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View Full Version : Looking for a monk-ish weapon specialist (Prestige)Class



Threeshades
2007-04-14, 07:10 PM
Recently i got the idea it would be a cool thing to have a character who is trained in the use of a certain weapon like a monk is trained in unarmed combat.

Of course i could just build a fighter with weapon focus, specialization, greater focus, improved critical hit, melee weapon mastery etc. But that's not enough in my oinion. I would like to know if there is a class or prestige class that allows me to specialize my character with a certain weapon. I know there was a prestige class in the old Sword and Fist book that was already almost what i was looking for. But if i remember that right that class had not only to specialize on a certain kind of weapon but on a weapon with all its traits. (like for example the character has a +1 flaming greatsword and chooses it for the prestige class, then all the prestige class features are only usable with a +1 flaming greatsword and nothing even slightly different, like a +2 flaming greatsword)
Another prestige class i found that seemed useful on the first look was the Kensai, but on a closer look it seems to me like taking this prestige class only gives you the ability to once spend some of your XP on improving your weapon. And then you have to live with this one weapon and you cant use any other weapon with your class features even if it has exactly the same bonuses. And mostly the Kensai got some social skills and i think even some paladin healing that i wasnt looking for at all.

So after all this blabber i want to sum up what i am looking for:
I need a class (no matter if its a basic or prestige class) that allows my character to specialize in the use of one kind of weapon (with kind of weapon i mean like Longsword, or greatsword or Rapier, or morningstar, not the weapon type and not only one and the same weapon, or only weapons that have all the same enhancements) in ways further or different than a normal fighter is able to.
A nice addition for the style of the whole thing would be if the class had monkish traits (like strict training in combat as well as the spirit, and "becoming one" with your weapon; something like this; and it may also have influences on the game, like some wisdom based advantages of some sort).

Only further point is that the class should not require the character to be good (good characters are often mistrusted in our party)

I hope you can help me out. (otherwise i would have to go with that class from the sword and fist book)

Arbitrarity
2007-04-14, 08:58 PM
Psionic weaponmaster, Might be what you're looking for. (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040827d)

Nasty entry prereqs though. Looks like 7 levels of psywar first.

Barely enough feats to get in at level 7. If you take imp crit, combat expertise, combat reflexes, and WWA before you get in, it become very nice. Only potentially nasty thing with that is the classical 13-20 crit range :).

Or, you could ressurect the old 3.0 weapon master. If I remember correctly, it looks like this:

d10 HD
2 + Int Modifier skills,

Needs:
BAB: +5
Weapon Focus in a melee weapon, Dodge, Mobility, Expertise, Spring Attack and Whirlwind Attack.
Intimidate 4 or more ranks.

1: Weapon of Choice - One is chosen and there-after all Weapon Master special abilities will only work while that type of weapon in equipped.
Ki Damage - Once per day per level maximum damage is dealt.
5: Increase Multiplier - Add 1x to weapon critical damage multiplier (i.e. 2x becomes 3x, 3x becomes 4x, etc.).
Superior Weapon Focus - Add +1 to attacks with weapon of choice.
7: Ki Critical - Add +2 to weapon of choice threat range.

Strong Ref, Full BAB.


"For the weapon master, perfection is found in the mastery of a single melee weapon. A weapon master seeks to unite this weapon of choice with his body, to make them one, and to use the weapon as naturally and without thought as any other limb. "

That's the sword and fist thing.

the_tick_rules
2007-04-14, 09:09 PM
kensai monks are cool. they spend bits of xp to enchant weapons, like say their own body, or any monk weapons. you could go drunken master and kick butt with like mugs and stuff.

Annarrkkii
2007-04-14, 09:21 PM
Kensai is closer to what you're thinking of than you realize, but it does limit you to your one "signature weapon" and that weapon only.

Exotic Weapon Master in Complete Warrior allows you to take some tricks with Exotic Weapons, and for those weapons only, but is a generally uninspiring class. Other than that... there are Bladesingers, who can only use their abilities with a few set types of swords, and Duelists, who are really only useful with light piercing weapons, and Order of the Bow Initiates who specialize in, well, bows... And Black Flame Zealots like Kukris...

But nothing quite like what you're looking for.

JaronK
2007-04-14, 09:25 PM
Warblade X/Shou Disciple 5 should work great. Shou Disciple is a 5 level PrC that lets you flurry with any weapon and gives you 2d6 unarmed damage by 5th level. It's found in Unapproachable East.

Warblade has the ability to move Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Weapon Focus, and other such feats from one weapon to another, so you can specialize all you want in one weapon, then switch to another weapon. It also lets you take Weapon Specialization and other Fighter only feats, if you wish. The manuevers will help as well, allowing you to make strong attacks.

Swordsage also has a strong monk feel. Warblade 1/Swordsage X would be extreamly effective, and probably give you the right feel.

JaronK

Closet_Skeleton
2007-04-15, 07:56 AM
Or, you could ressurect the old 3.0 weapon master. If I remember correctly, it looks like this:

d10 HD
2 + Int Modifier skills,

Needs:
BAB: +5
Weapon Focus in a melee weapon, Dodge, Mobility, Expertise, Spring Attack and Whirlwind Attack.
Intimidate 4 or more ranks.

1: Weapon of Choice - One is chosen and there-after all Weapon Master special abilities will only work while that type of weapon in equipped.
Ki Damage - Once per day per level maximum damage is dealt.
5: Increase Multiplier - Add 1x to weapon critical damage multiplier (i.e. 2x becomes 3x, 3x becomes 4x, etc.).
Superior Weapon Focus - Add +1 to attacks with weapon of choice.
7: Ki Critical - Add +2 to weapon of choice threat range.

Strong Ref, Full BAB.


"For the weapon master, perfection is found in the mastery of a single melee weapon. A weapon master seeks to unite this weapon of choice with his body, to make them one, and to use the weapon as naturally and without thought as any other limb. "

That's the sword and fist thing.

That's the NWN version. The pen and paper version has a few more abilities. He adds his Wisdom modifier to combat reflexes and gets Whirlwind attacks as a standard action.

In fact, Psychic Weapon Master is just Weapon Master+, which always looked unfair to me. Weapon Master is basically Psychic Weaponmaster, remove all the Psychic stuff and the Bonded weapon, increase the HD to d8, change the good save to Fort, add combat expertise, Whirlwind Attack and 4 ranks in Intimidate to the prerequisites.

Threeshades
2007-04-15, 08:18 AM
That's the NWN version. The pen and paper version has a few more abilities. He adds his Wisdom modifier to combat reflexes and gets Whirlwind attacks as a standard action.

In fact, Psychic Weapon Master is just Weapon Master+, which always looked unfair to me. Weapon Master is basically Psychic Weaponmaster, remove all the Psychic stuff and the Bonded weapon, increase the HD to d8, change the good save to Fort, add combat expertise, Whirlwind Attack and 4 ranks in Intimidate to the prerequisites.

weapon master. i think that was the mentioned class from sword and fist. Maybe i just remembered it wrong, but i think it only got its bonuses with a weapon that has all the same enhancements (masterwork or any magic) as its chosen weapon.

My problem with this prestige class is, that i should see if i can get a really neat weapon before i multiclass.
For example an older character of mine had a +1 two-bladed sword (+1 on both ends fortunately). I could have taken the prestige class, but then i would be stuck with my +1 weapon and if i'd ever find a better sword it would be almost useless in my hands.

So to become really effective i would have to max out my weapon first. Or is there anything i can rearrange the prestigeclass so i could have a better weapon?


PS: the psychic weapon master might be a problem. we dont have any of the psionic books

Matthew
2007-04-15, 01:03 PM
You could always try Monk with that Eberron Feat that allows you to use a Long sword as part of a Flurry. No increased Damage Die, though. Maybe the Book of Nine Swords Sword Sage is a better option.