Not a problem, just a general question. I like to create characters that are unique in at least their "skin" so to speak. A prime example being a monk who (within a fantasy world) is essentially a boxer and fights only with his hands. Another being one who was trained by constant sparring with her father who was a farmer and now fights with what is essentially Jeet Kun Do.
When you create a Monk do you just go with the standard Shao Lin template or do you dress them up in some other way?
I always wanted to play a Way of the Shadow monk whose powers came from a direct connection with the Shadowfell - e.g., manifesting physical shadows to lash out instead of martial arts, blurring when moving more than normal footspeed or dodging attacks, and swallowing deflected missiles in pools of shadow.
My current Monk is a Wood Elf with a Hermit Background (Medicine skill with Healer's and Herbalism kits) following the Open Hand Tradition. He has INT as his "dump" stat with the standard set. I play him as a clueless stoned hippy type with a positive attitude, using Chong (of Cheech and Chong) as inspiration. Other PCs have started referring to him as "Weed". At lower levels he played the fighter role, but now he is a combo of EMT (stabilizing downed PCs) and special strike guy.
For an alternative monk character, I've been thinking about a Goblin Way of Shadow Tradition Monk, to be an Order of the Stick Goblin Ninja. Not sure if multiclassing in Rogue and or Warlock is needed to pull it off to full effect.
My current one is a Way of the Open Hand Tabaxi with the Far Traveler background. Based upon their description - Tabaxi are curious cat folk, who have journeyed from their distant homeland in search of interesting treasures - I've been playing him like Tasselhoff Burfoot - the Kender from Dragonlance crossed with my best friends 5 year old son (who is constantly asking questions and making blatantly honest observations) and since sleight of hand is a dex skill - he's constantly 'finding' things the other party members and NPC's were carrying and giving it back to them after he's inspected it - he's not malicious in his thievery just curious - ooh what a cool necklace you had - etc
He's been a blast to RP so far, and I don't think I've annoyed my companions yet (my DM loves him so far which helps)
I have always loved monks and have played my share of the shaolin variety, but my current character and the one I have had the most fun playing is a dwarf slave barbarian/monk who learned to fight with his manacles and chains.
The monk I created was based on the 3D Beowulf, when he fights Grendel in the buff. The idea of fighting things on even footing was the inspiration. It sounded crazy and usually crazy sounds fun.
In the longest running 5e campaign (Spell Jammer) I played in I made a halfling monk. The halflings was from a small collections of moons which had a very hostile jungle environment with a hyper violent herbavore called a Thresher Hen (It was a cassowary crossed with a dragon), the irony was like the cassowary it IS a herbavore but insanely territorial and kills bipeds.
Then he met the other PC while on his temple's version of rumspringa, and slowly devolved from a quiet shoulin monk exploring the world to a hard drinking, partying, pixie dust snorting, eldar god worshipping Shadow-Monk/Pact of the Tomb-Warlock.
My current character is a Fighter/Monk, who i built as a swashbuckler with a shortsword and some fistfighting. Our campaign didn't support an eastern inspired monk from a monastery, so it felt right to "skin" the monk as a swashbuckling type.
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Not a problem, just a general question. I like to create characters that are unique in at least their "skin" so to speak. A prime example being a monk who (within a fantasy world) is essentially a boxer and fights only with his hands. Another being one who was trained by constant sparring with her father who was a farmer and now fights with what is essentially Jeet Kun Do.
When you create a Monk do you just go with the standard Shao Lin template or do you dress them up in some other way?
One of my players is playing a Shifter monk who basically tears people apart with his bare hands (and claws).
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
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I always wanted to play a Way of the Shadow monk whose powers came from a direct connection with the Shadowfell - e.g., manifesting physical shadows to lash out instead of martial arts, blurring when moving more than normal footspeed or dodging attacks, and swallowing deflected missiles in pools of shadow.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
My current Monk is a Wood Elf with a Hermit Background (Medicine skill with Healer's and Herbalism kits) following the Open Hand Tradition. He has INT as his "dump" stat with the standard set. I play him as a clueless stoned hippy type with a positive attitude, using Chong (of Cheech and Chong) as inspiration. Other PCs have started referring to him as "Weed". At lower levels he played the fighter role, but now he is a combo of EMT (stabilizing downed PCs) and special strike guy.
For an alternative monk character, I've been thinking about a Goblin Way of Shadow Tradition Monk, to be an Order of the Stick Goblin Ninja. Not sure if multiclassing in Rogue and or Warlock is needed to pull it off to full effect.
My current one is a Way of the Open Hand Tabaxi with the Far Traveler background. Based upon their description - Tabaxi are curious cat folk, who have journeyed from their distant homeland in search of interesting treasures - I've been playing him like Tasselhoff Burfoot - the Kender from Dragonlance crossed with my best friends 5 year old son (who is constantly asking questions and making blatantly honest observations) and since sleight of hand is a dex skill - he's constantly 'finding' things the other party members and NPC's were carrying and giving it back to them after he's inspected it - he's not malicious in his thievery just curious - ooh what a cool necklace you had - etc
He's been a blast to RP so far, and I don't think I've annoyed my companions yet (my DM loves him so far which helps)
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
I have always loved monks and have played my share of the shaolin variety, but my current character and the one I have had the most fun playing is a dwarf slave barbarian/monk who learned to fight with his manacles and chains.
The monk I created was based on the 3D Beowulf, when he fights Grendel in the buff. The idea of fighting things on even footing was the inspiration. It sounded crazy and usually crazy sounds fun.
In the longest running 5e campaign (Spell Jammer) I played in I made a halfling monk. The halflings was from a small collections of moons which had a very hostile jungle environment with a hyper violent herbavore called a Thresher Hen (It was a cassowary crossed with a dragon), the irony was like the cassowary it IS a herbavore but insanely territorial and kills bipeds.
Then he met the other PC while on his temple's version of rumspringa, and slowly devolved from a quiet shoulin monk exploring the world to a hard drinking, partying, pixie dust snorting, eldar god worshipping Shadow-Monk/Pact of the Tomb-Warlock.
My current character is a Fighter/Monk, who i built as a swashbuckler with a shortsword and some fistfighting. Our campaign didn't support an eastern inspired monk from a monastery, so it felt right to "skin" the monk as a swashbuckling type.