-Metabolic control (like the Bene Gesserit, neutralise disease/poison in their system, etc).
And most importantly: no mention of Ki.
I think the Bene Gesserit (assuming you mean from Dune) are a great example. So are jedi. That is probably why I so much dislike the Ki aspect or (psionic/magic) power sources being necessary. Also, good examples Steely_Dan.
Level 1 through 5: normal skilled guy with martial arts training and strong will power
Level 6 and onward: ageless mystic with ki fists and teleport jumps.
I think this is a little off. I was originally going to propose moving that line (say level 9?) but I realized that it's the entire view I find off.
For me monks are more mystic through and through. They may come up with new tricks or combinations or random abilities later but I don't really like the split that low levels means martial and high levels magic.
In this sense (but please don't apply it to all of monks or even my entire post) compare monks to anime. At low levels they'll have fewer tricks and at higher levels more. But the best shows try to combine them in new ways. If they can slow fall at low levels, then maybe running up walls, or sticking to them or somehow reverse falling UP them at higher? If they can high jump (please high jump and not fly/float) then maybe that distance goes from realistic/possible for regular people to 10x or 100x what is normal. Effectively granting them psudo-magic but grounding it in the realm where it is based on something that is believable.
Really good at hiding but not invisibility as the spell. Can squeeze through cracks WAY too small for them but not necessarily teleporting from spot A to spot B.
I want monks to have advanced abilities in study, meditation, prayer, and perhaps gardening, with a prestige class that specializes in genetics. They gain proficiency in homespun robes and quarterstaffs, and in return must take vows of poverty and chastity.
It seems like you have an example or joke for this? But I admit I miss it.
I do like the mediitation aspect but I don't think that all monks necessarily require that in their make up. I would advocate a lot of different types of monk, as I would recommend for any class.
I think @
Neonchameleon has it right - monks are the perfect class for the kits they've been adding to classes. Call them "styles" or "paths" and give them goofy pseudo-martial-arts names like "Red Fist Style" that can be refitted for individual campaigns. I'd actually make them fairly distinct, and leave the possibility of mixing and matching on the DM's side (so players weren't tempted to make an "uber" monk by picking the most powerful maneuvers from each style).
I think this is partially right, at least if ALL classes are going to be 'select from list' in that sense. If not then I think it is much harder to mix and match monks. Often when you do this you must sacrifice necessary aspects in order to get other ones. If you don't know what I mean take a look at pathfinder's advanced players handbook. You get a lot more options but they usually do so by replacing existing features. I would prefer a core aspect of monk and then give different paths to trick it out.
My only question would be what the core mechanic should be (if any). I don't like stealing CS from the fighter, and I feel like some sort of combo system (Flurry of Blows) would be a good way of modeling this. (I wrote a whole thread with an attempt at this a while back but in retrospect I'm not sure it's the best way of going about this.)
Once again, an issue of what I see with CS.
Unrelated: I just thought of another great example, though still asian themed because non-asian themed ones are hard to find.. Have you seen the new WoW expansion video? That panda-guy is SOO a monk. That is also how I would see a monk do in a fight. Not necessarily win, but certainly not losing. Giving them something to work towards and 'acrobatics' without making it nutso. Basically an ability to tumble and use the terrain and even the enemy's weapons and weaknesses against them.
