Monk
You don’t use weapons—you are a weapon. With powerful punches, kicks, and full-body moves, you inflict incredible damage on your foes. By focusing your energy (sometimes called chi, ki, or just “grit”), you magnify your power and speed. You probably gained your skills through intense training, fighting in real-world tournaments against your peers and betters, and, more recently, putting your unique skills to use in adventuring. Weaponless martial artists are both feared and revered, which means your role in your group is likely unique in one sense. However, you join any other frontline warriors on your team, using your weapons of hand, foot, knee, and elbow far more nimbly than someone swinging around a bulky slab of metal.
Background Options
Brought up in a secluded monastery, you left before you completed your training and still regret it after all these years.
The master you were training under was called to the capital two weeks ago.
Your old rival appeared in town a few months ago and apparently wants a rematch.
Your entire family was killed when a volcano erupted. Since then you’ve dedicated yourself to destroying primordial and elemental beings, especially those related to fire and earth.
A document you found in a library a year ago claims your family descends from dragons.
Growing up, you never lost a competitive bout in the monthly games in your community, except once. You still search for the one who beat you in hopes of a rematch.
Your close friend disappeared a few months ago, and their debts became your debts.
In off hours, you’ve been studying artful flower arrangement for the last couple of weeks.
Monk Abilities
You gain all of the following benefits: Able to take three more minor wounds and one more moderate wound Add +2 to Might Pool Add +2 to Speed Pool Add +1 Edge in Pool of your choice Cannot freely use any armor At tier 3 and tier 6, choose an ability from the Fantasy Genre Abilities list
Flurry (2 Speed): After making a light unarmed attack, as an extra action on your turn you make another light unarmed attack against the same target or a different one. At tier 3, you can make a third light unarmed attack as a third action on your turn. Action.
A few character abilities allow you to treat your unarmed attack as a medium weapon instead of a light weapon. You can’t use Flurry with a medium unarmed attack.
Extra Action on Your Turn, page (ref)
Nimble (2 Speed): As a First action, you move up to a short distance and then can take another First action, such as attacking with a light weapon or opening a door (the movement happens before the First action, not the other way around). Enabler.
First Actions, page (ref)
No Need for Weapons: Your unarmed attacks (such as punches, kicks, elbows, or knees) inflict an additional 2 damage. Enabler.
[!example]
Monk Equipment Bundle
Choose the following equipment bundle to quickly outfit your character, or assemble your own starting equipment. Appropriate clothing, a backpack, a bedroll, 50 feet (16 m) of rope, a meditation mat, three torches, three days of rations and water, a tinderbox, and enough extra currency to buy an expensive item.
Equipment, page (ref) Currency, page (ref) Expensive items, page (ref)
Part of Dungeon Fantasy