Baron Corm
2007-03-18, 03:42 PM
Monks, as I see them, are supposed to be Bruce Lee-type martial artists with some old-man-on-the-mountain-dispensing-sage-advice thrown in. For your viewing pleasure, I have created a monk class which actually has those things. The yogi class from The Complete Guide to Raksashas also influenced this rebuild a little itty bit, so one might call it a combination of the two classes.
Monk
Table:
Level 1: Flurry of blows, unarmed strike, AC bonus, master of experience
Level 2: Bonus feat, Ki avoid
Level 3: Quivering Palm I
Level 4: Ki strike (magic), slow fall 20 ft.
Level 5: Ki focus
Level 6: Ki dodge, bonus feat, slow fall 30 ft.
Level 7: Ki restore
Level 8: Bonus feat, ki avoid, slow fall 40 ft.
Level 9: Quivering Palm II
Level 10: Ki strike (lawful), bonus feat, slow fall 50 ft.
Level 11: Greater flurry
Level 12: Weapon affinity, slow fall 60 ft.
Level 13: Diamond soul
Level 14: Student of experience, ki avoid, slow fall 70 ft.
Level 15: Quivering palm III
Level 16: Ki strike (adamantine), slow fall 80 ft.
Level 17: Timeless body
Level 18: Student of experience, slow fall 90 ft.
Level 19: Battle-hardened fists
Level 20: Slowed perception, ki strike (force)
Alignment: Any lawful
Hit Die: d8
Skill Points: 4 + Int modifier
Base Attack Bonus: as cleric
Base Saves: High Fort, High Reflex, High Will
Class Skills: Balance, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Disguise, Escape Artist, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (nature), Knowledge (religion), Listen, Move Silently, Profession, Sense Motive, Spot, Swim, Tumble
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Monks are proficient with the club, crossbow (light or heavy), dagger, handaxe, javelin, kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, shuriken, siangham, and sling.
Monks are not proficient with any armor or shields
When wearing armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load, a monk loses his AC bonus, as well as his flurry of blows ability.
AC Bonus (Ex)
When unarmored and unencumbered, the monk adds his Wisdom bonus (if any) to his AC. In addition, a monk gains a +1 bonus to AC at 5th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every five monk levels thereafter (+2 at 10th, +3 at 15th, and +4 at 20th level).
These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the monk is flat-footed. He loses these bonuses when he is immobilized or helpless, when he wears any armor, when he carries a shield, or when he carries a medium or heavy load.
Flurry of Blows and Greater Flurry (Ex)
As normal.
Unarmed Strike
As normal, except for one difference! If the monk's Strength is his highest ability, he may treat his unarmed strike as a two-handed weapon for feats such as Power Attack, and he deals 1.5x his strength bonus on an unarmed strike.
Master of Experience
A monk gains wisdom exceptionally well as he ages. Double the wisdom bonus gained for each age catagory. In addition, a Venerable monk gains the following special abilities at the specified levels:
Levitate (Su): At level 4, a venerable monk gains a fly speed equal to his slow fall distance. This increases as slow fall distance increases, becoming 100ft. at level 20. He has perfect manuverability, but if a blow is landed on him and deals damage, he must make a Concentration check (DC = damage dealt) or fall to the ground. He may not perform any actions that require movement, such as attacking, while flying.
Sensei (Su): At level 11, a venerable monk may choose a number of monks equal to one-half his class level. All but one must all be of lower level, and the venerable monk must be at least mutually Friendly with them. The venerable monk may communicate with his students as per the spell Telepathic Bond with a permanent duration. If the venerable monk dies, this telepathic bond still endures. He may choose new students at any time as a standard action.
Unclouded Vision (Su): A level 20 venerable monk has the spells True Seeing and Discern Lies on him at all times.
The monk gains these abilities as soon as he hits venerable age if he has already passed the specified class levels.
Bonus Feat
At 2nd level, a monk gains Combat Reflexes as a bonus feat. At 4th level, he gains Deflect Arrows as a bonus feat. At 6th level, he gains Stunning Fist as a bonus feat. At 8th level, he gains Snatch Arrows as a bonus feat. At 10th level he gains Improved Critical (unarmed strike) as a bonus feat. A monk need not have any of the prerequisites normally required for these feats to select them.
Ki Avoid (Su)
At 2nd level or higher if a monk makes a successful saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. Ki avoid can be used only if a monk is not wearing armor. A helpless monk does not gain the benefit of ki avoid.
The monk may choose to have this ability apply to either Fortitude, Reflex, or Will saving throws. At levels 8 and 14, he may add a new type of saving throw that this applies to.
Quivering Palm (Ex)
Upon reaching levels 3, 9, and 15, the monk gains a number of special abilities which are all delivered with a single unarmed strike. He may take a full-round action to gather himself before the attack in order to automatically hit his target, but this is not required. This ignores armor class, concealment bonus, and anything else. A Concentration check (DC = 1.5 x monk level) is required for this to work. If the monk chooses not to take this extra round or fails his Concentration check, an attack roll is required. A d20 must be rolled to determine whether or not he made a critical hit regardless.
All quivering palm techniques take a standard action by themselves, but more than one may be combined into a single standard action, taking a use per day of each technique. They may each be used once per day. The monk may choose to have any damage taken from a quivering palm ability be nonlethal.
Level 3 (Quivering Palm I): As long as damage is dealt, this sends the target hurtling backwards for 5 ft per monk level. Upon stopping, the target takes 1d6 damage per monk level. Targets larger than the monk are allowed a Fortitude save to avoid being hurled backwards (DC 10 + 1/2 monk level + WIS modifier) with a +4 bonus for every catagory they are larger above the first.
Level 9 (Quivering Palm II): Deal damage equal to your normal strike + your Wisdom modifier, and get a bonus to attack rolls equal to your Wisdom modifier, even if you're using the Ki Focus ability. If the normal round is taken to gather yourself, you automatically confirm a critical on this attack, multiplying your Wisdom modifier along with the other damage. You cannot critical hit creatures immune to critical hits with this ability.
Level 15 (Quivering Palm III): As the normal Quivering Palm ability
Ki Strike (Su)
At 4th level, a monk’s unarmed attacks are empowered with ki. His unarmed attacks are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of dealing damage to creatures with damage reduction. Ki strike improves with the character’s monk level. At 10th level, his unarmed attacks are also treated as lawful weapons for the purpose of dealing damage to creatures with damage reduction. At 16th level, his unarmed attacks are treated as adamantine weapons for the purpose of dealing damage to creatures with damage reduction and bypassing hardness.
At 20th level, the monk gains the ability to manipulate objects made of force with his hands. He may punch a hole in an object made of force as a standard action. He creates a hole just large enough for him to fit through. In addition, the monk's unarmed strikes are treated as if they had the Ghost Touch ability and may ignore any bonus to armor class granted by a Force effect.
Slow Fall (Ex)
At 4th level or higher, a monk can brace himself to absorb the impact of a fall. When first using this ability, he takes damage as if the fall were 20 feet shorter than it actually is. The monk’s ability to slow his fall improves with his monk level until at 20th level he can fall any distance without harm.
Ki Focus
Starting at 5th level, the monk may use his Wisdom modifier instead of his Strength modifier on attack rolls with weapons he is able to flurry with.
Ki Dodge (Su)
Starting at 6th level, the monk has a chance to dodge attacks equal to 1% per point of bonus AC from levels or Wisdom. This ability does not function if the monk is helpless.
Ki Restore (Su)
At 7th level or higher, a monk can heal his own wounds. He can heal a number of hit points of damage equal to his current monk level times his Wisdom modifier each day, and he can spread this healing out among several uses.
Weapon Affinity
At 12th level, the monk may choose a single weapon which he is able to flurry with. He adds his unarmed damage bonus to all attacks with that weapon. He gains Improved Critical (chosen weapon). If the monk chooses not to pick a weapon, he instead gains a +3 enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls with his unarmed strike. He may choose to pick equivalent weapon abilities such as Speed or Flaming Burst and Ghost Touch, or a combination of attack and damage bonuses and weapon abilities. After resting for 8 hours, these may be changed to different enhancements. The monk may not choose Anarchic or any other chaos-based ability as a weapon ability.
Diamond Soul (Ex)
At 13th level, a monk gains spell resistance equal to his current monk level + 10. In order to affect the monk with a spell, a spellcaster must get a result on a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) that equals or exceeds the monk’s spell resistance.
Student of Experience (Ex)
At levels 14 and 18, the monk gains a permanent +2 bonus to Wisdom.
Timeless Body (Ex)
Upon attaining 17th level, a monk no longer takes ability penalties for aging and cannot be magically aged. Any such penalties that he has taken disappear, although he still ages in appearance. Bonuses still accrue, and the monk still dies of old age when his time is up.
Battle-hardened Fists (Ex)
At level 19, the monk gains a +2 enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls with his unarmed strikes which stacks with his previous enhancement bonus if he chose to take it. He may convert this enhancement bonus to weapon abilities, as described under the Weapon Affinity ability. In addition, the monk may choose to deal slashing or piercing damage with his unarmed strikes instead of bludgeoning damage on any attack.
Slowed Perception (Ex)
At level 20, the monk can loose a devastating amount of blows with incredible precision, as the world around him seems to move in slow motion. This alleviates the attack penalty on iterative attacks by 5. This would make his base attack bonus at level 20 be +15/+15/+10.
Ex-Monks
A monk who becomes nonlawful cannot gain new levels as a monk but retains all monk abilities.
Like a member of any other class, a monk may be a multiclass character, but multiclass monks face a special restriction. A monk who gains a new class or (if already multiclass) raises another class by a level may never again raise his monk level, though he retains all his monk abilities.
Monk
Table:
Level 1: Flurry of blows, unarmed strike, AC bonus, master of experience
Level 2: Bonus feat, Ki avoid
Level 3: Quivering Palm I
Level 4: Ki strike (magic), slow fall 20 ft.
Level 5: Ki focus
Level 6: Ki dodge, bonus feat, slow fall 30 ft.
Level 7: Ki restore
Level 8: Bonus feat, ki avoid, slow fall 40 ft.
Level 9: Quivering Palm II
Level 10: Ki strike (lawful), bonus feat, slow fall 50 ft.
Level 11: Greater flurry
Level 12: Weapon affinity, slow fall 60 ft.
Level 13: Diamond soul
Level 14: Student of experience, ki avoid, slow fall 70 ft.
Level 15: Quivering palm III
Level 16: Ki strike (adamantine), slow fall 80 ft.
Level 17: Timeless body
Level 18: Student of experience, slow fall 90 ft.
Level 19: Battle-hardened fists
Level 20: Slowed perception, ki strike (force)
Alignment: Any lawful
Hit Die: d8
Skill Points: 4 + Int modifier
Base Attack Bonus: as cleric
Base Saves: High Fort, High Reflex, High Will
Class Skills: Balance, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Disguise, Escape Artist, Hide, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (nature), Knowledge (religion), Listen, Move Silently, Profession, Sense Motive, Spot, Swim, Tumble
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Monks are proficient with the club, crossbow (light or heavy), dagger, handaxe, javelin, kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, shuriken, siangham, and sling.
Monks are not proficient with any armor or shields
When wearing armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load, a monk loses his AC bonus, as well as his flurry of blows ability.
AC Bonus (Ex)
When unarmored and unencumbered, the monk adds his Wisdom bonus (if any) to his AC. In addition, a monk gains a +1 bonus to AC at 5th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every five monk levels thereafter (+2 at 10th, +3 at 15th, and +4 at 20th level).
These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the monk is flat-footed. He loses these bonuses when he is immobilized or helpless, when he wears any armor, when he carries a shield, or when he carries a medium or heavy load.
Flurry of Blows and Greater Flurry (Ex)
As normal.
Unarmed Strike
As normal, except for one difference! If the monk's Strength is his highest ability, he may treat his unarmed strike as a two-handed weapon for feats such as Power Attack, and he deals 1.5x his strength bonus on an unarmed strike.
Master of Experience
A monk gains wisdom exceptionally well as he ages. Double the wisdom bonus gained for each age catagory. In addition, a Venerable monk gains the following special abilities at the specified levels:
Levitate (Su): At level 4, a venerable monk gains a fly speed equal to his slow fall distance. This increases as slow fall distance increases, becoming 100ft. at level 20. He has perfect manuverability, but if a blow is landed on him and deals damage, he must make a Concentration check (DC = damage dealt) or fall to the ground. He may not perform any actions that require movement, such as attacking, while flying.
Sensei (Su): At level 11, a venerable monk may choose a number of monks equal to one-half his class level. All but one must all be of lower level, and the venerable monk must be at least mutually Friendly with them. The venerable monk may communicate with his students as per the spell Telepathic Bond with a permanent duration. If the venerable monk dies, this telepathic bond still endures. He may choose new students at any time as a standard action.
Unclouded Vision (Su): A level 20 venerable monk has the spells True Seeing and Discern Lies on him at all times.
The monk gains these abilities as soon as he hits venerable age if he has already passed the specified class levels.
Bonus Feat
At 2nd level, a monk gains Combat Reflexes as a bonus feat. At 4th level, he gains Deflect Arrows as a bonus feat. At 6th level, he gains Stunning Fist as a bonus feat. At 8th level, he gains Snatch Arrows as a bonus feat. At 10th level he gains Improved Critical (unarmed strike) as a bonus feat. A monk need not have any of the prerequisites normally required for these feats to select them.
Ki Avoid (Su)
At 2nd level or higher if a monk makes a successful saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. Ki avoid can be used only if a monk is not wearing armor. A helpless monk does not gain the benefit of ki avoid.
The monk may choose to have this ability apply to either Fortitude, Reflex, or Will saving throws. At levels 8 and 14, he may add a new type of saving throw that this applies to.
Quivering Palm (Ex)
Upon reaching levels 3, 9, and 15, the monk gains a number of special abilities which are all delivered with a single unarmed strike. He may take a full-round action to gather himself before the attack in order to automatically hit his target, but this is not required. This ignores armor class, concealment bonus, and anything else. A Concentration check (DC = 1.5 x monk level) is required for this to work. If the monk chooses not to take this extra round or fails his Concentration check, an attack roll is required. A d20 must be rolled to determine whether or not he made a critical hit regardless.
All quivering palm techniques take a standard action by themselves, but more than one may be combined into a single standard action, taking a use per day of each technique. They may each be used once per day. The monk may choose to have any damage taken from a quivering palm ability be nonlethal.
Level 3 (Quivering Palm I): As long as damage is dealt, this sends the target hurtling backwards for 5 ft per monk level. Upon stopping, the target takes 1d6 damage per monk level. Targets larger than the monk are allowed a Fortitude save to avoid being hurled backwards (DC 10 + 1/2 monk level + WIS modifier) with a +4 bonus for every catagory they are larger above the first.
Level 9 (Quivering Palm II): Deal damage equal to your normal strike + your Wisdom modifier, and get a bonus to attack rolls equal to your Wisdom modifier, even if you're using the Ki Focus ability. If the normal round is taken to gather yourself, you automatically confirm a critical on this attack, multiplying your Wisdom modifier along with the other damage. You cannot critical hit creatures immune to critical hits with this ability.
Level 15 (Quivering Palm III): As the normal Quivering Palm ability
Ki Strike (Su)
At 4th level, a monk’s unarmed attacks are empowered with ki. His unarmed attacks are treated as magic weapons for the purpose of dealing damage to creatures with damage reduction. Ki strike improves with the character’s monk level. At 10th level, his unarmed attacks are also treated as lawful weapons for the purpose of dealing damage to creatures with damage reduction. At 16th level, his unarmed attacks are treated as adamantine weapons for the purpose of dealing damage to creatures with damage reduction and bypassing hardness.
At 20th level, the monk gains the ability to manipulate objects made of force with his hands. He may punch a hole in an object made of force as a standard action. He creates a hole just large enough for him to fit through. In addition, the monk's unarmed strikes are treated as if they had the Ghost Touch ability and may ignore any bonus to armor class granted by a Force effect.
Slow Fall (Ex)
At 4th level or higher, a monk can brace himself to absorb the impact of a fall. When first using this ability, he takes damage as if the fall were 20 feet shorter than it actually is. The monk’s ability to slow his fall improves with his monk level until at 20th level he can fall any distance without harm.
Ki Focus
Starting at 5th level, the monk may use his Wisdom modifier instead of his Strength modifier on attack rolls with weapons he is able to flurry with.
Ki Dodge (Su)
Starting at 6th level, the monk has a chance to dodge attacks equal to 1% per point of bonus AC from levels or Wisdom. This ability does not function if the monk is helpless.
Ki Restore (Su)
At 7th level or higher, a monk can heal his own wounds. He can heal a number of hit points of damage equal to his current monk level times his Wisdom modifier each day, and he can spread this healing out among several uses.
Weapon Affinity
At 12th level, the monk may choose a single weapon which he is able to flurry with. He adds his unarmed damage bonus to all attacks with that weapon. He gains Improved Critical (chosen weapon). If the monk chooses not to pick a weapon, he instead gains a +3 enhancement bonus to attack and damage rolls with his unarmed strike. He may choose to pick equivalent weapon abilities such as Speed or Flaming Burst and Ghost Touch, or a combination of attack and damage bonuses and weapon abilities. After resting for 8 hours, these may be changed to different enhancements. The monk may not choose Anarchic or any other chaos-based ability as a weapon ability.
Diamond Soul (Ex)
At 13th level, a monk gains spell resistance equal to his current monk level + 10. In order to affect the monk with a spell, a spellcaster must get a result on a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) that equals or exceeds the monk’s spell resistance.
Student of Experience (Ex)
At levels 14 and 18, the monk gains a permanent +2 bonus to Wisdom.
Timeless Body (Ex)
Upon attaining 17th level, a monk no longer takes ability penalties for aging and cannot be magically aged. Any such penalties that he has taken disappear, although he still ages in appearance. Bonuses still accrue, and the monk still dies of old age when his time is up.
Battle-hardened Fists (Ex)
At level 19, the monk gains a +2 enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls with his unarmed strikes which stacks with his previous enhancement bonus if he chose to take it. He may convert this enhancement bonus to weapon abilities, as described under the Weapon Affinity ability. In addition, the monk may choose to deal slashing or piercing damage with his unarmed strikes instead of bludgeoning damage on any attack.
Slowed Perception (Ex)
At level 20, the monk can loose a devastating amount of blows with incredible precision, as the world around him seems to move in slow motion. This alleviates the attack penalty on iterative attacks by 5. This would make his base attack bonus at level 20 be +15/+15/+10.
Ex-Monks
A monk who becomes nonlawful cannot gain new levels as a monk but retains all monk abilities.
Like a member of any other class, a monk may be a multiclass character, but multiclass monks face a special restriction. A monk who gains a new class or (if already multiclass) raises another class by a level may never again raise his monk level, though he retains all his monk abilities.