I think it's important to note the elements which are common between the Eastern and Western monastic traditions, so as not to make it effectively two classes with a small range of shared features. To my mind, these are:

• Community membership - whether cloistered or not, the monk/nun forms part of a religious community which has a Rule (which may be explicit, or may be something divined by meditating on less specific scriptures)
• Literacy - It is not necessary to be literate to become a monk/nun, but rising through the ranks and perfecting the higher aspects of the calling may very well require literacy.
• The option to learn and teach martial arts - Whether it's Shaolin and Wudan monks up their mountains, or Friar Tuck tipping Robin Hood into the river with his quarterstaff, monks who travel may well benefit from learning to defend themselves with only simple tools, or their bare hands.
• Stoicism and aseticism - Not only are monks expected to give up many worldly goods, they're often shown gaining power over temptation and evil by doing so. The early Christian Desert Fathers are depicted as defeating tempting demons in the wilderness through the power of their faith. Similar stories are told of great Buddhist mystics.
• Mysticism - The ways of the monk are often cryptic and mysterious, to be elucidated by meditation, either in isolation or in conjunction with serving the community. St Francis of Assisi said "Preach the Gospel at all times; if necessary, use words." The Zen master Nansen told of a teaching that no master had ever taught: "It is not mind, it is not Buddha, it is not things." Lao Tzu said "The Way that can be spoken of is not the true Way."

With these thoughts in mind, I propose not dividing the Eastern and Western monks so strictly, but rather providing a series of template orders mixing these elements in different amounts, and a DM guide on how to make others that are balanced. Possible powers:

• Turning one specified supernatural opponent type (Undead, Oni, Demons...)
• Fighter-speed combat progression
• Good, but not great, natural AC advancement
• The ability to read and write magic, even if they can't use it themselves.
• Bonuses to Wisdom checks
• One or more detailed martial arts styles
• The ability to converse with animals (and later, plants, etc)
• Decreased need for food, sleep, etc
• Initiative bonuses

Thoughts?

Z.

Jul 16, 2012 -- 3:18AM, Duskweaver wrote:

In 4e, what you describe as the 'Priestly Order/Western Monk' exists as the Avenger class. I guess I could see the Avenger and Monk being combined together into a single class for 5e. It might even open up some new but related possibilities for character paradigms, like the 'Sword Monks' from K. J. Parker's Scavenger Trilogy.

I always saw Avengers as Inquisitors.

As far as I'm concerned a Monk is anything from a Bar Room Brawler to Shao Lin. Basically for me Monk is the unarmed fighter.

For me, a monk should have the following...

Unarmed damage that increases over time (levels) and automatic profiencies with unarmed
Non-Armored, gaining armor from wisdom and Dex and maybe class features
Mid range hp (d6-d8).
Flurry, or a 5e equivilent (perhaps like fighter surges)
Mind over matter abilities (resistance to mundate hot cold, perhaps damage reduction)

The unarmed damage is the biggest thing for me. The only weapon a Monk should ever have to use is for ranged combat.

Speaking of the Monk, while I'd like a bit more anime influence in there (Like the idea of being able to do Ki attacks by using ki points to turn a melee attack into a ranged, cone or cylinder attack), I do think that there should be a "dial" for the Monk's class features able to turn from "really good martial artist" on one hand to "I am a sexy anme god" on the other and cover everything in between as well.