Human Monk [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Human Monk [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
shadowflamedancer
08-01-04, 04:45 PM As a DM, I am planning to introduce a DMPC into the campaign soon. The party is still low level (2-3), and I wanted to add a little more firepower since I usually tend to run High Fatality adventures. So far the party has a halfling rogue, an elven ranger, and a human barbarian. It is a slightly low magic world, so I could play a spellcaster, but I don't want to have to select spells, and my players woulc just look at me and ask me to fix somthing wih my magic. I was planning for a Female Human Monk1/Fighter2 (with two-weapon fighting and weilding a dire flail). However I am not good at background. So far I have:

AL: LN with LG tendencies
Born at and raised in a monestary in the mountains, so that is all she has ever known.
Has a hard/difficult past.
Has alot of pity/mercy and empathy for people who are oppressed.
Is afraid of heights.

I am going to have the fear of heights come from a near fatal accident in the mountains, and empathy for oppressed people come from the fact that her sensei(sp?) at the monestary when she was young was a harsh leader(LE), but he has since passed away and been replaced with a better man(LN). I need help with some traumas and difficulties in her past while at the monestary. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.
SmiloDan
08-01-04, 05:03 PM I made a female NPC monk once with this build:
1. Dodge
1. Mobility
1. Stunning Fist
2. Combat Reflexes
3. Exotic Weapon--spiked cheese, I mean chain.
6. Spring Attack
6. Improved Trip

She was fun. Very mobile, and lots of AoO. The PCs hated her.

But you're looking for background stuff. She is from the River Dragon Monastery, which was destroyed by the Guild of the Damned. She now seeks worthy companions to assist her in her vengeance on that den of skullduggery or whatever.

She wears red silk pants and shirt, with long black hair and green eyes. Of course, max out Tumble. But maybe make her very esoteric, with lots of Knowledges? If she is smart enough, maybe take her down the Combat Expertise-Whirlwind Attack tree.
The_Yellow_Dart_Swinger
08-01-04, 05:16 PM I would make a cleric. Remember that you DON'T want to outshine the PC's. Remember villians are going to be your PC's to an extent where you make a really in depth background. DMPC's are their to act as guides and to fill in a slot the players don't have. A cleric is nice since then you can heal the party when they get into those tough fights. Plus being a more or less non-combatant, you don't steal the PC's thunder by taking their kill.
shadowflamedancer
08-01-04, 05:26 PM I like the idea of a cleric, but my PCs are still quite novice(me too i guess) and son't quite grasp the metagaming, strategy, or the fact that this isn't a video game. I've tried having clerics and druids in other campaign, and they are treating like healing-dispensers. I am willing to try a cleric, (as what I have for background can be easily adapted)but do you have any suggestions for helping the PCs to respect her rather than "heal me. thanks, bye."? thanks
SmiloDan
08-01-04, 05:30 PM Turn undead, use Diplomacy, Knowledge, self buff with Divine Favor, Magic Weapon, Bless, Shield of Faith, Enlarge (Str Domain), etc. etc.
shadowflamedancer
08-01-04, 05:36 PM alright, I'll give it a shot. So are we thinking cleric of kord, St. cuthbert, heironies(sp). . . any idea for that?
SmiloDan
08-02-04, 12:28 PM I would go with a cleric of Pelor. They have some great domains: Healing (come on, you're there to heal!), Sun (for blasting undead and doing some damage with those domain spells), or Strength (Enlarge Person is VERY impressive--a 12 foot tall dude in heavy armor wielding a mace that does 2d6+ points of damage? Yeah. Impressive. Especially since no one else in the party is a spellcaster.)
If you don't want to dominate, buff your allies. That's a great role for an NPC cleric.
Passionateapathy
08-09-04, 02:49 PM I'd say go for Druid! You could play the whole 'wise helper' thing (you could even say that 'the animals warned you' etc...

Also, for 'newbies' cleric = healing... it might be too 'strong' a habit to break easily. With the druid, they still CAN do healing but it isn't their specialty. Also, the party has a ranger and a barbarian so it seems thematic to go with a druid. Finally, it will 'ease' the ranger will eventually start casting druid spells... and Voila instant familiarity.

On the other hand... if you do decide to go cleric you could be a 'selfish' cleric and teach them the 'hard' way that clerics aren't healing batteries but simply NOT being one. This path, while a potentially potent learning tool, could cause tempers to flair...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
shadowflamedancer 08-01-04, 04:45 PM	As a DM, I am planning to introduce a DMPC into the campaign soon. The party is still low level (2-3), and I wanted to add a little more firepower since I usually tend to run High Fatality adventures. So far the party has a halfling rogue, an elven ranger, and a human barbarian. It is a slightly low magic world, so I could play a spellcaster, but I don't want to have to select spells, and my players woulc just look at me and ask me to fix somthing wih my magic. I was planning for a Female Human Monk1/Fighter2 (with two-weapon fighting and weilding a dire flail). However I am not good at background. So far I have: AL: LN with LG tendencies Born at and raised in a monestary in the mountains, so that is all she has ever known. Has a hard/difficult past. Has alot of pity/mercy and empathy for people who are oppressed. Is afraid of heights. I am going to have the fear of heights come from a near fatal accident in the mountains, and empathy for oppressed people come from the fact that her sensei(sp?) at the monestary when she was young was a harsh leader(LE), but he has since passed away and been replaced with a better man(LN). I need help with some traumas and difficulties in her past while at the monestary. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.
SmiloDan 08-01-04, 05:03 PM	I made a female NPC monk once with this build: 1. Dodge 1. Mobility 1. Stunning Fist 2. Combat Reflexes 3. Exotic Weapon--spiked cheese, I mean chain. 6. Spring Attack 6. Improved Trip She was fun. Very mobile, and lots of AoO. The PCs hated her. But you're looking for background stuff. She is from the River Dragon Monastery, which was destroyed by the Guild of the Damned. She now seeks worthy companions to assist her in her vengeance on that den of skullduggery or whatever. She wears red silk pants and shirt, with long black hair and green eyes. Of course, max out Tumble. But maybe make her very esoteric, with lots of Knowledges? If she is smart enough, maybe take her down the Combat Expertise-Whirlwind Attack tree.
The_Yellow_Dart_Swinger 08-01-04, 05:16 PM	I would make a cleric. Remember that you DON'T want to outshine the PC's. Remember villians are going to be your PC's to an extent where you make a really in depth background. DMPC's are their to act as guides and to fill in a slot the players don't have. A cleric is nice since then you can heal the party when they get into those tough fights. Plus being a more or less non-combatant, you don't steal the PC's thunder by taking their kill.
shadowflamedancer 08-01-04, 05:26 PM	I like the idea of a cleric, but my PCs are still quite novice(me too i guess) and son't quite grasp the metagaming, strategy, or the fact that this isn't a video game. I've tried having clerics and druids in other campaign, and they are treating like healing-dispensers. I am willing to try a cleric, (as what I have for background can be easily adapted)but do you have any suggestions for helping the PCs to respect her rather than "heal me. thanks, bye."? thanks
SmiloDan 08-01-04, 05:30 PM	Turn undead, use Diplomacy, Knowledge, self buff with Divine Favor, Magic Weapon, Bless, Shield of Faith, Enlarge (Str Domain), etc. etc.
shadowflamedancer 08-01-04, 05:36 PM	alright, I'll give it a shot. So are we thinking cleric of kord, St. cuthbert, heironies(sp). . . any idea for that?
SmiloDan 08-02-04, 12:28 PM	I would go with a cleric of Pelor. They have some great domains: Healing (come on, you're there to heal!), Sun (for blasting undead and doing some damage with those domain spells), or Strength (Enlarge Person is VERY impressive--a 12 foot tall dude in heavy armor wielding a mace that does 2d6+ points of damage? Yeah. Impressive. Especially since no one else in the party is a spellcaster.) If you don't want to dominate, buff your allies. That's a great role for an NPC cleric.
Passionateapathy 08-09-04, 02:49 PM	I'd say go for Druid! You could play the whole 'wise helper' thing (you could even say that 'the animals warned you' etc... Also, for 'newbies' cleric = healing... it might be too 'strong' a habit to break easily. With the druid, they still CAN do healing but it isn't their specialty. Also, the party has a ranger and a barbarian so it seems thematic to go with a druid. Finally, it will 'ease' the ranger will eventually start casting druid spells... and Voila instant familiarity. On the other hand... if you do decide to go cleric you could be a 'selfish' cleric and teach them the 'hard' way that clerics aren't healing batteries but simply NOT being one. This path, while a potentially potent learning tool, could cause tempers to flair...