D&D 5E (2024) Help Me Hate Monks (Less Than I Currently Do)

[Mind of tempest]

How to hate monks less? Ditch the baggage.

or have the monk class be done right, mechanically, thematically and integrated it into a setting so some one has a template to draw from along with explanations on setting things up.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

integrated it into a setting

The whole point of the D&D classes is they are not setting-specific.

And I don’t see any complaints about the class mechanics in this thread, so no reason to suppose they are not done right.

 

[Mind of tempest]

The whole point of the D&D classes is they are not setting-specific.

And I don’t see any complaints about the class mechanics in this thread, so no reason to suppose they are not done right.

integrate it into a setting less in making it only exist there and more show a place where it is prominent so it can be used for examples of how to do it.
you want to show some one how to do something it helps to have a good example for them to fall back on

 

[Paul Farquhar]

integrate it into a setting less in making it only exist there and more show a place where it is prominent so it can be used for examples of how to do it.

Why would it be “prominent” anywhere? It’s a set of powers that a fantasy hero can have. The D&D rules are clear that most ordinary people do not have class powers. The problem people are having with it is it is not generic enough, and they can’t see past Bruce Lee to Batman, Black Widow, Sherlock Holmes and the rest.

 

[Shadowdweller00]

It is, of course, easy enough to just invent or reskin a more European-themed fighting monk. Perhaps something like a militant friar, devoted to defending the poor without expensive (/knightly) weapons or armor. Say...the Custos Mendicans of St. Cuthbert (the...err Greyhawk version). Wielding the power of Devotion rather than "Ki"

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Wielding the power of Devotion rather than "Ki

It’s not ki anymore. It’s focus now. WotC are trying to make the point that it’s not specific to any real world culture, but it’s hard work when players are still locked into ideas that went out several editions ago.

 

[CreamCloud0]

How to hate monks less? Ditch the baggage.

Yeah, given most monks dump STR to focus on DEX they really don't have the carrying capacity for it.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Why would it be “prominent” anywhere? It’s a set of powers that a fantasy hero can have. The D&D rules are clear that most ordinary people do not have class powers. The problem people are having with it is it is not generic enough, and they can’t see past Bruce Lee to Batman, Black Widow, Sherlock Holmes and the rest.

most people in settings do not but the classes are know things, most random people in dnd know what a paladin is and a wizards and a cleric even if the local terms is different.

It’s not ki anymore. It’s focus now. WotC are trying to make the point that it’s not specific to any real world culture, but it’s hard work when players are still locked into ideas that went out several editions ago.

the problem is making it hyper genric just makes it dull and with out hooks, might as well just make it part of fighter at that point

 

[Paul Farquhar]

most people in settings do not but the classes are know things

Not a rule. I generally assume class names are not commonly mentioned in-world. No one talks about "The Rogues' Guild", and common people do not know the difference between a sorcerer and a wizard (aside from the hat).

the problem is making it hyper genric just makes it dull and with out hooks,

Oh no, the players might use their imagination, and come up with an original concept instead of a generic Tolkien knock-off!

 

[Krachek]

I play a half orc monk once in a orc-goblin adventure.
I fluff all ki theme abilities into primal, instinct energy flow.
Work very well.