chaotic monks [Archive] - Wizards Community

chaotic monks [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
jam1o1
09-11-07, 08:25 PM I had this crazy Idea that maby a monk could be chaotic, or even neutral.
My train of thought on the matter, particularly for chaotics is that passion could do what discipline can. This would all be at the DM's discretion but I'd like a few comments from players too.
Lord Karsus
09-13-07, 04:38 PM -Basically, it's Dragon Ball Z.
MarkusTay63
09-13-07, 05:01 PM No, Naruto. ;)

I think that if you wnated to use that in your own game, I would make it something that just happens over time (older and wiser).

So you can become a Monk with any alignment, but with each level (or two) you become one step closer to neutral.

However, the 'Drunken master' PrC lends itself to a chaotic style of martial Arts, so anything is possible.
Lord Karsus
09-13-07, 05:10 PM No, Naruto. ;)

-They are ninjas, though, aren't they? In Dragon Ball Z, a lot of the characters are already monks.
The_Shaman
09-13-07, 05:49 PM They're drunken masters. Seriously, I never liked the monk alignment restriction that much.
Mulan Rogue
09-15-07, 06:00 AM Of course monks can be chaotic. :) The Monk class 'always lawful' alignment thing does not make any sense -its stupid. Monks should be able to be any alignment and thats how it is in the games I DM.

Ever heard of Bruce Lee?

Empty your mind. Be formless shapeless like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can either flow, or it can crash! Be like water, my friend.

Using no way as way. - Don't have preconceived notions about anything. This statement is embedded in the Jeet Kune Do logo. It was also used by Bruce Lee often to describe JKD.

Having no limitation as limitation. - Don't be confined by anything, achieve true freedom. This statement is embedded in the Jeet Kune Do logo.

From form to formless and from finite to infinite. - Don't be confined by limitations and forms. By not having specific form all forms can be included.

And if you need rules theres a Chaos monk base class in Dragon magazine and a 'Battle Dancer' class in the Dragon compendium. ;)
jam1o1
09-16-07, 07:51 PM Thanks for all this feedback
It was just some wild idea I thought would get some heads rolling:D
Drew1369r
09-17-07, 02:38 AM Is there a place to read these dragon magazines? There is alot of info in them that I want to read... but being back issues its gonna make it hard :p
The_Wrath_of_Talos
09-19-07, 03:17 PM The reason the monk is lawful is to balance the classes. We cant have a barbarian/monk it would be to powerful. Just think of a barbarian/monk/frenzy berserker, everything would die.
FlikViktor
09-19-07, 05:01 PM There were variant monks among other classes released in a Dragon Magizine, you can find the variants at Crystal Keep if your really interested in it.
jam1o1
09-20-07, 04:34 PM The reason the monk is lawful is to balance the classes. We cant have a barbarian/monk it would be to powerful. Just think of a barbarian/monk/frenzy berserker, everything would die.

Ya, I can see where you are coming from but couldn't they impose a class restriction like a paladin:confused:
williswrath
09-20-07, 04:57 PM I always thought the Lawful requirement was to reflect the self discipline needed to hone one's body and mind to develop the skills of the class. A chaotic character would just not have the discipline needed to achieve inner harmony.
The_Shaman
09-21-07, 07:41 AM Actually, chaotic characters have no problem with self-discipline; the chaotic-lawful component is imo more related to social interactions. Otherwise, mages, clerics, psionic characters and probably half of the other classes would be non-chaotic as well. Psychic warriors and warblades, both of which probably train no less extensively than monks for their abilities, in fact supposedly tend towards chaotic alignments.
ShadezofDis
09-21-07, 11:44 AM It's the problem you run into when you view the alignment axis as black and white rather than very fluid.

A LG Paladin in Zhentil Keep should have no trouble defying the authorities, heck, that same Paladin shouldn't have any trouble fighting the slave trade in Calimshan, even though it's a lawful trade.

I've been playing around with the idea of running multiple alignments for characters, ones based on the interaction with various races (LG towards humans, LN towards elves, NG towards halflings, LE towards orcs, ect ect), between "outside laws" and "personal code", ect

Haven't really developed it too far yet, but I may just get there. ;)
Dxzauvrinn
09-21-07, 10:52 PM I forget what issue of Dragon Magazine it was, but one in the past year had chaos monks. They're pretty cool. I'll post which magazine it is next week.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
jam1o1 09-11-07, 08:25 PM	I had this crazy Idea that maby a monk could be chaotic, or even neutral. My train of thought on the matter, particularly for chaotics is that passion could do what discipline can. This would all be at the DM's discretion but I'd like a few comments from players too.
Lord Karsus 09-13-07, 04:38 PM	-Basically, it's Dragon Ball Z.
MarkusTay63 09-13-07, 05:01 PM	No, Naruto. ;) I think that if you wnated to use that in your own game, I would make it something that just happens over time (older and wiser). So you can become a Monk with any alignment, but with each level (or two) you become one step closer to neutral. However, the 'Drunken master' PrC lends itself to a chaotic style of martial Arts, so anything is possible.
Lord Karsus 09-13-07, 05:10 PM	No, Naruto. ;) -They are ninjas, though, aren't they? In Dragon Ball Z, a lot of the characters are already monks.
The_Shaman 09-13-07, 05:49 PM	They're drunken masters. Seriously, I never liked the monk alignment restriction that much.
Mulan Rogue 09-15-07, 06:00 AM	Of course monks can be chaotic. :) The Monk class 'always lawful' alignment thing does not make any sense -its stupid. Monks should be able to be any alignment and thats how it is in the games I DM. Ever heard of Bruce Lee? Empty your mind. Be formless shapeless like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can either flow, or it can crash! Be like water, my friend. Using no way as way. - Don't have preconceived notions about anything. This statement is embedded in the Jeet Kune Do logo. It was also used by Bruce Lee often to describe JKD. Having no limitation as limitation. - Don't be confined by anything, achieve true freedom. This statement is embedded in the Jeet Kune Do logo. From form to formless and from finite to infinite. - Don't be confined by limitations and forms. By not having specific form all forms can be included. And if you need rules theres a Chaos monk base class in Dragon magazine and a 'Battle Dancer' class in the Dragon compendium. ;)
jam1o1 09-16-07, 07:51 PM	Thanks for all this feedback It was just some wild idea I thought would get some heads rolling:D
Drew1369r 09-17-07, 02:38 AM	Is there a place to read these dragon magazines? There is alot of info in them that I want to read... but being back issues its gonna make it hard :p
The_Wrath_of_Talos 09-19-07, 03:17 PM	The reason the monk is lawful is to balance the classes. We cant have a barbarian/monk it would be to powerful. Just think of a barbarian/monk/frenzy berserker, everything would die.
FlikViktor 09-19-07, 05:01 PM	There were variant monks among other classes released in a Dragon Magizine, you can find the variants at Crystal Keep if your really interested in it.
jam1o1 09-20-07, 04:34 PM	The reason the monk is lawful is to balance the classes. We cant have a barbarian/monk it would be to powerful. Just think of a barbarian/monk/frenzy berserker, everything would die. Ya, I can see where you are coming from but couldn't they impose a class restriction like a paladin:confused:
williswrath 09-20-07, 04:57 PM	I always thought the Lawful requirement was to reflect the self discipline needed to hone one's body and mind to develop the skills of the class. A chaotic character would just not have the discipline needed to achieve inner harmony.
The_Shaman 09-21-07, 07:41 AM	Actually, chaotic characters have no problem with self-discipline; the chaotic-lawful component is imo more related to social interactions. Otherwise, mages, clerics, psionic characters and probably half of the other classes would be non-chaotic as well. Psychic warriors and warblades, both of which probably train no less extensively than monks for their abilities, in fact supposedly tend towards chaotic alignments.
ShadezofDis 09-21-07, 11:44 AM	It's the problem you run into when you view the alignment axis as black and white rather than very fluid. A LG Paladin in Zhentil Keep should have no trouble defying the authorities, heck, that same Paladin shouldn't have any trouble fighting the slave trade in Calimshan, even though it's a lawful trade. I've been playing around with the idea of running multiple alignments for characters, ones based on the interaction with various races (LG towards humans, LN towards elves, NG towards halflings, LE towards orcs, ect ect), between "outside laws" and "personal code", ect Haven't really developed it too far yet, but I may just get there. ;)
Dxzauvrinn 09-21-07, 10:52 PM	I forget what issue of Dragon Magazine it was, but one in the past year had chaos monks. They're pretty cool. I'll post which magazine it is next week.