Extra Anchovies
2014-09-13, 07:15 PM
The zen master of unarmed combat is a very common character archetype, and no two depictions of it are exactly the same. Thus, the monk class, redone as a prestige class to accommodate a variety of character backgrounds.
Hit die: d8. Skills: 4+Int/level. Class skills: same as Monk base class.
Level
BAB
Fort
Ref
Will
Special
Unarmored Speed Bonus
1
1
2
2
2
Unarmed Strike, Flurry of Blows (1 attack, -2 penalty), Slow Fall, AC Bonus
+0 ft.
2
2
3
3
3
Evasion, Zen Mastery (AC)
+5 ft.
3
3
3
3
3
Purity of Mind, Uncanny Dodge, Ki Strike (Magic)
+10 ft.
4
4
4
4
4
Purity of Body (Disease), Flurry of Blows (1 attack, -1 penalty)
+10 ft.
5
5
4
4
4
Rapid Flurry, Zen Mastery (Attack/Damage)
+15 ft.
6
6
5
5
5
Purity of Soul, Ki Strike (Cold Iron, Silver)
+20 ft.
7
7
5
5
5
Flurry of Blows (2 attacks, -1 penalty)
+20 ft.
8
8
6
6
6
Purity of Body (Poison), Zen Mastery (Skills)
+25 ft.
9
9
6
6
6
Improved Evasion, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Ki Strike (Adamantine)
+30 ft.
10
10
7
7
7
Slow Fall (any distance), Flurry of Blows (2 attacks, no penalty)
+30 ft.
Alignment: Any nonchaotic
Skills: Climb 4 ranks, Jump 4 ranks, Tumble 4 ranks
Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike, Superior Unarmed Strike, Improved Grapple
Special: A character with levels in the Monk base class (PHB 39) cannot take levels in the Prestige Monk prestige class, and vice versa.
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies:
A prestige monk gains proficiency with the cestus/hand wraps (see below), kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, shuriken, and siangham. These weapons are special monk weapons; whenever the phrase "special monk weapons" appears in the description of a class feature, feat, spell, or other element of rules text, it refers to all of the above weapons. They gain no proficiency with any other weapons, or with armor or shields.
Unarmed Strike (Ex):
A prestige monk's unarmed strikes can deliver blows of nearly inhuman force. A prestige monk determines the damage dealt by their unarmed strikes based on their character level; see table 1-2. All unarmed strikes delivered by a prestige monk deal damage equal to the normal damage dice plus the prestige monk's Strength modifier, ignoring damage penalties for offhand attacks. When a prestige monk attacks with a special monk weapon other the cestus/hand wraps, the weapon deals the damage based on the prestige monk's character level, indicated on table 1-2. This damage can be lethal or nonlethal at the prestige monk's discretion, with no penalties on attack rolls for either.
The prestige monk can make unarmed strikes with any part of their body that could readily be used as a striking surface. For example, kicks, elbow strikes, headbutts, and shoulder slams are all appropriate unarmed striking methods, but a prestige monk cannot use body parts that are not exposed (such as the stomach or lungs), nor can they use exterior parts of the body that would be impractical for use as weapons (such as the tongue or the small of the back). What body parts are and are not acceptable for making unarmed strikes is up to each DM to determine for themselves on a case-by-case basis. A prestige monk using a Cestus or Hand Wraps must have the appropriate hand(s) free to use them for making unarmed strikes (for example, they
A prestige monk’s unarmed strike is treated both as a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons (such as the magic fang and magic weapon spells).
Flurry of Blows (Ex):
As long as a prestige monk is unarmored, they may strike with a flurry of blows as a full attack action. They may make an extra attack at their highest base attack bonus, but all attacks they make until the start of their next turn (including those taken during a flurry of blows) take a -2 penalty to hit. At 4th level, this penalty is lessened to -1. At 7th level, two extra attacks may be made instead of one. At 10th level, there is not penalty to attack rolls due to using a flurry of blows. All attacks made during a flurry of blows must be made using unarmed strikes and/or special monk weapons. Each end of a quarterstaff counts as one weapon for the purposes of a flurry of blows. All weapons used during a flurry of blows deal damage equal to their normal damage dice + the prestige monk's Strength modifier.
Slow Fall (Ex):
A prestige monk can reduce the rate at which they fall if they have a nearby wall to brace against. As long as they are within arm's reach of a wall and capable of touching the wall, they may treat the fall as if it were 10 feet shorter per class level (for example, a sixth-level prestige monk treats all falls as if they were 60 feet shorter); in addition, they always land on their feet unless they choose to do so. If a prestige monk is within reach of more than one wall (such as in an inside corner, a narrow crevasse, or a vertical chimney), multiply the falling distance they would normally ignore by the number of walls they can reach to determine the amount of falling distance they ignore (thus, a fourth-level prestige monk within reach of two walls reduces the effective distance from a fall by 80 feet).
A 10th-level prestige monk can ignore any and all damage that a fall would deal as long as they are able to reach one or more walls. In addition, a 10th-level prestige monk can make a Climb check at any point during the fall to catch themselves, and can begin climbing upwards on their next action. The DC for this check is 5 higher than the normal DC for ascending the surface that is within arm's reach (thus, to catch themselves on a brick wall, a 10th-level prestige monk would need to make a DC 30 Climb check).
As an added benefit, a prestige monk receives a +5 competence bonus to Climb checks made when descending a surface, can take 10 on those climb checks even if stress and distractions would normally prevent them from doing so, and they can descend surfaces at normal speed without penalty.
AC Bonus (Ex):
A prestige monk adds one-half their class level, rounded up, as an untyped bonus to their armor class as long as they are unarmored and carrying no more than a light load. They lose this bonus when they are immobilized or helpless, when they wear any armor, when they carry a shield, or when they carry a medium or heavy load.
Unarmored Speed Bonus (Ex):
A prestige monk's base land speed increases by the amount shown in table 1-1. This speed increase is lost whenever a monk is wearing armor or carrying more than a light load, but is regained when neither of those conditions apply.
Evasion (Ex):
As the Rogue class feature, see PHB page 50.
Zen Mastery (Ex):
A prestige monk of 2nd level or higher adds their Wisdom bonus (if any) as an insight bonus to their Armor Class. They lose this bonus when they are immobilized or helpless, when they wear any armor, when they carry a shield, or when they carry a medium or heavy load.
A prestige monk of 5th level or higher may apply their Wisdom modifier instead of their Strength modifier to attack and damage rolls made with unarmed strikes or special monk weapons.
A prestige monk of 8th level of higher adds their Wisdom bonus (if any) as an insight bonus to any Strength- or Dexterity-based skill checks and ability checks.
Purity of Mind (Ex):
A prestige monk of 3rd level or higher adds their class level as an untyped bonus to saving throws made against mind-affecting spells, or effects.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex):
As the rogue class feature, see PHB page 50.
Ki Strike (Su):
At 3rd level, a prestige monk's fists (and feet, and forehead, and all other striking surfaces on their body) are imbued with truly superhuman power. Their unarmed strikes count as magic for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction, with an effective enhancement bonus equal to one-half the prestige monk's class level rounded down. This enhancement bonus does not apply to attack and damage rolls; it is only used for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.
At 6th level, a prestige monk's unarmed strikes also count as both cold iron and silver for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.
At 9th level, a prestige monk's unarmed strikes also count as adamantine for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.
Purity of Body (Ex):
At 5th level, a prestige monk gains control over their body’s immune system. They gains immunity to all diseases except for supernatural and magical diseases (such as mummy rot and lycanthropy).
At 8th level, a prestige monk is in such firm control of their own metabolism that they gain immunity to poisons of all kinds. In addition, they gain immunity to magical diseases as well as normal diseases.
Rapid Flurry (Ex):
A prestige monk of 5th level or higher can, as a full-round action, move up to their speed and make a full attack at the end of their movement, as long as the full attack made is a flurry of blows.
Purity of Soul (Su):
A prestige monk of 6th level or higher gains spell resistance equal to 15+the prestige monk's class level+the prestige monk's Wisdom modifier. This spell resistance can be raised and/or lowered as a free action. When a monk would be rendered incapacitated or unconscious, they can as a free action denote any number of individuals who may ignore their spell resistance when casting spells with the (harmless) descriptor. When the prestige monk is no longer incapacitated or unconscious, the denoted individuals must resume either attempting to overcome the prestige monk's spell resistance or convincing the prestige monk to lower their spell resistance in order to receive a spell.
Improved Evasion (Ex):
As the rogue class feature, see PHB page 51.
Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex):
As the rogue class feature, see PHB page 50.
If a character with levels in Prestige Monk later enters a prestige class that progresses non-prestige monk abilities (such as Flurry of Blows), they may advance their prestige monk abilities instead. For every two levels gained in a prestige class that advances non-prestige monk abilities (regardless of which non-prestige monk abilities that prestige class advances), a character is treated as having gained a level of prestige monk for the purposes of their Flurry of Blows ability, their AC bonus, their unarmored speed bonus, and their Slow Fall distance.
For example, a character with 5 levels of Prestige Monk and 10 levels of Tattooed Monk (which progress the unarmed damage, AC bonus, and unarmored speed bonuses of the non-prestige monk) would have the Flurry of Blows, AC bonus, unarmored speed bonus, and Slow Fall distance of a 10th-level prestige monk.
Character Level
Unarmed Strike and Quarterstaff Damage
Kama, Nunchaku, and Siangham Damage*
Sai Damage*
Shuriken Damage*
4th-8th
1d8
1d6
1d4
1d3
9th-12th
2d6
1d8
1d6
1d4
13th-16th
2d8
2d6
1d8
1d6
17th-20th
2d12
2d8
2d6
1d8
*These damage values only apply to attacks made while unarmored and only during a round in which the prestige monk wielding these weapons only attacks with special monk weapons and/or unarmed strikes.
The Cestus and Hand Wraps are identical in all ways other than name or appearance. Each deals damage equal to the wielding character's unarmed strike damage; in addition, a character using a Cestus or Hand Wraps may treat them as unarmed strikes or as manufactured weapons at their own discretion. For example, they may be used during a prestige monk's flurry of blows to deal damage equal to the prestige monk's normal unarmed strike, but they may also have weapon enchantments placed on them. A pair of Cestuses, or a pair of Hand Wraps, must be enchanted as one weapon.
9-13-2014: Uploaded to forums.
9-16-2014: Changed BAB from Average to Good.
9-16-2014: Increased unarmed damage/monk weapon damage progression; made tables all pretty-like.
9-27-2014: Removed the accidental second instance of Purity of Soul from the class table.
12-2-2014: Added the Ki Strike ability.
12-3-2014: Added the "Special: Other Prestige Classes" sidebar.
Hit die: d8. Skills: 4+Int/level. Class skills: same as Monk base class.
Level
BAB
Fort
Ref
Will
Special
Unarmored Speed Bonus
1
1
2
2
2
Unarmed Strike, Flurry of Blows (1 attack, -2 penalty), Slow Fall, AC Bonus
+0 ft.
2
2
3
3
3
Evasion, Zen Mastery (AC)
+5 ft.
3
3
3
3
3
Purity of Mind, Uncanny Dodge, Ki Strike (Magic)
+10 ft.
4
4
4
4
4
Purity of Body (Disease), Flurry of Blows (1 attack, -1 penalty)
+10 ft.
5
5
4
4
4
Rapid Flurry, Zen Mastery (Attack/Damage)
+15 ft.
6
6
5
5
5
Purity of Soul, Ki Strike (Cold Iron, Silver)
+20 ft.
7
7
5
5
5
Flurry of Blows (2 attacks, -1 penalty)
+20 ft.
8
8
6
6
6
Purity of Body (Poison), Zen Mastery (Skills)
+25 ft.
9
9
6
6
6
Improved Evasion, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Ki Strike (Adamantine)
+30 ft.
10
10
7
7
7
Slow Fall (any distance), Flurry of Blows (2 attacks, no penalty)
+30 ft.
Alignment: Any nonchaotic
Skills: Climb 4 ranks, Jump 4 ranks, Tumble 4 ranks
Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike, Superior Unarmed Strike, Improved Grapple
Special: A character with levels in the Monk base class (PHB 39) cannot take levels in the Prestige Monk prestige class, and vice versa.
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies:
A prestige monk gains proficiency with the cestus/hand wraps (see below), kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, shuriken, and siangham. These weapons are special monk weapons; whenever the phrase "special monk weapons" appears in the description of a class feature, feat, spell, or other element of rules text, it refers to all of the above weapons. They gain no proficiency with any other weapons, or with armor or shields.
Unarmed Strike (Ex):
A prestige monk's unarmed strikes can deliver blows of nearly inhuman force. A prestige monk determines the damage dealt by their unarmed strikes based on their character level; see table 1-2. All unarmed strikes delivered by a prestige monk deal damage equal to the normal damage dice plus the prestige monk's Strength modifier, ignoring damage penalties for offhand attacks. When a prestige monk attacks with a special monk weapon other the cestus/hand wraps, the weapon deals the damage based on the prestige monk's character level, indicated on table 1-2. This damage can be lethal or nonlethal at the prestige monk's discretion, with no penalties on attack rolls for either.
The prestige monk can make unarmed strikes with any part of their body that could readily be used as a striking surface. For example, kicks, elbow strikes, headbutts, and shoulder slams are all appropriate unarmed striking methods, but a prestige monk cannot use body parts that are not exposed (such as the stomach or lungs), nor can they use exterior parts of the body that would be impractical for use as weapons (such as the tongue or the small of the back). What body parts are and are not acceptable for making unarmed strikes is up to each DM to determine for themselves on a case-by-case basis. A prestige monk using a Cestus or Hand Wraps must have the appropriate hand(s) free to use them for making unarmed strikes (for example, they
A prestige monk’s unarmed strike is treated both as a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons (such as the magic fang and magic weapon spells).
Flurry of Blows (Ex):
As long as a prestige monk is unarmored, they may strike with a flurry of blows as a full attack action. They may make an extra attack at their highest base attack bonus, but all attacks they make until the start of their next turn (including those taken during a flurry of blows) take a -2 penalty to hit. At 4th level, this penalty is lessened to -1. At 7th level, two extra attacks may be made instead of one. At 10th level, there is not penalty to attack rolls due to using a flurry of blows. All attacks made during a flurry of blows must be made using unarmed strikes and/or special monk weapons. Each end of a quarterstaff counts as one weapon for the purposes of a flurry of blows. All weapons used during a flurry of blows deal damage equal to their normal damage dice + the prestige monk's Strength modifier.
Slow Fall (Ex):
A prestige monk can reduce the rate at which they fall if they have a nearby wall to brace against. As long as they are within arm's reach of a wall and capable of touching the wall, they may treat the fall as if it were 10 feet shorter per class level (for example, a sixth-level prestige monk treats all falls as if they were 60 feet shorter); in addition, they always land on their feet unless they choose to do so. If a prestige monk is within reach of more than one wall (such as in an inside corner, a narrow crevasse, or a vertical chimney), multiply the falling distance they would normally ignore by the number of walls they can reach to determine the amount of falling distance they ignore (thus, a fourth-level prestige monk within reach of two walls reduces the effective distance from a fall by 80 feet).
A 10th-level prestige monk can ignore any and all damage that a fall would deal as long as they are able to reach one or more walls. In addition, a 10th-level prestige monk can make a Climb check at any point during the fall to catch themselves, and can begin climbing upwards on their next action. The DC for this check is 5 higher than the normal DC for ascending the surface that is within arm's reach (thus, to catch themselves on a brick wall, a 10th-level prestige monk would need to make a DC 30 Climb check).
As an added benefit, a prestige monk receives a +5 competence bonus to Climb checks made when descending a surface, can take 10 on those climb checks even if stress and distractions would normally prevent them from doing so, and they can descend surfaces at normal speed without penalty.
AC Bonus (Ex):
A prestige monk adds one-half their class level, rounded up, as an untyped bonus to their armor class as long as they are unarmored and carrying no more than a light load. They lose this bonus when they are immobilized or helpless, when they wear any armor, when they carry a shield, or when they carry a medium or heavy load.
Unarmored Speed Bonus (Ex):
A prestige monk's base land speed increases by the amount shown in table 1-1. This speed increase is lost whenever a monk is wearing armor or carrying more than a light load, but is regained when neither of those conditions apply.
Evasion (Ex):
As the Rogue class feature, see PHB page 50.
Zen Mastery (Ex):
A prestige monk of 2nd level or higher adds their Wisdom bonus (if any) as an insight bonus to their Armor Class. They lose this bonus when they are immobilized or helpless, when they wear any armor, when they carry a shield, or when they carry a medium or heavy load.
A prestige monk of 5th level or higher may apply their Wisdom modifier instead of their Strength modifier to attack and damage rolls made with unarmed strikes or special monk weapons.
A prestige monk of 8th level of higher adds their Wisdom bonus (if any) as an insight bonus to any Strength- or Dexterity-based skill checks and ability checks.
Purity of Mind (Ex):
A prestige monk of 3rd level or higher adds their class level as an untyped bonus to saving throws made against mind-affecting spells, or effects.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex):
As the rogue class feature, see PHB page 50.
Ki Strike (Su):
At 3rd level, a prestige monk's fists (and feet, and forehead, and all other striking surfaces on their body) are imbued with truly superhuman power. Their unarmed strikes count as magic for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction, with an effective enhancement bonus equal to one-half the prestige monk's class level rounded down. This enhancement bonus does not apply to attack and damage rolls; it is only used for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.
At 6th level, a prestige monk's unarmed strikes also count as both cold iron and silver for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.
At 9th level, a prestige monk's unarmed strikes also count as adamantine for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.
Purity of Body (Ex):
At 5th level, a prestige monk gains control over their body’s immune system. They gains immunity to all diseases except for supernatural and magical diseases (such as mummy rot and lycanthropy).
At 8th level, a prestige monk is in such firm control of their own metabolism that they gain immunity to poisons of all kinds. In addition, they gain immunity to magical diseases as well as normal diseases.
Rapid Flurry (Ex):
A prestige monk of 5th level or higher can, as a full-round action, move up to their speed and make a full attack at the end of their movement, as long as the full attack made is a flurry of blows.
Purity of Soul (Su):
A prestige monk of 6th level or higher gains spell resistance equal to 15+the prestige monk's class level+the prestige monk's Wisdom modifier. This spell resistance can be raised and/or lowered as a free action. When a monk would be rendered incapacitated or unconscious, they can as a free action denote any number of individuals who may ignore their spell resistance when casting spells with the (harmless) descriptor. When the prestige monk is no longer incapacitated or unconscious, the denoted individuals must resume either attempting to overcome the prestige monk's spell resistance or convincing the prestige monk to lower their spell resistance in order to receive a spell.
Improved Evasion (Ex):
As the rogue class feature, see PHB page 51.
Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex):
As the rogue class feature, see PHB page 50.
If a character with levels in Prestige Monk later enters a prestige class that progresses non-prestige monk abilities (such as Flurry of Blows), they may advance their prestige monk abilities instead. For every two levels gained in a prestige class that advances non-prestige monk abilities (regardless of which non-prestige monk abilities that prestige class advances), a character is treated as having gained a level of prestige monk for the purposes of their Flurry of Blows ability, their AC bonus, their unarmored speed bonus, and their Slow Fall distance.
For example, a character with 5 levels of Prestige Monk and 10 levels of Tattooed Monk (which progress the unarmed damage, AC bonus, and unarmored speed bonuses of the non-prestige monk) would have the Flurry of Blows, AC bonus, unarmored speed bonus, and Slow Fall distance of a 10th-level prestige monk.
Character Level
Unarmed Strike and Quarterstaff Damage
Kama, Nunchaku, and Siangham Damage*
Sai Damage*
Shuriken Damage*
4th-8th
1d8
1d6
1d4
1d3
9th-12th
2d6
1d8
1d6
1d4
13th-16th
2d8
2d6
1d8
1d6
17th-20th
2d12
2d8
2d6
1d8
*These damage values only apply to attacks made while unarmored and only during a round in which the prestige monk wielding these weapons only attacks with special monk weapons and/or unarmed strikes.
The Cestus and Hand Wraps are identical in all ways other than name or appearance. Each deals damage equal to the wielding character's unarmed strike damage; in addition, a character using a Cestus or Hand Wraps may treat them as unarmed strikes or as manufactured weapons at their own discretion. For example, they may be used during a prestige monk's flurry of blows to deal damage equal to the prestige monk's normal unarmed strike, but they may also have weapon enchantments placed on them. A pair of Cestuses, or a pair of Hand Wraps, must be enchanted as one weapon.
9-13-2014: Uploaded to forums.
9-16-2014: Changed BAB from Average to Good.
9-16-2014: Increased unarmed damage/monk weapon damage progression; made tables all pretty-like.
9-27-2014: Removed the accidental second instance of Purity of Soul from the class table.
12-2-2014: Added the Ki Strike ability.
12-3-2014: Added the "Special: Other Prestige Classes" sidebar.