# Talk:Monk
I was going to add a couple thoughts on strategy, but decided that I don't have that clear enough in my head at this time.  I did add the Magic section to lay the groundwork for the eventual Strategy section.
--WikiTraveller 16:07, 11 October 2006 (UTC)
Speaking of strategy, is it worth mentioning that turning into any kind of vampire as a monk is probably a Bad Idea? Learned this playing a doppelganger monk in Slash 'Em--#youpolyed into a fire vampire, and discovered that every time I landed the bite/drain lifeblood attack, I felt guilty. Also, as a vampire, you can't eat vegetarian food. (Not to mention that this is a bigger problem for non-doppelganger monks who can't turn back at will.) LNExtraordinaire

That seems like it would be mostly interesting on the Vampire page; it's likely useful to note on this page too, though.
(Also, at least in vanilla there's nothing stopping you from eating vegetarian food as vampire.)
(Also, non-doppelganger monks sure can turn back at will: do enough HP damage to yourself to turn back. IIRC this has some kind of penalty in SLASH'EM, though?) —bcode&nbsp;talk&nbsp;|&nbsp;mail 23:18, 21 February 2013 (UTC)
Contents

1 Intrinsics
2 Throw
3 Alignment
4 Wishing/Reflection
5 Slash'em Weapon Skill
6 Monk encyclopedia entry

Intrinsics
There seems to be a conflict between the list of intrinsics gained at various levels, and the different intrinsics mentioned a couple of paras further down, which arne't in the list.— Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.71.15.222 (talk • contribs) 

Throw
Does throwing a knife count as using a weapon?
Nightelf 37 12:47, February 6, 2010 (UTC)

throwing (and better yet firing) knives, daggers, darts etc does not break weaponless conduct. But it still uses (and excercises) the weapons' skills. -Tjr 16:42, February 6, 2010 (UTC)
Alignment
Do we need an alignment section under monk?
I'm not sure monks are particularly unique regarding how they're affected by alignment.
If we do want one, I disagree that lawfuls have no advantage.  They have all the advantages listed on the alignment page.  Excalibur is better than Grand Master, especially if you can enchant it.
Neutrals have great gifts to wish for.  Their sacrifice gifts are a mix of good and bad.
and Easier conduct rules doesn't make the game easier for new players.  Theft and murder are generally not easy for a new player to pull off, and same-race sacrifice is not nearly as important as good artifacts (neutral) or good weapons and more peaceful mines (lawful).  Derekt75 02:55, 14 April 2012 (UTC)

I think it's useful to have an alignment section in the Monk article, because monks are affected by alignment in a unique way. Since they can't hit while wearing dragon scale mail in the early game, they are often advised to gain magic resistance by wishing for a quest artifact. But I do agree with you; I don't see much of an advantage in playing a chaotic monk, especially for a new player. I think many would agree that neutral is the "best" alignment for a monk, because of the possibility of wishing for the Eye of the Aethiopica. But I'm no expert at playing monks. --Erica 22:12, 14 April 2012 (UTC)
Personally, I really like playing chaotic monks, especially if the spell I get is "sleep." The combination of spellcasting and fighting abilities makes it fairly easy to kill most monsters, especially if you can incapacitate them first--you can level pretty quickly. I've managed to kill all the minetown guards as a level 4 that way, which can make some decent money (and you can sacrifice them to counteract the alignment penalty). It also doesn't matter so much that the gifts all suck. LNExtraordinaire

I don't see how that relates to being chaotic: you can also do this as neutral or lawful monk, except perhaps for the bit about killing the watchmen.
(Also, please sign your posts with four tildes to include a timestamp.) —bcode&nbsp;talk&nbsp;|&nbsp;mail 23:09, 21 February 2013 (UTC)
Wishing/Reflection
The article suggests wishing for The Eye of the Aethiopica (I chose a neutral monk specifically for this), but there's a trade-off here between spellcasting and reflection, since an armorless monk's only options for reflection are

Amulet of reflection - can't be worn with the Eye because both are amulets.
Shield of reflection - blocks most spell casting, even with a robe.
Silver dragon scales or silver dragon scale mail - Monks can't use body armor (well).
Wielding The Longbow of Diana, the Ranger quest artifact - Monks can't use bows.
Wielding Dragonbane (only in vanilla 3.6.1+) - Monks can't use broadswords.
That leaves polymorphing into a silver dragon to wear the Eye and get reflection and cast spells.  I just completed my first Wizard ascencion and had played a Valkyrie a bit and thought I'd try a monk.  I found an early shield of reflection and am liking the stealth and melee abilities, and better HP than Wizards.  Also looking forward to polymorphing myself since I may not have to worry about armor.  Just found a single spear, but ranged fighting with a crossbow has been somewhat disappointing.  I think spells would be the ideal ranged weapon, but casting Magic Missile without reflection (and reflection for your pet/mount) is asking for trouble.
I picked The Orb of Fate for my wizard ascention and the half spell and physical damage, plus #invoke for level teleport were amazing.  The weight was a bummer, especially when also carrying the Bell of Opening, but with a Helm of Brilliance, Gauntlets of Power only gave me 3% spell failure rate.  It was late in the game and had been identifying gems and throwing them to co-aligned unicorns, but I don't think I ever had a spell fail.
I agree that it would be nice to have more input on this page from someone who plays a Monk regularly.  Someone else mentioned alignment and that would be nice to know about!
--Cidwardo (talk) 14:27, 28 August 2017 (UTC)

Slash'em Weapon Skill
It may be worth noting that in Slash'em, Monks reach Basic skill in Bows rather than Crossbows. The distinction can be a big deal in the early game where Monks are very limited in ranged attacks.
——Ipsy (talk) 00:35, 15 September 2017 (UTC)

Monk encyclopedia entry
Does anyone know the source for the supposedly Chinese I-Hsiu (I'm guessing pinyin: Yixiu for 一休). Sounds an awful like 一休宗純, but he was a Japanese monk, and in that language the name is pronounced Ikkyu. I'm pretty sure the story being referenced isn't a koan, and rather a matter of folklore or storytelling. Please tell me if koan and stories are equivalent. Although Zen has a presence in China, I don't consider it as famous as the Japanese variants. 
If the source of this text is indeed Japanese folklore, why this pseudo-Sinitic non-koan via Japan? Feels kind of like a rec center Wednesday afternoon dojo taught by Mike sensei.
I guess that might be the desired effect. --ZedZardoze (talk) 06:26, 26 August 2020 (UTC)