Roleplaying not Rollplaying a Monk Character

[Monde]

I am going to be playing a Lawful Neutral Human Monk for the first time ever. I am not sure how to play this character as I don't know much about Monks. I wish to roleplay him as his stats aren't very high so rollplaying is out of the question (I don't Rollplay anyway). I am playing a Monk as I have played every other character class (some more than others ) and am starting a character from 1st Level for the first time in a very long time.

We are playing in the Forgotten Realms using 3rd Ed rules.

 

[Gizzard]

I imagined that Monks have a Code of Conduct; something similar to a Paladin. It's a collection of the teachings of their Temple; a list of principles to live their life by. It's the embodiment of the Monk's Lawful alignment.

If you are feeling that your Monk is eastern, you might want to take a look at some eastern philosophies or something like the Bushido code. That's the path I went.

 

[Aaron L]

What are his stats, and where specefically is he from?

I just started a monk character myself, by the way, named Java Ginsu.

 

[Monde]

Stats are:
Str 15
Dex 17
Con 11
int 9
Wis 15
Cha 9

He can come from anywhere in the FR but will be based around Silvery Moon to start with.

I was thinking about making him into a "peasant" farmer with a healing skill. A peasant healer so to speak. Then I could travel the lands in a fairly safe disguise. The other party members think I am playing a peasant farmer. I even went as far as to change my character sheet to read Peasant Farmer and showed the other players the Peasant NPC class in the DMG.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I think a bit of the typical alignment discussion will roll in here (and there are always different opinion on what a certain alignment means and what not).
So, here is mine:
Your character is lawful neutral. This does not have to mean that he follows the laws of the country he lives in, though this might be. But it means he has some orders and priciples in his life, maybe based on the things he learned in his monastery (if he had one).
Since you are not good nor evil, none of your principles should be based on this side of the alignment axis - Mercy is not a part of your code, but overreactive and bloodthirsty revenge isn`t there, too.
Lawful Neutral might mean you do the things that have to be done (to fulfill your code, or something you "have to do"). If you have to kill someone, you will do so, without regrets, but also without pleasure.
If you give your word, you will stand to it, even if it might cost you (or someone else) a bit. But you probably won`t give your word away easily - only if you are sure that you can do what you promise.
Since you are lawful, you expect everything to have a cause, a reason why it happens or happened, and you expect any action to have an effect on the feature, and this effect has to be considered. This can mean that it is you who comes up with plans to do somethings and who tries to answer questions (solves riddles, finds the murderer), but it might also mean that you are sometimes shy to act, because you don`t know what will happen if you act (whatever your action might be).

As a Monk, you know discipline and dedication anyway (you might wish to ask what came first - the lawful neutral alignment or being a Monk?).

To rollplaying:
Your stats aren`t that bad - in point-buy, you are over the 30 point line. Your Int might be a bit to low, and your Con could be better, but otherwise, it is fine... (Except that I would have taken 17 to Strength - avoid Weapon Finesse and getting better trip values...)


Mustrum Ridcully

 

[Mystic_23]

I had a LN monk I was playing for a while. I too had a low Charisma, and to play the combination of low CHA and LN, he wasn't a particularly nice guy. Not out and out mean, just not someone who makes a whole lotta friends.

To justify his adventuring with the people he was with, I took it that he just happened to be around when they were planning to go out adenturing, and my character's philosophy of adventure was the whole adventure=training thing.

But when it came down to social interaction, there wasn't much. I don't want you to think I was trying to play a "loner type". We've had a guy in our group who loved to play "loner types" and they tend to annoy me. My character would always work with the group. However, in down-times, he wouldn't joke around with the rest of the people and kept to himself, meditating or somethign.

The character was a weird mix...his mother was from Kara-Tur and was a diplomat who was attempting trade negotiations when she met his father...a merchant from Calimport. They married, and had him and 3 other kids. So he's half asian, half arabian (if you put it in Earth terms) and therefore, had a very strict upbringing, even before he joined the monestary.

Anyway, taht's my take on it. I hope this helps to some degree.

 

[Kweezil]

Train of thought post:

A low(ish)-Int, high-Wis, low(ish)-Cha character is going to be the sort of person who relies on his own experiences and intuition rather than fancy words or intellectual ideas.
A Lawful Neutral monk is the sort to follow a code of conduct, probably one filled with semi-mystical allegories and zen koans. </Stereotype>

Combine these, and the bit about a peasant background and he sounds like the sort of person who follows his instincts and his heart rather than logic, but this still leads him back to his Code. Then again, with his lower Charisma, he may be rather sharp with people who disagree with his beliefs, like Mystic_23 said.

 

[JChung2003]

There is a list of monastic orders in the 3e FRCS (pg. 25) if you are interested in your monk being or becoming a member of one.

 

[Gizzard]

Then again, with his lower Charisma, he may be rather sharp with people who disagree with his beliefs, like Mystic_23 said.

Or he may simply be unable to explain his beliefs in any coherent way, so that people tend to find him dogmatic or mystifying even when he is right. Monk: "Think of a butterfly and a giant orange pumpkin. They can both be the same color, but they are not the same thing. This situation is like that. See?" Party: "Um, no. But please don't try to explain any more."

Your stats aren`t that bad - in point-buy, you are over the 30 point line. Your Int might be a bit to low, and your Con could be better, but otherwise, it is fine... (Except that I would have taken 17 to Strength - avoid Weapon Finesse and getting better trip values...)

I would have arranged my stats just as you did. You wont be a combat master for a long time since you are starting at 1st level, so don't worry about Trip or the +1 damage. I do highly recommend some sort of missile weapon so you can use your DEX to support the party in a way besides wading into (suicidal) battle against Bears and Ogres. Remember the first rule of being a Monk - only pick on things smaller than you! Like Kobolds and Wizards. ;-)

 

[Tonguez]

Every morning my monk awakens before dawn and goes through a number of ritualised exercises designed to stretch. loosen and ready the muscles.
She rarely speaks and is uncomfortable around others. However alone in the wilderness she is full of joy as she dances with the birds and sings with the wind.
She is content to watch and listen as the world goes by but when she or those she is closest to are threatened she is quick and deadly.