You could ignore the flavor of your food too, since it doesn't have an effect on nutritional value.
And if all you want out some-odd foodstuff is a particular mix of vitamins and proteins, there really shouldn't be anyone screaming "No!! It must taste like asparagus or you can't have it!"
I see some people here saying that reflavoring is fine here while arguing against the alignment restriction in another thread. How are those two things any different from one another?
Because alignment restriction makes reflavoring impossbile. Sentences like "You cannot enter or gain levels in this class if you do not have one of those three alignments" are most certainly not fluff.
Bingo.
Yank the restrictions? Use a module that doesn't have them? I'm not even going to bother trying to make my case for why those mechnacal restrictions should be part of the class because this thread isn't supposed to be about alignment. I think we should try and keep that discussion out of this thread, and at least for now, simply say that modules are good and useful for a variety of reasons.
Salla, you're one of the few posters here that I highly respect, but I have to disagree with part of this statement. But first I will agree that yes, it is a step backwards and I hope they reverse course before the paladin, as I have never (ever) put an alignment restriction on them since I have paladins for each of my settings gods. But I had no problems removing it back then and I won't have a problem now. The part I disagree on is alignment being a mechanic. How? It dictates absolutely nothing in gameplay, it is, and always has been, a role-play tool/crutch/guideline/whatever. Thus, fluff.
Telling you what classes you can and cannot be most definitely dictates something in gameplay.
Another day, another three or four entries to my Ignore List.
Like putting teriyaki sauce on mashed potatoes. A brawler without all that training should function significantly differently. Maybe this is jusy my personal experience talking, but there is a gigantic world of difference bewteen a street fighter and a martial artist. They don't think the same way, they don't move the same way, they don't have the same toolkit, they don't fight the same way.
Talk to an MMA fighter sometime, and they will tell you something quite different. The amount of focus and dedication to the art between a boxer and a karateka is quite similar. There are differences in philosophy, but the basic exercise of throwing a punch or kick is the same whether you are practicing Tae Kwan Do or Savate. The rules of leverage apply equally whether you are practicing Jujiutsu or Greco Roman wrestling.
Almost none of my 4E Monks, and I have made a few, are grounded in Eastern philosophy. Most of them are brawlers and pugilists.
I see some people here saying that reflavoring is fine here while arguing against the alignment restriction in another thread. How are those two things any different from one another?
Because alignment restriction makes reflavoring impossbile. Sentences like "You cannot enter or gain levels in this class if you do not have one of those three alignments" are most certainly not fluff.
Why? I'm disallowing the monk class; however, I will allow a new class called the Funk. It has all the abilities and stuff of the monk class. The only difference is that it has no alignment restrictions.
I don't know who you are, but if I start getting 70's music in my head during my next game, know that I will shake my fist to the sky in your direction.
(well, I'll be shaking it upwards, so unless you are on a space station or flying over head, not likely your exact direction)
Glad to be of assistance. I've achieved my purpose on these forums then.
So despite some disagreements I guess at this point I'll ask if we are in consensus of having more options for both fluff/flavor (Eastern and Western options both available) and mechanics tied to fluff (alignment restriction/no restriction both available)?
So despite some disagreements I guess at this point I'll ask if we are in consensus of having more options for both fluff/flavor (Eastern and Western options both available) and mechanics tied to fluff (alignment restriction/no restriction both available)?
to the first point, you can already fluff the character however you like. As I stated, I've only once played an 'Eastern' monk, and played several 'bare-knuckle brawler' characters using the monk mechanics.
To the second, there should be no alignment restrictions on anything (as there should be no alignment). If a player chooses to restrict his character, or the DM chooses to restrict his table, they can do so.
Another day, another three or four entries to my Ignore List.
The mention of Ki is my biggest disappointment, 3rd Ed started that, too culturally specific for me, I like the The Bloodguard (Bannor) vibe.
So don't call it Ki. Call it Chi...or Pee...or The Force. The name "Ki" may have first appeared in 3rd edition (which, btw, was 12 years ago...so 1/3 of the existance of D&D) but the abilities which it supports have been there since day 1. They just lumped them into a category and labeled it. Call it what you like.
Like putting teriyaki sauce on mashed potatoes. A brawler without all that training should function significantly differently. Maybe this is jusy my personal experience talking, but there is a gigantic world of difference bewteen a street fighter and a martial artist. They don't think the same way, they don't move the same way, they don't have the same toolkit, they don't fight the same way.
Talk to an MMA fighter sometime, and they will tell you something quite different. The amount of focus and dedication to the art between a boxer and a karateka is quite similar. There are differences in philosophy, but the basic exercise of throwing a punch or kick is the same whether you are practicing Tae Kwan Do or Savate. The rules of leverage apply equally whether you are practicing Jujiutsu or Greco Roman wrestling.
Almost none of my 4E Monks, and I have made a few, are grounded in Eastern philosophy. Most of them are brawlers and pugilists.
Well, call an MMA fighter a "street fighter" or a "brawler" and see the sort of response you get.
I'm on a journey of enlightenment, learning and self-improvement. A journey towards mastery. A journey that will never end.
If you challenge me, prepare to be challenged. If you have something to offer as a fellow student, I will accept it. If you call yourself a master, prepare to be humbled. If you seek me, look to the path. I will be traveling it. #SuperDungeonMasterIITurbo
