Gestalt campaign idea: Everyone's a monk [Archive] - Wizards Community

Gestalt campaign idea: Everyone's a monk [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The_Fan
03-26-05, 11:53 AM I had this crazy idea last night. It would be an oriental adventures-style setting, where all PCs would be gestalting with monk (with a few changes).

You don't automatically get monk saves, instead getting the saves for your base class.

Anything can be a monk weapon provided you are proficient and take weapon focus (weapon) plus a special feat to represent that combat style. Some weapons might require extra restrictions (such as two-weapon fighting for a dire flail) at my discretion.

You are not restricted to lawful alignments. When multiclassing, the monk levels are ignored. Thus you can freely multiclass with things like bard and barbarian, and monk druids do not have to be lawful neutral. All other alignment restrictions do apply.

Finally, if somehow the armor or shield you are using would produce zero arcane spell failure, no armor check penalty, and no reduction in base movement speed, you do not lose any monk abilities (notably flurry of blows and movement increases) except the AC bonus for wearing it. (This one I'm not sure on)

So, what effect do you think this would have on a game? Is it a fun idea? What would you play?
HailSpork
03-26-05, 01:03 PM It would definately be interesting.
Krynus Ogrebane
03-26-05, 01:38 PM I would suggest not changing the armor part.

Otherwise, it does look interesting. Wiz/Sor definitely benefit the most with the medium BAB, hp, AC, and skill points... touch and ranged touch spells look quite attractive.
HailSpork
03-26-05, 02:20 PM Druids and Clerics also benefit from their high wisdoms. It sounds like this would probably be a caster-heavy game.
The_Fan
03-26-05, 09:29 PM I'm sure it would be. I'm personally quite fine with that because it would certainly fit the animeish feel I'd be going for.

On the other hand, the armor thing is fairly hard to do, and will still lean characters towards things like bucklers and padded armor. I don't see it as that unbalancing considering the significant boost this would give to casters, the armor thing might balance out warriors as well.

Or not, I'm not sure. It's a work in progress.

Edit: After some thinking, I realized some secondary effects this may have. For example, if I don't do the armor loophole, in the end people will have much lower ACs that will be higher relative to their touch ACs than in the average game. The higher BAB for casters will be pretty well counteracted by the higher touch ACs all around.

Warrior types on the other hand would find great use in feats like two-weapon defense, combat expertise, and improved combat expertise, because otherwise their lower than average AC would make it so just about every attack hit. Power attack also becomes more powerful because of lower AC.

Movement becomes crucial in combat as well. You either have the option of standing still and flurrying, or trying to outmaneuver opponents with your increadible movement rate. A lot of running battles could be expected.

Hrm...I've gotta consider the full implications of this.
J Milburn
03-28-05, 03:07 PM What about normal people? Do they get monk Bonuses aswell, and how does this fit realistically, is it that in your world the ways of the monk are easier to master and that everyone is educated in them from an early age?
The_Fan
03-28-05, 05:09 PM No, normal people do not. Peasants, town guards, etc. Just anyone who will be a major character will also be a gestalt monk.
rbingham2000
03-28-05, 06:18 PM I kinda like this idea. It grants a kind of "Kung Fu Cinema" feel to the campaign.

In fact, the Burning Shaolin rules for Faceless Hordes and wuxia-style combat would fit perfectly for that campaign. The best part is that unlike the adventure they're used for, the rules are free (http://www.atlas-games.com/product_tables/AG3400.php) on the net.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The_Fan 03-26-05, 11:53 AM	I had this crazy idea last night. It would be an oriental adventures-style setting, where all PCs would be gestalting with monk (with a few changes). You don't automatically get monk saves, instead getting the saves for your base class. Anything can be a monk weapon provided you are proficient and take weapon focus (weapon) plus a special feat to represent that combat style. Some weapons might require extra restrictions (such as two-weapon fighting for a dire flail) at my discretion. You are not restricted to lawful alignments. When multiclassing, the monk levels are ignored. Thus you can freely multiclass with things like bard and barbarian, and monk druids do not have to be lawful neutral. All other alignment restrictions do apply. Finally, if somehow the armor or shield you are using would produce zero arcane spell failure, no armor check penalty, and no reduction in base movement speed, you do not lose any monk abilities (notably flurry of blows and movement increases) except the AC bonus for wearing it. (This one I'm not sure on) So, what effect do you think this would have on a game? Is it a fun idea? What would you play?
HailSpork 03-26-05, 01:03 PM	It would definately be interesting.
Krynus Ogrebane 03-26-05, 01:38 PM	I would suggest not changing the armor part. Otherwise, it does look interesting. Wiz/Sor definitely benefit the most with the medium BAB, hp, AC, and skill points... touch and ranged touch spells look quite attractive.
HailSpork 03-26-05, 02:20 PM	Druids and Clerics also benefit from their high wisdoms. It sounds like this would probably be a caster-heavy game.
The_Fan 03-26-05, 09:29 PM	I'm sure it would be. I'm personally quite fine with that because it would certainly fit the animeish feel I'd be going for. On the other hand, the armor thing is fairly hard to do, and will still lean characters towards things like bucklers and padded armor. I don't see it as that unbalancing considering the significant boost this would give to casters, the armor thing might balance out warriors as well. Or not, I'm not sure. It's a work in progress. Edit: After some thinking, I realized some secondary effects this may have. For example, if I don't do the armor loophole, in the end people will have much lower ACs that will be higher relative to their touch ACs than in the average game. The higher BAB for casters will be pretty well counteracted by the higher touch ACs all around. Warrior types on the other hand would find great use in feats like two-weapon defense, combat expertise, and improved combat expertise, because otherwise their lower than average AC would make it so just about every attack hit. Power attack also becomes more powerful because of lower AC. Movement becomes crucial in combat as well. You either have the option of standing still and flurrying, or trying to outmaneuver opponents with your increadible movement rate. A lot of running battles could be expected. Hrm...I've gotta consider the full implications of this.
J Milburn 03-28-05, 03:07 PM	What about normal people? Do they get monk Bonuses aswell, and how does this fit realistically, is it that in your world the ways of the monk are easier to master and that everyone is educated in them from an early age?
The_Fan 03-28-05, 05:09 PM	No, normal people do not. Peasants, town guards, etc. Just anyone who will be a major character will also be a gestalt monk.
rbingham2000 03-28-05, 06:18 PM	I kinda like this idea. It grants a kind of "Kung Fu Cinema" feel to the campaign. In fact, the Burning Shaolin rules for Faceless Hordes and wuxia-style combat would fit perfectly for that campaign. The best part is that unlike the adventure they're used for, the rules are free (http://www.atlas-games.com/product_tables/AG3400.php) on the net.