Show Notes

This week, Fiona and Hamilton continue their deep dive into the Monk - a playable class from the original 5e Player's Handbook. Monks are spiritual ascetics and practitioners of a mystical energy known as ki, the magical essence which flows through all living things.

According to the Player's Handbook:

'Whatever their discipline, monks are united in their ability to magically harness the energy that flows in their bodies. Whether channeled as a striking display of combat prowess or a subtler focus of defensive ability and speed, this energy infuses all that a monk does.

Monks make careful study of a magical energy that most monastic traditions call ki. This energy is an element of the magic that suffuses the multiverse—specifically, the element that flows through living bodies. Monks harness this power within themselves to create magical effects and exceed their bodies’ physical capabilities, and some of their special attacks can hinder the flow of ki in their opponents.

Using this energy, monks channel uncanny speed and strength into their unarmed strikes. As they gain experience, their martial training and their mastery of ki gives them more power over their bodies and the bodies of their foes.'

In this episode, we cover the following 8 subclasses:

• Way of the Long Death (from SCAG)
• Way of the Drunken Master (from XGtE)
• Way of the Kensei (from XGtE)
• Way of the Sun Soul (from XGtE)
• Way of Mercy (from TCoE)
• Way of the Astral Self (from TCoE)
• Way of the Ascendant Dragon (from FToD)
• Way of the Cobalt Soul (from TCSR)

Note - during the episode, we incorrectly label 'the Way of the Cobalt Soul tradition as being found from the Explorer's Guide to Wildmount'. It comes from the 'Tal'dorei Campaign Setting Reborn' sourcebook.

Chapter discussed: 'Monks' from 'Ch. 4: Classes', 'Monks' from 'Ch. 1: Character Options', 'Monks' from 'Ch. 1: Character Options', 'Monks' from 'Ch. 1: Character Creation' and 'Monks' from 'Ch. 4: Character Options',

Books: 'Sword Coast's Adventurer's Guide', 'Xanthar's Guide to Everything', 'Tasha's Cauldron of Everything', 'Fizban's Treasury of Dragons' and 'Tal'dorei Campaign Setting Reborn', published by Wizards of the Coast, November 2015, November 2017, November 2020, October 2021 and 2014 and January 2022 respectively.

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Credits

The DM's Book Club is hosted, recorded, edited, and produced by Fiona Howat (@WAIR_Podcast) and Hamilton (@TheDragonDM). 

The DM’s Book Club Logo was designed by Sam Robins (@Bobhatstand).

The theme music is 'The Story Unfolds' by Jingle Punks.

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