Hey @TheEdVerse quick question as I was thinking about this, in your home Realms games do monks (as the PC class, all editions) have a place? I always thought that having monks (as the class) felt quite odd in a medieval-ish setting.
Thanks in advance!
— Alex McClay (@AlexMcclay2000) January 28, 2022
1)
Player Characters in the game are supposed to be the mavericks, the standouts, and so, relatively few in number/rare “on the ground.” Almost all monks in the Realms are stay-at-home folk of faith who live and work in… 2)
…monasteries, venerating “their” deity. The monk class represents the rare few monks sent forth to travel and do holy work in the Realms (usually what we see as “adventuring” work). Yes, they’re an odd fit, particularly if you…#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 29, 2022
3)
…accentuate the Hollywood “mystic martial artist of the East” figure of what used to be known as chop-socky movies. However, my home Realms has no direct real-world analogues: when I think of PC monks, I’m NOT thinking of… 4)
…flying feet and karate chops and giant gongs being struck or koto music or incense and silk pantaloons. I’m thinking of a fighting-trained priest in homespun, trudging along in service to a god, and fighting only when she/he must.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 29, 2022
Personally, I'd love to hear more about this Ed. Monks are this odd bit of orientalism that gets thrown into largely western settings. So ways to make them feel at home are very interesting.
— Seth (@WolfsTrail) January 30, 2022
1)
I see most monks (the game class, that is) as the weapons-masters of temples who teach unarmed or improvised weapon training (as opposed to the expert archers, slingers, and swordswingers)–or their star pupils. Sent out into the world either by the temple, on… 2)
…"undercover" missions (tail this valuable temple shipment, not showing yourself as a visible guard, so if someone ambushes it, you can jump in and foil the raid or tail the guilty), or going out into the world to adventure due to the god's dream-vision urging.#Realmslore— Ed Greenwood (@TheEdVerse) January 30, 2022