-{ The Monk Guild }-
The monk guild focuses on a harmony of the mind and the body. Achieving
balance is the key to becoming a well-trained monk. You must maintain a
neutral alignment, a monk does not choose sides in the pointless wars
between Sikkar and the Nameless One. Inner harmony and peace is his joy.
>-{ Combat Styles }-<
Monks begin with two primary styles of combat, the hard and soft
styles. You may choose a style of combat using the 'marts-form' command
(help marts-form). Each combat skill that you train fits into one of
these styles.
-< The Basics -- Skills >-
There are some skills, which are not dependent on the martial arts form
you are currently using. Many of these are skills which are 'auto
checked', meaning you never have to invoke them. Skills that are not
'auto checked' have a * by them instead of a ~. This will apply for the
rest of this help file's skills and spells. For any style you choose,
weapon class is reflected by how well you have trained your skills and
spells. For more in depth information on this, check 'help martial arts'.
Levels 1-15:
-----------
~ martial arts: the most basic of all forms, you must learn this
* word of unbinding: this is the skill which allows you to gain guild
dues, and is therefore a very important skill
~ diagnostics: allows to see the condition of your opponent using the
scan command
* meditation: allows you to trade eps for sps
~ ambidexterity: allows an attack with the left hand
~ tumbling attack: allows extra attacks in combat
Levels 16-20:
------------
~ weapon parry: a defensive style, see help defense
~ acrobatics: a skill which, when combined with dodge, adds an attack
~ enhance criticals: adds the ability to strike with critical aim
~ riposte: a skill which combined with parry, may allow an extra attack
~ instant stand: helps you avoid being knocked down in dodge and maneuver
defensive styles
~ stunned maneuvers: allows you to break out of stuns
~ catching: allows you to catch ranged combat projectiles, but is not able
to work with shield parry defenses
~ perfect timing: allows you to see how many rounds until a skill is
to work with shield parry defenses
~ perfect timing: allows you to see how many rounds until a skill is
performed
-< Soft Style >-
Levels 1-15:
-----------
* shove: the shove skill works very well if you are larger than your
opponent. A well-placed shove against smaller opponents allows for stuns
* kiai: combat starter, is not usable in melee
* incapacitate: slows down your opponent
Levels 16-20:
------------
* immobilize: allows you to stun/paralyze a humanoid for a few rounds
~ pressure points: allows you to strike at a humanoid opponent and
stun them more
-< Hard Style >-
Levels 1-15:
-----------
* sweep kick: melee combat skill that sends your opponents crashing to the
floor and has a chance to stun them, however it does not work on a
flying opponent
* stun palm: extra damage skill, base move for the auto checked skills
'fists of fury' and 'touch of death'
* flying kick: kick your opponent in the head
* circle kick: an 'area' combat skill
~ fists of fury: allows for a reverse uppercut after a stun palm is
successfully executed
* throat kick: has a chance for silencing the opponent
Levels 16-20:
------------
~ touch of death: executes after a successful 'fists of fury'
~ body mastery: adds a bonus to tumbling attacks
* dim mak: combat starter which could result in stunning a humanoid
opponent
-< Spells >-
Levels 1-20:
-----------
* light/darkness: affect light levels around you
* detect alignment: allows you to sense the alignment of your target
* featherwalk: allows you to walk on water
* lesser chi heal: healing spell, heals up to 180 hps
* chi blast: area psionic damage spell
* resist cold: provides resistance to cold
* resist heat: provides resistance to heat
* zanshin circle: see invisible and infravision
* chi healing: healing spell, heals up to 495 hps
* displace image: mirror images
* summon inner strength: ac protection
* greater chi heal: healing spell, heals up to 715 hps
* spirit link: after your death, your spirit will continue to protect the
target of this spell. The success shows you as casting it at yourself,
but it will protect the target you chose
* mind strength: iron will abjuration
* moxibustion: poison removal/resistance
* refresh: restore eps using sps
Levels 16-20:
-----------
* speed: adds extra attacks per round
* spirit strength: an unpain like minor phlegm, it gives 400 extra hps
maximum
* body hardening: 25% resist physical like minor physical resistance
-< General Principles >-
Many spells are not usable if you are not neutrally aligned. Hence, you
should use detect alignment on potential kills in order that you can
maintain your alignment. The challenge of this guild lies in protecting
your balance (alignment).
-< Newbie Life >-
You can summon a newbie guide from level 15 and below. Ask your guide
about 'newbie area' and he'll take you to an area where you can kill in
when you are level 15 and lower. You should maintain your alignment and
build up cash and experience. You should have most of your skills and
spells at 60, the often used ones at 80 or higher before you advance
beyond newbiedom. Also, you should probably have a good store of cash in
the bank for training. Ask a higher level monk or any higher level player
what amount is decent for training past newbiedom, as cash flows and costs
seem to fluctuate over time. Remember that your weapon class depends on
how high you train your skills in a martial arts form (help martial arts)!
-< Life as a non-Newbie >-
The sky is the limit. You are only limited by what you allow yourself to
be boundaries. The monk guild has a plethora of guild choices for post
guild level 20. Use 'choices monk' to see all your choices. Some guilds
allow for extra attacks, others allow you to use weaponry, others still
add fire damage or other damage types to your bare-handed attacks. Choose
your guilds well, and follow the theme you have set up for your
character. Beyond that, just have lots of fun!
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