Thoughtbot360
2007-02-16, 10:06 AM
So. Here's the deal. I was thinking, the fighter is actually supposed to be a flexible class, that can be based of any of the worlds great fighting traditions, right? But they rely so much on their gear, regardless of their versitility, whilst every monk in D20 is exactly the same (I know most everyone who plays a "monk" focuses on the idea of a Bruce Lee type kicking butt, not neccesarily some overly intropective, asthetic Buddist who seeks enlightenment and harmony with himself). This, to me, is tragic. There are huge differences bewteen martial arts (and not all martial arts are Asain: Savate, Capoeira, the Pankirion, and any training for elite fighters of any culture, which includes the Aristocratic Knight) but most teach weapons AND bare-fisted fighting.
Why add these?
Bonus feats-since this whole thing is about allowing a fighter to take monk abilities, why not do the obvious thing and give the fighter the monk's bonus feats? If the idea of a Stunning Elbow from the fighter holding a Bastard sword and a Tower shield scares you, you can always impose a house rule requiring that Stunning Fist must now be, literally, a stunning FIST, requiring a free hand.
Unarmed strike/Flurry of blows: Most martial arts styles taught today teach armed combat as well as unarmed. In fact its a historical philosphy that "before you pick up a weapon, your body must become a weapon." Also good for barfights/fighting Improved Disarm and Sunder nerds. Flurry upgrades via fighter level (you still have to be unarmored and use monk weapons XD), but probably should force chars to buy more feats to improve damage dice, spaced out with fighter level prerequisites.
AC bonus/Still mind- Hey, who said all fighters have to be a "sluggo?" Meditation and Enlightenment are entirely valid paths for fighters, namely those who study internalized fighting styles (externalized styles like Muay Thai or most wrestling styles don't teach students to explore their own selves and therefore students never develop a "Sixth Sense" like other monks). Actually, its any literary fighter worth his salt was a bad ass who hear that arrow the sniper was aiming at Robin Hood's head a mile away. Oh wait, that was Blinken, nevermind.
Evasion: probably should have 17 dexterity + Lightning Reflexes or something as a prerequisite, but hey.
Fast Movement/Slow Fall/Quivering Palm: You say you want a Ninja character?
Ki strike: It should have prerequisites of a whole lot of unarmed strike upgrades per level of Ki strike, also, Prerequisite Lawful alignment to represent no-nonsense devotion to training.
Unworkable/Ridiculous powers:
Purity of body/Wholeness of Body-Play a Paladin, you munchkin!
Leap of the Clouds- For those who still play 3.0 version. Don't add this. Just. Don't.
Diamond Body/Soul- I'm still emphasizing
Forced Lawful alignment-Except
Timeless body/Tongue of Sun+Moon/Empty Body/Perfect Self- Do I need to explain these?
So, whaddya think?
<Insert Open Game Lincense here>
Why add these?
Bonus feats-since this whole thing is about allowing a fighter to take monk abilities, why not do the obvious thing and give the fighter the monk's bonus feats? If the idea of a Stunning Elbow from the fighter holding a Bastard sword and a Tower shield scares you, you can always impose a house rule requiring that Stunning Fist must now be, literally, a stunning FIST, requiring a free hand.
Unarmed strike/Flurry of blows: Most martial arts styles taught today teach armed combat as well as unarmed. In fact its a historical philosphy that "before you pick up a weapon, your body must become a weapon." Also good for barfights/fighting Improved Disarm and Sunder nerds. Flurry upgrades via fighter level (you still have to be unarmored and use monk weapons XD), but probably should force chars to buy more feats to improve damage dice, spaced out with fighter level prerequisites.
AC bonus/Still mind- Hey, who said all fighters have to be a "sluggo?" Meditation and Enlightenment are entirely valid paths for fighters, namely those who study internalized fighting styles (externalized styles like Muay Thai or most wrestling styles don't teach students to explore their own selves and therefore students never develop a "Sixth Sense" like other monks). Actually, its any literary fighter worth his salt was a bad ass who hear that arrow the sniper was aiming at Robin Hood's head a mile away. Oh wait, that was Blinken, nevermind.
Evasion: probably should have 17 dexterity + Lightning Reflexes or something as a prerequisite, but hey.
Fast Movement/Slow Fall/Quivering Palm: You say you want a Ninja character?
Ki strike: It should have prerequisites of a whole lot of unarmed strike upgrades per level of Ki strike, also, Prerequisite Lawful alignment to represent no-nonsense devotion to training.
Unworkable/Ridiculous powers:
Purity of body/Wholeness of Body-Play a Paladin, you munchkin!
Leap of the Clouds- For those who still play 3.0 version. Don't add this. Just. Don't.
Diamond Body/Soul- I'm still emphasizing
Forced Lawful alignment-Except
Timeless body/Tongue of Sun+Moon/Empty Body/Perfect Self- Do I need to explain these?
So, whaddya think?
<Insert Open Game Lincense here>