Here's a prestige class I wrote up. It's based on movement -- being able
to move around in a variety of ways. The requirements mean that you're
either a 10th level monk or some sort of multiclass fighter/rogue/monk of
at least 9th level, so the special abilities should be powerful if you're
taking this instead of the next 10 levels of monk.
I actually suspect that it's less powerful than a straight monk, but tell
me what you think. Ideas in it came from CTHD, the Tattooed Monk, and me.
I used a fighter's BaB because it seems to me that in CTHD many of the
warriors really were warriors, used lots of weapons, and so on. I used
the medium progression for reflex and will saves, but it might be better
thematically to have a good reflex progression.
Feedback is good.
Disciple of the Wudan
Backstory: See Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
Requirements:
Alignment: Any Lawful
Base Attack: +7
Skills: Tumble 8 ranks, Jump 8 ranks, Balance 8 ranks
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Endurance, Evasion
Hit die: d8
BaB: As fighter
Medium save progression: Ref and Will
Poor save progression: Fort
Level Special abilities
1 Vertical Running, Unarmored Speed +10 ft
2 Roots of the Mountain, Slow Fall +10 ft.
3 Abundant Step
4 Float like a Butterfly, Slow Fall +10 ft.
5 Broken Chains
6 Step Lightly, Unarmored Speed +10 ft.
7 Slow Fall (unlimited)
8 Walk with Others
9 Crescent Moon, Unarmored Speed +10 ft.
10 Uncertain Location
All of the abilities of the Disciple of the Wudan become inactive if she
is wearing armor heavier than light armor, or if she is medium encumbered
or greater.
Vertical Running: With a running start (at least 10 feet), a Disciple of
the Wudan can run on a surface as steep as vertical. For every 10 feet in
height, she needs 10 feet in a running start (ie., to run up a 30
ft. wall, she needs 30 ft. of running room). She can run any amount of
distance horizontally on the wall, but will fall off of it if she ends her
turn on a vertical (or near vertical) surface. This is an extraordinary
ability.
Unarmored Speed: This increases the Disciple of the Wudan's unarmored
speed.
Slow Fall: See monk's slow fall ability.
Roots of the Mountain: Once per day per every two class levels, the
Disciple of the Wudan may root herself into place. She gains +4 to her
constitution for as long as she stays rooted, for up to 1 round per class
level. When using this ability, she takes a -20 penalty on any
dexterity-based skill checks, but is immune to bull rush and trip
attacks. She may end her rooting as a free action, but cannot move as
long as she stays rooted. This is an extraordinary ability.
(Note that this is very similar to the Mountain tattoo, only not quite as
good.)
Abundant Step: As monk's ability, except that caster level is the Disciple
of the Wudan's class level plus half of her monk levels (rounded down).
Float like a Butterfly: The Disciple of the Wudan may use her slow fall
ability even if she is not near a wall.
Broken Chains: The Disciple of Wudan is affected as if by Freedom of
Movement. This is a spell-like ability.
Step Lightly: The Disciple of Wudan may walk on any surface, regardless of
how weak or uncertain. For instance, she can walk on water or a thin
branch. Her footsteps are so light that they do not leave footsteps or
trigger any weight-sensitive effects. However, she cannot walk on air,
clouds, or anything similarly amorphous.
Walk With Others: When using her Abundant Step or Step Lightly abilities,
a Disciple of Wudan may extend this effect to others once per day for a
number of rounds equal to her class level. She may affect a number of
other people equivalent to half her class level (rounded down).
Crescent Moon: Once per day, a Disciple of Wudan may use ethereal jaunt as
a spell-like ability.
Uncertain Location: The Disciple of Wudan has become centered in her
powers of movement. She may use any of her movement abilities twice as
often as she otherwise could, and moves so quickly and unpredictably that
she gains a +4 dodge bonus to her AC (except when flat-footed).
to move around in a variety of ways. The requirements mean that you're
either a 10th level monk or some sort of multiclass fighter/rogue/monk of
at least 9th level, so the special abilities should be powerful if you're
taking this instead of the next 10 levels of monk.
I actually suspect that it's less powerful than a straight monk, but tell
me what you think. Ideas in it came from CTHD, the Tattooed Monk, and me.
I used a fighter's BaB because it seems to me that in CTHD many of the
warriors really were warriors, used lots of weapons, and so on. I used
the medium progression for reflex and will saves, but it might be better
thematically to have a good reflex progression.
Feedback is good.
Disciple of the Wudan
Backstory: See Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
Requirements:
Alignment: Any Lawful
Base Attack: +7
Skills: Tumble 8 ranks, Jump 8 ranks, Balance 8 ranks
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Endurance, Evasion
Hit die: d8
BaB: As fighter
Medium save progression: Ref and Will
Poor save progression: Fort
Level Special abilities
1 Vertical Running, Unarmored Speed +10 ft
2 Roots of the Mountain, Slow Fall +10 ft.
3 Abundant Step
4 Float like a Butterfly, Slow Fall +10 ft.
5 Broken Chains
6 Step Lightly, Unarmored Speed +10 ft.
7 Slow Fall (unlimited)
8 Walk with Others
9 Crescent Moon, Unarmored Speed +10 ft.
10 Uncertain Location
All of the abilities of the Disciple of the Wudan become inactive if she
is wearing armor heavier than light armor, or if she is medium encumbered
or greater.
Vertical Running: With a running start (at least 10 feet), a Disciple of
the Wudan can run on a surface as steep as vertical. For every 10 feet in
height, she needs 10 feet in a running start (ie., to run up a 30
ft. wall, she needs 30 ft. of running room). She can run any amount of
distance horizontally on the wall, but will fall off of it if she ends her
turn on a vertical (or near vertical) surface. This is an extraordinary
ability.
Unarmored Speed: This increases the Disciple of the Wudan's unarmored
speed.
Slow Fall: See monk's slow fall ability.
Roots of the Mountain: Once per day per every two class levels, the
Disciple of the Wudan may root herself into place. She gains +4 to her
constitution for as long as she stays rooted, for up to 1 round per class
level. When using this ability, she takes a -20 penalty on any
dexterity-based skill checks, but is immune to bull rush and trip
attacks. She may end her rooting as a free action, but cannot move as
long as she stays rooted. This is an extraordinary ability.
(Note that this is very similar to the Mountain tattoo, only not quite as
good.)
Abundant Step: As monk's ability, except that caster level is the Disciple
of the Wudan's class level plus half of her monk levels (rounded down).
Float like a Butterfly: The Disciple of the Wudan may use her slow fall
ability even if she is not near a wall.
Broken Chains: The Disciple of Wudan is affected as if by Freedom of
Movement. This is a spell-like ability.
Step Lightly: The Disciple of Wudan may walk on any surface, regardless of
how weak or uncertain. For instance, she can walk on water or a thin
branch. Her footsteps are so light that they do not leave footsteps or
trigger any weight-sensitive effects. However, she cannot walk on air,
clouds, or anything similarly amorphous.
Walk With Others: When using her Abundant Step or Step Lightly abilities,
a Disciple of Wudan may extend this effect to others once per day for a
number of rounds equal to her class level. She may affect a number of
other people equivalent to half her class level (rounded down).
Crescent Moon: Once per day, a Disciple of Wudan may use ethereal jaunt as
a spell-like ability.
Uncertain Location: The Disciple of Wudan has become centered in her
powers of movement. She may use any of her movement abilities twice as
often as she otherwise could, and moves so quickly and unpredictably that
she gains a +4 dodge bonus to her AC (except when flat-footed).
