How interesting that our own perceptions and knowledge shape our perceptions. My halfling monk was inspired not by Asian or European but by the "father of all monks" Anthony the Great of Egypt.
The problem is not only ki points, but ance the term Monk. We are so influenced by cinematic and historical ethnic cultural elements that as soon as we hear monk + martial arts we immediately think of Shaolin monks and thus Asian culture.
To completely eliminate the Asian influence in the monk class, one should canacalize every element related to the spiritual warrior and make it a pure unarmed warrior.
New name: (example Ascetic) - A warrior who renounces the use of armor and weapons to achieve the perfect form of body use and unarmed combat.
Eliminate the concept of inner Ki energy, spirit points, discipline points (always leads to the same image).
Unarmored Defense in DEX+CON base.
Add Unarmed Techniques (Mastery).
The problem is that the only thing that would separate it from the fighter is the specialization in unarmed combat. But no more ki points would solve a lot of monk class problems.
As mentioned earlier in the thread, there are non-Shaolin monks too. While I wouldn't mind "Ascetic", the name Monk is fine.
I’m fine with monk as well. I don’t necessarily think it has to change but they could call it Eldritch Fist and flavor it complete fantasy and I would be fine with that as well.
I've always been a fan of the idea of playing a Monk as a "boxer" or a "bruiser", kind of like a back-alley bouncer thug tough-type.
My current monk is literally this. A mangy alley scrapper that talks a big game and is always willing to back it up. A former pirate that cleaned up and found work as a ‘ham and egger’ bum ring fighter, then fell in with some adventurers, where they really hit their stride.
Edit: Inspiration was the first Rocky movie, when Rocky was a leg breaker, but based on the original screenwrite where he was a more cynical person.
How interesting that our own perceptions and knowledge shape our perceptions. My halfling monk was inspired not by Asian or European but by the "father of all monks" Anthony the Great of Egypt.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_the_Great
https://www.dndbeyond.com/characters/34318387
For me, the method of combat was less defining that the lifestyle/ethos of the monk.
The problem is not only ki points, but ance the term Monk. We are so influenced by cinematic and historical ethnic cultural elements that as soon as we hear monk + martial arts we immediately think of Shaolin monks and thus Asian culture.
To completely eliminate the Asian influence in the monk class, one should canacalize every element related to the spiritual warrior and make it a pure unarmed warrior.
The problem is that the only thing that would separate it from the fighter is the specialization in unarmed combat. But no more ki points would solve a lot of monk class problems.
Ascetic example: https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/yp8MswcDhgDA
It's not finished yet, but I'd like to get your first impressions and maybe some advice.
Fighter:
lev1: (2*(1d6(3.5) +3))x0.65 = ~8.45
lev5: (2*(1d10(5.5) +4) + (1d4(2.5) +4))*0.65 = ~16.575 / ~28.925 (AS)
lev11: (3*(1d10(5.5) +5) + (1d4(2.5) +5))*0.65 = ~25.35 / ~45.825 (AS)
lev18: (4*(1d10(5.5) +5) + (1d4(2.5) +5))*0.65 = ~32.175 / ~59.475 (AS)
Ascetic:
lev1: (2*(1d6(3.5) +3))*0.65 = ~8.45
lev5: (3*(1d8(4.5) +4))*0.65 = ~16.575 / ~19.5 (Iron Strike)
lev11: (4*(1d10(5.5) +5))*0.65 = ~27.3 / ~30.875 (IS)
lev18: (4*(1d12(6.5) +5))*0.65 = ~29.3 / 34.125 (IS)
As mentioned earlier in the thread, there are non-Shaolin monks too. While I wouldn't mind "Ascetic", the name Monk is fine.
I’m fine with monk as well. I don’t necessarily think it has to change but they could call it Eldritch Fist and flavor it complete fantasy and I would be fine with that as well.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
I've always been a fan of the idea of playing a Monk as a "boxer" or a "bruiser", kind of like a back-alley bouncer thug tough-type.
My current monk is literally this. A mangy alley scrapper that talks a big game and is always willing to back it up. A former pirate that cleaned up and found work as a ‘ham and egger’ bum ring fighter, then fell in with some adventurers, where they really hit their stride.
Edit: Inspiration was the first Rocky movie, when Rocky was a leg breaker, but based on the original screenwrite where he was a more cynical person.
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