Only one thing bugs me about Monks...

Dannyalcatraz

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Across all editions, in a campaign reality in which most devout worshipers can cast some divine spells- in post-3Ed, even devotion to a philosophy is sufficient for most divine casting classes- Monks don't have spells. Sure, they have some interesting powers, to be sure, but no spells.

Heck with their perceived lack of combat prowess*- something that never bothered me- I've always felt that D&D monks should have at least been half-casters like rangers, paladins and sohei. Furthermore, the similar OA Shaman is not only a full caster with domains, they can eventually get 3 domains. Wyatt's OA 3.5 update in Dragon #317 gave shamen scaling unarmed attack like the monk, and soheis' Ki Frenzy melded FoB with Rage effects, and nothing was stripped from either class for balance.

So, I've seen countless variants that boost BAB and HD, but has anyone ever ventured down the path of boosting the mystical, divine side of monks?




* I can see the need for a more martial unarmed combatant without spells and fewer über-nifty powers if a spell-using monk existed.
 

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Well, the feat Tashalatora (Secrets of Sarlona) gives monks actual Ki powers, instead of crapply 1/day SLAs. That counts for soemthing, right?
 



There's also the Ring the Golden Bell feat, I love that one.

If you wanted a base class of a caster monk, you could probably just draw out the Sacred Fist prestige class and make it work.
 


There's also the Ring the Golden Bell feat, I love that one.

If you wanted a base class of a caster monk, you could probably just draw out the Sacred Fist prestige class and make it work.

RtGB is a fave of mine- it fits a LOT of stuff you see in film & TV.

I haven't looked at Sacred Fist in some time, but that could work.
 

Reiterating my dislike of ToB...
I'm confused. ToB offers what you seem to want. Do I misunderstand what you are seeking? Or is it that you dislike the fluff of ToB? I can understand that it's "anime" and/or "wuxia", which does not exactly fit in with the standard medieval inspired DnD... but then again, neither does the Monk class.
 
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Sacreligious Fist is actually a pretty good build. Monk2/Duskblade3/SacredFist10/X5. Channel a Harm spell through your unarmed strike. POW! Right in the kisser.

Also, Rightous Might 4tw!

Also, ToB hate is illogical. Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.
 

I'm confused. ToB offers what you seem to want. Do I misunderstand what you are seeking? Or is it that you dislike the fluff of ToB? I can understand that it's "anime" and/or "wuxia", which does not exactly fit in with the standard medieval inspired DnD... but then again, neither does the Monk class.

My dislike of ToB started from first read through the third- mechanics (yet another new set of mechanics, YAY!!!), power creep, etc.- and I had been looking forward to it's release.

I was wondering about monks as divine casters; opining the disconnect between devotees of philosophies getting spells and the fact that Monks are the sole religious/devout themed base class in the game without divine spells..

...not stances, etc., actual D&D divine spells, same as clerics, druids, paladins, rangers, sohei, shamen, favored souls, etc. cast.
 

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