and have been an enthusiast ever since. Now, with the upcoming release of PH3 and talk of hybrid classes I am a bit dismayed.
I'm not sure why you are worried by the hybrid option, unless you took it to mean that WotC was now finished making standard character classes?
Cheer up. As others have said, the Monk is on the way!
I'd say the reason the Monk isn't out yet is because it's always struck me as the class that doesn't fit in thematically.
Jedi = Swordmage, where does the monk analogy come from? I'm just curious.
I'd say the reason the Monk isn't out yet is because it's always struck me as the class that doesn't fit in thematically.
Depends on your theme. Not everybody's D&D games are Tolkien with the serial numbers filed off.
Although I guess they stuck shurikens in...
meh, dnd is based on fantasy stereotypes. putting monks in means also sticking in samurai and ninjas.
Although I guess they stuck shurikens in...
Your D&D is.
Mine ain't.
Depends on your theme. Not everybody's D&D games are Tolkien with the serial numbers filed off.
Your D&D is.
Mine ain't.
some "Im so unique and special" elitist attitude there?
D&D is based on fantasy stereotypes, INLCUDING Tolkien, whether you like it or not. Do your research.
In the 3.5 rulebook, the monk stood out amongst the other european-based classes like a sore. This, I believe, is one of ht e reasons it wasn't included in the first 2 phbs. It is JUST an explanation, not my personal opinion.
I think there SHOULD be rules for monks, and I also think they should be put together with rules for other east asian themes and flavours; all together these would take up too large of a part from the first few books, hence monk goes on the back burner.
some "Im so unique and special" elitist attitude there?
No, just reminding you that not everybody plays the game the same way you do. Don't presume to speak for everybody.
D&D is based on fantasy stereotypes, INLCUDING Tolkien, whether you like it or not. Do your research.
Regardless, not everybody clings to them and uses them in every game. See: Eberron, where elves are scimitar-swinging desert horsemen and gnomes are the nastiest spies you'll ever wish you'd never met.
In the 3.5 rulebook, the monk stood out amongst the other european-based classes like a sore. This, I believe, is one of ht e reasons it wasn't included in the first 2 phbs. It is JUST an explanation, not my personal opinion.
It is, in fact, your opinion.
I think there SHOULD be rules for monks, and I also think they should be put together with rules for other east asian themes and flavours; all together these would take up too large of a part from the first few books, hence monk goes on the back burner.
The monk is not necessary an 'Asian' theme. Fluff is mutable; just because one has the word 'monk' on the character sheet doesn't mean the character has ever set foot in a monastery. Any unarmed fighting character can use the monk as its base; the fluff is variable.
This is not to say that D&D that varies from the norm is any less worthy, just that they wanted to fill out the High Fantasy image before moving onto other things which they are now doing with Eberron coming out this year and Monks and other Ki classes in the PHB.
Gee whiz guys, I didn't mean to come down on 4E at all. I thoroughly enjoy it and embrace it entirely. As for the sword mage being like A jedi, that is true. I only meant to say that if they did all the cool jedi things, then they could do all the cool monk things. I am quite relieved to hear that monks are on the way and that there is a ki power source! This means if you don't think they belong in your world, just don't include any ki power stuff. I was hoping that hybrid classes weren't the only classes in the new PHB3. My world is complete.
I think the question is... why would Wizards ONLY put Hybrid Classes in a PH, when they've included Multiclass Feats in both previous PHs in addition to classes. Hybrid Classes aren't supposed to take the place of new classes. They still have to release Ki, Psionic, Shadow, and Elemental classes (at least 4 of each).
Also, the biggest reason the Monk wasn't included was because it isn't Martial, Arcane, Divine, or Primal. It's Ki, and Ki means you wait.
The Hybrid stuff in PHB3 still leads me to believe that it will be a 1 power source book just like PHB2 was.
PHB2 had 3 power sources the last time I checked.
Since you figure things like the Rules Updates (true there may be some of that, but likely not as much). The inclusion of Backgrounds and Racial Paragon Paths for PHB1 Races.
So that space can be devoted to Hybrid Classes and then got the rest of the space for just the rest of PHB3 options.
Hopefully it will be 4 psionics, 2 ki, and 2 shadow. Leaving another 4/2/2 for phb 4.
Of course they could also do a debut for all four of the remaining sources, and just go 2/2/2/2. This however might be problematic for the release of the various power books since they seem to like to have 4 classes avaliable for those.
My main concern is what happens when they get 4+ classes for every source. I don't wanna start 5e too soon. Hopefully they'll come up with something, maybe shifting to a racial focus or implementing bloodlines as a core mechanic.
Sorry it introduced 1 new power source and 2 characters each from 2 other existent power sources. And I see this to be true for the next 3 or 4 PHB's. I will be fairly surprised to see more than 1 new power source per PHB. I see a 6 to 8 yr expected run for the edition, which leaves us with 3 to 5 power sources and PHBs if this is holds true.
2010 Ki Power Source (4 Ki, 2 Primal, 2 ?????)
2011 Psionics Power Source (4 Psionics, 2 Ki, 2 ?????)
2012 Shadow Power Source (4 Shadow, 2 Psionics, 2 ?????)
2013 ????
2014 ????
2015 ????
GEEZ another monks thread, this is original.
*insert martial controller thread?* :P
Anyone else notice this, PHB1 had Arcane, Divine, Martial, I expected Arcane, Divine, Pirmal, but for some reason it was Primal, Arcane, Divine, why the change in alphabetical order? it really erks me.
Probably because being the new kid on the block, Primal is the poster boy for PHB2 so it got top billing. Conversely when PHB1 was released, everything was new. Martial may have had a leading role, but it was the new edition itself that was the real eye-candy.
[INDENT]Also it's a well known fact that everyone hates martial, so no one would have taken the PHB1 seriously if martial had gotten top billing
[/INDENT]*insert martial controller thread?* :P
Insert 4e sucks thread.
Of course we know Ki is involved for sure, one option might be to take it easy, intro 4 ki classes and one of each for the first four sources.
However again I don't know if they have enough ideas to put together another divine, primal, martial, or arcane class right now.
Personally I think they should stick to the 3-1 debut pattern, have the phb 3 intro 3 new sources, have 4 classes from one source, two more each from the other two, and then the phb 4 can intro one new source and fill in the blanks on the other two.
Second, Tolkien was not medival. It was classical. This still doesn't really explain including oriental characters, but then again, it's friggin' fantasy for christ's sake. Imagination is the name of the game.
Third, I think Kamikazegerbil wins the thread for calling it "western high fantasy". :D
meh, dnd is based on fantasy stereotypes. putting monks in means also sticking in samurai and ninjas.
Although I guess they stuck shurikens in...
And samurai and ninja are as much fantasy stereotypes as they are historical ones. Well, semi-historical.
GEEZ another monks thread, this is original.
We're gonna get one every other day til the playtest. Maybe til PH3.
We're gonna get one every other day til the playtest. Maybe til PH3.
No.
When the Playtest comes out, the threads will change to things like "this isn't MY Monk" and "WotC is killing my happy place". ;)
I mean the WOTC Forums.
/me hides
Why is it people accept a dragonborn or genasi as a fantasy character but they have something ignorant to say about a monk type? Is it really that difficult to imagine someone kicking butt with their bare hands as opposed to a humanoid dragon guy breathing fire on someone?
When the Ki power source decides to show itself I'm sure we shall finally see the Monk, Samurai, Ninja, and Wujen. Until then you shall just have to remain patient