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8 months ago ::
Nov 14, 2012 - 6:09AM
#1
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Date Joined:
Oct 21, 2003
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...couldn't they have put a more Western flavor on it rather than the Eastern flavor it currently has? Things like Step of the Wind and Ki just screams Orient and Eastern flavor and I would prefer to have something closer to the flavor of Monk in Diablo 3 (where the monk was trained in a monastic church and had some holy abilities rather than mysticism) with maybe an option to have an Eastern flair if I have that in my campaign world (which I personally do not). If I wanted to run an L5R game, that's what I'd run, not D&D with Eastern flavor.
And yes, I am sure some of you will throw the 'Well change the flavor if that's what you prefer etc etc'. That's not the point. The point is why does the Monk have to be Eastern flavored when there are plenty of examples of perfectly good Western flavored monks in the fantasy genre (even in D&D, look at the Cleric Quintet by Salvatore). Why give something an Eastern flavor in a game where every single other class is a Western design and flavor? I don't want to be forced to have an Eastern type region in my setting when I have no design space for it because my only other option at that point is to disallow the class entirely (which I did do in 3.X and I got a lot of flak over it).
I dunno it's a little pet peeve I guess. All monks in fantasy (with a few very excellent exceptions) are Eastern in flavor. It's kind of like that annoying fetish that every fantasy game in existence seems to have with making gnomes in their games tinker gnomes (see WoW, EQ2, Kingdoms of Amalur, and even GW2 sort of). Anyway just wanted to ask and get soiem feedback on this.
Oh and why does FoB HAVE to be unarmed? Where did the 'monk weapons' that could be used in place of unarmed attack go?
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8 months ago ::
Nov 14, 2012 - 6:16AM
#2
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For awesome monk style and variety the designers should be stealing liberally from Fist of the North Star. Seriously, that should be the template.
I'm on a journey of enlightenment, learning and self-improvement. A journey towards mastery. A journey that will never end.
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My blog and stuff http://dmingtowin.blogspot.com/
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8 months ago ::
Nov 14, 2012 - 6:21AM
#3
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Date Joined:
Sep 17, 2007
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Maybe the monk is Eastern because the Western monk is already covered by the Cleric.
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8 months ago ::
Nov 14, 2012 - 6:22AM
#4
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Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2010
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Maybe the monk is Eastern because the Western monk is already covered by the Cleric.
D&D Next = D&D: Quantum Edition
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8 months ago ::
Nov 14, 2012 - 6:25AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Aug 31, 2007
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...couldn't they have put a more Western flavor on it rather than the Eastern flavor it currently has?
What do you imagine for a Western monk that is distinct from what cleric, paladin and the possible priest cover?
Oh and why does FoB HAVE to be unarmed? Where did the 'monk weapons' that could be used in place of unarmed attack go?
Balance and simplicity probably, but the option should be in there somewhere.
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8 months ago ::
Nov 14, 2012 - 6:26AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Jun 17, 2010
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...couldn't they have put a more Western flavor on it rather than the Eastern flavor it currently has?
What do you imagine for a Western monk that is distinct from what cleric, paladin and the possible priest cover?
He wants the Diablo monk, as he said, but is neglecting the part where that concept was unique to Diablo, and hadn't been done before. It's not exactly a "thing."
D&D Next = D&D: Quantum Edition
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8 months ago ::
Nov 14, 2012 - 9:23AM
#7
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No I agree... I usually just don't allow monks in my campaigns because I find it just doesn't mesh with the Setting.
I think any eastern classes like Samurai, Ninja, Kensai etc. should be in an Oriental Handbook/Campaign Setting
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8 months ago ::
Nov 14, 2012 - 2:05PM
#8
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Remember, you're free to completely ignore the flavor of the class; the only flavor that matters is the flavor the player gives his character.
I've only played one 'monk' who wasn't anything other than a basic fist-fighter/brawler. Ignore the class name, ignore the default fluff, and play your character your way.
Another day, another three or four entries to my Ignore List.
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8 months ago ::
Nov 14, 2012 - 2:12PM
#9
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Maybe the monk is Eastern because the Western monk is already covered by the Cleric.
My two copper.
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8 months ago ::
Nov 14, 2012 - 2:40PM
#10
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Date Joined:
Oct 19, 2012
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Remember, you're free to completely ignore the flavor of the class;
You could ignore the flavor of your food too, since it doesn't have an effect on nutritional value. That doesn't mean it isn't an important part of the eating experience though.
For the record, I almost categorically ban the monk because I don't feel like such a class belongs in my setting, for the same reason I wouldn't put Orange Chicken and Pork Fried Rice on a Cajun menu.
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