22. The Ultimate Quest in Pillars of Eternity Hard Mode
# Creating a Monk Character: A Step-by-Step Guide
## Introduction
Welcome to the fascinating world of character creation in our RPG journey! In this article, we’ll walk through the process of bringing a monk character to life, detailing each step as if you’re watching the game creators themselves. From choosing attributes and culture to selecting backgrounds and appearances, we’ll cover it all. Let’s dive in!
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## Choosing the Culture and Attributes
The journey begins with deciding on the **culture** for our new monk character. The options include:
1. **Aedyr Empire**: A vast empire centered around the equator with a tropical climate. It offers +1 Resolve, enhancing determination, fearlessness, and emotional intensity.
2. **Dead Fire Archipelago**: Known for its lawless pirate-infested islands and dangerous sea creatures. This culture provides +1 Dexterity, making it ideal for agility and precision in combat.
3. **Xml Planes**: Located to the northeast, this fertile savanna offers +1 Intelligence due to its rich farming history and lack of imperialistic expansion.
After weighing the options, we decide to go with **Rothaye**, which grants +1 Constitution. This choice reflects our character’s resilience and strength, fitting for a monk who will face many challenges ahead.
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## Selecting the Background
Next, we delve into the background that shapes our monk’s story. The choices are:
- **Aristocrat**: A life of luxury and privilege, with conversations filled with pedigree and bloodlines.
- **Drifter**: Never quite fitting in anywhere, moving from town to town as a transient soul.
- **Slave**: A life of bondage and servitude, never knowing freedom until now.
- **Hunter**, **Laborer**, **Merchant**, **Dissident**, **Mercenary**, or **Scholar**.
After some thought, we settle on the **Slave background**, which adds +1 Survival and +1 Athletics. This choice emphasizes our character’s journey from oppression to liberation, a narrative that will add depth to their development.
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## Customizing the Appearance
Now, it’s time to bring our monk to visual life. The appearance options include various races and hairstyles. After trying different combinations, we find the perfect look:
- **Skin Color**: A dark tone that complements his backstory.
- **Hair**: Tight braids, symbolizing resilience and cultural heritage.
- **Clothing**: Simple yet practical attire, blending into the environment while reflecting his humble beginnings.
The final result is a character who stands out for their strength and determination, with an appearance that tells their story without words.
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## Assigning Skills and Talents
With the basics set, we move on to skills and talents. Our monk has six skill points to allocate:
- **Athletics**: +5 (for climbing and jumping).
- **Survival**: +1 (reflecting his background as a slave who learned to adapt).
For talents, we choose:
- **Snakes Reflexes**: Increases reflex defense, making our character more agile and reactive in combat.
- **Heart of the Storm**: A passive talent that boosts shock damage resistance, fitting for a monk who thrives under pressure.
These choices enhance both offensive and defensive capabilities, ensuring our monk is well-rounded in battle.
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## Equipping Armor and Weapons
Finally, we equip our monk with essential gear. Despite having limited funds (93 copper pieces), we aim to make the most of what we have:
- **Weapon**: A quarterstaff for its versatility and range.
- **Armor**: Simple leather armor for now, with plans to upgrade in future episodes.
Though not the best equipment, our monk’s skills and determination will carry him through his early adventures.
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## Conclusion
With our character created, we’re ready to face new challenges and embark on exciting quests. Stay tuned for more episodes as we continue this journey into the **Lost Library of Eternity**! Thank you for joining us—until next time, happy gaming!