Post/Author/DateTime	Post
HermitIX 01-25-08, 02:12 PM	In my up coming game I have a player who will be playing a monk. She wants a code of conduct to follow. Does any one have some suggestions for this code? I am not concerned with the good/evil axis so these rules can be kind or cruel. I want to give her a list that she can construct her code from. For instance… Give Charity Those you help today may help you tomorrow. Leave no enemy alive. Mercy invites treachery. Protect your prisoners with your life. Once you spare a life it is your responsibility. Eat Chocolate It is yummy. Stuff like this.
Belkar 01-25-08, 03:13 PM	lol... How about: Monks are the guardians of peace in the realm. Monks use their abilities to defend and protect, never to attack others. Monks respect all life, in any form. Monks serve others rather than ruling over them, for the good of the realm. Monks seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training. As a meditative mantra: There is no emotion; there is peace. There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. There is no passion; there is serenity. There is no death; there is only the Way. Too much of a cop-out?? ;)
PenderGrass 01-25-08, 03:13 PM	The 8 Precepts of Buddhist Monks 1. I undertake to abstain from taking life (both human and nonhuman). 2. I undertake to abstain from taking what is not given (stealing). 3. I undertake to abstain from all sexual activity. 4. I undertake to abstain from telling lies. 5. I undertake to abstain from using intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness. 6. I undertake to abstain from eating at the wrong time (the right time is eating once, after sunrise, before noon). 7. I undertake to abstain from singing, dancing, playing music, attending entertainment performances, wearing perfume, and using cosmetics and garlands (decorative accessories). 8. I undertake to abstain from luxurious places for sitting or sleeping. :dragon: *****
AntontheDM 01-25-08, 04:17 PM	The main codes of conduct are 1. don't eat meat, 2. don't wear armor, the rest would depend on alignment. The PHB says that monks don't care passionately about championing commoners. They see adventuring as a personal test. But the monks of most martial arts movies were always trying to help people. It seems the basics,from movies anyway, and if of good alignment. 1. Defend the defenseless. 2. Battle corruption. 3. Work for balance in the universe (ying/yang). 4. Help those in need. (helping doesn't always mean fighting). 5. Perfecting one's skill and ki. Monks will also have the resources of other monastaries of their order. They may be required to follow orders of someone higher in the order. You may have to come up with the school of thought, teachings, or philosophy of her order. What vows she took, and the penalties for breaking them. And for a dark side twist, just take them to extremes. 1. Don't help anyone, only the strong survive. 2. Challenge warriors to practice and hone your skills. 3. Mercy is for the weak. 4. Compassion for the foolish.
Legdiwena 01-25-08, 04:29 PM	I see similarities with a Jedi Code, don't forget to add a Sith-related one too.
malignor 01-25-08, 07:01 PM	==ALL== - Dishonesty is the first step to cowardice and laziness. Avoid it at all costs. - Never raise your fists in anger. Good judgment strengthens your resolve. - One must practice, work hard and display discipline in all things of importance. Sometimes the hardest path is the most rewarding. - Do not betray your principles, for they are the foundation of your spirit. ==LG== - Respect all people, for even the fool may teach something good to a wise man. - Violence is a tool of last resort, or when brutality cannot be stopped with words. Protect yourself, protect your principles, protect those of value. - Observe the laws of others, noting they may be flawed. Seek only to hear such laws in the spirit of charity and benevolence. ==LN== - One must cleanse one's self of passions and of the conscience. Only impartial wisdom can guide you to enlightenment, and to correctness of action. - One must show fairness in all things. As one enters the world impartial, so one must live impartial, and one must die impartial. - Nature leaves no mark on the world by virtue of its harmony with the universe. This, you must strive for. ==LE== - The only sin is that of incompetence. Be precise, and cleanse yourself of false morality. - Like all weapons, the body is meant to be used. Sate your hunger, feed your lust, satisfy your greed, test your mettle with combat. This is the way of life, and it should be embraced. - All the incompetent and undisciplined people pull humanity back toward savagery and inhuman ways. They must learn or be forced to learn, else they forsake their right to be "people"; treat them like the beasts they are: pets to be domesticated and possessed, playthings to discard, or pests to be exterminated.
Legdiwena 01-25-08, 07:18 PM	Why would not raising fist in anger be an universal tenet instead of LG?
Rood_Inverse 01-25-08, 07:24 PM	Because raising a fist in anger is a symptom of being unable to control your emotion. If you lack that sort of discipline to control yourself, you lack the discipline to advance your principles and skills. Even a klingon (who are apparently LE?) knows when the time to ACTUALLY fight is, versus just raging on about honor and the like...
Legdiwena 01-25-08, 07:28 PM	I would think Klingons as a race would be LN, but where do you see them?
Rood_Inverse 01-25-08, 07:37 PM	Depends on the house, really... Treat them like the breeds of elves. Some are naturally chaotic and turn toward barbarian as a favored class. Some are lawful and favor monk as their particular class. As a society, I would say LN... Most of the time. At least the High Council, anyway, should have a LAwful requirement. Takes a lot of discipline and patience to play politician instead of warrior.
malignor 01-25-08, 07:37 PM	Regarding "raising one's fist in anger": LG: Raises fist for only benevolent means (defense, protection, minimal force, etc.) LN: Raises fist for only lawful means, or to preserve balance, or nature. LE: Raises fist with a cold, ruthless heart, calculating for personal gain or to dominate others.
The_Shaman 01-25-08, 07:50 PM	I personally think the lawful alignment of monks a bit redundant; they need self-discipline, and that any wizard or psychic warrior tends to have in abundance (sure, youspend several years mastering cantrips or working you bum off). Just as they can keep their abilities if they are no longer chaotic, so should they build on them... imo. Apart from that: 1. Life is a test: underdake each task with all your heart, no matter how minor it is. Your way should not be the easiest one, but the right one. 2. To show weakness is to give up strength; uphold your principles even when others disobey them. 3. You champion enlightenment, not indulgence: do not partake in that which dulls your body or mind. 4. As you have been taught by those above you, so you should teach those below you. In tutoring others you will master yourself. 5. When your skills are insufficient to overcome a task, train to meet it. When they are sufficient to exceed it, train to give an example to others. 6. Your wisdom is measured in years, that of your elders in centuries. Do not act frivolously in pursuit of your goals, even when you are not wise enough to see the reason.
AntontheDM 01-25-08, 08:01 PM	The game "Jade Empire" had two main schools of thought. The "Open Palm" and the "Closed Fist". Your basic lightside/darkside options. The following is from the Bioware site. The Way of the Open Palm Followers of the Way of the Open Palm believe that strength lies in maintaining one’s station and in thinking of the greater whole before considering the parts. "The high path," as some call it, concerns itself with the prosperity of the people, almost to the exclusion of the safety of the individual. Those who walk this path don't seek power, because they know that true power lies in the strength of community, as all parts of the world machine work together in perfect cosmic harmony. Some write the lighter road off as "good", "weak", or even "foolish", but a closer look reveals the details of the path. Goodness can be one outcome of the path, certainly, but to limit one’s self to good alone ignores many of the duties one might have as part of his station. A soldier who refuses to kill might have good in his heart, but the community he is sworn to protect may suffer as a result. In many ways, the Way of the Open Palm can be as dangerous as its philosophical counterpart, if not more so. Those who think of the safety of others before their own tend to be a little more likely to put their own lives in danger. Of course, the high path doesn't advise foolishness; an unarmed merchant leaping into the fray to save someone from a gang of armed bandits not only gets himself killed, but he also removes an established merchant from society. Just as the Way of the Closed Fist recommends against mindless cruelty, the Open Palm teaches against mindless sacrifice. The Way of the Closed Fist While the Way of the Closed Fist isn't necessarily evil, its followers tend to take its tenets in that direction. The Way of the Closed Fist teaches that strength is power, that power is desirable, and that all things bow to those who know what they want. The Closed Fist is not concerned with consequences or with balance; personal station means nothing to one who would murder friends and family to reach his heart's desire. Following the Way of the Closed Fist has its rewards. The core philosophy leads many to far greater things than they would have gained by quietly observing their station, simply because people who follow this path have no problem reaching out and taking what they want. Many people in positions of power in the Empire are there because they reached for that power and grabbed it before someone else could do the same. Warriors willing to reach beyond their station may even learn esoteric fighting styles such as Hidden Fist, which gives discordant warriors the ability to draw the life from their opponents and use it to strengthen themselves. Philosophers caution those who seek to follow the discordant path, for among other things it tends to place one among others who follow this path. Like the serpent eating its own tail, the Way of the Closed Fist will lead its followers to few real allies and even fewer true friends.
darkneolink 01-26-08, 01:27 AM	how about: Thou shall judge actions not words Thou shall learn to heal the body before thou learn to harm it (more LG than any other but meh) Thou shall honor your word Thou shall preach/teach with example Thou shall not fall to the temptations of carnal pleasure Thou shall protect those who deserve your protection (open to interpretation on purpose for your evil monks)