Pax_Chi
2007-04-25, 05:39 AM
Hello all. In my ongoing quest to make the Monk a playable character class while embracing my love for ToB, I decided to try a different route from the new core class I created here: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29762
Instead, I've created a Prestige Class that will be be to fans of the Monk and Tome of Battle what the Fist of Zuoken was to Monks and Psionics, or what the Sacred Fist was to Monks and the Divine.
I may have overcompensated here and made the Prestige class a bit too powerful, but that's why I'm posting it up here to get some feedback from everyone. Let me know what you think.
Fist of the Sublime Way
The Fist of the Sublime Way seeks to combine the mastery of the physical training that Monks pursue with the knowledge of martial lore that Sword Sages seek. The Fist of the Sublime Way seeks to fully integrate the physical training, mental discipline and spiritual calm of both classes while simultaneously combining their martial arts skills. After learning the basics of both arts, these students seek out temples, dojo’s or masters willing to accept a student onto this unique path of the Sublime Way.
A Fist of the Sublime Way is a martial artist who focuses on the development of the body and the internal energy called ki that he uses to power various martial arts techniques. By combining the lessons taught by the Monk and Sword Sage schools of thought, the Fist is able to fight as well with their bare hands as others do fully armed and channel their martial knowledge into techniques of great versatility.
Entry Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +3
Feats: Adaptive Style, Improved Unarmed Strike
Skills: Martial Lore +8
Special Ability: Sword Sage’s AC Bonus, Monk’s Still Mind ability
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|+1|+0|+2|+2|Integration of Inner Armor
2nd|+2|+0|+3|+3|Defensive Stance +2
3rd|+3|+1|+3|+3|Martial Healing
4th|+4|+1|+4|+4|Defensive Stance +4
5th|+5|+1|+4|+4|Master of Movement 1
6th|+6|+2|+5|+5|Defensive Stance +6
7th|+7|+2|+5|+5|Improved Evasion
8th|+8|+2|+6|+6|Defensive Stance +8
9th|+9|+3|+6|+6|Master of Movement 2
10th|+10|+3|+7|+7| Defensive Stance +10, [/table]
Hit Die: D10
Monk Abilities: Each level of Fist of the Sublime Way adds your class level to your Monk level to determine your unarmed damage, unarmored speed and slow fall distance. Furthermore, Unarmed Strikes are now considered preferred weapons of all martial arts disciplines you choose from.
Sword Sage Abilities: Each level of Fist of the Sublime Way adds your class level to your Sword Sage level to determine your number of maneuvers known, maneuvers readied and stances known.
Integration of Inner Armor: Your training begins by mastering the ability to combine the different defensive skills of your Monk and Sword Sage backgrounds together. You learn to integrate your Sword Sage and Monk AC bonuses, allowing you to add double your Wisdom bonus to your AC. If a Fist of the Sublime way wears any armor or magic items that increase Armor Class, such as Bracers of Armor, they lose this bonus and retain only their base Wisdom bonus to AC.
Defensive Stance: At 2nd level, the Fist of the Sublime Way learns how to combine their Monk like footwork with the defensive aspects of a Swordsages various combat stances. Any time a Fist gains the benefits of one of their martial stances, they gain a +2 bonus to their AC. This bonus increases by an additional +2 every two levels afterwards, to a total bonus of +10 at level 10. Any time the Monk is forced out of his Martial Stance, rendered helpless or forced into a position where he would lose his Monk or Swordsage Wisdom bonus (including wearing armor or mystic equipment), he loses this bonus to AC.
Martial Healing: Through long hours of mediation, your oneness with your body allows you to channel your ki into it to heal your wounds. You learn how to channel the energy you normally use in martial maneuvers to heal yourself. As a Swift Action, the Fist can sacrifice a Maneuvered Readied slot for the day to regain a number of hit points equal to double your Fist of the Sublime Way level plus your current Integration of Inner Armor bonus.
Master of Movement: By learning to combine your Monk speed and strength with a Sword Sage’s grace, you learn to run like the wind. You gain a +10 foot bonus to your unarmored movement speed and slow fall distance, as well as a +5 bonus to Jump checks. Furthermore, as a Swift Action, if you expend one of your readied maneuvers, you may either use your Slow Fall ability even if you are not within arms reach of a wall or recieve an additional +5 bonus on a single Jump check. At level 9 your gain an additional +10 bonus to your unarmored speed, and you may fall any distance without injury.
Improved Evasion: If there’s one thing both the Monk and Sword Sage can agree on, getting hit is bad. By combining their lore on the matter, you gain Improved Evasion at Level 7.
Special Restrictions: A Fist of the Sublime Way is a dedicated martial artist that focuses purely on the pursuit of the body as a living weapon. As such, the character cannot use any of his martial maneuvers with weapons of any kind, and armor hampers many of their abilities. When using a weapon other than their unarmed abilities, the Fist suffers a -3 penalty to accuracy. Due to the extreme focus and harmony created by a Fists training, magical items that boost stats do not affect them in any way. Temporary boosts from spells cast by allies, techniques boosts or similar temporary increases still work, since their effects fade shortly, but magic items that increase ability scores while worn do not affect a Fist at all.
Instead, I've created a Prestige Class that will be be to fans of the Monk and Tome of Battle what the Fist of Zuoken was to Monks and Psionics, or what the Sacred Fist was to Monks and the Divine.
I may have overcompensated here and made the Prestige class a bit too powerful, but that's why I'm posting it up here to get some feedback from everyone. Let me know what you think.
Fist of the Sublime Way
The Fist of the Sublime Way seeks to combine the mastery of the physical training that Monks pursue with the knowledge of martial lore that Sword Sages seek. The Fist of the Sublime Way seeks to fully integrate the physical training, mental discipline and spiritual calm of both classes while simultaneously combining their martial arts skills. After learning the basics of both arts, these students seek out temples, dojo’s or masters willing to accept a student onto this unique path of the Sublime Way.
A Fist of the Sublime Way is a martial artist who focuses on the development of the body and the internal energy called ki that he uses to power various martial arts techniques. By combining the lessons taught by the Monk and Sword Sage schools of thought, the Fist is able to fight as well with their bare hands as others do fully armed and channel their martial knowledge into techniques of great versatility.
Entry Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +3
Feats: Adaptive Style, Improved Unarmed Strike
Skills: Martial Lore +8
Special Ability: Sword Sage’s AC Bonus, Monk’s Still Mind ability
{table=head]Level|BAB|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|+1|+0|+2|+2|Integration of Inner Armor
2nd|+2|+0|+3|+3|Defensive Stance +2
3rd|+3|+1|+3|+3|Martial Healing
4th|+4|+1|+4|+4|Defensive Stance +4
5th|+5|+1|+4|+4|Master of Movement 1
6th|+6|+2|+5|+5|Defensive Stance +6
7th|+7|+2|+5|+5|Improved Evasion
8th|+8|+2|+6|+6|Defensive Stance +8
9th|+9|+3|+6|+6|Master of Movement 2
10th|+10|+3|+7|+7| Defensive Stance +10, [/table]
Hit Die: D10
Monk Abilities: Each level of Fist of the Sublime Way adds your class level to your Monk level to determine your unarmed damage, unarmored speed and slow fall distance. Furthermore, Unarmed Strikes are now considered preferred weapons of all martial arts disciplines you choose from.
Sword Sage Abilities: Each level of Fist of the Sublime Way adds your class level to your Sword Sage level to determine your number of maneuvers known, maneuvers readied and stances known.
Integration of Inner Armor: Your training begins by mastering the ability to combine the different defensive skills of your Monk and Sword Sage backgrounds together. You learn to integrate your Sword Sage and Monk AC bonuses, allowing you to add double your Wisdom bonus to your AC. If a Fist of the Sublime way wears any armor or magic items that increase Armor Class, such as Bracers of Armor, they lose this bonus and retain only their base Wisdom bonus to AC.
Defensive Stance: At 2nd level, the Fist of the Sublime Way learns how to combine their Monk like footwork with the defensive aspects of a Swordsages various combat stances. Any time a Fist gains the benefits of one of their martial stances, they gain a +2 bonus to their AC. This bonus increases by an additional +2 every two levels afterwards, to a total bonus of +10 at level 10. Any time the Monk is forced out of his Martial Stance, rendered helpless or forced into a position where he would lose his Monk or Swordsage Wisdom bonus (including wearing armor or mystic equipment), he loses this bonus to AC.
Martial Healing: Through long hours of mediation, your oneness with your body allows you to channel your ki into it to heal your wounds. You learn how to channel the energy you normally use in martial maneuvers to heal yourself. As a Swift Action, the Fist can sacrifice a Maneuvered Readied slot for the day to regain a number of hit points equal to double your Fist of the Sublime Way level plus your current Integration of Inner Armor bonus.
Master of Movement: By learning to combine your Monk speed and strength with a Sword Sage’s grace, you learn to run like the wind. You gain a +10 foot bonus to your unarmored movement speed and slow fall distance, as well as a +5 bonus to Jump checks. Furthermore, as a Swift Action, if you expend one of your readied maneuvers, you may either use your Slow Fall ability even if you are not within arms reach of a wall or recieve an additional +5 bonus on a single Jump check. At level 9 your gain an additional +10 bonus to your unarmored speed, and you may fall any distance without injury.
Improved Evasion: If there’s one thing both the Monk and Sword Sage can agree on, getting hit is bad. By combining their lore on the matter, you gain Improved Evasion at Level 7.
Special Restrictions: A Fist of the Sublime Way is a dedicated martial artist that focuses purely on the pursuit of the body as a living weapon. As such, the character cannot use any of his martial maneuvers with weapons of any kind, and armor hampers many of their abilities. When using a weapon other than their unarmed abilities, the Fist suffers a -3 penalty to accuracy. Due to the extreme focus and harmony created by a Fists training, magical items that boost stats do not affect them in any way. Temporary boosts from spells cast by allies, techniques boosts or similar temporary increases still work, since their effects fade shortly, but magic items that increase ability scores while worn do not affect a Fist at all.