Character Journal - Vows of Poverty

Wow of Poverty
by HENRI HAKL
from Kobold Quarterly

The vow of poverty is a highly restrictive roleplaying challenge. To a certain turn of mind, mine included, the severity of the restriction is the appeal of the vow. As described, a character may own a simple set of clothing, a pair of sandals or shoes, a bow, a sack, a blanket and any one other item—and only one of these items may be of some value, the rest are of plain and simple make. The vow includes additional rules that ensure that the character does not stowaway his wealth indirectly on his allies or make use of some other trickery to circumvent the spirit of the vow…

The merits of the vow are that it offers a small mechanical reward for playing a challenging character that is willing to engage in a selfless vow. But the downside is that it can be disruptive—or worse, artificial—to cater to a character that walks so far outside the boundaries of the game’s expectations. Giving a single valuable item to a monk who disdains material possessions is difficult, more so if it should be done within the confines of vow and story. Then, in a few levels, the process may repeat again if the item outlives its usefulness.

The paths of poverty streamline the process: each path is associated with a single item that grows in power as the monk does—granting benefits equal to roughly a quarter of the typical character wealth. These options are not intended to balance the vow of poverty against a character that does not take the vow—the vow remains a severe limitation—but they do allow a monk to stop worrying about the details and simply enjoy a life of poverty!

Paths of Poverty

It is normal for a monk to take a vow of poverty with a purpose, a path that guides them on their vow. Below are several such paths, each tied to a particular item with specific benefits. A character who wishes to make use of these options may choose one of the paths. Once the choice is made, it cannot be undone. The monk cannot own any item of value or special significance other than the item provided with the path. No special benefits are provided to characters other than the monk. As such, its market value is the same as other mundane items of that type. Should the monk lose the item, the benefits associated with it are lost until it is recovered. After a month, he may instead acquire a different mundane item of the same type to replace the old one. At that time, the original item will lose its connection to the monk and not offer any benefits, even if recovered at a later stage.

Spell-like abilities granted by an item have a caster level equal to the monk’s level, and their DC is calculated using the monk’s Wisdom modifier. When an item mentions abilities granted at a level, it refers to the monk level of the character.

Discipline

Some monks take the vow of poverty to steel their bodies—as an outward focus of iron discipline to guide them on their path to physical perfection. These monks wear a knotted rope—a simple belt—to symbolize the strength of their convictions. Usually a knot is added to the belt for each personal milestone achieved although in some regions only one knot is used, which is re-knotted ever more elaborately as the monk reaches higher levels of discipline.

At 4th level, as a free action, the belt allows the monk to spend 1 point from his ki pool to enter a state of heightened celerity for a number of rounds equal to half his level. While in this state, the monk’s AC, unarmed damage, and movement speed are treated as four levels higher, and he receives a +2 resistance bonus on all saves. Activating the ability multiple times does not stack, but it does reset the duration. Starting at 10th level, the belt grants a +1 enhancement bonus to Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution; at 12th level, and every two levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +1 to a maximum of +6 at 20th level…

Enlightenment

Many monks attempt to follow in the footsteps of the Master of Masters. Some of these take the vow of poverty to honor this Master, who is said to have ascended without the aid of a magical artifact. Monks on this path wear an unadorned monk’s robe. Although these robes start out a non-descript brown, it is not uncommon for the color of the robe to change as the monk progresses to enlightenment, taking on more prominent hues such as orange, yellow, white, or black.

The robe allows a monk to spend one hour in meditation to regain 1 ki point. At 3rd level, the robe grants a +1 enhancement bonus to all Wisdom-based skills, including skills that are modified by Wisdom through other sources, such as the trait Wisdom in the Flesh (see Advanced Player’s Guide). This bonus increases by +1 at 6th level and every three levels thereafter to a maximum of +6 at 18th level. Starting at 4th level, and every even level thereafter, the robe grants a ki power that the monk qualifies for chosen from the list of ki powers listed in the qinggong monk archetype (see Ultimate Magic). The monk does not give up any existing abilities to gain the additional powers granted by the robe. At 8th level, the robe grants the monk a +4 bonus to his effective monk level to determine the effects of his ki powers and what damage reductions his unarmed attacks bypass.

Freedom

On occasion, a monk chooses to take on the vow to avoid enslavement to material possessions. Although far from the carefree attitude of overindulgent revellers, the monks that follow this path are often surprisingly free spirited, outgoing, and generous. More than one drunken master has chosen to live according to the tenets of this vow. Normally, archetypes that give up the still mind class feature cannot take vows: an exception is made for drunken masters (see Advanced Player’s Guide), who embrace freedom and wish to take on the vow of poverty although they still cannot take other vows. Followers of the path of freedom carry a sizeable drinking gourd, capable of holding 2 gallons of liquid…

The gourd provides a number of spell-like abilities. To activate these, the recipient of the ability needs to drink from the gourd as a standard action. At 10th level, the monk can activate spell-like abilities from the gourd as a move action. As long as the monk holds the gourd, the spell-like abilities granted by the gourd can be imbibed by others. Starting at 2nd level, the gourd fills itself with water every morning, allowing up to 2 gallons of liquid to be poured from it every day. At the monk’s choice, from 4th level onward, the gourd can be filled with an alcoholic beverage—such as ale or wine—or a light but nourishing soup instead of water. At 3rd level, the gourd can provide cure light wounds as a spell-like ability twice per day; at 6th level, it instead provides cure moderate wounds; at 9th level, cure serious wounds; and at 12th level, cure critical wounds. At 5th level, the gourd offers a selection of spell-like abilities a number of times a day equal to the monk’s level, when activating such spell-like abilities, the monk can choose alter self, barkskin, bear’s endurance, blur, bull’s strength, cat’s grace, or owl’s wisdom. At 10th level, the gourd grants restoration once per day. At 14th level, the gourd grants righteous might once per day. At 18th level, the gourd grants shield of law once per day.

Penance

Monks who have committed a serious affront to law, usurped a personal conviction, broken a promise, or otherwise strayed from their path sometimes inflict the vow of poverty on themselves as an act of penance. Such monks wear hefty bracers or armbands, the weight a constant reminder. Many choose to take the vow of chains as well, binding the bracers together with heavy or restrictive chains. Monks that follow the vow of poverty as an act of penance often live uncommonly long lives, as if fate itself intervened to allow them more time to reflect on their sins.

At 4th level, the weights grant the monk DR 1/—. At 8th level and every four levels thereafter, the DR increases by +1 up to a maximum of DR 5/— at 20th level. The monk may spend 2 points from his ki pool as a standard action to double the DR granted by the weights for 1 minute. At 8th level, the weights grant a +2 armor bonus to AC. At 11th level and every three levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +2 to a maximum of +8 at 17th level. At 14th level, the armor bonus to AC granted by the weights applies against attacks of incorporeal creatures as if it had the ghost touch quality. At 16th level, the weights grant the monk immunity to bleed damage. At 18th level, the weights protect the monk as if it had the moderate fortification quality.

Protest

A few monks take the vow of poverty as a form of protest, their convictions made manifest to demonstrate against an injustice or philosophy that they will not abide by. Almost universally, they brand themselves in some way to showcase the offense they crusade against. Some lay themselves in chains to protest against slavery, while others starve themselves to challenge the lavish opulence enjoyed by a select few. Those who tread the path of protest carry an amulet as a token of their cause, such as a soaring bird of freedom or a four-leaf clover representing equality…

In many ways, a monk that follows this path acts as an inspiration to others. At 2nd level, the amulet allows the monk to cast guidance at will. The amulet grants a number of spell-like abilities, which are activated as standard actions that consume points from the monk’s ki pool. At 4th level, it grants bless (1 ki point). At 6th level, it grants shield of faith (1 ki point). At 10th level, it grants good hope (2 ki points). At 16th level, it grants mass bull’s strength (2 ki points) and mass cat’s grace (2 ki points). At 6th level, while the monk has at least 1 point in his ki pool, the amulet emits an aura that grants the monk and each ally within 10 ft. a +1 insight bonus to attacks. At 12th level and again at 18th level, the bonus increases by +1.

Purity

It is the rare monk who adheres to the vow of poverty as an expression of purity. These monks embody a quiet serenity that leads to an almost saintly insight and understanding of the world. Though the appearance and philosophies of these ascetics vary as much as the diversity of the world itself, a quarterstaff is common to all of them—usually in the form of a firm walking stick.

At 2nd level, in the hands of a monk following the path of purity, the quarterstaff is treated as if it were of masterwork quality—though in the hands of anybody else it is a mundane quarterstaff. At 4th level, the quarterstaff is treated as if it had the ki focus quality. Finally, at 6th level, the monk may use his unarmed damage when fighting with the quarterstaff (this does not stack with other sources that modify the damage of a quarterstaff such as shillelagh), and the quarterstaff overcomes DR as his unarmed attacks would. At 4th level, the quarterstaff allows the monk to spend 1 point from his ki pool as a swift action to substitute his Wisdom modifier instead of his Strength modifier on attack rolls using the quarterstaff for 1 round. Starting at 6th level, the quarterstaff grants a +1 enhancement bonus to Wisdom; at 8th level, and every two levels thereafter, this bonus increases by +1 to a maximum of +6 at 16th level. At 8th level, the quarterstaff grants the monk additional benefits whenever he spends ki: he gains a +2 insight bonus to attack, damage, AC, saves and skill checks; additionally the DC of any monk ability (such as Stunning Fist) and ki power used by the monk is increased by 2. The duration of this benefit is 1 round. At 14th level, and again at 20th level, the bonus and increase in DC rises by +1.