tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post8399097075640584480..comments2023-10-14T03:58:59.333-06:00Comments on The Tao of D&D: The Monk's Four Fields ~ SortaAlexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-38643013886334866832017-02-28T16:35:03.239-07:002017-02-28T16:35:03.239-07:00I'm starting to build up an actual list of abi...I'm starting to build up an actual list of abilities as we speak.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-68320367142026936472017-02-28T15:59:48.103-07:002017-02-28T15:59:48.103-07:00Much better names. I wasn't much in love with ...Much better names. I wasn't much in love with them myself, but was hoping that what you were mulling around yourself plus the suggestions here might weave together into something workable.J. Cormierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775658681126093604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-34421622060399933112017-02-28T13:38:40.003-07:002017-02-28T13:38:40.003-07:00I see that authenticity for a modern audience, Sof...I see that authenticity for a modern audience, Sofia, but I don't see it for a European early enlightenment that is yet ruled by both Protestant and Catholic theology. Europe is still too Eurocentric; the embrace of foreign terms did not begin until the late 18th century. It is clear from authors like Wilkie Collins (The Moonstone) that even in the early 19th such things were rare and more feared than embraced.<br /><br />It is hard enough to make players believe they are in the 17th century as it is.<br /><br />I am liking Maliloki's list. I'm not a fan of "mastery" but "way of the stick," "way of the stone," "way of the heart" and "way of the spirit" would conform to the four categories Maliloki described.<br /><br />I would rather add strength/speed to the monk's combat and leave dodging to defensive; that ties in multiple attacks into the way of the stick nicely. Then we can take Embla's suggestions, making Maliloki's Discipline/way of the heart apply to Qinggong (outer qi) while the way of the spirit applies to the inner qi.<br /><br />Thank you. These are good ideas. I think I can start to run with them.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-86186808484622264712017-02-28T06:20:19.940-07:002017-02-28T06:20:19.940-07:00I think the Wuxia field names of the second list a...I think the Wuxia field names of the second list all sound cool and should be used. That they are specifically Chinese names gives them an authenticity that I think players creating monks will appreciate. There's no reason why we couldn't accept these ideas starting in the East and spreading to Europe, names intact. <br /><br />I'd comment on the content of the lists, but I'm sure you're already further down the road in your thoughts than your writing so just await the writing to catch up.Sofia Viktorova Kolevahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04274559794233411590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-49752592310552718002017-02-28T05:59:44.050-07:002017-02-28T05:59:44.050-07:00What about this:
Mastery of Combat - Basically Zh...What about this:<br /><br />Mastery of Combat - Basically Zhaoshi, but add in the ability to dodge or catch arrows.<br /><br />Mastery of Body - balance, bring force to bear without need of a solid platform, strength, speed, durability.<br /><br />Mastery of Discipline - Basically Dianxue...probably needs a better name.<br /><br />Mastery of Energy - Circumvent gravity, fly, healing, control element forces, shadow-blending.<br /><br />My only issue with these categories is that they don't seem to leave room for "world-building" type of abilities, meaning knowledge skills, interpersonal abilities, or animal/plant based skills to sustain oneself/the monastery. J. Cormierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06775658681126093604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-27553354393282201072017-02-27T05:54:49.247-07:002017-02-27T05:54:49.247-07:00I know you aren't interested in aping another ...I know you aren't interested in aping another game system. But as a thought provoking method, I think the game A Wanderers Romance by Sooga Games has an interesting approach. They use a "four elements" approach which then breaks down into broad areas of relevance:<br /><br />Air - Wit, Willpower, Courage and Communica on. Inwards to the Mind and Self.<br />Earth - Resilience, Prac cality, Sensa on and Physicality. Outwards to Flesh and the World. Fire - Passion, Crea vity, Leadership and Drive. Hot Blood and Emo on.<br />Water - Control, Grace, Intui on and Ins nct. Cool Senses and Logic.<br /><br />I wonder if perhaps your monk abilities would benefit from changing the "level" or "dimension" (forgive the terminology, I can't figure out the word I want) that you are considering the problem at?<br />PTRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01804620638450848244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-37731113805829479302017-02-26T23:44:37.854-07:002017-02-26T23:44:37.854-07:00Ah. Shou bo (手搏} translates as "hand stroke....Ah. Shou bo (手搏} translates as "hand stroke." But I think that is out of the question.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-37278372129042915532017-02-26T23:39:05.742-07:002017-02-26T23:39:05.742-07:00Zhaoxi would be similar to Puissance, for sure. H...Zhaoxi would be similar to Puissance, for sure. However, there would be many options the fighter and the monk would not share. The sense for weapon skills were gained would be different: the fighter, because of strength, military training and heredity/nationalism, the monk from self-awareness, mind-and-body cohesion and ultimately qi (ki, chi).<br /><br />I don't like the term "martial arts" because it was invented in 1909, associated with Japanese bujutsu. The whole history of combat practices, not just in the east, is such an immense muddle and filled with inconsistent, mythological origins and designs, that a phrase was needed to comprise them all. I understand, then, why WE use it.<br /><br />But no one in the 1600s would have. The Chinese term shoubo from the Han Dynasty calls it "weaponless fighting" and "hand fighting." By the 16th and 17th centuries it was called Shaolin. This doesn't translate to anything in English except as a proper name. But the Chinese doesn't fit with the desire to make this universal, so that a European monk with the same abilities (fantasy world!) can call it by the one name it is known by everywhere, not just in China.<br /><br />Impossible, I'm sure; and some may not understand why I feel this is an issue. Why not just call it "martial arts" and have done with it?Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-62050066690498027912017-02-26T22:50:54.167-07:002017-02-26T22:50:54.167-07:00I'm curious as to how "zhaoxi" diffe...I'm curious as to how "zhaoxi" differs from Puissance.<br /><br />We could think of Qinggong and Neijigong as two sides of the same coin, your Awareness vs. Consciousness. Qinggong governs the externalization of internal power (so, arrow catching, wall-running, etc.) while Neijigong concerns the internalizations of internal power (stamina, durability, healing, etc.). The line between qinggong and neijigong is blurry, but it does more evenly disperse nejigong's abilities.<br /><br />Perhaps you could think of: Martial Arts (or Puissance/Zhaoshi), Body Reinforcement (the externalization of qi), Body Lore (Dianxue), and Presence (the internalization of qi).Embla Strandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07637213677781541500noreply@blogger.com