polarbruski
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Post by polarbruski on Aug 5, 2014 16:22:14 GMT -8
Upon finding the text in the book "The first thing you need to know about playing a monk is that you may earn the undying hatred of your GM!" my wife decided she needed to play a monk in my upcoming campaign. We have a fun relationship. Anyways, we're trying to figure out how monks work and what their motivations are. She's going to figure out some reason to help the group, some sort of obligation to the clan she needs to repay, but we're unclear as to whether or not monks follow the way of Bushido and value the seven virtues for example. Do they care about honor at all? Are they solely motivated by the goal of enlightenment? Do they feel any special devotion to human life, or peasants? Where can we learn more about them? Is there more source material dealing with how they operate? Thanks!
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fredrix
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Post by fredrix on Aug 5, 2014 21:54:02 GMT -8
There's a good section on Monks in Secrets of the Empire, but it's mostly fluff, not crunch. Key thing I can remember is monk players should use the Tao of Shinsei (fortunes) rather than "Bushido "
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polarbruski
Apprentice Douchebag
Posts: 54
Preferred Game Systems: Savage Worlds, L5R
Currently Playing: L5R, DnD 5E
Favorite Species of Monkey: Macaque
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Post by polarbruski on Aug 5, 2014 23:16:30 GMT -8
There's a good section on Monks in Secrets of the Empire, but it's mostly fluff, not crunch. Key thing I can remember is monk players should use the Tao of Shinsei (fortunes) rather than "Bushido " Fluff is exactly what we're looking for, thanks!
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Post by The Northman on Aug 6, 2014 22:10:13 GMT -8
There are a few things that come to mind, though we've had zero players try out the monk thing in our own group.
-Spreading the Tao -Gaining enlightenment by experiencing the outside world -Perfecting their martial craft by testing it against a wider variety of opponents -Retired samurai (by age or injury) sometimes become monks. There could be a connection there, despite the forfeiture of samurai status. -The character could be tutoring one of the samurai or serving as an adviser to the characters' lord.
The wandering monk is probably the most prolific archetype for that sort of character, so once you figure out the initial motivation, it's pretty easy for everyone to accept. Examining the actual Tao and the Shinsei quotes spread throughout the books is a great window into what the motivations can be.
A lot also depends on which clan you're focusing on, if any. I'm a big proponent of single-clan games, so if you're dealing with Dragon you've got a much easier time of integrating a monk into the party.
On a side-note, the only L5R game I've ever played in where there was a quest/adventure feel similar to other fantasy games was a Crab campaign.
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SirGuido
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Post by SirGuido on Aug 7, 2014 7:28:01 GMT -8
Different monks are motivated by different things, like The Northman said. Perhaps your monk has decided to mentor another player in the party. Perhaps he/she wants to teach the world more about the Tao. One of the biggest things with monks is the chance to reach enlightenment and that is a HUGE reason to go out "adventuring" or just experiencing the world in general. Look at whatever school she is interested in and that will give you an "IN" on which one is best for her character.
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Post by yojimbohawkins on Aug 7, 2014 12:21:46 GMT -8
Try & talk her into playing a tattooed monk. At least she'll be Dragon Clan then!
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SirGuido
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Post by SirGuido on Aug 7, 2014 12:28:53 GMT -8
Try & talk her into playing a tattooed monk. At least she'll be Dragon Clan then! And tattooed monks are bad ass!
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Post by Malex on Aug 12, 2014 13:09:10 GMT -8
I do not know about L5R 4e, but older versions suggested that monks were outside of Bushido and not held to its tenents. However, they were respected by followers of Bushido. Odd.
This is where things get weird in the whole Japanese-Chinese mish mash that is L5R as monks in Japanese history follow Shinto, which is where Kami come into the mix. Plus a lot of monks were retired military personnel who were trying to live a different life until death.
Sent from my LGL55C using Tapatalk 2
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Post by joecrak on Aug 12, 2014 19:55:24 GMT -8
The easiest way os the "Search for Enlightenment"
Only through experiencing new things, places, and people, can one achieve true enlightenment like Shinsei before.
Or you could just be traveling to become the greatest martial artist in the land, cause you totes got to win that upcoming Street Fighting tournament. It might even be your Final Fight.
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Post by yojimbohawkins on Aug 15, 2014 10:14:01 GMT -8
I do not know about L5R 4e, but older versions suggested that monks were outside of Bushido and not held to its tenents. However, they were respected by followers of Bushido. Odd. This is where things get weird in the whole Japanese-Chinese mish mash that is L5R as monks in Japanese history follow Shinto, which is where Kami come into the mix. Plus a lot of monks were retired military personnel who were trying to live a different life until death. Sent from my LGL55C using Tapatalk 2 That's mainly because the majority of the Brotherhood of Shinsei are retired samurai!
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