I'm just playing around with this idea right now, and wanted to see what you thought, smootrk. I've maybe been watching
House of Flying Daggers too much.
Long Kimono Sleeve (Exotic Weapon)
Long Kimono Sleeve:
Damage 1d2/1d3*; critical x2; weight 1 pound (each); Damage: Bludgeoning; Cost: 25gp.
*Subdual damage
Kimonos can be designed with especially long slightly weighted sleeves for particular forms of dance. Those trained in its use can use it for additional defence, and to confound and defeat their enemies. They are usually made as part of an ordinary kimono
An attack with a kimono sleeve deals non-lethal damage. It deals no damage to any creature with an armour bonus of +1 or higher or a natural armour bonus of +3 or higher.
The Kimono Sleeve is treated as a melee weapon with a 15-foot reach, though you do not threaten the area into which you can make an attack. In addition, unlike most weapons with reach, you can use it against foes anywhere within your reach (including adjacent foes).
Using a Long Kimono Sleeve provokes an attack of opportunity, just as if you had used a ranged weapon.
If you are proficient with the Long Kimono Sleeve and you fight defensively or employ the total defence combat manoeuvre, you gain a +1 dodge bonus to AC for the rest of the round in addition to the normal AC bonus from the combat manoeuvre (+2 for fighting defensively or +4 for total defence). This bonus also applies if you are proficient with the weapon, have the Combat Expertise feat, and shift at least 2 points of your attack bonus to AC for the round.
Because a Long Kimono Sleeve can wrap around an enemy’s leg or other limb, you can make trip attacks with it.
When using a Long Kimono Sleeve, you get a +2 bonus on opposed attacks made to disarm an opponent. You cannot be disarmed of a Long Kimono Sleeve, though it is vulnerable to sundering.
If you have the Ki Strike class feature, it applies to attacks made with the Long Kimono Sleeve. You may also make Ki-based attacks (Such as Stunning Fist) through the Sleeve.
You can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack rolls with a Long Kimono Sleeve, even though it isn’t a light weapon.
You do not add your Strength Bonus to damage with a Long Kimono Sleeve, nor can you use the Power Attack feat with this weapon.
The Long Kimono Sleeve is a special monk weapon. This designation gives a monk using the Long Kimono Sleeve special options.
Some Notes:
The Sleeve counts as a cloak for the purposes of the Cloak Dance feat.
Interesting to note that twinned sleeves (probably common) are great for Two-weapon defence.
The Sleeve could count as a buckler, but you lose its defensive ability when you attack with it. In this case, you could take Improved Buckler Defence to retain the shield benefit.
I'm not sure if 15' reach is appropriate. It could be 10', or come in 2 versions.
Special Kimono Sleeves
Some ideas I was kicking around, based on the "Scarf" spells in Complete Arcane.
Kimono of Alabaster Crane
This elegant +2 Kimono was made to include two +2 Long Kimono Sleeves. Each sleeve is enchanted to allow the sleeves grip and use items at their extremities, as if with the mage hand spell. When gripping a weapon, the sleeves threaten the area within the sleeves’ reach.
Moderate Transmutation; CL 6th; Craft Magic Arms and Armour,
Mage Hand; Price: 20,850gp
Iron Sleeve (enhancement)
These magical Long Kimono Sleeves deal 1d8 points of lethal damage and the user may apply their strength bonus to damage rolls with the Sleeve. You may use the Power attack feat with Iron Sleeves. An Iron Sleeve deals slashing damage, or bludgeoning damage, at the user's option.
Minor transmutation; CL 3rd; Craft Magic Arms and Armour,
Iron Scarf; Price: +1 bonus
Decapitating Sleeve
Designed by ninjas of the Crimson Sakura, these silken +3 Iron Long Kimono Sleeves can be used as a lethal weapon, dealing 1d8 points of damage, plus the wearer’s strength bonus.
As a swift action, the wielder may expend one use of (Geisha Performance, Bardic Music, Shadow Arts, or Ki Power) to imbue the sleeve with a dangerous power for a full round. The next attack with the Sleeve may be a
decapitating strike.
You must make a normal attack roll. If you hit, the target must make a DC 20 Fortitude saving throw; failure indicates that the sleeve has decapitated the victim.
A target creature that makes its save takes 15d4 points of damage before freeing itself from the decapitating sleeve. Constructs and most undead (except vampires) are not immediately killed by decapitation, and take only 6d4 points of damage whether they make the save or not. Oozes, aberrations, and other creatures without a head are immune to a Decapitating Sleeve’s effects.
If you do not use the decapitating power by the beginning of your next turn, the power is wasted.
The cost provided is for a single decapitating sleeve.
Strong transmutation; CL 15th; Craft Magic Arms and Armour,
Iron Scarf, Decapitating Scarf; Price 137,325gp, in addition to the cost of the kimono it is built into. Cost to Create: 68,500gp + 5480 XP
This could be really strong amongst the Crimson Sakura themselves, who would also be dealing sudden strike and/or sneak attack damage on top of the decapitating damage on a successful save. The price was reduced due to the limitations on who can activate the decapitation power. I halved the price of the added effect, but I could be off on the price in the first place.
Anyhow, just thought I'd post to show my continued interest in the project.
Edit: Clarified activation of the decapitating power. Decapitation now has a DC!
Working on the
Entangling Scarf version.
