D3 Monk's design influences

[Flux]

Boring post title, I know. Sounds like a bad panel at a gaming convention. But as I was looking at the pics in HK's latest fan art post (http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/diablo-fan-art-watch-88-the-monks-from-the-monasteries-of-ivgorod/), and reading the first comment about how derivative the Monk's lore is, I found myself thinking about the character's design concept.

The D3 Monk, especially the male version, is clearly meant as a mash-up, combining European/Russian and Asian Monk-ness. So he looks like a white guy, with the big bushy beard and bald head, yet he's dressed in saffron robes and he does martial arts moves. (I guess that beats the other direction, which would have been something like the Dali Lama wearing a bear skin?)

The few pieces of official Monk artwork (http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/search.php?keywords=monk&cat=509&x=0&y=0)Blizzard has released don't tell us much. There are zero pieces of concept art; just a bunch of polished paintings of the finished version. I'm sure the artists went through a lot of design debates internally, but we're not yet been given any insight into the evolution of the class' look, aside from one Bashiok mention of the female monk going from long hair to her "pixie cut."

That said, the community, including fan artists, seems to be embracing the character (http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/search.php?keywords=monk&cat=501&x=0&y=0), and it's interesting to see which elements show up in which pictures. Most of the earlier pieces were fairly slavish recreations of the character art, but now that fan artists have had time to digest the visual, they're getting more creative in their interpretations. A couple of examples from HK's post.

http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/data/501/medium/diablo_3_monk_incomplete_by_adamgarib-d38ffap.jpg (http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/5438/title/female-monk/cat/501)
This one is anime influenced, without being entirely done in the anime style. The pose and the weapon are very Final Fantasy/martial arts, though.



http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/data/501/medium/monje_diablo_3web.JPG (http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/5436/title/the-monk/cat/501)
On the other hand, we've got this glowing bear of a Monk. He's got a bit of the dark Akuma style (http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=akuma) to him, with the glow and wedge-shaped face and huge ball necklace, but he doesn't look anything like traditional colorful, clean-lined anime, and is more like a piece of Conan artwork.


From this tiny sample size I conclude that the fan artists seem to be embracing both halves of the character’s origin, which has to be about the best Blizzard could have hoped for.

[Neinball]

It is an interesting mesh of concepts. I mean monks have been a staple D&D class for ages now and always, to me at least, felt a little our of place for such an eastern theme in a classical European style tabletop.

The male monk really looks eastern European to me, Rasputin anyone? And the female monk has always looked to be modeled after Natasha 'Tasha' Yar to me, who interestingly enough is Ukrainian to further the eastern European influence for the monks.

[fmulder]

I know this post focuses on the D3 Monks' visual design, but I would like to post a link to a book that may shed some light on their lore / background:

http://www.amazon.com/Demons-Making-Monk-Spiritual-Christianity/dp/0674018753

Production description:


Demons--whether in embodied form or as inward temptation--make vivid appearances in early Christian monastic literature. In this finely written study of demonology and Christian spirituality in fourth- and fifth-century Egypt, David Brakke examines how the conception of the monk as a holy and virtuous being was shaped by the combative encounter with demons.

Brakke studies the "making of the monk" from two perspectives. First, he describes the social and religious identities that monastic authors imagined for the demon-fighting monk: the new martyr who fights against the pagan gods, the gnostic who believes he knows both the tricks of the demons and the secrets of God, and the prophet who discerns the hidden presence of Satan even among good Christians. Then he employs recent theoretical ideas about gender and racial stereotyping to interpret accounts of demon encounters, especially those in which demons appear as the Other--as Ethiopians, as women, or as pagan gods.

Drawing on biographies of exceptional monks, collections of monastic sayings and stories, letters from ascetic teachers to their disciples, sermons, and community rules, Brakke crafts a compelling picture of the embattled religious celibate. Demons and the Making of the Monk is an insightful and innovative exploration of the development of Christian monasticism.

The first chapter can be read for free by clicking on the cover.

[Tenet]

Initially, I was hoping the Paladin would return to D3 to fill the "holy warrior" archetype, and I thought the monk seemed a bit out of place. But I have to say, Blizzard won me over with the design and execution of the monk character. I love how it blends several seemingly contrasting cultures into one really excellent and seamless character, and the monk is easily my favorite character.

In terms of influence, I feel like the character draws most from Eastern culture. From the outfit to fighting style and weapons. Really, the only thing I find "Western" about the monk is his physical appearance. I'd say Blizzard designed the monk this way in order to make him "their own", if that makes sense. Everyone is familiar with both types of monks from real life, and this conjurs images that we can relate to. But the combination of the two styles makes it fit the game and makes the character unique.

[fromtheshadow]

Initially, I was hoping the Paladin would return to D3 to fill the "holy warrior" archetype, and I thought the monk seemed a bit out of place. But I have to say, Blizzard won me over with the design and execution of the monk character. I love how it blends several seemingly contrasting cultures into one really excellent and seamless character, and the monk is easily my favorite character.

In terms of influence, I feel like the character draws most from Eastern culture. From the outfit to fighting style and weapons. Really, the only thing I find "Western" about the monk is his physical appearance. I'd say Blizzard designed the monk this way in order to make him "their own", if that makes sense. Everyone is familiar with both types of monks from real life, and this conjurs images that we can relate to. But the combination of the two styles makes it fit the game and makes the character unique.
same here at first I was disappointed with the reveal, I wanted a heavily armored knight class, but I have come to like the monk, I really like the male monk's look and I think his beard adds to his personality. while most games either have a emo male character or a chiseled clean shaven buff guy, diablo 3 guys did well to give both the barbarian and the monk beards, and in doing so making their characters look like an experienced veteran.

the monk some how reminds me of John Lynch's character(not as old of curse) in the recent movie I've seen, black death
http://www.beyondhollywood.com/uploads/2010/02/black-death-movie-3.jpg

[OrcJMR]

This "Demons and the Making of the Monk" is stunningly on topic. It even makes me think someone at Blizzard stumbled onto this book, then had a prophetic dream and run to the office screaming "Eureka".

I wish I had some time and willpower to read that book... :(

EDIT: Oh, my profile info even says "Siberia"... Bear skins FTW :)

[Leugi]

Blizzard's monk is quite original in comparison to other monks thanks to this merge of influences. They made quite a nice decision... It is, of course, in line of making Sanctuary a different land than Earth, it allows them to create a culture merging aspects of two different stereotypes... I happen to like that hehe...

Also, those fanart are nicely done...

[fmulder]

I wish I had some time and willpower to read that book... :(



Me too, having trouble finishing the free chapter they have there :(