Page 1 of 2

BotB Monks

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2001 10:00 am
by der Moench
Looking through the Blades of the Banshee site, I didn't see that any of the Wings were accepting Monks - ? Did I miss it, or is this an oversight, or is BotB not accepting monks?

I only ask because...well, I've been thinking about playing one! We don't have any monks registered yet, so I thought I might try one out. (Currently, I am registered as a cleric.)

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2001 11:38 am
by Nippy
Of course we accept Monks, however we haven't decided which wing they belong in.

Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2001 12:31 pm
by der Moench
Originally posted by Nippy:
<STRONG>Of course we accept Monks, however we haven't decided which wing they belong in.</STRONG>
Nippy; exactly 800 posts! Cool. Well, OK. I would think monks belong in the Divine wing, but I guess I remember reading some thread where this was thrashed out a bit. Is this why no one is actually registered as a monk? Or is there really no one interested?

Edit: Ha! By the time I typed that note up and posted it, you got up to 802!

[ 08-30-2001: Message edited by: der Moench ]

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2001 1:15 am
by Nippy
Thats 'cos I SPAM!!

Seriously I thought they should play in the divine wing but because they fight so well others thought the monk should be in the fighters...

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2001 4:54 am
by Xyx
If I were a Monk I'd want a place of my own... Purity of body and mind doesn't belong in the Fighters' Wing :D ... and since they're more about fighting than religion, they don't belong in the Divine Wing either, I would think. I mean, they may be called Monks, but they're really just martial artists.

Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2001 10:01 am
by Nippy
I think what you just said is debatable, besides i doubt we will have enough Monks for one whole Wing...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2001 4:21 am
by der Moench
@Xyx: I don't know that your connecting "divinity" with "religion" is appropriate in this case. Yes, one could say monks look to some kind of divinity, but not necessarilly within the confines of a religion. Yes, they are good fighters, but then so are paladins, and they are in the divine wing. So, clerics look to a god and their religion for divinity; paladins look to the concepts of "right" and "good" and "justice;" monks look within themselves for it ... but it's all the same in the end.

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 3:17 am
by Rail
I agree with der M. A martial artist would be a fighter or ftr/monk. I see a straight monk as something similar to the Shaolin, developing the amazing fighting prowess through both spiritual and physical discipline. I guess it's a role-playing question. How do you want to play your monk? Like Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme (fighter) or rather like Grandmaster Pan or a Shaolin monk?

[ 09-03-2001: Message edited by: Rail ]

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 3:23 am
by Tamerlane
Why don't just let the monks decide

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 3:30 am
by Xandax
Originally posted by Tamerlane:
<STRONG>Why don't just let the monks decide</STRONG>
I agree - but I don't think a wing should be made entierly for monks, seeing as that wing might hold very few members.

They would have to choose between warrior or divine. IMO

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:01 am
by Rail
Should each monk choose individually or should the first monks decide where all monks should fall?

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:08 am
by Xandax
I think the first monk we get would decide - then when we get more, if the majority wants to move wing, then we can discuss it again.
But so far, we have no monks so... :cool:

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:20 am
by Rail
Well..., I've been thinking a paladin/monk would be cool. Not that I'm making any commitment here, but it's a thought. Ethically, they're very similarly restrictive, though my character already has a hard enough time staying lawful, so why add another class to fall from. :D :D

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 4:52 am
by Xandax
Originally posted by Rail:
<STRONG>Well..., I've been thinking a paladin/monk would be cool. Not that I'm making any commitment here, but it's a thought. Ethically, they're very similarly restrictive, though my character already has a hard enough time staying lawful, so why add another class to fall from. :D :D </STRONG>

AFAIK without knowing numbers - there would be a big XP-penalty for multiclassing a Paladin. But how big I don't know.

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 5:21 am
by der Moench
Well, should I decide to be BotB's first monk, I'll drag all followers into the Divine Wing kicking and screaming if I have to! But right now I am sticking with my cleric. I think he will be more fun to roleplay - I mean, I just don't see monks talking all that much, so I feel like that aspect of the game (roleplaying) would be limited with a monk character - even though I like the actual abilities of a monk much more than a plain, old, cleric.

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 5:47 am
by Duramath
I think it would be a decent mistake to put monks in the Divine Wing. Someone said before that Paladins belong to the divine wing because they look to the concepts of right, good and justice, but that doesn't make them divine. The reason they and clerics can be considered as such is because most of their powers are God-given. If you base monks even slightly on their real-life templates, they would draw their power from internal sources...and probably be atheists.

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 10:30 am
by Xyx
The D&D3 Player's Handbook states that:
  • Monks pursue perfection through action as well as contemplation.
  • A Monk's training is her spiritual path. She needs neither clerics nor gods.
  • Monks recognize each other as a select group set apart from the rest of the populace.
I won't be playing Monks and could care less where they go, but I think the above pretty much illustrates that they would best fit in a Wing of their own.

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 10:43 am
by Craig
Indeed indeed

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 11:05 am
by Xandax
Originally posted by Xyx:
<STRONG><snip>
I won't be playing Monks and could care less where they go, but I think the above pretty much illustrates that they would best fit in a Wing of their own.</STRONG>
Yes - but I still feel that making a wing for 1-5 members wouldn't be good.

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2001 11:00 pm
by Rail
Originally posted by Xandax:
<STRONG>Yes - but I still feel that making a wing for 1-5 members wouldn't be good.</STRONG>
Agreed! Besides, there are several classes that fit in between wings. To me it is just a technicality. There are no inter-wing rivalries. We're all part of the Blades. We compliment each other. I don't think we plan on adventuring just with our fellow wing members, since that would leave us severely lacking in certain areas. Wherever the monks may end up, let the first ones decide. They'll still be available to adventure with all of us.

IMO, however, I still say monks are more religous than they're given credit for. Just because they're looking inward for power rather than upward, it doesn't make them less religous or spiritual. Their religion and power is as real as any paladin's. But, once again, wherever they end up is just a title to categorize or organize the guild members.

[ 09-04-2001: Message edited by: Rail ]