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Monk Orders of Greyhawk

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Sep 28, 2003 19:58:45 Okay. I'm sure someone covered this one when 3rd edition first came out. But now that campaigns have been running for a while, maybe people have more insight on this.

The "new" monk class of the 3rd edition might have caused some people some issues for their Greyhawk campaign. Sorcerers apparently didn't given by the lack of responses on that thread.

Doesn't anyone have any comments on how they handled this? Did you use second edition monks? Fortunately Greyhawk has the Scarlet Brotherhood, and the accessory of the same name had 2nd edition monks in it.

The most important question is: what are the monk orders of Greyhawk?

The FR hardcover nicely covered all of these 3e issues, but unfortunately, for whatever reason, the LGG did not have any of them.

I have therefore created a few to fit into Greyhawk. Many are tied to a religious base (Heironeous, Hextor, Pelor, St Cuthbert) and others are non-religious. I don't feel the need to create masses of them, but it would be nice to have a few official ones.

Does anyone have examples of ones that they use?

Order of the Iron Fist
Monks who worship Zuoken and study the martial art of Da'Shon. This order started a long time ago and is considered to be one of the first true monkish orders. Initially the order only accepted those of Baklunish heritage, though this has recently been put aside by some monasterys though none of them accept non-humans.

Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Race: Mostly humans of a Baklunish background, no non-humans.
Hostile Orders: Monks of the Scarlet Brotherhood.
Friendly Orders: Other baklunish orders.
Monk Weapons Allowed: Initially staff and nunchukas, at senior levels they shun weapons.
Location of Monasteries: Ekbir, Tusmit, Zeif, Ket.
Associated PrC: Iron Fist of Zuoken
Multi-class Options: Cleric (Zuoken), Iron Fist of Zuoken PrC.

Order of the Hammerfist
This is one of very few demi-human monk orders and the only dwarven monk order. Worshipping Moradin, the dwarven all-father, they practice the way of the hammerfist. Monks are drilled and trained to use their fists like "hammers on an anvil", crushing evil foes and the enemies of the dwarves. These monks are used to fighting along side dwarven soldiers, though they are more often employed for special tasks or defending temples dedicated to Moradin.

Alignment: Lawful Good
Race: Dwarf only
Hostile Orders: All evil orders
Friendly Orders: none to speak of
Monk Weapons Allowed: Nunchukas, Light hammers
Location of Monasteries: Only found in large dwarven communites. Known "monasteries" in Ulek and the Iron Hills.
Associated PrC: Hammerfist Acolyte
Multi-class Options: Fighter, Hammerfist Acolyte PrC.

Got any examples of your own you would like to share?
#2
zombiegleemax
Sep 29, 2003 2:33:01 I can't give you any references unfortunately because my memory isn't that good, but I think somewhere in one of my Living Greyhawk Journals I remember reading about monk orders of the Flanaess. It wasn't too exhaustive, but it covered some of the big ones, like Hextor and Zuoken.
#3
Argon
Sep 29, 2003 6:38:25 Well, I try to keep to a middle eastern to asian feel on the monk orders. I really don't like Hextor or for that matter Heironious to have monkish orders. I also don't like the idea of non-human monkish orders. Also the monks of the Scarlet Brotherhood, seem to be more of a dark druidic group than a physical fighting force to me. I like to mix them with the red robed monks of the Spainish inquisitor's.
I do like some of the baklunish deities having monkish orders. I also like monkish orders of St. Cuthbert. Their are a few others but to be honest I really haven't begun to touch this issue.
#4
zombiegleemax
Sep 29, 2003 16:11:08
Originally posted by Argon
I really don't like Hextor or for that matter Heironious to have monkish orders. I also don't like the idea of non-human monkish orders. Also the monks of the Scarlet Brotherhood, seem to be more of a dark druidic group than a physical fighting force to me.

You can go ahead and think such things but it disagrees strongly with many official source materials. Not that your campaign has to be "official" or anything. I just wanted to point it out because Morphious did indicate he was looking for official info.
#5
zombiegleemax
Sep 29, 2003 16:31:48 Hey, fun thread. Ernest Mueller once posted about the monk orders he developed using 2e. The 411 may be on CF.

I stopped using monks when I started playing 2e. Previously, however, there were many o'monk in the campaigns in which I played (not DMed). In keeping with those experiences, I prefer for monk PCs to be of a relatively local monastery or one suitably distant so I can be vague...

Playing in the Wild Coast presently, I could imagine there being monks supporting the priesthood of Wee Jas (see Nellisir's OJ article). The Wild Coast would be a perfect place for a general order of monks too -- probably folks who follow Zuoken and propitiate Xan Yae.

I definitely keep monks in the Scarlet Brotherhood. I think you'd lose something distinctive if ya did away with the top of the three tiers...

Regarding the Oeridian war gods, I've noted several times (in various fora) that OA could be well used to model characters of the Celestial Houses / the Great Kingdom of Aerdy.

In particular, samurai could be used to represent the knightly followers of Heironeous, and sohei could well represent certain of the devotees of Hextor. Maybe it'd be best to think of these characters as of small orders? Maybe samurai would be useful for the non-paladins of the Order of the Holy Shielding?

Thinking "oriental" might be fairly useful for folks wishing to imagine the complexity and wealth of the (former) Great Kingdom...
#6
zombiegleemax
Sep 30, 2003 4:13:21 To clarify: I would sure like to know if any official information is out there - I can't recall anything in LGJ but I'll double check. I'm happy to hear about any monk orders that anyone has made up for their Greyhawk campaign. I too like the Baklunish feeling monk orders, but IMC they have spread fairly widely including to demi-humans.

Here is brief description of some that I am considering IMC:

Order of the Hammerfist: The only dwarven one, as described above.

Order of the Iron Fist: Baklunish, based on worship of Zuoken.

Order of the Radiant Sun: Monks of Pelor

Order of the Dancing Dragon: non-religious, dragon style

Order of the North Wind: semi-religious, with Bahamut as a figure of semi-worship

Order of the Exalted Guardians: religious based on Al'Akbar, use falchions

Order of the Oaken Staff: semi-religious revering St Cuthbert

Order of the Scarlet Sign: scarlet brotherhood

I could see a need only for a few, but these ones are ideas I am toying with.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Sep 28, 2003 19:58:45	Okay. I'm sure someone covered this one when 3rd edition first came out. But now that campaigns have been running for a while, maybe people have more insight on this. The "new" monk class of the 3rd edition might have caused some people some issues for their Greyhawk campaign. Sorcerers apparently didn't given by the lack of responses on that thread. Doesn't anyone have any comments on how they handled this? Did you use second edition monks? Fortunately Greyhawk has the Scarlet Brotherhood, and the accessory of the same name had 2nd edition monks in it. The most important question is: what are the monk orders of Greyhawk? The FR hardcover nicely covered all of these 3e issues, but unfortunately, for whatever reason, the LGG did not have any of them. I have therefore created a few to fit into Greyhawk. Many are tied to a religious base (Heironeous, Hextor, Pelor, St Cuthbert) and others are non-religious. I don't feel the need to create masses of them, but it would be nice to have a few official ones. Does anyone have examples of ones that they use? Order of the Iron Fist Monks who worship Zuoken and study the martial art of Da'Shon. This order started a long time ago and is considered to be one of the first true monkish orders. Initially the order only accepted those of Baklunish heritage, though this has recently been put aside by some monasterys though none of them accept non-humans. Alignment: Lawful Neutral Race: Mostly humans of a Baklunish background, no non-humans. Hostile Orders: Monks of the Scarlet Brotherhood. Friendly Orders: Other baklunish orders. Monk Weapons Allowed: Initially staff and nunchukas, at senior levels they shun weapons. Location of Monasteries: Ekbir, Tusmit, Zeif, Ket. Associated PrC: Iron Fist of Zuoken Multi-class Options: Cleric (Zuoken), Iron Fist of Zuoken PrC. Order of the Hammerfist This is one of very few demi-human monk orders and the only dwarven monk order. Worshipping Moradin, the dwarven all-father, they practice the way of the hammerfist. Monks are drilled and trained to use their fists like "hammers on an anvil", crushing evil foes and the enemies of the dwarves. These monks are used to fighting along side dwarven soldiers, though they are more often employed for special tasks or defending temples dedicated to Moradin. Alignment: Lawful Good Race: Dwarf only Hostile Orders: All evil orders Friendly Orders: none to speak of Monk Weapons Allowed: Nunchukas, Light hammers Location of Monasteries: Only found in large dwarven communites. Known "monasteries" in Ulek and the Iron Hills. Associated PrC: Hammerfist Acolyte Multi-class Options: Fighter, Hammerfist Acolyte PrC. Got any examples of your own you would like to share?
#2 zombiegleemax Sep 29, 2003 2:33:01	I can't give you any references unfortunately because my memory isn't that good, but I think somewhere in one of my Living Greyhawk Journals I remember reading about monk orders of the Flanaess. It wasn't too exhaustive, but it covered some of the big ones, like Hextor and Zuoken.
#3 Argon Sep 29, 2003 6:38:25	Well, I try to keep to a middle eastern to asian feel on the monk orders. I really don't like Hextor or for that matter Heironious to have monkish orders. I also don't like the idea of non-human monkish orders. Also the monks of the Scarlet Brotherhood, seem to be more of a dark druidic group than a physical fighting force to me. I like to mix them with the red robed monks of the Spainish inquisitor's. I do like some of the baklunish deities having monkish orders. I also like monkish orders of St. Cuthbert. Their are a few others but to be honest I really haven't begun to touch this issue.
#4 zombiegleemax Sep 29, 2003 16:11:08	Originally posted by Argon I really don't like Hextor or for that matter Heironious to have monkish orders. I also don't like the idea of non-human monkish orders. Also the monks of the Scarlet Brotherhood, seem to be more of a dark druidic group than a physical fighting force to me. You can go ahead and think such things but it disagrees strongly with many official source materials. Not that your campaign has to be "official" or anything. I just wanted to point it out because Morphious did indicate he was looking for official info.
#5 zombiegleemax Sep 29, 2003 16:31:48	Hey, fun thread. Ernest Mueller once posted about the monk orders he developed using 2e. The 411 may be on CF. I stopped using monks when I started playing 2e. Previously, however, there were many o'monk in the campaigns in which I played (not DMed). In keeping with those experiences, I prefer for monk PCs to be of a relatively local monastery or one suitably distant so I can be vague... Playing in the Wild Coast presently, I could imagine there being monks supporting the priesthood of Wee Jas (see Nellisir's OJ article). The Wild Coast would be a perfect place for a general order of monks too -- probably folks who follow Zuoken and propitiate Xan Yae. I definitely keep monks in the Scarlet Brotherhood. I think you'd lose something distinctive if ya did away with the top of the three tiers... Regarding the Oeridian war gods, I've noted several times (in various fora) that OA could be well used to model characters of the Celestial Houses / the Great Kingdom of Aerdy. In particular, samurai could be used to represent the knightly followers of Heironeous, and sohei could well represent certain of the devotees of Hextor. Maybe it'd be best to think of these characters as of small orders? Maybe samurai would be useful for the non-paladins of the Order of the Holy Shielding? Thinking "oriental" might be fairly useful for folks wishing to imagine the complexity and wealth of the (former) Great Kingdom...
#6 zombiegleemax Sep 30, 2003 4:13:21	To clarify: I would sure like to know if any official information is out there - I can't recall anything in LGJ but I'll double check. I'm happy to hear about any monk orders that anyone has made up for their Greyhawk campaign. I too like the Baklunish feeling monk orders, but IMC they have spread fairly widely including to demi-humans. Here is brief description of some that I am considering IMC: Order of the Hammerfist: The only dwarven one, as described above. Order of the Iron Fist: Baklunish, based on worship of Zuoken. Order of the Radiant Sun: Monks of Pelor Order of the Dancing Dragon: non-religious, dragon style Order of the North Wind: semi-religious, with Bahamut as a figure of semi-worship Order of the Exalted Guardians: religious based on Al'Akbar, use falchions Order of the Oaken Staff: semi-religious revering St Cuthbert Order of the Scarlet Sign: scarlet brotherhood I could see a need only for a few, but these ones are ideas I am toying with.