I'm interested in the Monk class- but of course it has an Eastern theme (kung fu, Ninja, etc.)
There is nothing wrong with this, but it seems out of place in the Forgotten Realms setting.
This is entirely subjective. Assuming you agree, how do you adapt the monk concept to the Forgotten Realms setting in a way that doesn't feel like an alien concept is brought into the setting?
I have the same sort of problem with the “feel“ of the artificer. But monks.
I would look to the Jedi, the Haruchai of the The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Slayers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hawkeye in Last of the Mochinas (the movie) I think even Warrior Nun could all be done as a Monk.
I’ve been wanting to try a tabaxi styled after Bill the Cat from Bloom County as a drunken master monk archetype.
It really depends, I think, on the archetype:
Way of Mercy A wandering order of doctors who train in the martial arts due to how their powers threaten the ruling classes grip on peasants. I’m twisted enough that I could make this archetype an order of torturers; “one must first learn to heal in order to hurt”… but that would be bad taste at most tables.
Way of Ascendant Dragon A Dragon establishes a fighting order teaching humanoids to fight for a campaign linked purpose (works also for way of the hand)
Way of the drunken master A fighter cursed to always be drunk. Or martial order within a race (is this how gnomes/halflings/tabaxi do fisticuffs?).
Way of the Kensei A fighting order of the elves works for other races where the arts proficiencies makes sense. A dwarven fighting order that uses the axe.
Way of the four elements All Gensia are taught this as part of their culture. Or style after Mages guild/school
I once had a player who did a cleric of Helm as a Samurai styled armored, staff wielding martial artist from a religious fighting order. In this case he was adding an Eastern feel to the class but that can easily be done in reverse. Find an idea that can explain/justify the abilities and run with it (and usually then pull back a bit).
The above mentioned Haruchai really influenced me in breaking away from Eastern style monks, they are “powered” by an oath and bond to the land and are a good model for a monk.
This is a big part of the One DND rework of the monk. They're removing a lot of the eastern flavor of the class so that you can flavor it however you want.
You can flavor them however fits your setting. I’m not that familiar with FR but monks don’t have to actually come from a monastery. Any organization could train their members in hand-to-hand combat. A character could come from a village that has a combat oriented culture focusing on unarmed fighting. Ki can be called something else (One D&D changes it to discipline points). The game is full of magic so monk features can be honed via mundane training or incorporating magic into their combat training. And any “Eastern flavor” can be ignored
I know what you are saying is true- we can make the character fit how we want it to fit.
The FR setting typically follows a Western European fantasy background (Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings, etc.). The 5e version of the monk made it seem like an Eastern 'kung fu' kind of vibe which has never really seemed in place for the FR to me.
I'm looking forward to looking at the One D&D remake- but as interesting as the monk is it has always seemed out of place in high fantasy for my liking.
I'd like to try it out, but it always feels like a setting mismatch.
Doing some research, there were some German 'monks' (if you will) who practiced something called 'Ringen'- a type of grappling and wrestling. It's a pretty interesting article if you want to get some ideas on creating an alternative monk class.
Also, dear reader, I've found some interesting concepts from Boxing.
The Egyptians and Greco-Romans had 'boxers'- even organized competitions. Some of this information below might be inspiring to you if you are looking for alternative flavors to the Monk class.
(Sorry, I keep finding cool ideas. Instead of 'boxing' it was referred to as 'pyxpygme'. This stuff REALLY opens up the Monk class to a Western Setting- also pretty interesting history.)
I'm interested in the Monk class- but of course it has an Eastern theme (kung fu, Ninja, etc.)
There is nothing wrong with this, but it seems out of place in the Forgotten Realms setting.
This is entirely subjective. Assuming you agree, how do you adapt the monk concept to the Forgotten Realms setting in a way that doesn't feel like an alien concept is brought into the setting?
Just say they’re from Kara tur. It’s on the same continent, it’s not much of a stretch. Europeans traded with China and that’s in a world that doesn’t have teleport. Or someone from Kara tur sent a trade mission, they established a monastery, and now they train locals.
In the 80's DND cartoon, they had an acrobat...and they reflavored her as a monk. So, there is an example. But, yeah, flavor it as you want.
Thief-acrobat was a class in 1e. I think they were just afraid of having a “thief” be one of the good guys, given there was already the satanic panic going on. But I guess you could say she was a monk flavored that way.
To follow up on one suggestion by WjS, I'd had an idea for a monk based upon Severian in the Book of the New Sun books by Gene Wolfe. For those who haven't read it, Severian is an apprentice of the "Seekers of Truth and Penitance." the Torturers guild in the series. Severian is exiled from the guild for showing mercy toward one prisoner.In his travels, Severian works as an executioner.
I figured that a Way of the Long Death monk would be appropriate for this character.
"Monks of the Way of the Long Death are obsessed with the meaning and mechanics of dying. They capture creatures and prepare elaborate experiments to capture, record, and understand the moments of their demise."
That second sentence in the subclass sentence seems to fit well with a guild of torturers. Whether your DM or other party members would be acceptable with someone who is/was a torturer is another question, even an exiled torturer.
Just say they’re from Kara tur. It’s on the same continent, it’s not much of a stretch. Europeans traded with China and that’s in a world that doesn’t have teleport. Or someone from Kara tur sent a trade mission, they established a monastery, and now they train locals.
In the 80's DND cartoon, they had an acrobat...and they reflavored her as a monk. So, there is an example. But, yeah, flavor it as you want.
Thief-acrobat was a class in 1e. I think they were just afraid of having a “thief” be one of the good guys, given there was already the satanic panic going on. But I guess you could say she was a monk flavored that way.
The character with the invisibility cloak was called Thief so that wasn’t the issue. Maybe they didn’t want two thieves in the group?
I believe the party was Ranger, Barbarian, Cavalier, Magic-User, Thief, and Acrobat. Thief Acrobat, Barbarian, and Cavalier were in the 1E Unearthed Arcana
Just say they’re from Kara tur. It’s on the same continent, it’s not much of a stretch. Europeans traded with China and that’s in a world that doesn’t have teleport. Or someone from Kara tur sent a trade mission, they established a monastery, and now they train locals.
In the 80's DND cartoon, they had an acrobat...and they reflavored her as a monk. So, there is an example. But, yeah, flavor it as you want.
Thief-acrobat was a class in 1e. I think they were just afraid of having a “thief” be one of the good guys, given there was already the satanic panic going on. But I guess you could say she was a monk flavored that way.
The character with the invisibility cloak was called Thief so that wasn’t the issue. Maybe they didn’t want two thieves in the group?
I believe the party was Ranger, Barbarian, Cavalier, Magic-User, Thief, and Acrobat. Thief Acrobat, Barbarian, and Cavalier were in the 1E Unearthed Arcana
You’re right. I forgot about that. Maybe it was going for a monk, then. Or it was a marketing push for Unearthed Arcana, with that and the cavalier.
Perhaps your character is a wrestler for sport in a pageant similar to this Western European one?
Just more ideas!
Maybe your Monk has the Folk Hero background from being a local wrestling legend. He has a bard as his 'hype' man and a traveling fighter or cleric as a bodyguard?
Hey!
I'm interested in the Monk class- but of course it has an Eastern theme (kung fu, Ninja, etc.)
There is nothing wrong with this, but it seems out of place in the Forgotten Realms setting.
This is entirely subjective. Assuming you agree, how do you adapt the monk concept to the Forgotten Realms setting in a way that doesn't feel like an alien concept is brought into the setting?
I have the same sort of problem with the “feel“ of the artificer. But monks.
I would look to the Jedi, the Haruchai of the The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Slayers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Hawkeye in Last of the Mochinas (the movie) I think even Warrior Nun could all be done as a Monk.
I’ve been wanting to try a tabaxi styled after Bill the Cat from Bloom County as a drunken master monk archetype.
It really depends, I think, on the archetype:
Way of Mercy
A wandering order of doctors who train in the martial arts due to how their powers threaten the ruling classes grip on peasants.
I’m twisted enough that I could make this archetype an order of torturers; “one must first learn to heal in order to hurt”… but that would be bad taste at most tables.
Way of Ascendant Dragon
A Dragon establishes a fighting order teaching humanoids to fight for a campaign linked purpose (works also for way of the hand)
Way of the drunken master A fighter cursed to always be drunk. Or martial order within a race (is this how gnomes/halflings/tabaxi do fisticuffs?).
Way of the Kensei
A fighting order of the elves works for other races where the arts proficiencies makes sense.
A dwarven fighting order that uses the axe.
Way of the four elements
All Gensia are taught this as part of their culture.
Or style after Mages guild/school
I once had a player who did a cleric of Helm as a Samurai styled armored, staff wielding martial artist from a religious fighting order. In this case he was adding an Eastern feel to the class but that can easily be done in reverse. Find an idea that can explain/justify the abilities and run with it (and usually then pull back a bit).
The above mentioned Haruchai really influenced me in breaking away from Eastern style monks, they are “powered” by an oath and bond to the land and are a good model for a monk.
This is a big part of the One DND rework of the monk. They're removing a lot of the eastern flavor of the class so that you can flavor it however you want.
You can flavor them however fits your setting. I’m not that familiar with FR but monks don’t have to actually come from a monastery. Any organization could train their members in hand-to-hand combat. A character could come from a village that has a combat oriented culture focusing on unarmed fighting. Ki can be called something else (One D&D changes it to discipline points). The game is full of magic so monk features can be honed via mundane training or incorporating magic into their combat training. And any “Eastern flavor” can be ignored
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
I know what you are saying is true- we can make the character fit how we want it to fit.
The FR setting typically follows a Western European fantasy background (Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings, etc.). The 5e version of the monk made it seem like an Eastern 'kung fu' kind of vibe which has never really seemed in place for the FR to me.
I'm looking forward to looking at the One D&D remake- but as interesting as the monk is it has always seemed out of place in high fantasy for my liking.
I'd like to try it out, but it always feels like a setting mismatch.
Doing some research, there were some German 'monks' (if you will) who practiced something called 'Ringen'- a type of grappling and wrestling. It's a pretty interesting article if you want to get some ideas on creating an alternative monk class.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringen
Also, dear reader, I've found some interesting concepts from Boxing.
The Egyptians and Greco-Romans had 'boxers'- even organized competitions. Some of this information below might be inspiring to you if you are looking for alternative flavors to the Monk class.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing
(Sorry, I keep finding cool ideas. Instead of 'boxing' it was referred to as 'pyxpygme'. This stuff REALLY opens up the Monk class to a Western Setting- also pretty interesting history.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek_boxing
Who says you have to be from this realm?
In the 80's DND cartoon, they had an acrobat...and they reflavored her as a monk. So, there is an example. But, yeah, flavor it as you want.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E and OSR geek.
Just say they’re from Kara tur. It’s on the same continent, it’s not much of a stretch. Europeans traded with China and that’s in a world that doesn’t have teleport.
Or someone from Kara tur sent a trade mission, they established a monastery, and now they train locals.
Thief-acrobat was a class in 1e. I think they were just afraid of having a “thief” be one of the good guys, given there was already the satanic panic going on. But I guess you could say she was a monk flavored that way.
To follow up on one suggestion by WjS, I'd had an idea for a monk based upon Severian in the Book of the New Sun books by Gene Wolfe. For those who haven't read it, Severian is an apprentice of the "Seekers of Truth and Penitance." the Torturers guild in the series. Severian is exiled from the guild for showing mercy toward one prisoner.In his travels, Severian works as an executioner.
I figured that a Way of the Long Death monk would be appropriate for this character.
"Monks of the Way of the Long Death are obsessed with the meaning and mechanics of dying. They capture creatures and prepare elaborate experiments to capture, record, and understand the moments of their demise."
That second sentence in the subclass sentence seems to fit well with a guild of torturers. Whether your DM or other party members would be acceptable with someone who is/was a torturer is another question, even an exiled torturer.
If you want a character who is skilled in fisticuffs and brawling, monks are the best for it. Punching ain't an eastern thing.
The character with the invisibility cloak was called Thief so that wasn’t the issue. Maybe they didn’t want two thieves in the group?
I believe the party was Ranger, Barbarian, Cavalier, Magic-User, Thief, and Acrobat. Thief Acrobat, Barbarian, and Cavalier were in the 1E Unearthed Arcana
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
You’re right. I forgot about that. Maybe it was going for a monk, then. Or it was a marketing push for Unearthed Arcana, with that and the cavalier.
Here are some more concepts!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_wrestling
Cornish wrestling- perhaps your monk can mirror some of these western wrestlers who specialized in grappling.
https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/944306
'Kampfringen' is an ancient German method of unarmed self-defense that can translate into a Monk character without the stereotypical ninja theme.
https://www.history.com/news/henry-viii-wrestled-french-king-field-of-cloth-of-gold
Perhaps your character is a wrestler for sport in a pageant similar to this Western European one?
Just more ideas!
Maybe your Monk has the Folk Hero background from being a local wrestling legend. He has a bard as his 'hype' man and a traveling fighter or cleric as a bodyguard?
'Capoeira' developed by Africans who were formerly enslaved that was a martial art form made to look like a dance style.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira