Monks and Assassins for Basic D&D

Most of the classes in classic D&D fit into a Tolkien-esque sort of campaign world, which in turn is largely based on northern european history and folklore. However over the years there have been a few character class options that suggest a campaign world with a more eastern flavour.

The Monk class was based on fighting monastic orders such as the Shaolin Temple, a Buddhist monastery in Henan province, China.  This style of Monk (or Nun if a female character) is quite different from the western religious orders who did not focus on physical training and hand-to-hand fighting techniques. While I like that the Monk offers more diversity in the implied setting, the implementation was messy. Lots of special abilities that are easy to forget, and special rules for advancement.

Similar to this was the Assassin class which was actually based on militant Islamic "monks" in Persia during the middle-ages. While the Shaolin Monks would dress in a manner making them easy to recognize the Ḥashshāshīn would travel in disguise and infiltrate neighbouring communities and rival kingdoms. They would then be able to eliminate key figures who might seek to move against their order.

In our continuing series of streamlined classes for Basic D&D I'm going to treat the Monks and Assassins as variants of each other, since they both represent eastern orders with fortified monasteries.

These classes are both based on the Cleric and are treated as such except as noted below. Due to the fantasy nature of the game they, like the Cleric, have been given fantastic abilities representing the folklore about them, rather than the historical truth of their orders.

Monk (Assassin)
Cleric Sub Class
Note: Bracketed text applies to Assassins

Restrictions
Must be Lawful (Chaotic)
Minimum Wisdom score of 9 (Minimum Charisma score of 9)
May not wear any armour
Monks may not use weapons (Assassins may use Any Weapons)
Can not Turn Undead

Special Abilities
+2 AC unless surprised
Unarmed attacks do d4 Damage; add an extra d4 at levels 5, 9, 13, 17
Move Silently, Climb Sheer Surfaces, Hide in Shadows as Thief of same level

Immunity to Fear, Charm, ESP, Magical Sleep

Monks can Save vs Petrification to deflect/doge any missile attack
(Assassins gain +4 to hit, x2 damage, when striking unnoticed from behind)

Spell Lists
Monks do not need to memorize spells ahead of time; their spells can only affect the Monk
1st - Cure Light Wounds, Resist Cold
2nd - Bless, Resist Fire
3rd - Cure Disease, Striking
4th - Cure Serious Wounds, Neutralize Poison
5th - Commune

Assassins do not need to memorize spells ahead of time.
1st - Cause Light Wounds, Darkness
2nd - Blight, Silence 15' Radius
3rd - Disease, Striking
4th - Cause Serious Wounds