Hi, I just posted this on reddit, but I’ve been told this is the best place to get suggestions!

Hi, I just posted this on reddit, but I’ve been told this is the best place to get suggestions!

Hi, I just posted this on reddit, but I’ve been told this is the best place to get suggestions! I built a monk class (by combining two sources I found online ) for my sessions I plan to run because I love martial arts type stuff, and although I really like how the class is turning out, I’m concerned it might be too strong in areas, since I know I tend towards min/maxing in most games I play.  

Specifically, I’m concerned the meditate move may be too strong at higher levels (cap at 5 prep, 6 for humans maybe?) and the spell moves at the very end of the doc which may also require a level cap so they can’t cast lv 9 wizard/cleric spells better than the actual cleric and wizard… I’m unsure though.  

I’ve also been trying to think of a more narrative-based starting move to fit the theme, but nothing I’ve found or thought up satisfies me right now.  So I’d love suggestions!!  

(Also I put this under custom moves, since that is where I’d like the help – if that’s wrong let me know and I can change it)

Here’s the doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-7CRbIBHJ-CgXax6YZ9b340yAywAzVgGvVphx_ceMf8/edit?usp=sharing

Here are the two sources I used (read: shamelessly copied and modified content):

http://www.story-games.com/forums/discussion/18072/dungeon-world-i-made-a-class-the-monk https://www.reddit.com/r/DungeonWorld/comments/2wzgzk/critique_my_monk_playbook_work_in_progress/

7 thoughts on “Hi, I just posted this on reddit, but I’ve been told this is the best place to get suggestions!”

  1. Want this in a PDF? I had to modify it slightly to make it fit.  (Yes, the British “u” had to be taken out of Armor – it’d’ve made the advanced moves one line too long) https://www.dropbox.com/s/b83m5o6dhox1lse/PrisonerMonk.pdf?dl=0

    Here’s the editable file :https://www.dropbox.com/s/y32u46zufr4n4fj/PrisonerMonk.odg?dl=0

    Here’s my take on a Monk class :https://www.dropbox.com/s/6fpdttmz24u67os/TheFlowMonk.pdf?dl=0
    (S/He gets ‘Bolster’ [called Flow in this one] from succeeding well or failing badly, one or the other)

  2. Wow, thank you so much!! I suppose taking out the ‘u’ will let it match the other character sheets anyways haha.  I can’t open .odg files though- what program do you use for those?  (edit: found it, although I’m a little confused by Office Draw – it makes me appreciate your effort much more lol)

    And I love your concept of flow! I love the Taoist influence, and how well the moves work for it – I especially like the cap of 4 flow and the move ‘attuned to the flow’ to double it – Do you mind if I incorporate some of your ideas into my character sheet? I might have to use that mechanic for my monk’s moves to keep my monks from being too overpowered – I’m worried that 10 prep may be too much without taking an advanced move. I don’t currently have a way to regain prep during the action though, while your monks could conceivably keep the flow going all game long through their rolls.  

    The Leaper move is also an awesome move, I love it and what it opens up in the game’s fiction!  I might have to modify Wire Work to make it more inclusive to things like that – maybe even just change the name and include that the monk has the ability to jump a storey and continue with the rest of the effect.  

    The only thing I’m not sure I like about your class is that the monk can deal more damage unarmed than armed – when I think monk, one of my first thoughts is shaolin, who have a fair number of weapons.  That’s a minor complaint though, I’m a huge fan of how you based the class around flow.

  4. If I had thought it through I would have saved it in a more standardized format.

    I am not in the least opposed to you taking what looks good to you from the Flow Monk.

    I can tolerate a Heroic Fantasy monk dealing more damage than a Joe Shmoe with a sword (although it’s a sign that we’re doing ‘Fantasy’) – I like that it potentially puts the monk in a place where they’ll be overexposing themselves to get close enough for fisticuffs.  If they can deal damage at Reach they don’t have to do so.  I’m not saying you should change yours!  I just like the opportunities for hard choices it presents.  He’s also very much based on the original Kung Fu tv series, which is why there are ‘avoiding killing’ moves, which is in keeping with punching people instead of stabbing them.

    Happy Playtesting!

  6. Honestly, the format worked out because now I have the knowledge and tools to make more of these, so I’m happy with how it worked out!

    Making it a choice like that is an interesting way to look at it… Not a bad idea then! I like the inspirations too lol.

    I actually really like that class, it looks like it’d be fun to roleplay – the bonds especially! The versatile arms is definitely similar to my stances, although I can’t take credit for those, I found them on a different build and lifted them because I think they’re absolutely genius.

    Thanks again for the original pdf!

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