(I finished this thing late last year but held back on posting it as I wasn’t entirely happy with parts of it. Not much has really changed but I think it’s presentable and I’ve grown tired of letting it rot.
I imagine there are some points in it that some may find debatable. If for whatever reason they, or any other part of the guide, aren’t agreeable to you feel free to ignore it at your discretion.)
I believe Monks are among one of the most unique classes playable in WoW. I also think rping one can be pretty great as well. Very few people who roleplay with Monks however seem to be keen on roleplaying as an actual Monk, preferring instead something else. While this is all fine it has come to my attention that some may turn to these alternatives for what I’ll call, for lack of a better way to express it, the wrong reasons; misconceptions, misinformation or lack of information. This is my own attempt to address that. My hope is that this will help people see the prospect of rping a Monk as favorably as I do, or at least that they have a better understanding of what the class is about.
Obviously I’m no real expert on the topic, merely someone passionate about the class. I aim to keep the following content mostly objective, however some of what I write here is going to be more speculative; mainly due to lack of examples and significant lore development. So without further ado let’s get started.
What is a Monk?
Monks are mainly melee focused light armored fighters. They’re most notable for their skill in unarmed combat however they also train to utilize most if not all forms of close combat weaponry. Monks also utilize elemental magic, specifically the Spirit of Life, or Chi in the Mogu tongue, for a variety of purposes. These uses include buffs, healing, offensive projectiles, personal support and defense, and invoking the aid of the Celestials. While Chi is a significant and iconic part of the Way of the Monk many examples seem to utilize it sparingly, if at all, or as a means of enhancing their physical prowess.
History
The Way of the Monk began during the Mogu Empire with the Pandaren slave Kang, later known as the Fist of First Dawn. After the loss of his son to the Serpent’s Spine Kang soon received an epiphany. He determined that the Mogu were weak as, aside from their intimidating appearance, their empire was completely reliant on slave labor. As slaves were prohibited from carrying weapons he concluded that he and his fellows would instead become weapons themselves. Eventually Kang demonstrated his prowess to his fellow slaves and inspired them to seek training.
When the Mogu learned of Kang’s movement he and his followers retreated to Kun-Lai and built a monastery to continue their training in secret. It was here that Kang came upon the prison of Xuen, the White Tiger Celestial, who had previously dueled Lei Shen in defence of the servant races’ freedom. From then on Xuen became a mentor to Kang.
Thanks to Kang’s influence the Pandaren rebels were rather successful against their Mogu overlords. Eventually Kang himself led a final battle in the Vale of Eternal Blossoms where he fought the Emperor Lao-Fe man to man. Both Kang and Lao-Fe died in the conflict.
Monks have seemingly been a staple in Pandaren society since the overthrow of Mogu rule, continuing with Song, who later founded the Lorewalkers.
Requisites
Pandaren Monks have been shown not to discriminate when it comes to teaching the Way of the Monk. Many of the Masters at the Peak of Serenity are Non-Pandaren and the famous Tian Monastery is known to not turn anyone away from training. As Monks are primarily physical fighters, combined with the aforementioned information, it can be inferred that all it really takes to begin training in the Way of the Monk is an able body, a willing mind, and of course a soul for Chi.
Many consider inner peace to be a requisite for Monks. I believe this to be a common misconception. The Way of Monk originated as a tool of violent rebellion, created by grieving father; nothing about its origin was particularly peaceful. That is not to say the concepts of inner peace and balance aren’t important to the Way of the Monk as they quite obviously are. It would perhaps be better to think of these as occupational goals or even byproducts rather than something absolutely needed to make progress. Perhaps a significant example of this would be Taran Zhu, perhaps the most iconic Monk character, besides maybe Chen Stormstout, who had been anything but calm or peaceful over the course of Mist of Pandaria’s storyline. Another arguable example may include the Monks of the Scarlet Crusade; an organization that is the very image of rampant and unchecked religious zeal.
Abilities & Styles
As mentioned before Monks are primarily melee fighters. They train in all facets of hand to hand combat, despite mainly being known for their unarmed prowess. In addition Monks are also capable of healing via specialized mists. They can further use chi in the form of various projectiles, ranging from balls and waves of varying sizes to streams of lightning. Chi is additionally used to buff strikes or aid in defense via shielding, redirection, reflection or personal displacement. Monks can also invoke the temporary aid of the August Celestials (and possibly similar beings or deities).
Lastly Monks are able to create and utilize a variety of drinkable substances with a variety of uses, ranging from temporary enhancements to restoratives and even debilitating effects.
In general Monks and their various capabilities can be easily divided by the major martial styles they may practice. These styles are seemingly based on each of the August Celestials and their respective forms, themes and teachings. The styles are as follows:
Tiger
The Tiger Style seems to emphasize strong fast blows and overall heavy offense. In game this is the style of the Windwalker spec; perfectly embodying Xuen’s themes of strength and courage.
Serpent
Serpent Style might be seen as more conservative compared to Tiger; seeming the school of choice for Mistweavers; embodying Yu’lon’s themes of spirit and wisdom.
Ox
The Ox is a school of endurance and resilience, seeming to focus on defense as well as absorbing blows; embodying Niuzao’s themes of spirit and fortitude
Crane
There isn’t much of an interpretation of a crane style in game. Crane Monks at the Peak of the Serenity appear to prioritize scholarship over martial training. The presence of a fighting stance named after the Crane in some versions of Mistweaver spec in game may suggest that Crane might, in martial terms, be a middle ground between Tiger and Serpent. Note that each style seems to be analogous to the animal styles of Kung-Fu, appropriately enough.
There are implications of other martial styles monks may practice as well, such as that of Master Greenpaw. Feel free to come up with your own style for your monk character.
Archetypes
Included here are some character archetypes that relate well with the class for one to consider. Keep in mind that these aren’t the only things befitting the class nor are they particularly bound to it.
Warrior-Priest
A pious and likely humble servant of the Celestials or some other deity; your Warcraft Shaolin. By default there isn’t much that would set this kind of character apart from your average priest besides their martial background. Likely they might be more willing to involve themselves in violent conflict, or at least less likely to back down from such, than the average priest. Their faith and devotion may guide them towards a particular outlook, differing depending on the nature of their faith.
Consider reasons why a Priest would take interest in the Way of the Monk. Perhaps they look to martial science as a hobby. Perhaps the exotic unarmed techniques inspire the individual; or they simply want to learn a more self-reliant method of defense.
Renegade
In general Monks are about balance. They’re also often free agents, not universally bound to some strictly defined code. They are technically capable of both good and evil. As long as they have the knowledge, skill and inclination they may be a terror to those around them.
Brewmaster
Many Brewmasters I find are portrayed with a certain sense of confidence, calm, or optimism. They may be obsessed with the quality of their creations, elated to be able to make and serve the finest drink they can. Your typical Brewmaster, be it a monk or not, is also likely to take great pride in their work; as any good artisan should. In the end a Brewmaster is a craftsman, and as Monks they can use that prowess towards more than mere enjoyment; crafting tonics that rival the greatest alchemy.
Warrior-Pilgrim
These are your Ryus and Haomarus; those who seek to be the best they can, to know all they can of their craft. Admittedly on the surface these characters can be as plain as white bread sitting next to a glass of tepid water in a spartan beige room. What makes them stand out the most is their motives, their hurdles, and their exploits. These may be the nameless heroes of legendary tales, or the ever eager duelist seeking their next fight. They are ever wanting knowledge and opportunities for self-improvement and that desire can lead to many great challenges, which in turn lead to great stories.
Master
The men and women who have reached the highest echelons of prowess in their craft. These people would be rather knowledgeable in the Way of the Monk, able and likely willing to impart their knowledge to others. These are the teachers and mentors; the ones able to demonstrate the peak of what a Monk is capable of. As with any other kind of character with a lofty position it can difficult to adequately pull this archetype off, especially without a good understanding of things one is supposed to be knowledgeable in.
Final Notes
While this guide mainly pertains to the Pandaren interpretation of Monks do keep in mind that Monks have technically been around in universe since before MoP. If for whatever reason you’d want to rp a monk apart from Pandaren origins then much of what is here could still be of use.
I believe Monks and Warriors have much in common in terms of roleplaying. Both classes possess just enough lore for definition but are broad enough for a myriad of interpretations.
Returning to the concepts of inner peace, balance and the like in relation to the Way of the Monk:
One can speculate that these themes became more prominent due to Song’s influence; sharing tales of Kang’s personal philosophies to the newly liberated slaves, likely including other early Monks, to help quell retaliatory sentiments. This would be especially likely after learning about the presence of the Sha.
The most important thing to take away is that all of this merely a part of what should go into a whole character. These are still supposed to be people, and people are more than just their skills and occupation. You’re writing a character with a class, not the other way around.
