A monk by another name

[Hjorimir]

I'd go with Mystic. Actually, I went with Mystic.

 

[Prince of Happiness]

I'd just call them monks. Medieval Western monks had quite the reputation going for them as wrestlers. If you just happen to expand their "wrestling" technique to boxing, well then, there you go. Change out some of their weapons or rename them to be more apropos to the setting and you're set.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

The monk niche in Arcana Unearthed is filled by martial artists called "oathsworn." Even though AU is "variant" D&D -- as opposed to "deviant" D&D, for which one uses The Book of Erotic Fantasy -- I much prefer oathsworn to monks. Just how many David Caradines are wandering pseudo-medieval landscapes, anyway?


Jeff

 

[Chun-tzu]

...as opposed to "deviant" D&D, for which one uses The Book of Erotic Fantasy...

There's a >ahem< "deviant" monk in Book of Erotic Fantasy named the Kundala. Less martial, with minor divine spellcasting (like a Paladin or Ranger).

Rokugan Campaign Setting has an "enlightened monk" class named the Inkyo. It's a monk that uses certain Rokugan-specific rules, like kiho and Void points.

 

[Klaus]

In the World of Karathis (the official Fiery Dragon campaign setting), the tradition of unarmed combat started in the aftermath of the Shadow Wars, when the Monastic Dragons developed their fighting techniques from observing the mightiest of the world's creatures: dragons.

Mechanically, they are just like the PHB monks, except for the weapons. The kama, sai, siagham, nunchaku and shuriken were replaced by the dragontogue sword, dragonhorn dagger, dragonfang, dragonscale darts and dragontail club.

Expect an article detailing the Monastic Dragons later this week at www.fierydragon.com .

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Mystic
Zealot
Gladiator
Wrestler
Battler
Belligerent
Boxer
Bruiser
Pugilist

AR

 

[Chun-tzu]

In the World of Karathis (the official Fiery Dragon campaign setting), the tradition of unarmed combat started in the aftermath of the Shadow Wars, when the Monastic Dragons developed their fighting techniques from observing the mightiest of the world's creatures: dragons.

Mechanically, they are just like the PHB monks, except for the weapons. The kama, sai, siagham, nunchaku and shuriken were replaced by the dragontogue sword, dragonhorn dagger, dragonfang, dragonscale darts and dragontail club.

Expect an article detailing the Monastic Dragons later this week at www.fierydragon.com .

This sounds really, really cool. Can't wait for the article!

 

[CrusaderX]

Street Fighters?

Mortal Kombatants?



I'd just call them Martial Artists, actually.

 

[Ferret]

seems to be okay now...6.8 in Niigata so there are probably some fatalities...

--> back on topic...

A general Japanese word for martial artist is Bu-dou-ka, which means 'practitioner of the military arts' (lit. war-road-person) Could also mean a general soldier but generally that is Hei-shi.

Chinese I don't know. Alternatively, you could just make up your own word!

Hope everything is ok at your end.... Wait hei-shi doesn't happen to be pronounced he-she?

 

[Tonguez]

I'd just call them monks. Medieval Western monks had quite the reputation going for them as wrestlers. If you just happen to expand their "wrestling" technique to boxing, well then, there you go. Change out some of their weapons or rename them to be more apropos to the setting and you're set.

There are a number of western martial arts traditions (armed and unarmed) which could be modeled with the DnD Monk. Wrestling includes both Grapples and kicking and punching techniques and besides monks, most soldiers were taught unarmed combat techniques.
Fencing schools throughout the medieval and renaissance era also taught unarmed combat, knife and 'stick' techniques (most famous being Savate).The Celtic Red Branch (fianna) learnt skills like leap of the clouds, and wrestling. The Minoans practiced bull leaping and we know greeks practiced Pranktation(sp?)

Its not too much of a leap to develop a western basis for Monks