altering the monk class in DandD 3rd edit. [Archive] - Wizards Community

altering the monk class in DandD 3rd edit. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
elementalawe
04-14-05, 08:01 PM For any campaign setting, as presented in the DandD 3rd edit. PHB or 3.5, can the monk be changed by saying there can be a true-neutral aligned PC monk and that a PC monk can--at will--choose to not use special monk abilites such as tumbling and fast movement while walking or running?
Thorak
04-14-05, 08:47 PM You can always choose not to use a class feature. Class penalties are another thing, but they're relatively few and far between, things like the Paladin's code of honour.

As for alignment; not to my knowledge. Being a monk requires that you be dedicated enough to rigorous study and such that you have to be Lawful.
Treetrip Danglefoot
04-14-05, 09:16 PM Although being lawful does not mean you arealways subserviant to the law, or to authority figures.

You could have a separate set of authority figures you obey, or your own lawful moral code, that you never (rarely) deviate from.

The sufi who seeks knowledge through self denial is lawful because she abides her own code without error of always denying herself the "things of the body".

Or the secret emissary of Nationia who is undercover in Countryio, who willfully performs unlawful acts in Countryio in direct obedience to the orders of Nationia, is still lawful.

So don't think lawful means you have to be a cop, or a goody two shoes (thats what the good alignment is for.)
Lawrence
04-14-05, 10:39 PM being lawful and breaking the law are two different things.

a lawful person will, if they can, obey the law at all times, unless there's a significant reason not to. Don't confuse this with a neutral character, who may obey the laws, but can change his mind without a 'good reason'.

If a tyrant of a lord put about laws abusing the townspeople, a lawful character is going to likely not follow suit with the lord because the laws themselves aren't lawful - they're exploitation. A lawful evil monk might ignore the problem or even go along with it if the lord excludes the monk and his order, but even the lawful evil monk will tell you (if after a bit of prodding) that it is unlawful.

Now, if the law is simply strange, and abusive only in that it can't be helped (Drow laws come to mind), then it's not so much abusive is it is probably racial or cultural. A lawful monk of any alignment would probably oblige to not go against the law (but a lawful good monk or other character may very well 'break' the said law under the concept of doing good in the end).

It's a skewed, cruel world, but that's the apple and the worm.

*drops in 2 coppers too*
Willie the Duck
04-14-05, 10:55 PM For any campaign setting, as presented in the DandD 3rd edit. PHB or 3.5, can the monk be changed by saying there can be a true-neutral aligned PC monk and that a PC monk can--at will--choose to not use special monk abilites such as tumbling and fast movement while walking or running?

Well, by core D&D, no. Forgotten realms gets loose with alignments at times, so you might find something there. As far as houseruling, the basic flavor text of the monk class does lean pretty lawful, although you could argue it is more "not chaotic" than "lawful". If you wanted a more chaotic mystic martial artist class, there isn't much reason not to use the same basic statistics and make flavor text to match it.
Psyker Nel'Restynn
04-15-05, 02:11 AM the monk presented in the PHB is based after Chinese myth, more specifically the 12 Immortal's/shaolin style. Just do a little research and you'll see that throughout the entire world there's myth's and legend's about "monks" -- a term which I use lightly -- who fit your description perfectly; ie the balance of yin-yang.
Nephlite
04-15-05, 07:38 AM the monk presented in the PHB is based after Chinese myth, more specifically the 12 Immortal's/shaolin style. Just do a little research and you'll see that throughout the entire world there's myth's and legend's about "monks" -- a term which I use lightly -- who fit your description perfectly; ie the balance of yin-yang.

Actually look into Buddhism. Buddha undere the Bodhi trees gained many powers associated with D&D monk. Once you reach Nirvana you gain these powers. Monks are like Buddha but already know the path they must seek so they get the slower, but easier.
Buddha had a great many powers: Levitation, telepathy, superhearinbg, true seeing, psychic vision allowing him to survey the destinies of all beings according to their karma, make a earth quake by touvhing ground, make a fglood by doing a waving action with his fingers, and more.

All these are similar to the Monk in D&D.
elementalawe
04-17-05, 03:08 PM Thanks for the responses; the altered monk that I had in mind is the OldOrder monk as presented in the DandD 3rd edit. ForgottenRealms campaign book. It seems there is a monastic order in Faerun that allows the alignment of TN. That is what it has printed for the OldOrder, unless it is a misprint mistake. Can somebody look at it to see that I'm correct by saying that a PC monk of the Old Order can be true-neutral because that is what is printed in the monk orders sidebar in the PC classes chapter of the DandD 3rd edit. ForgottenRealms campaign book?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
elementalawe 04-14-05, 08:01 PM	For any campaign setting, as presented in the DandD 3rd edit. PHB or 3.5, can the monk be changed by saying there can be a true-neutral aligned PC monk and that a PC monk can--at will--choose to not use special monk abilites such as tumbling and fast movement while walking or running?
Thorak 04-14-05, 08:47 PM	You can always choose not to use a class feature. Class penalties are another thing, but they're relatively few and far between, things like the Paladin's code of honour. As for alignment; not to my knowledge. Being a monk requires that you be dedicated enough to rigorous study and such that you have to be Lawful.
Treetrip Danglefoot 04-14-05, 09:16 PM	Although being lawful does not mean you arealways subserviant to the law, or to authority figures. You could have a separate set of authority figures you obey, or your own lawful moral code, that you never (rarely) deviate from. The sufi who seeks knowledge through self denial is lawful because she abides her own code without error of always denying herself the "things of the body". Or the secret emissary of Nationia who is undercover in Countryio, who willfully performs unlawful acts in Countryio in direct obedience to the orders of Nationia, is still lawful. So don't think lawful means you have to be a cop, or a goody two shoes (thats what the good alignment is for.)
Lawrence 04-14-05, 10:39 PM	being lawful and breaking the law are two different things. a lawful person will, if they can, obey the law at all times, unless there's a significant reason not to. Don't confuse this with a neutral character, who may obey the laws, but can change his mind without a 'good reason'. If a tyrant of a lord put about laws abusing the townspeople, a lawful character is going to likely not follow suit with the lord because the laws themselves aren't lawful - they're exploitation. A lawful evil monk might ignore the problem or even go along with it if the lord excludes the monk and his order, but even the lawful evil monk will tell you (if after a bit of prodding) that it is unlawful. Now, if the law is simply strange, and abusive only in that it can't be helped (Drow laws come to mind), then it's not so much abusive is it is probably racial or cultural. A lawful monk of any alignment would probably oblige to not go against the law (but a lawful good monk or other character may very well 'break' the said law under the concept of doing good in the end). It's a skewed, cruel world, but that's the apple and the worm. drops in 2 coppers too
Willie the Duck 04-14-05, 10:55 PM	For any campaign setting, as presented in the DandD 3rd edit. PHB or 3.5, can the monk be changed by saying there can be a true-neutral aligned PC monk and that a PC monk can--at will--choose to not use special monk abilites such as tumbling and fast movement while walking or running? Well, by core D&D, no. Forgotten realms gets loose with alignments at times, so you might find something there. As far as houseruling, the basic flavor text of the monk class does lean pretty lawful, although you could argue it is more "not chaotic" than "lawful". If you wanted a more chaotic mystic martial artist class, there isn't much reason not to use the same basic statistics and make flavor text to match it.
Psyker Nel'Restynn 04-15-05, 02:11 AM	the monk presented in the PHB is based after Chinese myth, more specifically the 12 Immortal's/shaolin style. Just do a little research and you'll see that throughout the entire world there's myth's and legend's about "monks" -- a term which I use lightly -- who fit your description perfectly; ie the balance of yin-yang.
Nephlite 04-15-05, 07:38 AM	the monk presented in the PHB is based after Chinese myth, more specifically the 12 Immortal's/shaolin style. Just do a little research and you'll see that throughout the entire world there's myth's and legend's about "monks" -- a term which I use lightly -- who fit your description perfectly; ie the balance of yin-yang. Actually look into Buddhism. Buddha undere the Bodhi trees gained many powers associated with D&D monk. Once you reach Nirvana you gain these powers. Monks are like Buddha but already know the path they must seek so they get the slower, but easier. Buddha had a great many powers: Levitation, telepathy, superhearinbg, true seeing, psychic vision allowing him to survey the destinies of all beings according to their karma, make a earth quake by touvhing ground, make a fglood by doing a waving action with his fingers, and more. All these are similar to the Monk in D&D.
elementalawe 04-17-05, 03:08 PM	Thanks for the responses; the altered monk that I had in mind is the OldOrder monk as presented in the DandD 3rd edit. ForgottenRealms campaign book. It seems there is a monastic order in Faerun that allows the alignment of TN. That is what it has printed for the OldOrder, unless it is a misprint mistake. Can somebody look at it to see that I'm correct by saying that a PC monk of the Old Order can be true-neutral because that is what is printed in the monk orders sidebar in the PC classes chapter of the DandD 3rd edit. ForgottenRealms campaign book?