Joyful monk variant?

[Aleolus]

OK, here's a variant I came up with for the monk class. I based it off of the character of Tar Gibbons from the book series Aliens Ate my Homework, written by Bruce Coville. I posted it on the Wizards of the Coast forum, and the general consensus there is that it looks pretty good, but needs to be play-tested. I come here to get your opinions on it. Respond if you think it's balanced, overpowered, underpowered, or if you have any questions or comments on it!

A character who wants to follow the path of the Joyful Warrior must be about to take their first level of monk, and be apprenticed to the proper master or monastery.
Replaces: A monk who choses this variant does not gain any of the monk AC bonuses from Wisdom, or from his monk levels.
Benefits: Starting at first level, as a full-round action, you can enter into a state of joyful harmony with the universe (tentatively known as the Katsu Miranda). While in this state, you gain a +3 insight bonus to melee attack and damage rolls, a +3 dodge bonus to AC, and the Uncanny Dodge class ability. However, maintaining this harmony is difficult for extended periods of time. For every round after the first, you must make a Concentration check (DC=5, +5 for every round after the first you have maintained it). You may choose to dismiss this effect as a free action. You also gain a bonus on Reflex Saves equal to one-half the bonus provided to attack and damage rolls, rounded down.
Beginning at first level, you also gain a bonus on all saving throws and checks made to resist fear equal to your class level. A Joyful Warrior who is under a fear effect cannot access the Katsu Miranda until he or she has been free of fear for a minimum of two rounds. A Joyful Warrior in Katsu Miranda who fails his saving throw or skill check against fear instantly loses the benefit of his Katsu Miranda, and cannot regain them until after he has been free of his fear for two full rounds, and has spent the required action to enter it.
At fourth level, and every four levels thereafter, the benefits of entering the Katsu Miranda increase by 1 (to +4 at fourth, +5 at eighth, etc).
At tenth, fifteenth and twentieth levels, you learn how to enter into Katsu Miranda more quickly than before. At tenth level, it entering the Katsu Miranda only requires a standard action. At fifteenth level, it quickens to a move action, and then to a free action at twentieth level.
At 20th level, you have mastered the art of the Katsu Miranda. Beginning at this point, you no longer need to make Concentration checks to maintain your state of joy. You also become immune to all fear effects, magical and otherwise.

 

[blargney the second]

It's stronger than the default monk by a fairly wide margin. It's mostly the huge bonuses to attack and damage, but the rate of improvement of all the bonuses is also part of it. This is somewhat mitigated by the expensive full-round activation cost, but it'd be more interesting to see that go down as well. (ie start at standard, then go down to move, then eventually swift rather than permanent)

That being said, it's pretty cool.
-blarg

 

[Aleolus]

Well, it never gets totally permanent, just to the point where you don't have to make checks to maintain it. And you also have to take into account that, while it does get bigger bonuses than the average monk, it also does not get the Wis AC bonus, or the AC bonus for leveling that most monks get.

 

[blargney the second]

Well, yes and no.

If the 20th level monk doesn't need to make checks to maintain it, what's to keep him from doing it indefinitely? There's currently no maximum duration that I can see.

As for the AC, +3 plus 1/4 levels is not significantly less than the regular monk. It is less to be sure, but not as much as you'd think.
-blarg

 

[Darklone]

It´s lots stronger than a Kalamarfeat I once had a char with... full round action to get a +4 to attack for your next attack within one minute. I always thought that feat was pretty weak... yet twohanded Power Attack proved me wrong.

This monk ability stacks with most other bonuses to hit and damage and it´s stronger than barbarian rage. It´s too strong IMHO.

If it starts with a +1 bonus, I might think about it.

 

[Nifft]

IMHO Barbarian's Rage would be a better starting point.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Slaved]

I do not like the long activation time. I would probably have it as a free action to turn on and off, have the bonus grow by +1 each round from +1 on round one up to the monks wisdom bonus, and then have it stay at that maximum each round along with making a concentration check each round equal to the number of rounds it has been at this maximum plus 2 times the maximum bonus.

I might even simply allow the monk to start the ability off at its maximum but with a concentration check to get it going of 3 times the maximum bonus and to count each round of use as two rounds.

That would mean that if the monk had a +5 wisdom bonus then he could start it off by making a concentration check with a difficulty class of 15 then progressing each round 17, 19, 21, and so forth.

Actually, that second option might be best anyway. It creates less build up issues and puts a short time frame on the ability.

There would need to be some drawback though for using the quicker option other than it going away faster, otherwise a character could easily just put the ability up and take it down without worry.

Having it use a swift action to initiate would eliminate some of those issues. If the monk gained some status effect when it wore off that would work very well if chosen well. Fatigued is already used by the barbarian, but if the monks Joyful ability also gave the same bonus to spot and listen then making the monk deaf and blind for as many rounds as the last concentration check failed by that could work.

Swift action and concentration check to activate, swift action and concentration check to deactivate with a failure meaning deaf and blind for a number of rounds equal to the difference, and deaf and blind if a check is failed accidentally.

Joyful monk indeed.

 

[Vorput]

OK, here's a variant I came up with for the monk class. I based it off of the character of Tar Gibbons from the book series Aliens Ate my Homework, written by Bruce Coville.

I loved those books... did that series ever end?

 

[Aleolus]

No, I don't believe it did. Last book I ever saw for it was Search for Snout.

As for the rest of you, the idea is that they derive their powers from submerging their mind into pure bliss and joy. Similar to the barbarian, but they teach that anger, fear and sloth are enemies, and must be treated carefully. There is a time for caution, so long as the caution does not turn to fear. There is a time for righteous anger, but do not let the anger dissolve into senseless fury. There is a time for rest, but do not let your rest turn to slothfulness. There are a few modifications I'm going to need to make, I'll edit them in. Basically adding resistance/immunity to fear, and a bonus on reflex saves.

 

[DungeonMaester]

I disagree Nifft..I think the Barbarian's rage variant whirling frenzy is a good place to start.

whirling Rage Variant: Whirling Frenzy

A barbarian with this variant form of rage doesn't gain the normal bonuses when he enters a rage. Instead, when a barbarian with whirling frenzy enters a rage, he temporarily gains a +4 bonus to Strength and a +2 dodge bonus to Armor Class and on Reflex saves. While in a whirling frenzy, the barbarian may make one extra attack in a round at his highest base attack bonus, but this attack takes a -2 penalty, as does each other attack made that round. This penalty applies for 1 round, so it also affects attacks of opportunity the barbarian might make before his next action.

Whirling frenzy is otherwise identical to the standard barbarian rage in all other ways. At 11th level (when a standard barbarian gains greater rage), the Strength bonus increases to +6, and the dodge bonus to Armor Class and on Reflex saves increases to +3. At 20th level (when a standard barbarian gains mighty rage), the Strength bonus increases to +8, and the dodge bonus to Armor Class and on Reflex saves increases to +4.

A barbarian using this variant doesn't gain indomitable will at 14th level. Instead, he gains evasion, but only while in a whirling frenzy.

A character can't use whirling frenzy at the same time that he uses any other form of rage (or similar ability).

Take out Flurry of Blows, and the wisdom bonus to ac and Ki powers and change the bonus feats that have to do with rage. Making everything have crunchy flavor and you have a variant class.

---Rusty