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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Manbearcat" data-source="post: 6194100" data-attributes="member: 6696971">Mastery over body married to mastery over mind, which  eventually transcends the mastery over body, turning him into  something supernatural.   That is the 1st order, the thesis, of what it means to be a Monk.   Everything else is derivative.   He is an ascetic warrior who follows the the teachings and martial techniques of a monastic tradition which perpetuates this physical and spiritual realization.  Unsurprisingly, I feel the 4e Monk captured this archetype thematically and I feel that because of its thesis (mastery over mind transcending the physical body/world), psionic as power source for its mystical aspect is fitting.   Further, I felt that the 4e rendering provided it with a gameplay focus and functionality that it lacked in prior editions.  What does this guy do?  4e PHB 3, page 62"You typically eschew weapons in favor of unarmed attacks, and you avoid  armor in favor of maneuverability and agility. Few can match your speed  and poise on the battlefield. Your powers are more than simple attacks;  they are complex forms that allow you to strike and move with unmatched  grace." That looks right to me.  How does he manifest in 4e?  Solid (or quite high) AC and Reflex with no slouch at Fort and Reflex (he gets a + 1 all defenses).  High single target damage, the ability to flurry on multiple foes at once, and unmatched mobility (see below for an example).  This is how he resolves the conflicts of combat.  Here is a good example of what this would look like in play:Follow that up with an At-Will Flurry of Blows inherent to your tradition (automatic damage, possibly of an elemental subtype, to 1, 2, or all creatures around you, accompanied with a damage bonus or a control rider - eg slide 1, - 2 hit, no OAs till next turn, etc).Esoteric techniques underwritten by observation of natural creatures/systems?  Check.  Unearthly speed, agility, and mobility?  Check.  Anyone who engages you pays for it?  Check.Ok, that is the easy part.  How does this guy contribute out of combat?  This has long been the difficult part for the Monk (same as Fighter although he has historically been worse off, less proficient and less focused, than the Monk).  His primary attributes (Dexterity, Wisdom, Strength, Constitution) make him naturally effective at what you would expect him to be effective at; Athletics, Acrobatics, Endurance, Insight, Perception, Stealth, Thievery.  These are all class skills.  He also has the thematically fitting Heal, Religion on his menu.  Curiously, he also has Diplomacy?  I'm not sure how that one comes about as I don't particularly associate it with the archetype.  Perhaps the wisened sage aspect, saying little but what is said is profoundly impactful?  I could buy that.  The rest of it?  Spot on.Utility Powers, he can (At-Will) reduce fall damage, climb sheer walls and flat ceilings (like a spider), and when he becomes truly powerful, limited, wire-work Kung Fu flight.  With limited ability he can step through worlds (teleport), move with the speed of a cheetah, manifest skin like rock and become unmovable, and take the form of a flitting ghost (insubstantial).  The Long Distance Runner Martial Practice (basically run forever) is basically Monk 101 as well.So.  How can he facilitate successful non-combat conflict resolution?  For exploration, as a a sneak-thief, a  scout/reconnoiter, and as someone capable of making physical impediments/challenges obsolete and thus easing the burden/finding a way for the rest of the band.  For social, the right word/nugget, a bit of sagely advice on mystic lore when called upon, and the ability to read people instinctively.  Looks like he can contribute reasonably well in varying situations.Finally, the "thief" part of sneak-thief is a game-changer for the monk.  Without it (even with Perception and Stealth) he can't be at least a reasonable stand-in for the Rogue in an infiltration/dungeon-crawl scenario (which is the niche he would be filling with respect to non-combat).  As a diluted Fighter, Rogue, Mystic, he becomes 3 parts that don't add up to 1 whole.  That is where he has fallen down in editions past.  He needs more punch and more function in each aspect.  The 4e version of the Monk tightened him up in all 3 aspects, played to thematic archetype and game him focus and high functionality in and out of combat.</blockquote>

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