Finished level 1-20 design on the mystic before the end of the year. Six orders, ~50 disciplines, one fighter subclass (sohei). #wotcstaff

— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) December 31, 2016

Sohei shifted over to psi because I didn't like keeping it divine once you stack it up against PHB characters. #wotcstaff

— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) December 31, 2016

References to monasticism in AD&D stuck around, extended concept to include fighting orders, martial societies, secret societies #wotcstaff

— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) December 31, 2016

Order sworn to guard a gate to the Abyss hidden under their remote monastery could be a mix of sohei and monks. #wotcstaff

— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) December 31, 2016

@mattcolvilleIs the Mystic a new *class*? yes – was in UA a couple times in the past 12 – 16 months #wotcstaff

— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) December 31, 2016

Also, some might notice that I've been using UA to update a lot of the options inspired by China and Japan – there's a story there!

— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) December 31, 2016

I take the opposite of position on monks – including a non-European character type made D&D feel much more unique and interesting to me.

— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) December 31, 2016

So my impulse is to double down on that, and let DMs figure out how much real world geography affects what they allow. #wotcstaff

— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) December 31, 2016

The arguments against the monk always sounded hollow to me, considering D&D is Not Earth. #wotcstaff

— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) December 31, 2016

@Raz_Berry_RanidSay whaaaaat!!? Does this mean we are going to Kura-Tur? 😛 not any time soon, alas #wotcstaff

— (((Mike Mearls))) (@mikemearls) December 31, 2016