This article presents four variant monk styles. Each follows a historical example of monks that did not embody the martial arts persona. They include two from Asia (the Indian Buddhist and Japanese Shinto monk) and two from Europe (the Franciscan Friar and Knight Hospitaller). These alternative progressions follow the variant fighting styles presented in Unearthed Arcana.
A monk who follows one of these alternative progressions gains a +2 bonus on the listed skill. At 6th-level, he can gain an additional ability if he meets the prerequisites listed (he must meet them at 6th level or else he sacrifices this ability).
Born Siddhartha Guatama in the 6th century BCE, Buddha founded a philosophy on Four Noble Truths; all life is suffering, attachment causes suffering, you can end suffering by overcoming attachment and a path exists to accomplish this. This path is called the Eightfold Path, a guide for living a virtuous and noble life. Buddha believed that this virtuous life meant a rejection of anger, greed and jealously, and a constant dedication to good will and self-improvement. But believing these things is not enough to end suffering. Buddha taught you must live the Eightfold Path in thought, action and desire. In doing so, you can achieve a state of perfection free from desire and suffering — thus becoming enlightened.
Part teacher and part ascetic, a Buddhist monk wanders from villages to serene mountaintops searching for the path of wisdom. Even after attaining enlightenment, some monks still adventure. Known as bodhisattvas in the Buddhist tradition, they attained enlightenment but refused Nirvana so as to teach others how to seek the way. Such teachers are greatly revered.
A Buddhist monk adventures to seek knowledge and attain enlightenment. In addition, he adventures to teach others about the path of enlightenment and the inevitable suffering that desire causes. Because the Buddhist monk uses an exalted feat, a monk must be lawful good to take this fighting style.
1st-Level Skill Bonus: Sense Motive.
1st-Level Feat: Iron Will.
2nd-Level Feat: Combat Expertise.
6th-Level Feat: Intuitive Attack.
6th-Level Bonus Ability: Your quest for enlightenment has focused your intuition. The bonus granted by your still mind ability increases to +5. Prerequisites: Concentration 5 ranks, Sense Motive 9 ranks.
Founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi, the Franciscans (also known as Grey Friars) practiced charity and led lives as mendicants — that is, they practiced begging as a lifestyle.
Friars maintained an ascetic life organized around vows of poverty, humility and chastity. The Church expected them to forgo material possessions, live in faith and obedience, and eschew the roles of husbands and fathers in exchange for serving God. Friars differed from monks in the application of their vows to their faith. Whereas monks maintained an ascetic life in monastic seclusion, friars kept no permanent abode. Rather, they begged for a living and performed charity in all acts while travelling the countryside. Peasants recognized the Franciscan Friars as teachers and healers. Living alongside the poor earned them first-hand knowledge of the hardships of poverty, which in turn earned them respect among both peasant and noble alike.
Franciscan friars emphasize humility and charity as wandering teachers. They adventure to help the poor and bring relief to those who suffer. Because the Franciscan friar uses an exalted feat, a monk must be lawful good to take this fighting style.
1st-Level Skill Bonus: Heal.
1st-Level Feat: Self-Sufficient.
2nd-Level Feat: Vow of Chastity.
6th-Level Feat: Diehard.
6th-Level Bonus Ability: Your work with the poor and the suffering has taught you many secrets of healing. You gain the ability to cast cure light wounds, purify food and drink and remove disease once each per day as a spell-like ability (caster level equals half your monk level). Prerequisites: Heal 4 ranks, Survival 4 ranks.
The Knights of the Hospital of St. Joseph of Jerusalem, also called the Knights Hospitaller, played a central role in the Christian crusades of the Middle Ages. Founded in the 12th century, the Knights Hospitaller are more commonly associated with the martial image of their rival counterparts, the Knights Templar. Both featured strongly in the Christian campaigns to reclaim Jerusalem and the Holy Land, known in Europe as Outremer; the land beyond the sea.
Originally, the Knights Hospitaller formed a monastic brotherhood dedicated to aiding and protecting pilgrims in the Holy Land. Pilgrims travelling from Europe could count on protection and shelter from the knights. Eventually, with the emergence of the Knights Templar, they morphed into a military organization during the centuries of crusades. Like the Knights Templar, they combined a monastic lifestyle with a knightly one, becoming Medieval Europe’s first warrior-priests. Renowned for their courage and martial prowess, they came to lead large armies into battle and served as an elite fighting force in Outremer.
A Knight Hospitaller adventures to protect others or some sacred and honoured site.
1st-Level Skill Bonus: Spot.
1st-Level Feat: Weapon Focus (Any).
2nd-Level Feat: Combat Expertise.
6th-Level Feat: Weapon Specialization (as Weapon Focus).
6th-Level Bonus Ability: You are skilled at protecting others. If you use Combat Expertise, the bonus you gain also applies to one adjacent ally of your choice who is not using Combat Expertise. Prerequisites: Spot 9 ranks, Combat Reflexes.
Shintoism is a Japanese religion dating from around the 4th century BCE. Its beliefs centre on nature reverence and worshipping spirits, called kami. Historically, it is a spiritual religion without strong direction from doctrine or divine writings. Rather, Shintoism describes a universal natural force that pervades all living beings. Translated as “the Way from the Gods”, it emphasizes the relationship between mortals and the kami. It is a way of thinking and acting that maintains the mortal connection to the natural world.
Shinto monks revere the natural world. They honour its deep beauty and natural order that sustains and protects all people. Kami connect mortals to this natural order, the spiritual realm that pervades all living things. Because it pervades all life, people must act to maintain its balance. Shintoism emphasizes purity of body and heart, rebirth and rejuvenation, and the order of the group over the desires of the individual. Shinto monks regard animals as messengers of the kami and recognize many natural places as sacred, like small forest glades or hidden mountain valleys. Water is often prominent in these sacred places because of its symbolic connection to purity and rebirth.
A Shinto monk adventures to maintain the balance and nature of the kami. He hopes to discover sacred places of nature and to establish a shrine to honour them. Because the Shinto monk uses exalted feats, a monk must be lawful good to take this fighting style.
1st-Level Skill Bonus: Knowledge (Nature).
1st-Level Feat: Animal Affinity.
2nd-Level Feat: Vow of Purity.
6th-Level Feat: Nymph’s Kiss.
6th-Level Bonus Ability: Because of your great devotion to nature you gain an animal companion. Your effective druid level equals ⅓ your monk level. Levels in multiple classes that provide animal companions stack. *Prerequisites: Handle Animal 4 ranks, Knowledge (Nature) 4 ranks.
Source: Dragon Magazine #358 (Page 84)