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Discussion: Roleplaying a Monk

Tags: #roleplay  #Class: Monk  #Duvain 
  • October 26, 2017
    I am intrigued by the prospect of a swordmaster/monk/mage hybrid. There are all kinds of crazy weapons that were used by Kung Fu monks back in the day - many of which were bladed. Aren't mages sort of monks in their own right? Both are depicted as being detached and absorbed in their studies. Tolfdir and Arngeir are great examples of this dichotomy - both are experts in their respective fields, and both are very cautious and disciplined in the way they approach their craft. Kodlak also comes to mind. He is very wise and ponders the prospects of entering Shor's Hall, but feels immensely torn because he accepted the gift/curse of Lycanthropy, and so he is indentured to dwell in Hircine's plane of Oblivion upon death as a result. However, there is the resolve to prove himself honorable enough to enter Sovngarde, so he searches for ways to cure himself.
  • Member
    October 26, 2017

    Zonnonn said:

    Sounds like you've got an interesting character brewing, looking forward to the profile! You make an interesting point regarding monks and the philospohy behind them, so do you think the primary characteristic that makes a monk a monk is the mindset (like your pilgrimage example) behind their actions? And is it the paths they've taken that create the mindset, or the mindset that creates the paths they take?

     

    This is a complicated matter but I will keep it simple and say that I think it is both in the beginning and it depends on what the individual will experience. You might have an individual who after coming across certain events in his life like for example someone attacked by necromancers and experiencing the horrors of necromancy he decides to become a monk dedicated to the teachings of Arkay or you could have someone who decides to live the life of a monk simply because of his mindset in a certain path which could be following a martial path like a swordsman aiming to become an unparalleled sword master or a secluded wizard dedicated in the art of magic or someone following certain rules which dictate the way he lives like always helping fellow people, showing charity etc in the end you could have someone who was a thief or something "shady" and decides to turn a new page and try to become a good person in a more extreme "monkish" way not just stoping to commit "shady acts" but starting to actively helping people. So, I would say that in the beginning it could be one of each or even both things that enable them to receive the title of monk, the mindset or the experiences not exactly path in most cases. After they have gone through these two things, experiences and some sort of "enlightenment" regarding their mindset (not sure if that is the right word) then they will be able to choose a certain "monkish" path to follow. Following this path though is not absolute since anyone can be tempted, like a monk of Arkay going astray and start worshiping Molag Bal for power or for a certain big iron club that bashes heads and steals souls or a lone monk training to attain enlightenment/improvement in the way of the sword or some other martial path after experiencing some failures giving up on this path; that is another story though. 

    Not sure if I answered the way I wanted but this is a tricky and complicated matter. :P

     

  • Member
    October 26, 2017

    Kodaav said: I am intrigued by the prospect of a swordmaster/monk/mage hybrid. There are all kinds of crazy weapons that were used by Kung Fu monks back in the day - many of which were bladed. Aren't mages sort of monks in their own right? Both are depicted as being detached and absorbed in their studies. Tolfdir and Arngeir are great examples of this dichotomy - both are experts in their respective fields, and both are very cautious and disciplined in the way they approach their craft. Kodlak also comes to mind. He is very wise and ponders the prospects of entering Shor's Hall, but feels immensely torn because he accepted the gift/curse of Lycanthropy, and so he is indentured to dwell in Hircine's plane of Oblivion upon death as a result. However, there is the resolve to prove himself honorable enough to enter Sovngarde, so he searches for ways to cure himself.

    Exactly! I totally agree that being a monk character is not just about worshiping some sort of higher power/entity and use only your fists as your main weapon as far as games go at least. 

    P.S I just f*cking love shaolin kung fu and yes they used and use a variety of weapons and there were some cases when they even participated in wars against "bad guys" most of the time and they were major badasses like  going a few monks vs a big, BIG number of people or protecting their temples and towns/villages from bandits/pirates and there were also the wandering monks going about being like a monk you would make in a game helping people, killing pirates/bandits etc.

  • October 26, 2017
    I am seriously considering a Monk build now. My current Altmer Arcane Warrior is not meeting my expectations, so I shall have a go at making a Monk of sorts.
  • Member
    October 26, 2017

    Duvain said:

    Not sure if I answered the way I wanted but this is a tricky and complicated matter. :P

     

    You're answer is more than enough for me! The more detail the better I say, RP is a complicated thing after all. Thanls for the info Duc, lots of interesting stuff to consider next time I whip up a new character, might include some monk-ish qualities in it now :)

  • Member
    October 26, 2017

    Zonnonn said:

    You're answer is more than enough for me! The more detail the better I say, RP is a complicated thing after all. Thanls for the info Duc, lots of interesting stuff to consider next time I whip up a new character, might include some monk-ish qualities in it now :)

    Glad that this was of help. To be honest my best roleplays were with monkish characters, getting such a character right with RP and giving him the right vibe can make for a satisfying playthrough.

  • October 27, 2017
    One-Handed, Two-Handed, Block, Alteration, Archery, Restoration, Smithing, Enchanting. I want to go full-on unarmored, but block may not be viable, perk-wise. Then again, I think as long as I invest in perks efficiently, rather than putting all my eggs in one basket (like I usually do because I'm a moron, apparently) this could potentially be a fun build. Honestly, I gave it a trial run with a couple of different skills, but it still felt like I was playing a regular ol' Battlemage. Ideally, if I were to incorporate Destruction, it would only be for the cloak spells. I have never really utilized Block and Alchemy is something I've thought about using instead of Restoration. Either way, I think crafting the backstory is more interesting than me being up way too late at night thinking of what kind of character I want to make. Rofl
  • Member
    October 27, 2017

    I tend to think of monks in terms of RP and playstyle rather than in terms of skillset. For example, I'm currently on my 2nd playthrough of a build I've been messing with over the last month or so, and on paper it doesn't look terribly monkish: Destruction, Restoration, Smithing, and Light Armor. Yet the build feels and plays very much like a monk build--a Khajiitess touched by the hand of Khenarthi (she was struck by lightning), who wanders through Skyrim helping folks in need and punching the face of oppression, evil, and the un-natural xD

    It helps having Ordinator--those perks (especially in Light Armor) really lend themselves quite well to playing as a monk, and while I usually play my monks unarmored, I've enjoyed crafting/improving my own light armor as I've wandered about searching to find the will of Khenarthi. By keeping my magicka at around 200, it gives me enough juice to cast a lightning cloak, and a couple of chain lightning spells before I have to close in with the fisticuffs; however, with the Warrior's Flame perk you are randomly touched and regenerate 20 points of magicka for 5 seconds (I RP this as a blessing of Khenarthi), and can fall back and blast a few more shots before getting back to the fistwork again. It's been a great balance of Destruction and unarmed that I've loved playing.

    PLUS, the Absolute Power perk (can be used once every 45 seconds) telekinetically grabs the target you've blasted with a lightning spell, and whips them over to you to hang suspended (like a punching bag) while you wail away. Can't say it enough: Love. Dat. Ordinator :D

    And... Love. Dose. Monks ;D

  • Member
    October 27, 2017

    @Shinjin - Same here Shin I focus more on RP and playstyle as well and I had quite a few monkish characters with "non mainstream" monk skills. Ordinator can make a lot of builds shine and that khajiitess looks like an interesting character! 

  • Member
    October 28, 2017
    ...I’m considering my own warped concept of a Monk Build now, one who uses Illusion for Courage and Pacification to stroll through dungeon strongholds and pluck required items from the fingers of their holders, with courage used to empower allies when enemies have no peace in their hearts. Only thing I’m missing is something for banishing Daedra...