tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post1864572139857319736..comments2024-03-29T00:32:33.920-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: Nomenclature AssistanceJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-8551680052503998622011-03-31T06:29:53.333-04:002011-03-31T06:29:53.333-04:00Maybe something like Wych, or Wyrd (taken from war...Maybe something like Wych, or Wyrd (taken from warhammer 40,000 universe nomenclature) or variations thereof; wych-knight or wyrd-knight.Björnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06704297154448714506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-68723167926322220242011-03-29T01:06:58.254-04:002011-03-29T01:06:58.254-04:00Pankratiast - Pankration is a Greek martial art th...Pankratiast - Pankration is a Greek martial art that according to legend was invented by Hercules and Theseus as a combination of boxing and wrestling.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-31295303394908103802011-03-22T11:27:04.479-04:002011-03-22T11:27:04.479-04:00Borrow from 3e/PF Psionics:
Psychic Warrior
or i...Borrow from 3e/PF Psionics:<br /><br />Psychic Warrior<br /><br />or if they're using "weapons":<br /><br />MindBladeXenushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12783174704137481499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-30873099032826039352011-03-21T23:07:39.262-04:002011-03-21T23:07:39.262-04:00HesychastHesychastMatthew Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17343263539473683579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-91527803472747208522011-03-21T15:36:53.896-04:002011-03-21T15:36:53.896-04:00James, the historical discipline you are seem to b...James, the historical discipline you are seem to be gravitationg in your conceoptualization is the ancient Hindu psychological discipline of SANKHIYA. Read up on it, those dides practised physical exertion and breathing and towered over other indians with broad shoulders and giant chests. They were forerunners of Yoga, and historically you can call them Dravidians, Yogis, Yogins. Fantasy wise, you can call them Agnesians (from AGNI, ancient Indo-European word for fire).Brooser Bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08487438364129415650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-6462970776626347702011-03-21T05:42:06.036-04:002011-03-21T05:42:06.036-04:00Luchador
Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtleLuchador<br /><br />Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtleAlexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05078173255668986590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-66745991295506151952011-03-20T17:10:46.266-04:002011-03-20T17:10:46.266-04:00I would call him a Martial Artist. He has nothing ...I would call him a Martial Artist. He has nothing to do with a monk or friar.<br /><br />It is interesting that 4th Edition D&D has decided like you that "monks" are psionic.<br /><br />(I would rather not have any martial arts in my campaigns, but I would love a Friar class: a religious wanderer who wields a staff and a mug like Friar Tuck.)Talliferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08541684895097153972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-10250494300975007192011-03-20T01:26:11.733-04:002011-03-20T01:26:11.733-04:00"Adept" is already a Cleric level title,..."Adept" is already a Cleric level title, but if you aren't using it as such, it would be a good choice.<br /><br />The "name level" for the class should be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascended_master" rel="nofollow">Ascended Master</a>.Talysmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02162328521343832412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-58822580908690523832011-03-19T20:15:59.671-04:002011-03-19T20:15:59.671-04:00Given your Pulp Fantasy fandom, you are no doubt a...Given your Pulp Fantasy fandom, you are no doubt aware of The Shadow and the monks who taught him to 'cloud mens minds' (clearly a psionic power as typically presented, though never directly referred to as one). <br /><br />In other words, 'Monk' is fine, though I like 'Adept' and 'Cenobite', as well.Hawkmansdaddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04113828607067318291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-83762646533821602662011-03-19T14:14:48.151-04:002011-03-19T14:14:48.151-04:00I agree with those who suggest sticking with "...I agree with those who suggest sticking with "monk". There are lot of alternative words available that can be used to reference Western-style monks - friar, mendicant, brother, etc. There are few words that carry the storied connotations of "monk" in D&D.Restitutor Orbishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05625086532637410710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-7664075966369649092011-03-19T08:12:30.464-04:002011-03-19T08:12:30.464-04:00Cenobite
AnchoriteCenobite<br />Anchoriteporphyre77https://www.blogger.com/profile/07620350717226228078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-53481873914807070992011-03-19T03:25:07.206-04:002011-03-19T03:25:07.206-04:00Many gamers have asked themselves the same questio...Many gamers have asked themselves the same question over the years, and I've never seen a really good answer.The Human Targethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18002445258419364816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-71253371707290145362011-03-19T01:40:24.172-04:002011-03-19T01:40:24.172-04:00Yamabushi. If you look on Wikipedia it gives some...Yamabushi. If you look on Wikipedia it gives some background (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamabushi).<br /><br />They were obviously mighty warriors who fought alongside armies, but were also holy men. Kinda fits both needs, there.<br /><br />Personally, I split the monk into two classes. The pure Martial Artist and the Monk, who had his powers (and others inspired by Jedi) set up like Spells, with Vancian slots and all that, as well as specialized skill with a quarterstaff, rather than punching and kicking. But I don't think that's what you're looking for.Eric R. Wirsinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632409261940844934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-27021814681979421882011-03-18T22:08:43.018-04:002011-03-18T22:08:43.018-04:00Bene Gesserit, nuff said.Bene Gesserit, nuff said.Jason1977https://www.blogger.com/profile/09316765273405349921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-25903782256574844762011-03-18T19:37:52.446-04:002011-03-18T19:37:52.446-04:00I don't get the hangup with the term "mon...I don't get the hangup with the term "monk". Instead of groping for a new term for Shaolin-type monks, I refer to Christian-style western monks as "brothers", "sisters" or "disciples". Simple and clear enough for just about anyone to handle.Elfdarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17332202910754546307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-6473953169333186882011-03-18T19:35:20.684-04:002011-03-18T19:35:20.684-04:00"Jedi?"
They're called "padawa...<i>"Jedi?"</i><br /><br />They're called "padawans" until they reach a certain level, "knights" at a higher level and "masters" at the highest.<br /><br />If D&D can crib paladins from Poul Anderson, rangers from Tolkien and thieves from Lieber, why not swipe Jedi from George Lucas? It might even make the psionics system worth the hassle.Elfdarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17332202910754546307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-59458152431774341082011-03-18T18:41:39.487-04:002011-03-18T18:41:39.487-04:00How about plain old "Martial Artist"?How about plain old "Martial Artist"?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10678503778316350427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-25986881659744213782011-03-18T17:22:19.670-04:002011-03-18T17:22:19.670-04:00The more I think about it, the more I, personally,...The more I think about it, the more I, personally, would just stick with "monk" for the generic class name. At this point and time in the world of RPGs, most everyone knows what is meant by "monk": essentially "a semi-psionic warrior trained through the use of mental discipline to use his very body as a weapon". <br /><br />Some of the other names mentioned would work, but essentially would conjure some of the same confusion you initially had when encountering the monk class years ago. Disciple evokes a religious connotation as much as monk does. Mystic suggests a magical background, and given what you've said about the class, that doesn't seem entirely appropriate. <br /><br />The more cultural specific terms such as Yogi, Sensai, Fakir, etc... carry their own baggage and specific imagery associated with them. <br /><br />I would probably just call the class the generic "monk" but then come up with a specific, setting appropriate title or organization for any monks actually in your campaign.<br /><br />It's not like clerics go around introducing themselves as "Candor, lvl 5 Cleric". Instead they are "Brother Candor, High Servant of the Iron God" or whatever he is now. <br /><br />This is why I like level titles within classes and I think would work perfectly for this problem.Coldstreamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16140235342917611032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-83563296773300035722011-03-18T13:16:33.825-04:002011-03-18T13:16:33.825-04:00Bene Gesserit Witch. Or possibly Power Ranger.
E...Bene Gesserit Witch. Or possibly Power Ranger.<br /><br />Every example of this idea in the popular culture gets a distinctive name tying it to setting, because there's no good generic term for it. Over the past couple of decades the word "Warrior" seems to have drifted in the direction you want, connoting not just fightin' but also an internal state, but it's not quite there yet. It might be best to give it an in-world name--as with Jedi, Bene Gesserit, etc. <br /><br />If you really want it generic--Mystic Warrior? Spirit Warrior? Soul Warrior? Warrior-Wizard?JackFoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05645969148889581726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-14147349083041782372011-03-18T12:48:54.813-04:002011-03-18T12:48:54.813-04:00Fakirs is great.
I'm a fan of re-purposing fo...Fakirs is great.<br /><br />I'm a fan of re-purposing foreign words: <br /><br />Yogi would work well too in the Indian sense, but then you hit yogi bear jokes.<br /><br />Otimitl for the warrior society that were allies of the Aztecs.<br /><br />Pehlivan is the Turkish word for their oil wrestlers.<br /><br />Which leads me to LUCHADOR!Benbenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04948913197913694925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-27286079337593039662011-03-18T09:12:49.265-04:002011-03-18T09:12:49.265-04:00> a semi-psionic warrior trained through the us...> a semi-psionic warrior trained through the use of mental discipline to use his very body as a weapon.<br /><br />This brings to mind two things: first the lying-on-a-bed-of-nails <i>fakirs</i> of India/Southeast Asia.<br /><br />(fakir: a Muslim or Hindu religious ascetic or mendicant monk, especially one who performs feats of magic or endurance.)<br /><br />Second, the most basic of Magic-User abilities/spells from EPT:<br /><br />"<b>Control of Self</b>: the user can control his own body: e.g. hold his breath indefinitely, stop his heartbeat, hold some object with an iron grip for a long time, enter into a trance, have total memory recall, seal his ears, etc. He cannot perform actions impossible for a body (e.g. extend his arms twenty feet). This spell can indeed be broken, but only by very powerful magic or strength: a person or being of nine or more hit dice can break the grip of a person using the spell, for instance. Usable twice a day."<br /><br />So, Fakir. My other suggestions are <i>mendicant</i> and <i>swami</i>.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04215429799115719993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-3468400579911175922011-03-18T07:57:28.657-04:002011-03-18T07:57:28.657-04:00I'd go with adept (which has been suggested a ...I'd go with adept (which has been suggested a few times).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-27753163977720979862011-03-18T07:20:38.021-04:002011-03-18T07:20:38.021-04:00What to call "a semi-psionic warrior trained ...What to call "a semi-psionic warrior trained through the use of mental discipline to use his very body as a weapon"? How about a "psikicker"?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10212305641482331885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-59395387250040304352011-03-18T07:18:51.367-04:002011-03-18T07:18:51.367-04:00Ronin78 is right: Sōhei.Ronin78 is right: Sōhei.mordicaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05713766652793265867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-35329023228880896832011-03-18T05:07:16.517-04:002011-03-18T05:07:16.517-04:00You know, I'm flailing, because I still don...You know, I'm flailing, because I still don't really know what the nature or source of the class's abilities is in your game, so I don't know exactly what we're supposed to evoke. Maybe if you posted the article withholding a class name?<br /><br />I found <a href="http://recedingrules.blogspot.com/2011/01/problem-with-psionics.html" rel="nofollow">Telecanter's musings on monks and psionics</a> useful in clarifying what bothered me about the semi-psychic warrior. And I've always been bothered by the handling of armor and all those cinematically unarmored classes in D&D. If there's one thing my hands itch to rework (aside from Vancian magic and alignment) it's that whole system.richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13517340075234811323noreply@blogger.com