Hey, sure, I'd be up for it. The game I'm trying to DM has yet to actually get off the ground (summer jobs mean conflicting schedules), so while I've been getting a pseudo-D&D fix by writing adventure hooks and such, actually
playing would be so much better.
If it's okay with you guys, I think I'd like to try a grapple-monk. Think of him as a prototype for my back-up character should Bison-Run-Thunderous retire/die/leave the party when we get back. I'd like to figure out a bit of his personality before hand, and this is a good way to do so.
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Before I do so, however, I'd like approval from the DM for creation of a new monastic order: The Fists of Order. What Paladins are to Good, these fellows are to Law, or at least that's my goal. I've been playing Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War recently, and I find the somewhat-depressed-yet-forever-persevering, my-life-for-the-Emperor, hope-is-the-first-step-on-the-road-to-disappointment attitude of the Space Marines to be kinda cool, and so I've tried to adapt it. In addition, it appears the newest goal for the Guess Who (*thump!*) is finding the True King, so I figured it best my next character actually want to pursue that goal, rather than go along with a "meh, whatever" attitude. What better way to fight the forces of Anarchy then to have a leader everyone actually wants to follow?
Brother Tanius, the Crushing Boa, is a devoted Fist of Order and steadfast warrior for the forces of Law. Like his Brothers and Sisters, he has dedicated his life to battling the forces of Anarchy. The overwhelming odds have given him the rather depressed outlook on life that most of his order shares. He feels the fight to be near-futile, but that matters not. What matters is that the attempt is made. Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment, but hope is not needed to persevere.
Tanius's discipline and outlook make him seem cold to others, which is quite accurate, actually. The Fists of Order are taught to suppress most emotions, as they are seen to weaken the will and distract the individual from the more important intuition and instinct most monk's utilize (ie: the Wisdom bonus to AC). As a result, Tanius appears cold and unfeeling, rarely smiles, and has little in the way of a sense of humour. He is still human, but rarely displays more than steely determination (and occasionally grim satisfaction).
The Fists of Order are not so much fighters-of-the-good-fight as they are fighters-of-the-
lawful-fight. If the true King turns out to be an evil bugger, no biggy. As long as he is King, Order is restored, and Anarchy struck down, it doesn't matter. Lawful Good and Lawful Evil are both Lawful, which is the important part. However, the Fists of Order do see equality and justice to be desirable in society, so goodness is
preferred.
The monks of the Fists of Order have highly ritualized training regiments that combine physical and mental conditioning. While a wizard will study her spellbook every morning, a Fist of Order will practice, and every
kata, or routine of techniques, is coupled with brief quotations from the Codex of Order, the sacred text housed in the Fists' central monastary. So ingrained in their techniques is their dogma that many Fists of Order cannot help but mutter the sacred words to themselves in combat. Every morning, if remotely possible, a brother of the sect will practice his
kata. Fists of Order have even been known to practice while imprisoned, hardening their fists, elbows, and feet against cell walls and floors in a display guards have found both amusing and intimidating.
Brother Tanius, like the other monks of his sect, are not particularly subtle nor particularly flashy in any facet of their life. The shortest distance between two points is
always a straight line. As a result, the monks are often predictable in their endevors.
Sample quotations:
"To abandon a cause one has sworn to uphold, no matter how difficult, is to surrender to Chaos. To surrender to Chaos is to to forsake all peace, justice, and enlightenment that Order provides, and ultimately betray that which is the salvation of us all."
(Because of his order's focus on keeping one's word, it will be rare Tanius will specifically swear to do something. He has sworn to find the True King and strike down Anarchy, which takes precedence.)
"Only through Order can True Enlightenment be achieved. Order reveals truths and makes clear secrets. Enlightenment lies beyond the gate at the end of the Path of Law. Discipline and Will are its twin Keys. The straight and narrow Path of Law is crossed by the many Paths of Chaos. Only by staying upon the Path of Law can Enlightenment be reached. All others lead only to the Fall. And should the world stray from the Path, all that can result is Anarchy."
(I've got to have SOMETHING to do while the wizards are studying, the clerics praying, and the fighters putting on their plate mail, don't I?
)
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In order for this idea to actually work, I'd like the DM's approval for the 3.5 feat Improved Grapple. No attack of opportunity provoked when initiating a grapple, and +4 to grapple checks. Improved Unarmed Strike as a prerequisite.
I believe you said +4 was too much in your opinion, so how about +2? I'd like to grapple as well as possible, so the bigger the number, the happier I be, but the negation-of-AoO's is the most important.
I won't get into proposing house-ruling special grapple actions like trips or throws just yet.
![:]](http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devious.png "Devious :]")
, but if you guys can't wait your gonna have to soak them on your own 
) or something unrelated that you've always wanted to try like taking on a beholder or a titan.
