hi everybody

just started playing Talisman and have all the expansions has anyboby noticed how powerful the monk charecter is?!!!! Just makes the game unbalanced but it still is a great game!! My friends and I have banned a few of the charecters such as the monk, gladiator and blood cultist when we play to make the game balanced.

Sounds like you're playing the Monk wrong. Monk can add his Craft Value (aka starting Craft) in battle. So he can add +3 in battle, regardless of his current Craft. Can't add +3 to any Str-tests (Portal of Power, Crypt) or anything to Craft/psychic combat.

Haven't banned any characters yet, 88 games done. Base game and Reaper characters for the most part are really weak when compared to the Dungeon's Gladiator and Gypsy and all but Leprechaun from Frostmarch. Monk has done alright for himself in our games, 4 wins, 10 losses in his 14 games, putting him at Upper-Mid Level as far as characters go.

The monk pre-4ER was pretty sweet and powerful (my wife's favourite), but since 4ER nerfed it, he hasn't done as well. Still not too OP though IMO. Helped balance against the Prophetess and Wizard I thought.

I've played Talimsan for many, many years with many expansion characters, though havne't got all the expansionfs for this revision.

The only character that ever caused any real friction was the prothetess (mostly due when she'd get rid of good levelling beasts because she's too weak). The new 4ER nerf on her is a really good one.
The monk IS brilliantely strong in battles - but with no armour or weapon usage he's pretty balanced.

I'd have to say that EVERY character has the ability to win (it does take a bit of luck on the draws and an ok game) but you can play any characters abilities well or badly. The prist is somebody who my usual crew revolt against and noboy likes being the Minstrel. But I've won with both of them, and done well with the priest last game even with his nerfed Spirit killing ability, mostly due to the fact that I made ure I could heal up in the chapen and I'd visist the praying places a lot and take what I want basically.
The monk was in that game and levelled quickly as always, but was also the first out of the game. Nobody dare fight him, but we had the Ghoul and the Sorceress who kept him in his place.
Game before that Ihad the Gladiator drew two early followers, Princess and Guide and proceeded to level to something insane like 22 streneht in a matter of 2 hours. Did I get any craft? no! Were thier psykers PvPing me? yes!
Did I win.. no where near it - my useless amount of fate and lack of craft that game completltely did me over.

I think that characters are well balanced, and every game has enough of a difference to make any of them awesome or rubbish with the roll of a die

Doucha said:

Of course, should've hit the Crown 11+ Strength ago (11 Strength is plenty enough for the Inner Region). Or with Strength 22, hit the Dungeon, kill the LoD by 8+ and go to the Crown that way (I've seen the LoD beaten by 8+ in 25 minutes).

Thanks for your imput mate much appriciate it!! so the monk can only add +3 and no more?

That is his Craft value. Brainwave from Frostmarch allows you to double your Craft value for a turn, so he might 2xBrainwave + Hydra Spell for a real killer turn .

EDIT = Quote problem. Trying with new post.

Doucha said:

In our group, my wife loves the Minstrel.

Then again, she usually gets a ST 3-5 animal right in the first 10 min, and then, it’s off to the dungeon for severe ST levelling. She also tends to almost never roll below 4, regardless of the dice she is using (because, don’t think for a minute I didn’t check the dice).

And, (though I don’t have the card in front of me), I do believe the Minstrel’s follower isn’t discarded, unlike most others, so that’s basically a permanent +1-5. And, of course, my wife is hoping beyond hope for a ST 6+ Animal in Highland. The “lower ST spell” (I forget the name, the -3 ST one) always stays in her hands “just in case”. She hasn’t memorised the deck yet. ST8 Highland Animal (assuming there is one) -3 ST for spell + rolling a 6 (or calling a 6 with a luck charm)… that’s +8 to Minstrel’s combat. (essentially) Permanent.

Run away, my friends… Run away…

EDIT = Weird, simply copy / pasting the Quote text in a Reply just puts it back as verbatim. It only translates it into an actual quote if done as part of QUOTE and not REPLY. Not being part of many boards, I don't know if this is usual. Just C/P, reply or quotes, works fine in my wife's personal board. In any case, please forgive the above blank post.

Wow... I was sure there were no answers to this post a minute ago. I just posted about the Monk's ability and then saw a whole page of them. I think I am in a time warp...

talismanisland said:

Wow... I was sure there were no answers to this post a minute ago. I just posted about the Monk's ability and then saw a whole page of them. I think I am in a time warp...

Well, then lets do the time warp... again.

Sorry, showing my age. I'll be quiet now.

Tons-Home-rules said:

You mean the Weakness spell

That's a pretty good move to charm the highest Animals with weakness.

The Highest Animal at this moment is the Giant Beetle, with a strength of 6

But a Mammoth (str 5) or Giant spider (str 5) is also good as a follower..