a story about a paladin and a monk

[Cel]

well, there is no story really. i was playing a paladin in my D&D group, slaying evil, killing orcs, ogres and all of that... then i got killed by a bear.

anyway, now i'm a monk(!). so i have a question:

Perfect Self: At 20th level, a monk becomes a magical creature. She is forevermore treated as an outsider rather than as a humanoid (or whatever the monk’s creature type was) for the purpose of spells and magical effects. Additionally, the monk gains damage reduction 10/magic, which allows her to ignore the first 10 points of damage from any attack made by a nonmagical weapon or by any natural attack made by a creature that doesn’t have similar damage reduction. Unlike other outsiders, the monk can still be brought back from the dead as if she were a member of her previous creature type.

ok.. it says there "treated as an outsider rather than as a humanoid (or whatever the monk’s creature type was) for the purpose of spells and magical effects". what special stuff do i get for being a 20 monk? as an outsider i get more special abilities? what special abilities does an outsider get?

[K Man]

treated as an outsider rather than as a humanoid (or whatever the monk’s creature type was) for the purpose of spells and magical effects.

You don't gain anything, aside from what's listed. You are treated as an outsider for the purposes of spells and magical effects.

I.E. - Someone can now cast banishment on you, although your native plane would be the material plane. Someone can cast protection from outsiders and gain the benefits of that when going against you. Etc.

Basically as that high level of a monk, you have become so aloof and centered that you're not considered part of the rest of us...eventhough your plane of origin is the material plane.

Make sense?

You don't gain any of the benefits for being considered an outsider, but at the same time, you don't gain any of the hinderances. (Not being able to be brought back to life and such.)

[Cel]

so... whats the point in being an outsider? i didnt gain anything, but when i'm lvl 20 i can be banished

[Japic]

You have to admit that by the time a monk reaches 20th level he's got so much going for him, that he's practically untouchable. I think the point of becomng 'as an outsider' is that you're physical and mental being have ascended to higher than standard mortal levels. Therefore you attain the status of an outsider so far as the powers of heaven and hell are concerned. You are above the rest of us mortals.

If anything else it's the price you pay for all those super-fly monk abilities.

[K Man]

but when i'm lvl 20 i can be banished

Sort of. You can be banished, but your native plane is the material plane...so moreso, you're immune to banishment spells since it would only suffice to return you to the material plane...

Make sense?

And as for being an outsider, it makes you immune to spells that only target humanoids. For instance, a 20th level monk can no longer be affected by Hold Person since it targets a Humanoid creature...which you no longer are. You are an Outsider.

So if anything, it suddenly switches all the spells that used to affect you. Those with the Humanoid Creature only description no longer affect you.

It's a good benefit dude, trust me.

[Wizard]

The "outsider" benefit is great for a lot of things, but I have to say the best benefit is when the DM sends a ranger w/favored enemy=human against you. Do you have any idea how deadly a few of those guys can be? Even if they're lower level to make the encounter technically appropriate, those can decimate parties. Not your monk!

[Merovingian]

Also don’t forget any spell that targets person or humanoid, i.e. hold person, charm person, most enchantments, no longer can affect you. The idea being that you have mastered your body and no magic can change that.