Vow of Poverty - RP Implications?

[Particle_Man]

The way I would run it, the paladin (or player of the paladin) can offer potions, but the VoP monk (and player) can't ask for them. Also, no puppy dog eyes, whiny noises, etc.

IME, the weird thing about VoP is how much it messes up the economy to donate thousands and thousands of gp to the local charities and orphanages.

I thought the cheezy route of VoP was to combine it with Magic of Incarnum.

I have played a VoP monk, myself. He didn't do too badly, but the gang I run with doesn't optimize. I did once shock the party. We fought some bad guys, including a cleric with an unholy human-bane scythe (ouch!). At the end of the battle, people were claiming loot. I said "I'll take the scythe . . ." Others got wide-eyed until I continued with " . . . and I want to take it to the nearest temple of Pelor and get it consecrated!"

 

[Particle_Man]

Oh yeah, two prestige classes to look at are Initiate of Pistis Sophia (but check the prereq feats as I think something is a bit messed up there and there is a non-existent feat or power on the list (or maybe a feat's prereq) that needs to be replaced) or Risen Martyr (not that hard to qualify for, so what the heck - not that you shoudl *try* to be martyred, but if it comes up, there's somewhere to go with it). What else . . . you can run out of exalted feats you qualify for. Oh, and Touch of Golden Ice might bear watching.

 

[Jacob Marley]

Well, to be honest, I'm not terribly worried about whether it's over or underpowered; and at any rate, all builds have something they're plainly not cut out for. What I am concerned about is what's going to make or break this PC's vow.

I suggest you sit down with the player in question and ask him how he plans to fulfill his vows before the start of the campaign. Make sure you are both on the same page as to what actions constitute a violation of his vows. Much like the Paladin's Code, each player and DM has their own interpretation of how it should be implemented. You need to make sure that the two of you agree to a particular interpretation.