From: petitc@nuge109.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit)
Subject: A New Class Begins Its First Adventure (Monk)
Reply-To: petitc@rpi.edu
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 22:54:04 GMT

	Bert was not exactly happy.  It was his first time away from the
monestary.  They only gave him a small amount of money, and a few basic
supplies.  Why did he leave, anyways?  He remembered that fateful nightmare
he had the day before.  A large creature rose from underneath the earth, and
breathed fire, laying waste to the countryside.  When Bert asked his sensai
about it, he only sat patiently, meditating.  A few seconds later, he opened
his eyes and simply told him it was the Balrog---the very same creature that
is mentioned as the source of the greatest evil in Moria.
	Since Bert knew full well that the dreams of a monk are not to be
taken lightly, he decided then and there that he must put a stop to this
evil---its power was growing day by day, so that Bert could almost feel it
scraping at his feet.  With the fondest wishes for success from his mentors,
he left the abbey.
	He meditated upon his skills.  These were the only things he knew---
how to dodge a blow, how to block a sword thrust, and some basic martial art
skills.  He knew he couldn't depend upon even the lightest armor for protection
, since he had never trained with the armor, he knew he couldn't fight wearing
any armor, let alone use any weapon effectively.  He hoped to improve his
skills over time, since he knew he would quickly perish without them.
	Again, he opened his magic book.  The strange runes scribbled inside
it made no sense, but he tried anyways.  No luck---he couldn't understand
them, at least not yet.  He waited patiently, and meditated upon the Balrog,
hoping to find at least one of his weaknesses.  Hours slowly inched by, but
Bert never could find such a weakness.  He did, however, discover that almost
all of the creatures in the caves below did have such a weakness.  He must
remember them, to use their weaknesses against them.
	They were tiny weaknesses, really.  A nick in the hide of that Red
Dragon, the slow, hypnotic pattern of the King Cobra, the soft underbelly of
the Jackal.  But, anything could help.
	He wandered aimlessly through the dusty, narrow roads, until he reached
a small town.  Only six shops were here, and a handful of frightened people.
But, he saw the black cavern at the edge, and knew he was in the right place.
	The General Store was not that happy to see him---another Monk is
gonna preach to me.  But, Bert just bought more food and torches, then wandered
out into the street again.
	A small boy wandered up to him, a sly look in his eyes.  He was hungry,
and hungry people are desperate.  Bert didn't want to hurt him, so he just
pushed the boy away, then darted into the pitch blackness of the cave.


Monk (Class Description):

    A Monk cannot wear weapon/armor.  If he tries, he NEVER hits anyone.  However
, he has a natural AC which increases in level (it's around 75 at level 40),
and martial arts skills which increase in damage as his level goes up (do around
10d11 at level 40), and gets only one blow per round, regardness of Str or Dex.
Finally, on rare occasions, he gets an automatic Critical hit (usually x2).
Also, he has most of the non-offensive Mage spells (like a Rogue), but learns
them fairly quickly.

   He may sound too powerful, but consider---he can only wear 2 Rings and an
Amulet.  No other protection (like (R) armor, say, or wielding a (HA) ).
He NEEDS an Amulet of the Magi, and NEEDS a ring of Resist Fire, or he will
die.  Also, he can't attack Undead---they'll suck his levels away since he has
no offensive spells, and can't use Bows.

-- 
Trust:  A very precious social commodity, due both to high value and terrible
scarcity.
MATWDTM:  Mothers Against Teenagers Who Drink Too Much (failed name for MADD)




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