Why not just call them Psionic Energy Points (Psi for short), as a sort of variation of the Psionic Energy Dice that PW and SK use? Only instead of dice, they're points.
Add a casting subclass, and you've sort of half way got the "psionic class", just not the way most people expect it.
Arguably, you could also let the Monk select INT or WIS as their mysticism attribute, the way Warlocks do. This would allow them to pick which type of synergy they want (Synergy with Artificers, Wizards, Psi Warriors, and Soulknives vs Synergy with Clerics, Druids, and Rangers).
Because monk techniques aren't psionic in nature, but based on harnessing one's inner energy and training to push oneself beyond one's ordinary physical limits.
Which can just as easily be used as a synonym for psionics. (and in both other game systems, and in some real world explorations of the topic, it is sometimes explained in ways that are interchangeable with psionics)
Why not just call them Psionic Energy Points (Psi for short), as a sort of variation of the Psionic Energy Dice that PW and SK use? Only instead of dice, they're points.
Why not call them Psi points? because that is word-limiting the entire class to psychic
Ki (Qi, Chi) is about the energy flowing throughout an individuals body, it’s vitality, energy, mana etc
Discipline is training or self control etc
What does WotC want the Monk to be? A spiritual warrior or a martial artist?
if it’s martial artist then the class should be renamed because Monk is a member of a religious order and a martial artist is not necessarily a member of said order.
yes there are arguments to rename Ki as there were/are other spiritual warrior orders throughout south and east Asia other than Chinese or Japanese monastic warriors (here I am ignoring western military monks, the Knights Templar, because they are covered by cleric), so what to call it?
Life, Mana, Soul, Spirit, Will, Vitality, Zest?
I like Mana but it has its own origin issues, although possibly in the modern linguistic sense less limiting than Ki.
Will has D&D history but it might be the best option.
Why not just call them Psionic Energy Points (Psi for short), as a sort of variation of the Psionic Energy Dice that PW and SK use? Only instead of dice, they're points.
Why not call them Psi points? because that is word-limiting the entire class to psychic
Ki (Qi, Chi) is about the energy flowing throughout an individuals body, it’s vitality, energy, mana etc
Discipline is training or self control etc
And often characterized as "Mind over Matter", just like Psionics. The difference is purely artificial. And while it would pin the Monk to being psionic, that wouldn't be a bad thing in any way. It would just establish one interpretation of their supernatural powerbase.
What does WotC want the Monk to be? A spiritual warrior or a martial artist?
Traditionally, they're both. Going all the way back to the beginning of the class's presence in D&D.
if it’s martial artist then the class should be renamed because Monk is a member of a religious order and a martial artist is not necessarily a member of said order.
Which would be more of a break from tradition than characterizing their powers as psionic in nature, since "ki" is a much latter addition than the Monk class itself.
Though, with a small bit of irony of recent terms, when they were introduced into BECMI (in the Master rules), they were called Mystics; a name now associated with Psionics.
yes there are arguments to rename Ki as there were/are other spiritual warrior orders throughout south and east Asia other than Chinese or Japanese monastic warriors (here I am ignoring western military monks, the Knights Templar, because they are covered by cleric), so what to call it?
And it seems like the "to rename or not" part of the argument is a ship that has sailed: WOTC is already putting that into action, and said so before they were talking about OneD&D IIRC.
Life, Mana, Soul, Spirit, Will, Vitality, Zest?
I like Mana but it has its own origin issues, although possibly in the modern linguistic sense less limiting than Ki.
Will has D&D history but it might be the best option.
And Will can also be used as a catch all for most magic, psionics, and super-normal ability that results in the Will to exceed the mundane rules of the world.
Those who don't like it can still pick WIS and pretend it's called something else. As I said, make it a choice in the same way that the mystical attribute for Warlocks is now one that can be chosen.
It doesn't even have to be a subclass. It can be comparable to "Holy Order" and the Warlock Pact: you pick a fluff and it interacts with your attribute.
Mind over Matter: your discipline uses INT as its mystical attribute, and your powers are fueled by your mind and psionics. Spirit over Matter: your discipline uses WIS as its mystical attribute, and your powers flow from your inner spiritual focus.
I'm unsure if this even matters anymore, or if anyone cares, but Ki just slides off the tongue easier. Ki points. Kiiiii Poooooiiinnntts. kipoints. Ki. Points. Yeah, much better.
"Focus points" feel weirdly wordy. It's only three more letters, but it just feels unnecessary. Discipline points are arguably the worst sounding. Too wordy, boring, and makes little sense. Spirit sees the same problem except it makes a bit more sense.
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"I find it highly Imperative that we find a solution to this situation without Murdering anyone."
Back in 2nd edition, a friend of mine re-wrote the Monk class to be a Psionicist sub-class. He was a big Dark Sun fan and really liked what happened to Psionics in the Expanded Dark Sun campaign boxed set. I remember reading over what he wrote back then, and it wasn't that big of a leap from 2nd ed Monk to this Psionicist sub-class. So much so, that my memory has been playing tricks on me, and I thought something similar had been officially published for 2nd or 3rd edition. I was very surprised this afternoon when I dug out by 2nd & 3rd ed books and it wasn't there.
I'm so disappointed I didn't keep a copy of that write-up now.
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Why not just call them Psionic Energy Points (Psi for short), as a sort of variation of the Psionic Energy Dice that PW and SK use? Only instead of dice, they're points.
Add a casting subclass, and you've sort of half way got the "psionic class", just not the way most people expect it.
Arguably, you could also let the Monk select INT or WIS as their mysticism attribute, the way Warlocks do. This would allow them to pick which type of synergy they want (Synergy with Artificers, Wizards, Psi Warriors, and Soulknives vs Synergy with Clerics, Druids, and Rangers).
They did it in the 4e, a lot of people complained
Which can just as easily be used as a synonym for psionics. (and in both other game systems, and in some real world explorations of the topic, it is sometimes explained in ways that are interchangeable with psionics)
Why not call them Psi points? because that is word-limiting the entire class to psychic
Ki (Qi, Chi) is about the energy flowing throughout an individuals body, it’s vitality, energy, mana etc
Discipline is training or self control etc
What does WotC want the Monk to be? A spiritual warrior or a martial artist?
if it’s martial artist then the class should be renamed because Monk is a member of a religious order and a martial artist is not necessarily a member of said order.
yes there are arguments to rename Ki as there were/are other spiritual warrior orders throughout south and east Asia other than Chinese or Japanese monastic warriors (here I am ignoring western military monks, the Knights Templar, because they are covered by cleric), so what to call it?
Life, Mana, Soul, Spirit, Will, Vitality, Zest?
I like Mana but it has its own origin issues, although possibly in the modern linguistic sense less limiting than Ki.
Will has D&D history but it might be the best option.
Psi or Psychic should be sub-class
And often characterized as "Mind over Matter", just like Psionics. The difference is purely artificial. And while it would pin the Monk to being psionic, that wouldn't be a bad thing in any way. It would just establish one interpretation of their supernatural powerbase.
Traditionally, they're both. Going all the way back to the beginning of the class's presence in D&D.
Which would be more of a break from tradition than characterizing their powers as psionic in nature, since "ki" is a much latter addition than the Monk class itself.
Though, with a small bit of irony of recent terms, when they were introduced into BECMI (in the Master rules), they were called Mystics; a name now associated with Psionics.
And it seems like the "to rename or not" part of the argument is a ship that has sailed: WOTC is already putting that into action, and said so before they were talking about OneD&D IIRC.
And Will can also be used as a catch all for most magic, psionics, and super-normal ability that results in the Will to exceed the mundane rules of the world.
Those who don't like it can still pick WIS and pretend it's called something else. As I said, make it a choice in the same way that the mystical attribute for Warlocks is now one that can be chosen.
It doesn't even have to be a subclass. It can be comparable to "Holy Order" and the Warlock Pact: you pick a fluff and it interacts with your attribute.
Mind over Matter: your discipline uses INT as its mystical attribute, and your powers are fueled by your mind and psionics.
Spirit over Matter: your discipline uses WIS as its mystical attribute, and your powers flow from your inner spiritual focus.
4e monks were psionics, but the class covers or is meant to cover a lot more themes than just that
Please see my post about: Non-Asian representation of the Monk
I'm unsure if this even matters anymore, or if anyone cares, but Ki just slides off the tongue easier. Ki points. Kiiiii Poooooiiinnntts. kipoints. Ki. Points. Yeah, much better.
"Focus points" feel weirdly wordy. It's only three more letters, but it just feels unnecessary. Discipline points are arguably the worst sounding. Too wordy, boring, and makes little sense. Spirit sees the same problem except it makes a bit more sense.
"I find it highly Imperative that we find a solution to this situation without Murdering anyone."
I prefer Ki Points, it feels the most monk like.
Back in 2nd edition, a friend of mine re-wrote the Monk class to be a Psionicist sub-class. He was a big Dark Sun fan and really liked what happened to Psionics in the Expanded Dark Sun campaign boxed set. I remember reading over what he wrote back then, and it wasn't that big of a leap from 2nd ed Monk to this Psionicist sub-class. So much so, that my memory has been playing tricks on me, and I thought something similar had been officially published for 2nd or 3rd edition. I was very surprised this afternoon when I dug out by 2nd & 3rd ed books and it wasn't there.
I'm so disappointed I didn't keep a copy of that write-up now.