I don't agree with the "Western fantasy" thing . . . You mean like Cane in kung fu?
The Knights Templar were comprised primarily of monks. ... by they way.
1. No. Fluff should not affect mechanics. That's why D&D is Fucked up and imbalanced now. Generations of people trying to make the system fit the fluff.
You know how I know thats bullshit, because fluff it ultimately mutable. Mechanics aren't, this is evidenced in the Table trumps text argument.
Also? An elf for every occasion. 3.5 has a fuckload of elves. Why? People like elves and want pretty and thin people to be "powerful" so ... basically because of people trying to fit the "fluff" (magic, mysterious...etc...)
to the crunch. In various circumstances Elves get all kinds of fucking prcs and dwarves/orcs/halflings get fucked comparatively.
Katana's... the fluff/propagand is stupid. We have to make rational decisions. Fluff leads to irrational decisions.
2. I think we need to stop the Wuxia hate.
Its selfish, because you dont' like monks in your game for flavor reasons doesn't imply that we're not going to give an equal amount of time to it because MANY people LOVE monks as illustrated by the furious work of that guy on Gitp.
3. That being said. For people who don't like monks I suggest reflavoring. Which means many many things but please allow me to define/propose somethings?
Monk in D&D: Ultimately a monk is a person who internalizes the ambient magic of the D&D world turning themselves into a MDC being. . .
...Wait. I mean a minor supernatural creature. It doesn't have to have anything to do with asia, ancient schools or anything. Instead of casting magic, these dudes use techniques that allow them to become magical, which manifest in various ways. Ulitimately it gives them super powers.
Now. . .
I've lost my original post. but there are a few things that you can use to explain that instead of Martial arts esoterica.
a. "Bloodlines" : Long ago a kindgom ruled by immoral high mages wanted to have more powerful body guards, more perfect servants. Not willing to share the magic power they attained... they then proceeded to hevily experiment on portions of the populace, and it went well, they suceeded but the kingdom fell eventually ,and monks are people who descend from that. By focusing on themselves they transcend thier humanity tapping the fundemental laws of reality, to become something more(or less) than human.
b. Weapon X: that kingdom above? I lied, it's happening now. Monks are rare and only few of them exist but they are badass. The don't need swords or spells they just do all kinds of awesome shit and said shit is inherent. Because ... Mages did it to me.
c. Next stage in evolution. . . many humans are being born with the potential to be more than that. The cluster in schools to understand thier gifts, and protect a world that hates and fears them. Yeah, well can make monks "those gusy"
d. The Chosen ones: An ancient force, can be tapped, maybe a surviving titan, Prometeus type figure, loves humanity / or maybe some other hidden primal force... chooses certain people to bless with his gifts. He's not a god and he's imprisoned and this is the only way he can get out by diseminating his essence though mortals, kind of a back door out of the cage. Only people of high wisdom and disciplne will do. So while many of these people would have became clerics... instead they are chosen by this "Thing" and start do gain some of his semi divine/profane essence.
e. Great accident: I was just a normal servant untill... The comet struck the earth/ the magic plague stuck/ the gods came to earth. . . Now, I'm faster than anyone I know, blades barely hurt me, and magic washed off me like water. Where I go from here, anybodies guess.
Something happened. Something BIG... the people who were touched by it were changed forever. WIth incredible potential to grow and transcend.
Now... all that being said.
I think we should out right replace the MONK CLASS, with Swordsage.
Because again the fluff of it, doesn't matter.
Warblade and fighter actually almost word for word have the same fluff...
Fluff shuold only be a gross generic Idea of what we want the mechanics to represent. They should not affect what we do with the mechanics in regards to balance. . .