Source/Role Matrix in the Advanced Player's Guide

[Fifth Element]

WotC catches a lot of flack for some of their names, sometimes deservedly.

But I just have to say that calling a Divine class a "Martial Artist" seems like a really bad idea.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

WotC catches a lot of flack for some of their names, sometimes deservedly.

But I just have to say that calling a Divine class a "Martial Artist" seems like a really bad idea.

That's what you get if you want your class to be named "Monk" and get a GSL that tells you that you might get in trouble if WotC later decides to create a class by that name.

 

[Fifth Element]

That's what you get if you want your class to be named "Monk" and get a GSL that tells you that you might get in trouble if WotC later decides to create a class by that name.

Oh, I realize the reason why it's not just called monk. I just think given the quality of the author a better (non-misleading) name could have been picked.

 

[Jack99]

Its a bit weird that the divine striker is called martial artist. Wouldn't divine artist have been better?


Okay, maybe not

 

[GMforPowergamers]

If it makes you feel any better, I dithered for a good long while between martial and divine for the monk. But I wound up going with divine for several reasons:

1) The older edition monks used ki, which has a strong spiritual component. That felt more divine than martial.

2) Monks have a lot of powers that felt a little more supernatural in nature than the martial power source would have justified.

3) There's already two martial strikers in the core rules, whereas there are no divine strikers anywhere in the game yet. (That alone wouldn't have made the decision for me, but as a tertiary reason, it helped tip the scales.)

Sorry you're disappointed its not martial, but I think you'll be happy with the class in general. (And it's not a hard flavor change to make, if you want to.)

Well I can see from your point of view, and if flavor is the only major change then...heck what else could I ask for.
Also I do want to say I liked your work ffor 3e, WoD and the new stuff for dragon...so I can live with a little bit of a funny name...

 

[Mouseferatu]

Oh, I realize the reason why it's not just called monk. I just think given the quality of the author a better (non-misleading) name could have been picked.

It's a viable point. Ultimately, I wanted to go with names that were both highly generic (for reasons that are explained in the book) and that were easily and instantly associated with the classes that spawned them. The book itself suggests alternate names for the "martial artist" (and the others, for that matter), but they were all very culturally specific and/or misleading. "Martial artist" really was just the best name for the class.

I could be wrong--it's been known to happen --but I don't think it's going to cause any confusion once people have the chance to read it.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I apologize if you have mentioned this elsewhere, but is the reason you choose to ignore the obvious power source for the "martial artist" as ki is because WoTC hasn't released that power source officially yet?

Yep, at least partly. I wanted to keep the APG classes to the power sources already released, rather than adding brand new ones.

 

[takasi]

When the preview for the Nature Priest did not include Channel Divinity I lost a lot of hope for this product. Power sources IMO should be consistent, and if the paladin and cleric have access to these feats I would expect all divine classes to have this.

 

[Fifth Element]

I could be wrong--it's been known to happen --but I don't think it's going to cause any confusion once people have the chance to read it.

I agree - I don't there's going to be any actual confusion. It's just the sort of thing that WotC would get raked across the coals for.

 

[cdrcjsn]

If it makes you feel any better, I dithered for a good long while between martial and divine for the monk. But I wound up going with divine for several reasons:

1) The older edition monks used ki, which has a strong spiritual component. That felt more divine than martial.

Why not just use Ki as the power source then?

According to the PHB, it's one of the planned power sources coming up (pg 54).