Monk
Actual Monks
Introduction
Fantasy games are full of medieval and pseudo-
medieval imagery from the clash of chivalrous knights
on horseback to the wily thieves making their way
through cobbled streets, risking their necks to thieve
a coin or two or a loaf of bread. The fantasy world
is one of fields, villages, Robin Hood, King Arthur,
Dragons and renaissance fair costume and pomp.
Quite where ninjas fit into that I am not sure.
When I think of Monks and of your usual fantasy fare
I do not think of the 36 chambers of Shaolin, I think of
Friar Tuck, I think of the chanting Monks from Monty
Python & The Holy Grail. These are the images that
come to mind, not a Jackie Chan time travel comedy.
This is not to say that martial arts arent cool or
appealing, which is likely the reason that the kung
fu Monk was chosen for the fantasy games, but the
Monks that I remember could be pretty cool too. Friar
Tuck was handy with a quarterstaff and a brewing kit
after all; add some magic and clerical powers into that
and youre on to a winner.
The existing Cleric class is good, but it is something
of a hybrid class and not entirely devoted to the
scholarship of divine magic in the way that a Wizard
concentrates on arcane magic. The Cleric can look
after themselves in a fight, can wear armour and
can cast a reasonable amount of magic but there is
definitely room for tighter and more focussed divine
caster, more limited in other ways. If the Cleric
matches the Sorcerer somewhat in terms of versatility
then the Monk found here matches the Wizard, a
more scholarly and knowledgeable approach.
Postmortem Studios (James Desborough)
Everywhere there are gods and temples and
everywhere there are those who pass themselves over
into the service of their gods, dedicating their lives
as much if not more than their prayers or deeds.
Their whole existence is turned over to the worship of
their god, they are cloistered away from society, they
take vows that bring hardship upon themselves, they
spend all their time in prayer and study, self-sufficient
and asking for little.
Some monks might wander. If they search for riches
it is likely they search for their temple. Many monks
become personal confessors and spiritual tenders
to nobles and commoners alike, separate and more
down to earth in many ways than the high priests of
the usual temples. Others become wandering monks,
living on alms and taking the message of their faith
quietly out into the world.
Adventures: At first glance Monks are not the best
choice for an adventuring career. Many of them
are cloistered away in monasteries away from the
world, living lives of quiet devotion and religious
enquiry. However there are exceptions. Wandering
Monks go from place to place, begging for alms and
helping people where they can with their magic and
knowledge. Other monks also travel, seeking greater
understanding of their god, seeking wealth with which
to enrich their monastery or seeking out relics along
with lost or hidden lore of their faith and their god.
Still others act as confessors and spiritual advisors to
important nobles, merchants and other individuals
who might beg their services in any number of
matters.
Monks are also fairly low in the religious hierarchy
and might be ordered by others of greater station
to perform certain tasks. Being somewhat lowly,
humble and ascetic they often fall beneath the sight
of potential enemies making them better spies than
glittering Paladins or forthright Clerics.
2006
Characteristics: Monks are devoted and faithful,
strong practitioners of divine magic and scholars of
religious lore and history. They know many secrets of
healing and have great knowledge of their faith and of
a great many other matters.
Monks can be evil, turning their healing knowledge
and magic to evil ends, using their knowledge for
wickedness rather than preserving it or using it for
good.
Monks have no real combat training, save for a few
martial orders or those who have come to being
Monks as an escape from their former life.
Female Monks are called Nuns and share the
characteristics of other Monks.
Alignment: A Monks alignment must be within one
step of his deitys (that is it may be one step away on
either the lawful-chaotic axis or the good-evil axis,
but not both). A Monk may not be neutral unless his
deitys alignment is also neutral.
Alignment change beyond these bounds will strip a
Monk of his supernatural powers, including Vows and
Devotions, until they dedicate themselves to a new
god or manage to shift their alignment back to match
their deity.
Abilities: Monks usually have a high Wisdom score,
indicating their understanding and thoughtful natures
as well as their devotion to their god and the mystic
and religious world. A high Intelligence is also likely
to reflect the Monks great amount of study and a high
Charisma helps with turning or rebuking undead.
To cast a spell the Monk must have a Wisdom score
of 10, plus the spells level. A Monk gets bonus spells
based on Wisdom. The Difficulty Class of a Saving
Throw against a Monks spell is 10 + the spells level +
the Monks Wisdom modifier.
Hit Die: d4
Class Skills: The Monks class skills (and the key
ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft
(Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge
(Arcana) (Int), Knowledge (History) (Int), Knowledge
(Religion) (Int), Knowledge (The Planes) (Int),
Profession (Wis) and Spellcraft (Int).
Craft skills are likely to include Stoneworking,
Calligraphy, Bookbinding, Brewing and other practical
skills from the monastery. Profession skills are likely
to be more practical ones such as farming, again from
work in the monastery.
Domains and Class Skills:
A monk gets to select two Domains attributed to
the god that they worship. These domains provide
additional spells which the Monk can cast and
may provide other bonuses associated with that
domain. Particular domains grant particular bonuses.
Additionally a Monk who chooses the Animal or
Plant domain adds Knowledge (Nature) (Int) to the
class skills listed above. A Monk who chooses the
Knowledge domain adds all Knowledge (Int) skills to
the list. A Monk who chooses the Travel domain adds
Survival (Wis). A Monk who chooses the Trickery
domain adds Bluff (Cha) Disguise (Cha) and Hide
(Dex) to the list.
Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int
modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Monk
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Monks are
proficient with simple weapons and light armour. A
Monk who chooses the War domain receives the
Weapon Focus feat related to his deitys weapon as a
bonus feat. He also receives the appropriate Martial
Weapon Proficiency feat as a bonus feat, if the
weapon falls into that category.
Table: The Monk
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special Spells per Day
0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
In addition to the stated number of spells per day for 1st- through 9th-level spells, a Monk gets a domain spell for
each spell level, starting at 1st. The "+1" in the entries on this table represents that spell. Domain spells are in
addition to any bonus spells the Monk may receive for having a high Wisdom score.
1st +0 +0 +0 +2 Turn or rebuke undead 3 1+1
2nd +1 +0 +0 +3 Lay on Hands 4 2+1
3rd +1 +1 +1 +3 4 2+1 1+1
4th +2 +1 +1 +4 5 3+1 2+1
5th +2 +1 +1 +4 Vow/Devotion 5 3+1 2+1 1+1
6th +3 +2 +2 +5 5 3+1 3+1 2+1
7th +3 +2 +2 +5 6 4+1 3+1 2+1 1+1
8th +4 +2 +2 +6 6 4+1 3+1 3+1 2+1
9th +4 +3 +3 +6 6 4+1 4+1 3+1 2+1 1+1
10th +5 +3 +3 +7 Vow/Devotion 6 4+1 4+1 3+1 3+1 2+1
11th +5 +3 +3 +7 6 5+1 4+1 4+1 3+1 2+1 1+1
12th +6/+1 +4 +4 +8 6 5+1 4+1 4+1 3+1 3+1 2+1
13th +6/+1 +4 +4 +8 6 5+1 5+1 4+1 4+1 3+1 2+1 1+1
14th +7/+2 +4 +4 +9 6 5+1 5+1 4+1 4+1 3+1 3+1 2+1
15th +7/+2 +5 +5 +9 Vow/Devotion 6 5+1 5+1 5+1 4+1 4+1 3+1 2+1 1+1
16th +8/+3 +5 +5 +10 6 5+1 5+1 5+1 4+1 4+1 3+1 3+1 2+1
17th +8/+3 +5 +5 +10 6 5+1 5+1 5+1 5+1 4+1 4+1 3+1 2+1 1+1
18th +9/+4 +6 +6 +11 6 5+1 5+1 5+1 5+1 4+1 4+1 3+1 3+1 2+1
19th +9/+4 +6 +6 +11 6 5+1 5+1 5+1 5+1 5+1 4+1 4+1 3+1 3+1
20th +10/+5 +6 +6 +12 Vow/Devotion 6 5+1 5+1 5+1 5+1 5+1 4+1 4+1 4+1 4+1
Lay on Hands (Su): Beginning at 2nd level, a Spells: A Monk casts divine spells, which are drawn
Monk with a Charisma score of 12 or higher can from the Cleric spell list. However, his alignment may
heal wounds (his own or those of others) by touch. restrict him from casting certain spells opposed to
Each day he can heal a total number of hit points of his moral or ethical beliefs; see Chaotic, Evil, Good,
damage equal to his Monk level x his Charisma bonus. and Lawful Spells, below. A Monk must choose and
A Monk may choose to divide his healing among prepare his spells in advance (see below).
multiple recipients, and he doesnt have to use it all at
once. Using lay on hands is a standard action. To prepare or cast a spell, a Monk must have a
Wisdom score equal to at least 10 + the spell level.
Alternatively, a Monk can use any or all of this healing The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a
power to deal damage to undead creatures. Using lay clerics spell is 10 + the spell level + the clerics
on hands in this way requires a successful melee touch Wisdom modifier.
attack and doesnt provoke an attack of opportunity.
The Monk decides how many of his daily allotment of Like other spellcasters, a Monk can cast only a certain
points to use as damage after successfully touching an number of spells of each spell level per day. In
undead creature. addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a
high Wisdom score. A Monk also gets one domain
Aura (Ex): A Monk of a chaotic, evil, good, or lawful spell of each spell level he can cast, starting at 1st
deity has a particularly powerful aura corresponding level. When a Monk prepares a spell in a domain spell
to the deitys alignment (see the Detect Evil spell for slot, it must come from one of his two domains.
details). Monks who dont worship a specific deity but
choose the Chaotic, Evil, Good, or Lawful domain Monks meditate or pray for their spells. Each Monk
have a similarly powerful aura of the corresponding must choose a time at which he must spend 1 hour
alignment. each day in quiet contemplation or supplication to
regain his daily allotment of spells. Time spent resting
has no effect on whether a Monk can prepare spells.
A Monk may prepare and cast any spell on the cleric
spell list, provided that he can cast spells of that level,
but he must choose which spells to prepare during his
daily meditation.
Deity, Domains, and Domain Spells: A Monks
deity influences his alignment, what magic he can
perform, his values, and how others see him. A Monk
chooses two domains from among those belonging
to his deity. A Monk can select an alignment domain
(Chaos, Evil, Good, or Law) only if his alignment
matches that domain.
Unlike Clerics, Monks must be devoted to a particular
deity.
Each domain gives the Monk access to a domain
spell at each spell level he can cast, from 1st on up, as
well as a granted power. The Monk gets the granted
powers of both the domains selected.
With access to two domain spells at a given spell level,
a Monk prepares one or the other each day in his
domain spell slot. If a domain spell is not on the cleric
spell list, a Monk can prepare it only in his domain
spell slot.
Spontaneous Casting: A good Monk (or a neutral
Monk of a good deity) can channel stored spell energy
into healing spells that the Monk did not prepare
ahead of time. The Monk can lose any prepared spell
that is not a domain spell in order to cast any cure
spell of the same spell level or lower (a cure spell is
any spell with cure in its name).
An evil Monk (or a neutral cleric of an evil deity), cant
convert prepared spells to cure spells but can convert
them to inflict spells (an inflict spell is one with inflict
in its name).
A Monk who is neither good nor evil and whose deity
is neither good nor evil can convert spells to either
cure spells or inflict spells (players choice). Once the
player makes this choice, it cannot be reversed. This
choice also determines whether the Monk turns or
commands undead.
Chaotic, Evil, Good, and Lawful Spells: A Monk
cant cast spells of an alignment opposed to his own
or his deitys (if he has one). Spells associated with
particular alignments are indicated by the chaos, evil,
good, and law descriptors in their spell descriptions.
Turn or Rebuke Undead (Su): Any Monk,
regardless of alignment, has the power to affect
undead creatures by channelling the power of his faith
through his holy (or unholy) symbol.
A good Monk (or a neutral cleric who worships a
good deity) can turn or destroy undead creatures. An
evil Monk (or a neutral Monk who worships an evil
deity) instead rebukes or commands such creatures. A
neutral Monk of a neutral deity must choose whether
his turning ability functions as that of a good Monk
or an evil Monk. Once this choice is made, it cannot
be reversed. This decision also determines whether the
Monk can cast spontaneous cure or inflict spells.
A Monk may attempt to turn undead a number of
times per day equal to 3 + his Charisma modifier. A
Monk with 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (religion)
gets a +2 bonus on turning checks against undead.
Bonus Languages: A Monks bonus language
options include Celestial, Abyssal, and Infernal
(the languages of good, chaotic evil, and lawful evil
outsiders, respectively). These choices are in addition
to the bonus languages available to the character
because of his race.
Ex-Monks: A Monk who grossly violates the code
of conduct required by his god loses all spells and
class features, except for armour proficiencies and
proficiency with simple weapons. He cannot thereafter
gain levels as a Monk of that god until he atones (see
the atonement spell description).
Vows & Devotions (Ex): Monks make vows and
engage in devotions in order to draw closer to their
god, but these Vows & Devotions have an impact
beyond the spiritual world. At 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th
level the Monk gets to choose a Vow or a Devotion.
Vows may only be taken once, Devotions may be
taken multiple times and their effects stack. Breaking
a Vow causes the Monk to lose all their powers as
listed under Ex-Monk below, requiring an atonement
to overcome. Evil Monks may choose to take a Feat
instead of a Vow, but may still take Devotions.
 Vow of Poverty: The Monk has vowed
never to take wealth for themselves beyond what they
simply need to get by. The monk is limited to having
a begging bowl, simple rags for clothes and nothing
more fancy than a quarterstaff that is used mostly as
a walking stick. Such a vow leads to a tough life and
confers a +3 Fortitude Bonus upon the Monk.

Vow of Chastity: The Monk has vowed to

never partake in carnal pleasures of the flesh and
resisting the temptation has given them a will of steel.
This vow confers a +3 Will Bonus upon the Monk.

Vow of Obedience: The Monk has vowed

to be humble and to obey those higher in station.
Clerics, Monks, Paladins or Aristocrats with a higher
total level than the Monk must be obeyed unless
the orders violate the Monks religion or Vows or
are suicidal. This humility makes the Monk much
more approachable to others and gives them a good
reputation, giving them a +1 Bonus to Charisma.

Vow of Silence: The Monk has vowed never

to speak again so that their mind is free of distraction
to contemplate spiritual matters. The Vow enables
them to cast magic without needing to fulfil any verbal
requirements.

Devotion Ars Martial: The Monk has

devoted themselves to bodily fitness and battle
readiness to defend their monastery or perhaps in
special devotion to their god. They receive a +1
bonus to their Base Attack.

Devotion Ars Mentis: The Monk has

devoted themselves to study and they receive a +2
bonus to all Knowledge Skill Checks.

Devotion Ars Spiritus: The Monk has

devoted themselves to prayer and religious study and
has developed the ability to cast an additional spell
from their second Domain list, as well as their normal
spells.

Devotion Flagellant: The Monk scourges

themselves with pain, seeking to surpass the body
and to elevate themselves to the spiritual plane.
They receive a +1 Hit Point bonus per level, applied
retroactively.
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System Reference Document Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Bruce
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