathfinder, and you do not get enough ki to make up for no items


Increase the amount of ki they give. Keep the same amount for the ones that you would always get, double or triple the bad ones, multiply by five or more vow of poverty.

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