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Actual Monk
[1-30000-179-4] |
$2.00 |
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Verlag: Postmortem Studios
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This is a short PDF presenting a brand new monk class. Unlike the David Carridine-inspired kung-fu wanderer in the Player's Handbook, this class is based on the western ascetic commonly associated with Christian monastic orders. In the intro, the author makes a fairly good case for adding a class like this to the D&D game. Clerics, the author points out, are focused on a wide range of abilities beyond divine magic. There is room, then, for a focused divine caster with a set of abilities more befitting a religious scholar.
The monk class is a weaker fighter than the cleric, with fewer hit points and only one good save. I was disappointed to note that his skill list and skill points are identical to the cleric's, making the monk no more scholarly or learned than clerics. Throw in Turn Undead, access to cleric domains, and the ability to spontaneously cast healing spells, and I'm starting to wonder the point in playing a monk at all.
Eventually, the monk gains access to a unique suite of abilities: Vows and Devotions. Upon reaching certain levels, the monk may select one new class feature from a list of eight. These include appropriate options such as Vow of Chastity or Vow of Silence. The devotions all have latin-inspired names like Devotion to Ars Mentis, which I thought was a neat touch.
However, the mechanics behind the Vows and Devotions are a mixed bag. The worst of the bunch is probably the Vow of Poverty. This vow requires the monk to give up all but his most meager possessions. In exchange, the monk gains a small bonus to his Fortitude saves. Unless you're playing in a very low magic campaign, trading in the thousands of GP in magic items your character is likely to accumulate over his career for a single saving throw bonus seems like a very poor choice. Compare this to the Vow of Chastity, which grants a similar saving throw bonus in exchange for a life of sexual abstinence (a mere roleplaying restriction!) The Devotions are better balanced, although none of them are really inspired in any notable way.
I understand that the author was trying to create a class that emulated the cleric in the same way that the core sorcerer emulates the wizard. I have no problem with keeping monks similar to clerics, but there is very little here to make them interesting enough to play. Sorcerers have spontaneous casting and a different set of skills than wizards. Monks are clerics with worse saves, fewer hit points, and a handful of powers roughly equivalent to a few bonus feats.
LIKED: The introduction is well written. The author really did a good job selling me on why a class like this is needed in D&D. I also thought that the non-rules bits, such as the paragraphs on why monks might become adventurers, were clear and entertaining. The layout is clean and the background image looks nice on my screen.
DISLIKED: There is definitely room for class like this in D&D. Unfortunately, this book fails to deliver the goods. The author made a class that is too similar to the cleric and, ultimately, I don't think many people would be interested in playing a monk as written.
Also, as a minor complaint, the monk table is really hard to read due to a big block of text running right through the top of it.
QUALITY: Disappointing
VALUE: Satisfied
[THIS REVIEW WAS EDITED]
Wertung:  [2 von 5 Sternen!] |
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Antwort des Verlags: |
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Jaysis! How long does it take you people to get around to reviewing something :) I tend to the RP side of things and the mechanical and 'phat lewt' concerns aren't high on my agenda. It may well indeed not be suited to people who are more into number crunching and checks and balances in that manner but i think it stands up as a more RP oriented character. |
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