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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Messageboard Golem" data-source="post: 2011489" data-attributes="member: 18387">Unorthodox Monks is a 30 page mini-sourcebook released by The Le Games. Inside this full-color pdf, you will find 5 variant classes based off the Monk from the Player's Handbook.  It can be found at rpgnow.com for $2, and it is well worth what you pay. Personally, I would pay more for it, because it is a great value. The product achieves what I believe it was sent out to do: to spark your imagination and make you want to use these classes.The five classes that come with Unorthodox Monks are:The Chaos MonkThe LasseratorThe Shadow WarriorThe Snake MasterThe Spiritual DefenderA little about myself that is relevant to this review, I am the type of gamer/GM who doesn't really like the variant classes introduced in the 3.5 wave of products or thr 3rd party products throughout third edition. I believe that additional base classes should only be used when the setting calls for it. In most D&D campaigns I run, the only classes I use are out of the Player's Handbook. Most 3.5 classes I've seen don't seem very inspired; Unorthodox Monks presents a bunch of classes that inspire me and give me lots of ideas for characters, NPCs, and plots.The Chaos Monk: Imagine a monk who, instead of developing their powers through rigid practice, uses them during a fiery passion. Well, you would have the Chaos Monk. The highlight of this class is a non-lawful monk who can rage like a barbarian. Eventually, they can place special weapon enhancements on their fists during their rage, such as Holy, Flaming, etc. Their unarmed damage and flurry of blows are slightly weaker compared to a normal monk, and they don't get all the versatile monk abilities, but I'm sure most player's will be ecstatic to play a monk who can rage without violating their alignment.The Lasserator: Imagine a class based off the main character in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and you have the Lasserator in a nutshell. They are monks are focus their training on a weapon at the expense of their unarmed combat. (The illustration for the Lasserator is of a female warrior in a kimono wielding a katana, and it is very yummy!) Among their abilities, they gain bonuses to defense when wielding their specialized weapon, bonus feats for it (weapon focus, weapon specialization, etc.), the ability to leap onto the blade of the foes, and other cinematic abilities. The Shadow Warrior: This class strikes me as a combination of the Shadow Dancer and the Monk. The Shadow Warrior doesn't receive the normal speed and AC bonus a monk does, and his Fortitude saving throw progression is worse. However, he does receive a number of new special abilities related to the shadows, the primary being the shade strike. It works like a sneak attack, dealing double damage instead of additional damage dice. However, as the Shadow Warrior gains in levels, the damage increases with his shade strike, and he can eventually deal ability damage through the strike. The other key ability allows the shadw warrior to dimension door by magically slipping through the spaces of reality. This strikes me as a good assassin/monk class.The Snake Master: One who is a master of Ki based on a snake motif, the Snake Master receives a number of snake-related abilities. Abilities such as granting himself scales which give natural armor, a strike that deals ability damage (by damaging pressure points), healing himself with ki, paralyzing others, healing ability damage, and tremorsense round out a pretty awesome class. However, in exchange for these abilities, they take a hit to their Will save and unarmed strike damage, relying more on his ki abilities than damage.The Spiritual Defender: Imagine a paladin crossed with a monk and that sums up the Spiritual Defender. They are denied the speed benefits and AC bonus of a normal monk, but are compensated with several special abilities useful against evil creatures and undead. They have an aura of holiness that gives them an AC bonus and save bonus against evil effects, extra damage versus undead, the ability to free himself from enchantments, transmutations, and curses, and perfect self. These and more abilities provide an able fighter against evil and the undead.All in all, I gave this sourcebook a 4 out of 5 because some of the mechanics could use some improvement. For the most part, the classes are well done and would make a wonderful addition to any DMs game if he wishes to expand upon the Monk. At $2, this book is practically a steal, for the ideas and content it gives you.</blockquote>

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