Martial Artist (non-monk version)

[James McMurray]

Hey everyone. I've created a Martial Artist class and was trying to compare it to the monk to ensure its balanced. Anyone care to look it over?

The class is Here.

A rough comparison is here .

Thanks in advance!

 

[Sodalis]

mmmmmm Yuuuuuppppp

 

[Burne]

Comments: I think you are assuming that the MA is doing normal damage with unarmed attacks, but the Improved Unarmed Attack feat just gets rid of the AoO you provoke when attacking unarmed. As it is written, the MA does subdual with his unarmed attacks.

Balance: I would call it underpowered. Not in comparison to the fighter class, but in comparision to the Monk class.

Suggestions: Cut down on the exotic weapons and maybe the feat progresion and add Special ability choices (al la Rogue) at the upper levels. Many people (myself included) frown upon non-standard skills per lvl and what not. The class would be fine as a 2+ class, and that would give more room for crunchy bits.

Feats: Add Skill Focus(any class skill) to the list of bonus feats.

 

[James McMurray]

Sodalis: Thank you for that well thought out and elucidated discussion of the relative pros and cons of the class as written.

Burne: You're absolutley right, I hadn't even thought of the "only dealing subdual" angle. I'll have to add something to the effect that Martial Artists deal normal damage with their unarmed attacks.

Why do people forwn on non-standard skills per level? I personally think that always allotting a class an even number of skill points doesn't make much sense. The martial artist is supposed to be more skilled than a fighter, but probably shouldn't be as skill-worthy as a ranger (who spends a large time living off of his skills in the wild).

I did notice when creating the test characters in PCGen that they end up with a large number of exotic weapons. Mayhap I'll cut back on those a bit and add some "martial artsy" special abilties. Now I just have to think of some that aren't supernatural, as that's not where this class should be heading.

Thanks!

Anyone else?

 

[Kichwas]

There's also one of these in d20 Fading Suns.

 

[333 Dave]

One bonus you could give them would be an ability that makes it so their grapple attacks don't provoke an AoO.

 

[DM_Matt]

Make sure that you add the MA feats from OA to their list of bonus feats.

 

[hong]

I think there was a time just after Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon came out when everyone plus dog was writing up their own martial artist class. I know I sure did:

Hong's martial artist
Martial arts feats

Have a look and see if these are useful for your own class. Oh, and this should really be in House Rules.

 

[James McMurray]

I'd love to, but if it ever actually sees publication that may be a violation of the OGL. I'll just have to be sure to add a line about DMs allowing other feats with a martial arts feel to them.

 

[A'koss]

Why do you need to have a "martial artist" class at all?

I'm not saying you shouldn't but have you considered just incorporating the abilities you want into feats? You can easily reduce all the O-H damage, unarmored AC bonuses, etc. into feats for any character to take. That way martial arts opens up as another viable form of combat for everyone.

Anyhow, that's close to how I approach it IMC.


A'koss.