Monk = __________ Striker

[VBMEW-01]

My friends (and fellow players) have discussed this one vehemently, and all but one do not want to see the "Return of Ki" to the PHB (Oriental Handbook=yes, PHB=no). This is mostly because we all get tired of players (or one in particular) squeezing monks into most of our campaigns when they don't really fit (in the oriental theme that they want to take with them). There is no problem with monks per se, just being forced to deal with the inevitability of the request (we hate to constrain what people can play).

Most of us agree that a monk would make a great divine or martial striker (with many of us leaning more towards the faith) and hope that the theme will be a little less eastern this go around.

My question for all of you, kind of for a broader audience, is what you all think a monk should be if no Ki power source is made?

 

[Leatherhead]

My question for all of you, kind of for a broader audience, is what you all think a monk should be if no Ki power source is made?

Martial, and Ki should just be the part of martial powers that let them do the flashy stuff like jumping around in full armor and healing.

 

[I'm A Banana]

It should be martial, not ki.

But as for its role....I could see it occupying any of them (but probably not leader)

As a Striker it would focus on "flurries" that dish out multiple instances of damage.
As a Controller it would focus on techniques that trip, disarm, push, etc.
As a Defender it would be like its 3e incarnation, with high defenses, high AC, and lots of mobility, that marked enemies kind of like a fighter does.

"Martial," for most purposes, equals ki.

 

[LFK]

I'm increasingly less convinced that Monk will ever show up again as a base class instead of a Fighter or Rogue Build Option + Paragon Path.

 

[Atlatl Jones]

Ki = Martial.

I wonder what they're going to create monks as. Their role in 3e was basically as 'striker', but only because they were lousy in standup fights and were fast.

I'd actually like to see monks as defenders. Lightly armored, fast moving defenders. In most Wuxia films, the martial artist takes on crowds or armies of mooks, often defending their friends/lovers/allies in the process.

If they are strikers, I wonder how their "extra damage" ability will work. Rogues get sneak attacks, rangers get their quarry, and warlocks get their curse. I suspect that monks would get some sort of 'challenge' mechanic, working like a ranger's quarry.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Martial only. Ki would fit a paragon path, though.

I disagree that ki is martial. There is no martial explanation for how monks can become immune to poison, gain spell resistance, touch someone to death or resist the ravages of age.

Striker is probably best, as monks are light fighters. However, being strikers might give them too much damage. (I don't want to see fists out-damaging a greatsword.)

 

[Aria Silverhands]

I have a better idea. Create a martial striker called the Brawler or Bruiser and make your unarmed fighting character that way. Then have the monk, samurai, ninja, and shugenja in a setting book.

Monk - Primal (Ki)
Samurai - Martial
Ninja - Shadow
Shugenja - Arcane (Elementalism)
Shugenja - Divine (Spiritualism)
Oni Hunter - Primal

 

[Torchlyte]

I have a better idea. <snip>

Monk - Primal (Ki)
Samurai - Martial
Ninja - Shadow
Shugenja - Arcane (Elementalism)
Shugenja - Divine (Spiritualism)
Oni Hunter - Primal

This idea is not better.

 

[Oni]

what if when you made your monk you could just choose the powersource and have different types of monks. Monks that are more physical, monks that are more spiritual (and supernatural). Though it would be nice if a purely physical monk was just a variation on the fighter instead I think. eh. just thinking as I type here.

 

[Cadfan]

Sorry, but monks should be ki. I know there are people out there who hate and loathe eastern flavor, but they aren't the sort who choose to play monks in the first place.

I know the OP said "if," but the "if" is too big to be swallowed.