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

FR Monk [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
MetalViper03
10-11-07, 09:30 PM I am used to playing as a Sorcerer, but have had no luck in the last campaign in keeping them alive. So I decided to make a monk. But I am not familiar with the monk class and unless I am completly blind, there is not much in the base books about Monks and their orders for the Forgotten Realms setting. Are there any ideas or places where I might be able to find some information to help with my backstory.

Also, I am starting him at 10th level. (In the last 3 months with a new DM I have done through a Drow Sorcerer and a Human Sorcerer. See why I decided not to go magic.)

Anyways, any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Old Sage
10-11-07, 09:41 PM You may find this listing of Monk Orders useful:- http://candlekeep.com/library/articles/monks.htm

Tom Costa provided a variant monk, called the Varde Elgg, in his unofficial PDF material for PrCs in the Realms:- http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/prestige_classes.html

The previews for the City of Splendors tome also provided details on an Amaunator-based monastic order. Calling themselves Sun Soul Monks, they're detailed here - http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x...rigin=&origin=

See the web enhancement for Faiths & Pantheons also, for brief listings of deity-based monkish orders:- http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20020504a

The 2e accessories - Lands of Intrigue and Empires of the Shining Sea - also cover several monastic orders, including one based on Ilmater.

See the FRCS as well. Note however that these monastic orders were made up for the FRCS to insert 3e monks into the Realms. Almost certainly, unlike almost every other aspect of the Realms, there's little or no extant unpublished lore.
MattBlacke
10-11-07, 09:42 PM If you have access to the book Champions of Ruin, there's a feat and organization that will make for a unique monk. THe feat is called Carmendine Monk. It changes the ability stat you use for your AC and your Stunning Fist powers from Wisdom to Intelligence, and gives a couple of other sweet bonuses.

The organization is a group of monks that worship Deneir. Hope that helps. :)
Old Sage
10-11-07, 09:44 PM The Broken Ones receive a brief nod in the F&P web enhancement -- but little true details are revealed beyond their mention as a monk order devoted to Ilmater.

The Dark Moon monks receive further treatment in Lords of Darkness.

Tom Reid said he expanded on those initial 'Hin Fist' details that were included in the 3e FRCS, for Shining South.

For the Monks of the Long Death... see Lords of Darkness.

Unless I've overlooked a new reference, there is almost nothing in print about the Old Order, other than the FRCS and the F&P WE.
Lord Karsus
10-12-07, 12:28 AM The Dark Moon monks receive further treatment in Lords of Darkness.

-Some further lore is explained in the novel Black Bouquet.
The_Shaman
10-12-07, 11:09 AM If you have access to the book Champions of Ruin, there's a feat and organization that will make for a unique monk. THe feat is called Carmendine Monk. It changes the ability stat you use for your AC and your Stunning Fist powers from Wisdom to Intelligence, and gives a couple of other sweet bonuses.

The organization is a group of monks that worship Deneir. Hope that helps. :)

It's in Champions of Valor, actually.
Melblen_Cairn
10-12-07, 11:33 PM I would also suggest taking a look through the Oriental Adventures. While it doesn't have much to do with the realms lore for your back story there is a section on tailoring your feat selections into a style of martial arts. This could add a level of immersion as well within whatever order you put your monk into.
The_Shaman
10-13-07, 02:25 PM That's certainly possible, and not even that hard - many of the cities along the Golden Way (detailed further in Unapproachable East) have large groups of refugees or simply migrants coming from the Kara-Tur lands, the Realmsian "Orient." Practically anything found in the OA book, perhaps except for particular races and maybe the shamans, can be placed there. I believe the latest Class Chronicles article deals with exactly this - placing the OA core classes (and thus easily PrCs) in the Realms.

And speaking of the East, the Shou community or its traveling members are a good source of information on imo one of the best monk PrCs in the Realms - the Shou Disciple. If you ever wanted more fight and less meditation out of your monk, it's your thing
MetalViper03
10-15-07, 09:07 PM I have created a much more melee oriented monk. He is also meant to be able to scout and get in and out of a fight.

The character has his origins in the Dalelands. Coming form a big family who did not understand him he decided to leave and search for his own answers.

It is here that I have been having trouble.

Thanks to all the people who have responded. It will keep me busy for a while that is for sure.

He is a LN monk. He is not in it for money (thus the idea of a monk and not a fighter) but to prove to himself his worth. I was thinking that I could go somewhere with the whole idea of a religious monk and in fighting that is sort of his "meditation". Like I said he is from the Dalelands and did not have a lot of money. So he would not have been able to get too far to find himself.

Does anyone know of any traveling monks or orders that are near the Dalelands. Just incase anyone wanted ot know and if it would make a difference. The time is sometime in the year of 1374. I am not sure of the month, if it could make a large difference, I could contact my DM and find out.

Thanks.

PS. The Cleric of the group is a devout follower of Lathander. He has recruited the two fighters that are also very devout. They all feel the need to be outside rather than underground. Although it would be a given, they are even more uncomfortable while underground, especially when we did an adventure in the Underdark.
Lord Karsus
10-15-07, 11:36 PM I was thinking that I could go somewhere with the whole idea of a religious monk and in fighting that is sort of his "meditation".

-I created a 'Lama' class (Think Buddhist Monk) for the Kara-Tur Re-Dux thread, and if that interests you, you can find the stats for it there.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
MetalViper03 10-11-07, 09:30 PM	I am used to playing as a Sorcerer, but have had no luck in the last campaign in keeping them alive. So I decided to make a monk. But I am not familiar with the monk class and unless I am completly blind, there is not much in the base books about Monks and their orders for the Forgotten Realms setting. Are there any ideas or places where I might be able to find some information to help with my backstory. Also, I am starting him at 10th level. (In the last 3 months with a new DM I have done through a Drow Sorcerer and a Human Sorcerer. See why I decided not to go magic.) Anyways, any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Old Sage 10-11-07, 09:41 PM	You may find this listing of Monk Orders useful:- http://candlekeep.com/library/articles/monks.htm Tom Costa provided a variant monk, called the Varde Elgg, in his unofficial PDF material for PrCs in the Realms:- http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/prestige_classes.html The previews for the City of Splendors tome also provided details on an Amaunator-based monastic order. Calling themselves Sun Soul Monks, they're detailed here - http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x...rigin=&origin= See the web enhancement for Faiths & Pantheons also, for brief listings of deity-based monkish orders:- http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20020504a The 2e accessories - Lands of Intrigue and Empires of the Shining Sea - also cover several monastic orders, including one based on Ilmater. See the FRCS as well. Note however that these monastic orders were made up for the FRCS to insert 3e monks into the Realms. Almost certainly, unlike almost every other aspect of the Realms, there's little or no extant unpublished lore.
MattBlacke 10-11-07, 09:42 PM	If you have access to the book Champions of Ruin, there's a feat and organization that will make for a unique monk. THe feat is called Carmendine Monk. It changes the ability stat you use for your AC and your Stunning Fist powers from Wisdom to Intelligence, and gives a couple of other sweet bonuses. The organization is a group of monks that worship Deneir. Hope that helps. :)
Old Sage 10-11-07, 09:44 PM	The Broken Ones receive a brief nod in the F&P web enhancement -- but little true details are revealed beyond their mention as a monk order devoted to Ilmater. The Dark Moon monks receive further treatment in Lords of Darkness. Tom Reid said he expanded on those initial 'Hin Fist' details that were included in the 3e FRCS, for Shining South. For the Monks of the Long Death... see Lords of Darkness. Unless I've overlooked a new reference, there is almost nothing in print about the Old Order, other than the FRCS and the F&P WE.
Lord Karsus 10-12-07, 12:28 AM	The Dark Moon monks receive further treatment in Lords of Darkness. -Some further lore is explained in the novel Black Bouquet.
The_Shaman 10-12-07, 11:09 AM	If you have access to the book Champions of Ruin, there's a feat and organization that will make for a unique monk. THe feat is called Carmendine Monk. It changes the ability stat you use for your AC and your Stunning Fist powers from Wisdom to Intelligence, and gives a couple of other sweet bonuses. The organization is a group of monks that worship Deneir. Hope that helps. :) It's in Champions of Valor, actually.
Melblen_Cairn 10-12-07, 11:33 PM	I would also suggest taking a look through the Oriental Adventures. While it doesn't have much to do with the realms lore for your back story there is a section on tailoring your feat selections into a style of martial arts. This could add a level of immersion as well within whatever order you put your monk into.
The_Shaman 10-13-07, 02:25 PM	That's certainly possible, and not even that hard - many of the cities along the Golden Way (detailed further in Unapproachable East) have large groups of refugees or simply migrants coming from the Kara-Tur lands, the Realmsian "Orient." Practically anything found in the OA book, perhaps except for particular races and maybe the shamans, can be placed there. I believe the latest Class Chronicles article deals with exactly this - placing the OA core classes (and thus easily PrCs) in the Realms. And speaking of the East, the Shou community or its traveling members are a good source of information on imo one of the best monk PrCs in the Realms - the Shou Disciple. If you ever wanted more fight and less meditation out of your monk, it's your thing
MetalViper03 10-15-07, 09:07 PM	I have created a much more melee oriented monk. He is also meant to be able to scout and get in and out of a fight. The character has his origins in the Dalelands. Coming form a big family who did not understand him he decided to leave and search for his own answers. It is here that I have been having trouble. Thanks to all the people who have responded. It will keep me busy for a while that is for sure. He is a LN monk. He is not in it for money (thus the idea of a monk and not a fighter) but to prove to himself his worth. I was thinking that I could go somewhere with the whole idea of a religious monk and in fighting that is sort of his "meditation". Like I said he is from the Dalelands and did not have a lot of money. So he would not have been able to get too far to find himself. Does anyone know of any traveling monks or orders that are near the Dalelands. Just incase anyone wanted ot know and if it would make a difference. The time is sometime in the year of 1374. I am not sure of the month, if it could make a large difference, I could contact my DM and find out. Thanks. PS. The Cleric of the group is a devout follower of Lathander. He has recruited the two fighters that are also very devout. They all feel the need to be outside rather than underground. Although it would be a given, they are even more uncomfortable while underground, especially when we did an adventure in the Underdark.
Lord Karsus 10-15-07, 11:36 PM	I was thinking that I could go somewhere with the whole idea of a religious monk and in fighting that is sort of his "meditation". -I created a 'Lama' class (Think Buddhist Monk) for the Kara-Tur Re-Dux thread, and if that interests you, you can find the stats for it there.