Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="El Mahdi" data-source="post: 5667302" data-attributes="member: 59506">I realise this is necroing a month dead thread, but somehow I missed this previously. I think it's an awesome thread topic, and one I've addressed in my own campaign (a historical campaign based around the English Anarchy of 1135 to 1154). First, I want to put to bed some misconceptions: Unlike D&D, Monks, Friars, Priests, Clerics (etc.) did not usually have a prohibition against using swords or edged weapons. The idea in D&D that Priests, Clerics, and Monks can't draw blood, and therefore only use bludgeoning weapons is completely against actual history. The drawing blood part was at various times a prohibition for Priests, but that didn't mean it was okay to use clubs and maces either. In D&D, it was a purely gamist concept to differentiate Warrior type characters from Priest type characters. The main reasons for a real world rarity of Priests and Monks with swords is due to the cost of the weapons and the likely lack of training in how to use one. And anyone who thinks that a staff, club, or mace won't draw blood...then I've got some good swamp land down here I can sell you.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> Also, swords in Europe were not restricted to Nobles and Knights only. If you could afford one and knew how to use it, then you're good to go. Wearing one in a town is another matter entirely, and most likely would have been restricted to Nobles and Knights (and Guards, etc.). But travellers could carry damn near anything they wanted on the road - the roads were dangerous places and everyone, whether peasant or Noble, had every right to defend themselves by any means necessary. Many Clerics, Priests, and Monks were from noble families, usually youngest sons with little or no chance of an inheritance. A Monk with a Noble upbringing would have likely been rarer than a Priest with a Noble heritage, but they still existed. A Noble who entered the Priesthood would more than likely know how to use a sword, and have the money to buy one. In most cases, they would still have a decent amount of money from their family (vows not withstanding). As to Friar Tuck, the stories equally portray him one of two ways (though they are not mutually exclusive). There's the overweight, slightly gluttoness, and fun loving Friar - and there's the intelligent, strong, quick witted, and highly moral Friar. Yes, a staff and cudgel are always present as his weapons, but there are just as many storied with him carrying a sword and using a bow - and being highly proficient with both. While we're on this subject, a quick note about "Martial Arts". Asian culture was not the only one to develop "Martial Arts", whether unarmed or armed. Much of European Martial Arts has been lost (though there are groups attempting to recreate them - such as the HEMA groups), but they certainly existed. These Arts included kicks, holds, pressure points, etc. just like Asian Unarmed Martial Arts. The Unarmed Skills of an Asian Monk are not out of place with an unarmed Western Monk. As to Mendicant vows, in reality they were ignored almost as much as they were followed. Although no hard and fast numbers exist, there's strong anecdotal evidence from letters and other writings, that not only was a vow of poverty quite often ignored, so was celibacy. A rather high percentage of Priests even had wives and families (based on different sources, anywhere from 10% to almost 50% of Priests). Friar Tuck however, is always portrayed as holding to his vows for the most part - with the exception of Gluttony (his major weakness), and a bit of retaining some trappings and wealth from his prior life (specifically a sword). Friar Tuck was most likely a Noble before becoming a Priest. Friar Tuck is portrayed in the stories as a member of the Priesthood and not just the laity, as he performs communion, mass, confession, and even a couple of weddings.  <img src="http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/8100/8194/friar_tuck_8194_lg.gif" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /> Yes, along with his staff, the rotund Friar is also carrying a dagger and a sword! (picture from Bold Robin Hood and His Outlaw Band by Louis Rhead (New York and London: Harper & Brothers, 1912)<img src="http://woolvey.com/images/Friar_tuck.JPG" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /> An antique wood figurine of Friar Tuck (aprox. 7.5" tall) from between 1954 and 1965.And another one (a cartoon this time): <img src="http://clipart.coolclips.com/150/wjm/tf05022/CoolClips_cart0116.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Another one: <img src="http://www.art-nouveau-in-art.org/197231/Robin-Hood-and-the-Friar,-illustration-from-Heroic-Legends-by-A-G-Herbertson,-London-1911-large.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />And yet another one: <img src="http://imagecache5d.allposters.com/watermarker/22-2258-VQWZD00Z.jpg?ch=894&cw=670" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /> @<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=28855" target="_blank">domino</a> I made a writeup for a Western Mendicant (Christian Monk) class for my houseruled 3.x game. For 3.5E I'd use the Monk class progression just re-flavored/fluffed for a European Monk - but otherwise Hit Points, Feats, Skills, Progression, etc., should be exactly the same. I hope you find this useful. Cheers!<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /></blockquote>

Verification