Monks: How to RP Classes in 5e Dungeons & Dragons - Web DM

[@WebDM]

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[@giausjulius4]

Web DM Pruitt you sly guy! That amazing TNG reference! XD

[@jeovoneystrothers67]

I want to play with you guys

[@malmasterson3890]

Web DM Been waiting for this one. Love the monk, love you guys, nice work.

[@claytronifon]

You two are the best

[@deangrandfield9611]

Please do paladins

[@doeliewaaje1761]

“Omea wa mou shinderu” -a monk in one of my games before rolling a natural one

[@U_C_G]

*NANI?!?*

[@Draeckon]

*BAKANA!*

[@Lobsterwithinternet]

“ *IT’S NO USE!!!* “

[@omnisystem6030]

Doelie Waaje a monk is the class that turns you into an anime character

[@omnisystem6030]

That why I like it

[@TeagueShepherd]

Watching Pruitt nerd out about Muhammad Ali is wholesome af

[@JPruinc]

He’s my hero

[@cyclone8974]

Mohammad Ali.... what a stooge. Mohammad was a slave owner and Ali was too. While the man that Cassius Clay was named after was an abolitionist. Look up Cassius Marcellus Clay if you are wondering. It's only cool if you don't care about facts.

[@TeagueShepherd]

cyclone8974 You must be fun at parties.

[@andrewgosnell3383]

Nathaniel Wilson It is a person’s right to disrespect someone else if they wish. Not physically, just with their words. Not that I agree with what he said, but he has a right to say it, even if it’s kind of unnecessary and rude.

[@jamesrichardson3322]

Watch the films Ip Man, now that's fury of Blows. Real Ip Man was a badass!!

[@ll1ll1ll1ll1ll1ll]

I'm obsessed with the concept of a monk monastery in a symbiotic relationship with a Druid circle trying together to become the perfect living beings in a perfect society perfectly in tune with the world. They pair up and travel like Mormons to learn of the world and eventually set up new monastery circles.

[@brosephnoonan223]

C H Thats actually a super cool idea.

[@WaddelingProductions]

C H I love how you compare it to Mormon missionaries lol

[@gcfournier3386]

awesome

[@hithere4719]

This sounds loosely based on ORGAZMO! 😂

[@thaddeuswhelan8186]

My current DM is running this in a fantastic way. Basically running a combination of Highlander with the monks of the world. All the Masters have something fantastic, but if another monk kills them, that monk gets the power. Makes for a fantastic aiming point of side quest, and allows the DM to kind of run rampant on making his own custom idealizations of how these powers would work. Our monk just became the Master of the Phoenix, which gives him the ability to burn his ki points to Cure Wounds, Sprout fire wings, and have a chance a Resurrection on death, and that's only one of these guys.

[@heitorsilvasousa3342]

This is a fantastic way of making it work

[@ayyohwinning]

Totally awesome! Matt Colville did something similar. Love the idea of every monk master being “the Master of ____”, whether it’s a creature or whatever - and they’re just so fully embodied in their style that they have these unearthly abilities

[@СергейПрохоров-з9х]

Oh, was thinking about this myself, AMC with a sorcerer and picking phoenix bloodline.

[@zeldamaster52]

I've been enjoying playing a monk, Open Hand style, in Storm King's Thunder. Due to the Open Hand Techniques not having a size limit, getting to topple over a giant onto its back in a single punch/kick is an amazing feeling.

[@brosephnoonan223]

Tim Thissen Its really cool. The monk is the "cool" class. You can knock trolls, giants, dragons clean off their feet. You can literally be a 3ft-4ft tall half-man knocking around 30-40ft tall monsters that have nails larger than your whole body. Why? Because youre cool.

[@UltimaXReborn]

@@brosephnoonan223 Just f*cking punch them in the soul.

[@JPruinc]

Apologies!!!! The 'Say my Name Fight' was Ernie Terrell. The conflation is real.

[@danreed4250]

JPruInc I recommend pinning your comments so people can see it

[@JPruinc]

dan reed we have a standard pinned comment. We’re going to add an annotation to the vid.

[@Kronosxviii1]

For your alchemical monk, you should look into Chinese fantasy stories in the wuxia or xanxia area. There are stories where characters actually smelt their bones with alchemical concoctions combined with magical resources as a way to refine themselves. I believe the common term thrown around is body cultivator.

[@Kronosxviii1]

Specifically, in the, 'I shall Seal the Heavens' novel that's something the main character ended up doing later on as he gained self-enlightenment as he was mastering alchemy while pondering ways to allow himself to become more powerful. I think one of my favorite lines is when one of the teachers he comes across tells him to hunt down a race of beings that arrogantly refer to themselves as gods and his teacher specifically says they allow that race to call themselves that so that the teacher and his allies can amusingly refer to themselves as god slayers.

[@void2920]

I see, you are a man of culture as well

[@EilonwyG]

Loved the sidetrack of RP in combat. RP does not end at initiative, I like that. You should do a whole video on keeping RP going during combat, that would be awesome!

[@ryancooper5691]

I've been playing a Four Elements monk for about 3 years with my group as we went through Hoard of the Dragon Queen and Rise of Tiamat and I've had a ton of fun. I based his personality after Uncle Iroh and had a blast. For me, I love the mobility and versatility of the monk, and how you can use that in combat to support your character's personality and motivations. Another excellent video, guys!

[@BrickInTheHead]

that cut to pruitt's "that we know of" was perfect lmao, grade a+ editing!

[@Troommate]

11:29 Would love the idea of a bunch of monks trying to one up each other: Monk 1- "My master was a living shadow" Monk 2- "Well mine was literally a GIANT" Monk 3- "well my master had 4 arms and was a planes walker!" Monk 4- "Ha that's nothing mine was a Psychic Vampire!" XD

[@calebcarithers2059]

Monk 5 my master shoots lazers from his hands

[@paulcoy9060]

Does he say, "pew pew", when he does it, like Krillin ?

[@calebcarithers2059]

Troommate no he yells final flash

[@ghostfather1390]

yeah, well My master is a shadow of his former self!! no, wait, that did not sound right ...

[@paulcoy9060]

That does give me a good idea, of learning martial arts from the Undead. Stunning Fist becomes Ghoul Fist, and the target is actually Paralyzed, not just Stunned. A Shadow can teach you to become incorporeal.

[@inkblotCrisis]

Commented on a previous video about making an Elven Monk who botched the wording of a life-debt and served a human family for generations before the entire line died down. It went surprisingly well, managed to roll decent enough stats for monk but I also had high charisma (16) so I kind of modeled him from Walter C Dornez from Hellsing with Intimidation and a Shadow Monk. I made it so he's 'rusty' from years serving as the family butler for 150+ years or so hence why he needs to relearn being a monk. Good day, which of you hooligans need a sound thrashing? (classy mf)

[@LotoTheHero]

Hellsing is awesome. :D Sounds like a fun character to play.

[@creepinNinja413]

I love him sessions must be a riot lol

[@LegendaryWasabi]

10/10 Sounds like a cool character to RP.

[@loganreads90]

inkblotCrisis I played an Elf monk with the Cloisterd Scholar background. He was essentally a Jedi/Dragon Ball character Hybrid.

[@caramonmajere447]

You can get some inspiration from the anime Overlord, too. I can't remember the butler's name, but he's a classy badass as well.

[@ray53208]

"It is said a Shaolin priest can walk through walls. Looked for, he cannot be seen. Listened for, he cannot be heard. Touched, he cannot be felt."

[@johnathoncrines3198]

Also just in terms of technology alone DnD takes place in the late medieval-early renaissance. Plate armor is a high end but professional standard of protection. Shields are used but the pole arm formations that define renaissance warfare are already well on their way to being developed. Rapiers (a staple renaissance weapon, not a medieval one) and even early (read really shitty) firearms are rare but not wholly unavailable, again very renaissance. The wizard archetype as an arcane scholar conceptually is based in renaissance fascination with magic and the occult. Ditto with the concept of the warlock. The conceptualization of a malign spellcaster is hardly new. The caster who sold his soul to a devil for contractual powers, is in fact a renaissance conceptualization of the with to a t.

[@zylgp]

Monks are my favourite class to play; who doesn't love walking up to big ass dragons and devils and beating them to death with your bare hands?

[@RANDOMASIANGUY1]

So what I learned is that Mohammed ali is more a monk than a fighter

[@michaelperry1104]

Dude, Pruitt, the TNG reference of the fight at Tenagra. Fantastic reference sir.

[@Troommate]

Levels of badass comparison- "3/10" throwing a lightning bolt at a dragon. *Wizard "5/10" Stabbing it with a sword in full plate. *fighter "7/10" yelling and naked hitting it with a great axe. *barbarian "10/10" walking up to a dragon and punching it in the face!!! *Monk

[@calebcarithers2059]

Troommate monk walks up to a beholder and punches it square in its main eye

[@scottorocker]

"11/10" insulting its mother *Bard

[@nikosganadakis5218]

Scotto Or rather; "11/10" Getting 4 other people to try and kill a dragon. *Bard

[@JoeR-cd9jg]

caleb carithers this happened in a game i dmed

[@StrawberryLawlie]

11/10 Seducing the dragon only to break it's heart and it's will to live *Bard

[@NamesElliot]

I always play monks as minion master, as soon as the DM says “roll initiative” I’m looking for something to fight that’s weak and doesn’t hit me that much, because you know, monk natural armour. Drunken Master monk’s redirect attack, paired with dodge as a bonus action, you can deal some decent enough damage every turn, and if nobody goes for you, your reaction can be used for whatever you want. You can make up to five unarmed strikes on different opponents, add the extra attack that you get at level five, and eventually you don’t even need weapons. Your unarmed strikes are magical, and eventually you can fucking ASTRAL PROJECTION.

[@volkano985]

Elliot Freeman you play monk very well grandmaster. Because each of a monks attacks is usually weak by itself the amount of attacks is what makes them powerful but if you can one tap a minion with one punch and you do that 5 times then thats at least 5 actions youve just saved your party from

[@accountname8330]

My grandpa sparred with Mohammad Ali in some training gym once decades before I was born. He said he'd never had a chance against the guy, he was so fast that Mohammad Ali kicked his ass before he even knew what was happening

[@jsizzlesaurusrex]

Wesley Hubbard my sensei kicked Muhammad Ali in the balls once. When asked what he was thinking, he explained that he wasn't interested in fighting Muhammad Ali.

[@SemiOmni314]

Neat

[@lordkira9791]

"I'm talking people who were breaking stacks of brick with their heads. they're just normal people." *I look at my self...half Korean, half Japanese...5'4'', 115 lbs...I can't even lift a brick...what am I?*

[@brosephnoonan223]

A normal person who cant break a stack of bricks with theyre head.

[@barrymcballs]

Not a martial class, apparently.

[@razzlebazzle420]

A wizard, maybe?

[@lunchbox042043]

A shame bringer to your master.

[@Bluecho4]

On a different point, I came up with an idea for a Monk that is more like an ancient Greek fighter. They come from an academy, where Philosophers study the natural world. Here, natural philosophers (Wizards) stand side by side with philosophers of the body (Monks), trading ideas and trying to achieve Platonic ideals of themselves. Some of these guys work with the four elements, creating Evoker Wizards and Four Elements Monks. Other times, they try to peel back the layers of matter, in order to gaze upon and manipulate Spirit, the fifth essence. These guys see the material world of mundane senses as merely shadows of more rarified and perfect Platonic forms, which cast these shadows from the light cast by the Source. And so you have these Monks that are basically Sun Souls, because they work with the pure light of creation, which is tied to the Spirit. The sun in their souls, if you will. So you'd have this pugilist and athlete, punching and grappling and shooting light everywhere.

[@147CT]

It is a very Socratic thought that one's mind can only be as sharp as his body. I guess that explains why Greek philosophers lived so damn long.

[@denisarabinka3508]

That's cool as hell and very original,one of the best DnD ideas i've seen,good job

[@toshomni9478]

I think that one of the first, if not the first, major expansion of D&D that Gary Gygax did back in the day was Oriental Adventures. Monks have been there nearly since the beginning. Mark Hulmes of High Rollers fame recently put up a variant of the Way of the Elements subclass for monks on the Dungeon Master's Guild which allows you to do cool martial arts moves instead of spells for each element that I like a lot.

[@YaoBao1]

Tosh Omni Thanks for sharing the bit about Mark Hulmes' variation of the Four Elements Monk! I am currently playing around with a concept, and while I have some clear ideas already, it would certainly be interesting to have more inspiration!

[@loganreads90]

Tosh Omni Like Xiaolin Showdown in the beginning?

[@Rautakello]

I had this idea for a monk character. I've always loved that image of Fuujin and Raijin in traditional japanese art as well as the buddhist temple guardian style statues. These giant, imposing forms. I thought about maybe a goliath monk who is destined to become one of these gatekeepers for some giant monastery and he has to go out into the world to experience it before coming back and assuming the duty of a guardian. Maybe even have the character literally become an embodiment of a fuujin (wind god) or a raijin (lightning god) by transforming into a cloud or storm giant, mirrored by a rival/brother-in-arms who'd go the opposite route. This idea has always been super cool for me, because the idea of an actual giant doing monk shit and amping it up is super cool to me. Lots of earthshattering stomps and heeldrops.

[@SirSolomonAriel]

my monk I have in a game is literally becoming raijin albeit with a lion motive added towards it.

[@Bluecho4]

The idea of an alchemical Monk is amazing, I love it. Had an idea for something like that, but with a Wizard. Monk, though, is amazing. Don't feel limited by just Western Alchemy, awesome though it may be. Chinese, Arabic, and Indian Alchemy also have long histories. I can imagine a Chinese style DnD empire, where the Emperor is guarded by an order of scholar alchemist Monks. Rather than being isolated hermits, these guys are part of the imperial court. Keep in mind, also, that there is both "Internal" and "External" Alchemy. External is what you normally think of, with the beakers and the solvents and the alembics and such, working through external materials. Internal, meanwhile, involves a lot of body work, breathing exercises, working with chi charts and chakra points. All to work towards using methods to change the body internally. I can easily imagine Monks who use one, or the other, or even both. Putting all this together, I'm imagining a whole DnD world where many Monks are also Alchemists. Employing different styles and techniques, and various combinations of Internal and External methods. Perfecting their bodies, minds, and souls. An inter-monastery rivalry might break out between a Chinese-style high alchemist, a half-mad Arabic style alchemist, and a European style alchemist. It's amazing the sort of stuff you could do with this concept.

[@calebjtv]

As an avid monk player, I love this video. Y'all are by far my most favorite DM channel on youtube. Please keep on keeping on, I love you guys!

[@alexmallory1213]

I loved the introduction to this monk video. Talking about the possible conflicts with the class was a good way to start because it allowed me to focus on all the amazing aspects of the monk player.

[@sadist1k]

Jim Davis is just so warm and welcoming. I haven't ever had to chance to really dive into a D&D campaign, but I can honestly say it'd be a pleasure with someone like him! Awesome outlook on a class that I'm low-key interested in one day exploring.

[@b_olson542]

Guys, this video is pure gold. Solid gold. I have been struggling with developing my monk character for a while. You have given me a lot to work with. As you can tell, I am a grateful noob. I am now a mega fan of you guys and your videos.

[@andrewwestfall65]

I have a character monk I'm really excited to play. He's a bugbear that had some birth defects (short misshapen hind legs with extra long arms making him knuckle walk) and abandoned, picked up by a ranger thinking he was a dog that was experimented on by the nearby wizard. The ranger raises him as a dog familiar for a while before finding out he's a weird looking bugbear. His style is either him expanding on his natural style or trying to emulate the weapon techniques and spells the ranger used.

[@mattyD92992]

The setting we homebrewed has a country based on Ancient Greece, and the monk from there was trained in Greek Wrestling. He was all about grapples and holds. He was awesome.

[@proffesornugget1613]

What Stats did you use for that

[@rsl5067]

Had to pause after Pruitt's opening question to point out just how good it was at being an opening question. A universal curiosity that cut straight through the heart of the matter.

[@timothykrzywonski]

Definitely my favorite episode in the "how to RP classes" series

[@tacticianmark8942]

Can we all just take a moment to realize how fucking terrifying monk pirates would be?

[@Nir7r0us0xide]

I am 100% stealing your alchemical monk idea.

[@EviscerVIII]

Bryce Grant I’m tempted to do the same.

[@Nir7r0us0xide]

EviscerVIII Do it. I'm already making an order of monks based on this idea, with inspiration from The Witcher franchise and the super soldier program from Marvel Comics

[@Curran_Kleen_Brown]

This video has really pushed me to play a monk. I've been on the edge for a while, but this has changed me! Thanks guys for the awesome content!

[@hank9112]

Man everything you said about the monk is so spot on. Thank you for making this video!!! I love playing monks in dungeons and dragons because their so many different concepts you can use to apply to a monk that just get me excited compared to other classes in DnD.

[@ironman21389]

I've been waiting for this episode since you guys announced this video series. I was far from disappointed. Your best video yet!

[@BIZEB]

I think this is the only video on youtube that expands on how to roleplay monastic traditions. The books give so little background on what they could be, specially stuff like Way of Shadow that links them to Shar, making it very difficult to integrate in certain campaigns. This is great content.

[@Bundalings]

Playing a Kensei monk who used to be a circus acrobat. Learned how to use a whip and bow for tricks and animal training. Also the circus was a front for thievery so he likes to steal things. He's fun!

[@brosephnoonan223]

What an inspired, off type monk. Good job!

[@gypsywolf9145]

I made a halfling kensai monk who learned from an old monk who was a gambler and a fence. He had him practice in the fighting pits and would bet on him for coin. The halfling wielded a battleaxe and had a pack of steel throwing cards (reflavoured darts).

[@tealcookies8967]

Just want to say that you guys are wonderful. These are videos that truly make me love dnd without it feeling controversial or trivial. Whenever I get down or anxious as a dm or player, I come here. You guys rock ^^

[@TomBombadil168]

More than any other class, I'm excited for new monk subclasses

[@SamuraiCypher]

I love the direction 5e went with Fighters and Monks in the diversity category, especially Monk. I’m a 3rd/3.5 head but I’m about to start a Level 1 5e Monk on Sunday and I am excited.

[@Kat-qe1vk]

Off type monk? Bugbear bartender/bouncer drunken monk. Her name is Paws and she was found as a cub by a disgraced Monk who took her, founded The Cuddly Bear Tavern and had her working as a bouncer the moment she could throw a proper punch. She's never left The Cuddly Bear, until a PC visiting the tavern skipped out on their tab and Paws was instructed to go find them and collect. She's a really fun lowish-intelligence character who's learning how to get out from her life of servitude and to recognize and cope with how abusive her upbringing actually was....While also being a fucking bear getting drunk and kicking ass in combat. Genuinely the best of both worlds RP wise, I love her

[@wallpello_1534]

I'm playing a bugbear monk right now. I was the monastery cook and fight with a big wok. I left to taste the foods of the world. So much fun

[@scpowell69]

Concept of the envoy warrior from the Netflix OG show Altered Carbon is an awesome idea for reskinning and rp-in a monk.

[@lghtngfan]

The breakout conversation about RPing through a fight was brilliant. Maybe you should revisit that conversation for a full video.

[@AGrumpyPanda]

I certainly sympathise with monks being weird to fit in earlier editions, my problem was always the connotation of the far-east martial arts that naturally came with it that was awkward to fit into the world, but the bigger problem was how their abilities worked in Pathfinder. You got a whole bunch of abilities that, if they were part of the other classes would have mostly been described as magic, but the book explicitly calls out as not being magic. Eventually I got around this when the Unchained monk came around, as well as a couple other supplements, and I was able to reconcile it in my own homebrew setting as it being another form of magic that comes from discipline and focus, the same way a Paladin does it just focused on order and discipline instead of good. 5e then made it much easier by throwing the kung-fu movie nonsense out of the way a bit and going full ham with the elemental and shadow monks, and those guys I've got no problem with at all.

[@sigmaphidelta8]

Awesome video guys. I'm glad Pruitt has converted you to the uberness of the monk Jim.

[@mordiveer5957]

This is one of my favourite series on youtube, im always excited to see an upload!

[@LordMarkan]

I wanna play a monk that's just a sailor that's had the shit beaten out of him more times than he can count, and dished it out just as many times, and instead of spending ki every time, he takes swigs off of a flask of something.

[@orangemarmaladesky]

Cans of spinach?

[@timothye.2902]

drunken master my man

[@mikegould6590]

I said it before. I’ll say it again. Kenku Monk who provides his own poor over-dub. Go Five Elements and conquer flight. It also allows for that video game ranged attack. I love it. It WILL happen.

[@Pfeifenkraut]

MASTER Davis and GRANDMASTER Pruitt

[@marcoghiotti7153]

"House of Flying Daggers", "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon": 2 movies where the "monk" goes to the next level.

[@abouttime837]

Kingkiller’s Tempi is a great DnD character. a Kvothe might have place as a PC but the NPCs are fun for inspiration

[@tannerharmon2325]

A T Those books are incredibley underrated as dnd inspiration.

[@thomasl9145]

Big respects for mentioning Brotherhood of the Wolf! What a great D&D movie it is, so inspirational. :)

[@MangoTurtlenova]

My friend is starting his first ever game and I've decided to go with a Goliath Kensei Monk with a few levels in forge cleric, basically a mountain dwelling blacksmith who masters the weapons he creates

[@undead9999]

Monk main and shaolin kung fu practitioner here. I loved every minute of this. Thank you, guys

[@azmendozafamily]

5:50 Every one of these videos boiled down to the line "you're the DM, come up with a reason."

[@calebburns5715]

I don't leave comments often but I have to say this one really sold me on the idea of a hobgoblin master for the monk in the game I DM to end up running into

[@brosephnoonan223]

Caleb Burns Hobgoblin's are born Kensei's and samurai. The martial philosophy that promotes excellence and discipline would make them an ideal (if not harsh) mentor to anyone looking to learn how to truly master a sword.

[@Lumpyrox1412]

In my campaign setting, monks are flavoured as hamon fighters are in the first JoJo's Bizarre Adventures. They are like solitary beings that learn to master their bodies and as a consequence can do superhuman feats.

[@C2daORRUPT]

Lumpyrox posting with my fellow rock lee fan

[@matthewmitchell9491]

Lumpyrox Every big bad in your game is the same guy coming back from "Death"

[@OfDaSouth]

I'm playing an entirely naruto inspired monk/rogue, good to see another Rock Lee fan down here!

[@victoria4987]

I'm playing an astral self monk which basically has a stand that he unlocked by the sheer spirit of vengeance

[@GrassPokeKing]

OfDaSouth Because Rock Lee had such an iconic scene, I like the idea of my monk wearing medium armor most of the time, unless he needs the higher AC, in which he just rips it off and it makes the big BOOM like Lee's weights (maybe not as big as that lmao) and all of a sudden he's fighting a lot better and thus, scarier lol

[@trentongarza7567]

What’s up my fellow Texans! I love y’all’s content. Please don’t stop.

[@Atm_0s]

Excellent inspiration, looking forward to your thoughts on the sorcerer! I'm about to play a divine soul charismatic tiefling so I'm excited.

[@arielarnau3413]

Glad you mentioned Brotherhood of the Wolf.

[@arielarnau3413]

Perfect Ravenloft movie.

[@SuperMcmonster]

I had a monk named Azrael. He was an assimar. His backstory was that he was left at the monastery afflicted with a flesh eating disease. He wasn’t expected to survive long, well he did and became one of the monks. Well turns out the monks studied the Way of Long Death. The monastery took care of the sick and dying all while studying death. So Azrael left to help out others ( also because the angels were getting real naggy) Azrael was a traveling doctor and if you crossed his moral line in the sand, well he knows how to hurt you real bad. All the while dressed in entirely wrapped because of his childhood disease. This character was based off of King Baldwin the 6th.

[@goldflame3390]

I once showed up with Thelonius “The Fist” The Monk (“the fist” is his title, The is his middle name, and monk last) who accidentally got very drunk during his first quality assurance shift at his brewing monastery and got kicked out. After that, he was shocked by the unfair class structure in mainstream society and thus became a communist revolutionary. His signature weapons were hammer and sickle. Eventually, the party will make it to the southern part of the continent where he sparked his uprising and took over a jungle nation to create his utopia

[@davidclifford7408]

The western alchemist monk you described is basically the premise of Doc Savage, and that's great!

[@direwolf8703]

A monastery isn't technically needed. A monk learning from a traveling master on his adventures.

[@GS-mu7zj]

I think medieval is a stage of technology rather than a time period in a D&D campaign. Another great vid, wish I would’ve found this channel sooner.

[@ZYR47]

Alchemcial Monk sounds great for an alternate powersource or philosophy for Sun Soul. As you grow you create different reactions with your soul, going from bursts of fire to shaped light. Ending in their final ability, the ability to actually glow gold at will. To choose to bear your perfect soul in the form of its light and dare I say, radiation in the form of damage to others. Could go to both ends with it, purely how the monk looks at it philosophically, or actually mix in some sci-fi undertones of what you have actually mutated your body into.

[@JordanHayesRule]

I've been SO EXITED to see you guys revisit Monks, it was well worth the wait. Love you guys, keep up the good work ♡

[@Melantrist]

The Alchemy monk idea is very interesting. I love it.

[@thecuter0]

I like the martial art of hit hard monk. Every attack roll is added up into a single punch as far as flavor, mechanically it's the same but use the abilities to push enemies around with a single punch.

[@whensomethingcriesagain]

I actually would be really interested in making a more friar themed subclass for the monk, make it more scholarly and religious themed alongside the martial prowess

[@elfbait3774]

I have always had trouble with monks but the one time I had a player insist on playing one, i really enjoyed it. The character was a half-orc foundling, left on the door step of a monastery. Taken in by the monks, he was forbidden to learn their art but the kind master saw potential in the young half-orc and made sure that his daily chores either emulated the training of the order or positioned him near enough to lessons that he could benefit from them himself. One night he was tricked into taking the final test for the order in full view of several of the order's masters. It was undeniable that this half-breed orphan was not only fit to be part of the order but had excelled in adversity and humility.

[@bioberserkrgaming]

That one over there? That guy is just... a guy. Beautifully spoken

[@chrisanderson6950]

Last monk I played was an elf who had been raised by a group of dwarf battle ragers... she was a kensai fighting with axes, but the fighting style was effectively pub fighting, because that's what her "Fathers" has taught her... she was a lot of fun to play

[@izzystephens1402]

Nice Next Generation reference @ 5:58!!

[@dylanlewis3038]

Darmok is such a great episode.

[@thereallibs7746]

I love how Jim threw that Hermetics in near the end. I've been coming up with a character like that myself for weeks now. Trying to add Hermetics and the study of western alchemy into his main story and what makes him, him. I'm a brand new player in DnD and this channel has definitely made the game less intimidating for me. Thank you guys for the great content and keep up the awesome work!

[@Troommate]

One Punch Man Jim Davis XD #OnePunch!

[@mrknightburrell9711]

#onepunchdavis

[@edstevens1503]

Man, that thumbnail, I can't unsee that!

[@maxmustermann2417]

This is awesome and maybe their best episode ever.

[@Sasukefan1230]

I played a monk in my last game as a player who was a former pro wrestler and his combat style was his old in ring move-set. It was actually more fun to role-play his combat descriptions than social situations. Elbow drops, leg drops, DDTs, spinning back kicks and some even more ridiculous stuff it was great.

[@Nurk0m0rath]

At that mention of dragon style, I got a new idea for a Drunken Dragon Monk who takes the drunkard archetype and uses either a torch or a candle to light his breath. Honestly though there is a dragon kung fu style, but it's really more of a lizard-y thing than a fantasy dragon; it's all about approaching diagonally and never striking head-on.

[@the_rose_garden01]

Bruh, my Kung Fu instructor once hit me on the neck super fast and knocked me out for a solid five minutes. He would move and leave an afterimage like it was Dragonball. Oh man, I love martial arts

[@andrewg9107]

Thank you guys for this. As a huge monk fan (my favorite fantasy archetype!) I'm glad you made the point that DnD isn't just limited to medieval Europe (and not very similar to that time either). Even during those times, Shaolin monks were still around kickin ass on the other side of the planet. Diversity in campaign settings is a must in my opinion and makes complete sense.

[@TheDestrab]

The monk concept sounds like it'd be great for a Warforged

[@HoundofOdin]

My first and favorite character I have ever made in D&D was a full blooded Orc monk named Stephen. He didn't have a great Int or Wisdom score, so he was basically a big green Goku with a cockney accent. He was only good at fighting, eating lots of food, and feats of endurance. Toward the end of our campaign, he got in a headbutting competition with Gruumsh and won. Orc + Monk = awesome.

[@Blaze-ku6gf]

I think my favorite example of a Monk is a character named Regal Bryant from Tales of Symphonia. He was a president of a large-scale company nestled in an island resort but ended up being this extremely powerful hand-to-hand fighter. It broadens the mind to what a Monk can be and what circumstances put them on the path that they walk.

[@ymblester5630]

I recently played a Street Urchin Monk who was a literal hobo with his high Wis played up by just saying Crazy Homeless Guy Stuff. His name was Pigeon Eater Charles, and his low CHA was played up by being odd, smelly, and fond of standing far too close. Also eating actual raw pigeons.

[@ThisNameIsBanned]

Sounds like your every day good neighborhood monk.

[@ymblester5630]

Yeah. It was a pretty grand send up of Player Characters as a whole, but he really came into his own.

[@O5AXD]

I just created hobo monk who was an urchin but was taken into hobo monastery and learned the way of hobo monks. My gm agreed to have improvised weapons as monk weapons and honestly I can't wait to play a monk that is hitting enemies with bricks

[@Heimdal001]

@@O5AXD Honestly, I feel as though improvised weapons should have always been considered monk weapons as default part of the class. Most monk weapons ARE improvised weapons. Nunchaku, sickle, spade, wooden bench (it's an actual kung fu weapon!), and the list can keep going... none of these were invented to be weapons. I played a bar brawler (monk) who used beer bottles and steins as their "monk weapons"... Until they found a magical frying pan, and a magical beer stein, which neither were enchanted in a combat way, but they technically had two magic weapons to swap between!

[@CaptainOrlax]

Whenever someone mentions grappler monks I remember the story somewhere around the internet about Los Tiburon, Shark of the Land, Masked Wrestler. THAT is how I want monks to be played forever.

[@wabalubadubdub7429]

Please do Bards next!!! Love your videos! Both of you are very insightful, and fun to listen to.

[@the_rose_garden01]

I once made a Drow Elf Shadow Monk and reflavored it as a Dhampir, with the Martial Arts as his enhanced strength and agility. Monk works so well for any character concept that works with you having superhuman physical abilities.

[@nabhus]

@5:57 love the star trek reference

[@jgjonola]

As soon as he said, every now and then you have to have a darmok and jalad at tenagra, i subscribed. Nice!

[@liltortillatree]

John Gjonola that was a great reference it made me subscribe too!

[@curtbro100]

I can't wait till guys like these start making VR worlds to play in

[@axelminus]

I am pretty new to DnD, and you guys gave me some really good ideas for my character - Thanks! I am currently a strengh based Loxodon Monk with way of mercy. It's a fun combo to play around with

[@ArBee123]

Brotherhood of the Wolf is an amazing film. The dubed version is so good I didnt realise it was dubed the first time I watched it

[@C2daORRUPT]

I played a Kenku Monk recently. Kenku are known for their ability to copy with exceptional skill. Ten (the name is an homage to the tengu of eastern lore) being unwelcome in the temple would perch himself high above the training grounds and study his art from there in secret. Ultimately he ended up mixing his street & martial skills to master the Monk way of the shadow. When he finally attained a timeless body he temporarily went catatonic as a flood of information poured into him. The last 5 levels of his training were dedicated to sorcery to unlock the jewel all kenku seek after, flight! He retired and opened a school of his own, high in a tower that was welcoming to all who sought after knowledge they did not know how to attain, those who needed to fill a void but didn’t know how.