1. Monks are really rare and limited to a few orders. Basically limited to NPCs.
2. Monks are rare and a PC may become one but cannot be one at level 1 and must be at least level 2 before becoming one- ie seek out a master.
3. Monk PCs are are not recommended but not totally banned. You need to have a really good reason to be one and catch me in a good mood. Or bribe me with snack food.
If you think Monks shouldn't be allowed full stop feel free to mention it but I'm trying to work them in somehow- maybe with a houserule tweaking the wepaons they're proficient in.
I general I agree with Athas.org position that Monks should not be used in Athas. However I have noticed several ppl here say that Monks are fine in their games. While the Monk class never really existed in 2nd ed I do vaguely remember one of the DS sourcebooks metioning an order of Monks in Nibenay and maybe Raam- the memory is a bit fuzzy. I've found an adventure I like with Monks as the BBEG and really want to run it and are thinking of the following houserule or 2.
Your memory is correct. The only thing is, it is specified (in IT, anyways) that the monks do have an unarmed fighting style but they have no special powers.
To my opinion, it is only natural, in a rich psionic environment, that anybody learning monkish things would eventually stumble upon hidden powers of the mind. So sure why not. I personnally only accept the core monk as psionic in nature.
:P
It is only a matter of time before someone creates a Thri-kreen monk and there goes the neighborhood.
Thri-kreen monk!?!
It is only a matter of time before someone creates a Thri-kreen monk and there goes the neighborhood.
Thri-kreen are already Monks! :P
I would be more worried about Monk/Bards.... All base Saves +6 at level 4!!
I general I agree with Athas.org position that Monks should not be used in Athas. However I have noticed several ppl here say that Monks are fine in their games. While the Monk class never really existed in 2nd ed I do vaguely remember one of the DS sourcebooks metioning an order of Monks in Nibenay and maybe Raam- the memory is a bit fuzzy. I've found an adventure I like with Monks as the BBEG and really want to run it and are thinking of the following houserule or 2.
1. Monks are really rare and limited to a few orders. Basically limited to NPCs.
2. Monks are rare and a PC may become one but cannot be one at level 1 and must be at least level 2 before becoming one- ie seek out a master.
3. Monk PCs are are not recommended but not totally banned. You need to have a really good reason to be one and catch me in a good mood. Or bribe me with snack food.
If you think Monks shouldn't be allowed full stop feel free to mention it but I'm trying to work them in somehow- maybe with a houserule tweaking the wepaons they're proficient in.
I allow monks, because I believe that not including them is an oversight. If anything, Dark Sun would tend to (I believe) favor monks as a campaign setting a bit more than other game worlds. Hidden monasteries scattered across remote regions of the Tablelands, either amongst ruins or more secluded locations seems to just "make sense" to me. Sure, there is orders like those in Nibenay that have moved into society, but I usually play off the idea that they are still out there. Some races (like the Villichi) seem to hint at the notion of monks being pretty common for their people.
That said, I think that the monks, as they exist in the PHB, are a bit overpowered for Dark Sun (especially as I run Dark Sun where I don't exactly hand out magic or psionic items to people very much -- psionic I'll do more than magic, but even then, they aren't commonly very high-powered). The PHB monk is built around the notion that other characters have some pretty sweet items at higher levels (I've had a game where the pinnacle of the group 's items was a single +1 mahaquital that the barbarian had in his possession, and that was at around level 15 or so).
Nytcrawlr came up with something he called the "Psi-Monk" -- which modifies the monks a little, first changing references to things from a "magical" or "ki" nature, to being psionic-like (like the soulknife). Second, he made expending a psionic focus as somewhat paramount towards using many of the abilities. Third, he adjusted the unarmed damage a bit lower, but with a psionic-based ability they could use to get the PHB-monk equivalent damage from unarmed attacks if needed. Me, I took those rules, and I simply call it the monk (rahter than psi-monk as Nyt calls it). Those are the monks I have in my Dark Sun campaigns. They aren't quite as powerful as your PHB monk, but that's fine for me, because it brings them more into balance with my campaigns. I'd love to retrofit the soulknife to be a bit weaker too (similar problems as the PHB monk has), but haven't had the opportunity.
Nytcrawlr came up with something he called the "Psi-Monk" -- which modifies the monks a little, first changing references to things from a "magical" or "ki" nature, to being psionic-like (like the soulknife). Second, he made expending a psionic focus as somewhat paramount towards using many of the abilities. Third, he adjusted the unarmed damage a bit lower, but with a psionic-based ability they could use to get the PHB-monk equivalent damage from unarmed attacks if needed.
/me slips Xlorep the $100 he owes him for advertising fees
:D
/me slips Xlorep the $100 he owes him for advertising fees
:D
LOL. Hey, your Psi-Monk, and modifications to the Half-Giants, I like, and use in my campaigns.
LOL. Hey, your Psi-Monk, and modifications to the Half-Giants, I like, and use in my campaigns.
I know, just giving you crap.
I'm actually glad someone likes them as much as I do.
:bounce:
These kind of "failures" are very rare and cannot really be explained by the masters of the way. One of the reasons they encourage the Monks to stay in the schools that they can learn more about them.
Kilamar
I see Monks as flunked out Psychometabolists. They had potential and learned the basics of the harmony of mind and body but for some reason were never able to really break through and become a Psionic. Some of them leave the schools in shame others stay to continue learning, mastering what they learned to a degree that they develop supernatural abilities.
These kind of "failures" are very rare and cannot really be explained by the masters of the way. One of the reasons they encourage the Monks to stay in the schools that they can learn more about them.
Kilamar
Flunked out?
Seems to me like they were t the tp of their class. :D
Fortunately, I was able to lean on the no monk rules in dark sun. This psi-monk intrigues me and I will have to review it. I am at work right now, so I will have to wait until this weekend.
There are already monks in my world, just non combative. All peace and crap like that. :D
Like Xlor, my campaign is magic deficient. I sprinkle in an occasional one use item but not much more. Psionic items are more common, I still try to give out as few as possible. A PH monk would be far too powerful.
Thanks for the tips!