Yup, it's a monk all right

[Jack Daniel]

All right, here’s my crack at a generic monk. That’s not “generic martial artist,” mind you; a generic martial artist would be a fighter who gets his choice between kung-fu, karate, tae kwan do, or any number of styles. That’s not my purpose – I’m a firm believer that the monk class is based on the kung-fu masters of Chinese legend (or at least cinema, anyway) and I don’t mince words about that. No, when I mean generic monk, I mean a monk who can choose his special chi-based abilities at his own discretion (or even whether to use chi at all). Now, to the ground rules. I want help hammering out the flavor and the balance, but I don’t want to hear whining about the following:

• Anime. I don’t care if this monk looks too much like Goku or Ryu or Terry Bogard. Most martial arts anime is based on wuxai, and so is this monk.
• The saving throws. Those who know me know that I make liberal use of the medium saving throw progression in my class constructions, and I think that when all three saves are supposed to be on the same level, the medium progression is the most balanced.
• Jedi. Again, I don’t care if this monk looks too much like Luke Skywalker. George Lucas based the Force on chi anyway, and I don’t care how you want to slice it, the psychic warrior ain’t no Jedi – even if the monk could be.

Anyhow, the end result is something that looks more like... other classes, to be quite frank. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

The Monk

Lv  BAB  For Ref Wil  Special
1   ±0   +1  +1  +1   Kung-Fu (Crane Fist), Chi-Kung, Bonus Feat, Flow Like Water, Evasion
2   +1   +2  +2  +2   Chi-Kung, Bonus Feat
3   +2   +2  +2  +2   Chi-Kung
4   +3   +2  +2  +2   Kung-Fu (Snake Fist)
5   +3   +3  +3  +3   
6   +4   +3  +3  +3   Bonus Feat
7   +5   +4  +4  +4
8   +6   +4  +4  +4   Kung-Fu (Tiger Fist)
9   +6   +4  +4  +4   Improved Evasion
10  +7   +5  +5  +5   Bonus Feat
11  +8   +5  +5  +5
12  +9   +6  +6  +6   Kung-Fu (Leopard Fist)
13  +9   +6  +6  +6
14  +10  +6  +6  +6   Bonus Feat
15  +11  +7  +7  +7   
16  +12  +7  +7  +7   Kung Fu (Dragon Fist)
17  +12  +8  +8  +8
18  +13  +8  +8  +8   Bonus Feat
19  +14  +8  +8  +8
20  +15  +9  +9  +9   Perfect Self

Alignment: Any lawful
Hit Die: d8
Skill Points: 6 + Int mod / level
Class Skills
Strength: Climb, Jump, Swim
Dexterity: Balance, Escape Artist, Hide, Move Silently, Tumble
Constitution: Concentration, Diamond Body (Chi)
Intelligence: Craft, Knowledge (religion)
Wisdom: Listen, One with All (Chi), Profession
Charisma: Calm the Storm (Chi), Diplomacy, Perform
Weapon & Armor Proficiencies: As Player’s Handbook or Oriental Adventures

Kung-Fu: The monk gains several benefits when attacking unarmed or with a special martial arts weapon. The monk is considered to have the Improved Unarmed Strike feat for free, and makes extra attacks at the -3 iteration instead of -5.
At 1st level, the monk knows the Crane Fist, which deals 1d6 damage with an unarmed strike (or 1d4 for a small character). At every four levels, a new technique is learned that increases the damage die of the monk’s unarmed strike by one step, to a maximum of 1d20 (2d6 small).
Flow Like Water: The monk is trained to move with the flow of bodily chi, and is expert in avoiding attacks from all directions. The monk adds his Wisdom bonus plus one-fifth his monk level to his Armor Class. Note that wearing any armor whatsoever disrupts the flow of chi through the body, and not only negates this ability, but also the monk’s Kung-Fu skill. Armor check penalties also apply to all Chi-Kung techniques.
Evasion: Whenever the monk makes a Reflex save for half damage, he takes no damage instead. At level 9, this ability becomes Improved Evasion, such that even when the monk fails the save, only half damage is sustained.
Chi-Kung: More properly called qigong, these mystical exercises go hand-in-hand with the monk’s combat ability, and allow the monk to hone mind and body into a single weapon. The Chi-Kung feats are Internal Flow, External Flow, and Balanced Flow; each one allows access to a different set of chi-based skills and a related feat chain.
Bonus Feats: At levels 1, 2, and every fourth level thereafter, the monk gains a bonus martial arts feat from any of the following lists:
Kick: Roundabout Kick, Flying Kick
Strike: Fists of Iron, Eagle Claw Attack
Lock: Improved Grapple, Choke Hold, Grappling Block, Earth’s Embrace
Movement: Dodge, Mobility, Prone Attack, Superior Expertise
Throw: Improved Trip, Defensive Throw, Great Throw
Vital Area: Pain Touch, Stunning Fist, Freezing the Lifeblood, Falling Star Strike, Quivering Palm
Push: Unbalancing Strike
Mental: Blind Fight, Combat Reflexes, Great Chi Shout, Iron Will, Chi Shout, Remain Conscious, Master of Chi, Master of Five Elements
Internal: Speed of Winds (Speed of Seasons, Speed of Flowers, Speed of Fortunes), Dance of the Golden Lotus, Blood of the Dragon
External: Leap of the Clouds, Power Aura
Balance: Spirit of Winds (Spirit of Seasons, Spirit of Flowers, Spirit of Fortunes)

The Chi Techniques

Now here’s the dirty trick: the chi techniques are just Force feats and skills from Star Wars d20, with poetic martial-artsy names. Instead of vitality points, they cost subdual hit points to use. Here’s the full list:

Chi Feats:
Balance Flow (Sense)
...Spirit of Winds (Force Mind)
......Spirit of Seasons (Improved Force Mind)
......Spirit of Flowers (Knight Mind)
......Spirit of Fortunes (Master Mind)
External Flow (Alter)
...Leap of the Clouds (Force Flight)
...Power Aura (Force Whirlwind)
Internal Flow (Control)
...Speed of Winds (Burst of Speed)
......Speed of Seasons (Force Speed)
......Speed of Flowers (Knight Speed)
......Speed of Fortunes (Master Speed)
Master of Chi (Force Mastery)
...Master of Five Elements (High Force Mastery)

Chi Skills:
Basic Skills:
Calm the Storm (Friendship)
Diamond Body (Enhance Ability)
One with All (Empathy)

Balance Skills:
Detect Chi (See Force)
Diamond Soul (Enhance Senses)
Right Meditation (Farseeing)
Tongue of Heaven (Telepathy)

External Skills
Breath of Dragons (Force Strike)
Eye of the Monkey (Illusion)
Palm of Buddha (Heal Another)
Ride the Winds (Move Object)
Mind of the Monkey (Affect Mind)
Wave of Chi (Force Lightning)

Internal Skills
Chi Strike (Battlemind)
Hide Chi (Force Stealth)
Still the Pond (Force Defense)
Wholeness of Body (Heal Self)

 

[karn smackdrim]

gee, it be great if I had the stars wars gaming stuff.

 

[Suldulin]

*whistles* very nice

 

[Greg K]

Pretty Cool.
I have never been a fan of the PHB Monk. I always thought the chi kung stuff would be handled perfectly with psionics (or after seeing Star Wars, in a manner like the force). However, not owning the Psionics Handbook (or Star Wars), my own version ended up nearly identical to one I later found at Hong's site although I thought many of the chi stuff.

I am kind of surprised that you did not give Uncanny Dodge (retain Dex bonus and Cannot be flanked). Asian monks who have mastered chi/ki are supposed to have an ability called Zanshin ("Eyes Like the Moon") in Japanese. Or is this a "Force ability"

If you want to do a little more tailoring, here is some information on the Five Animals you have utilized and what they bring to the fighting style and internal development. Each animal contributes to each stage of element. An animal such as the snake might contribute patience early in training and later draw upon the conditioning provided by the other animals and the chi development it provides aids several of the other animal techniques.

Crane Fist: The crane is libido-life energy and longevity. The crane fist strikes vital points such as the eyes and throat (Precise strike?) and pressure points; it can also be modified either to block and grab or pull an opponent off balance or to strike with the top of a blunt writst. The crane improves balance and speed.


Snake Fist: the snake is sly and soft. Its strikes with speed and accuracy. The snake employs simultaneous strike and defenses (Expertise?). The Snake Fist strikes soft vital spots (Precise Strike?) and the eyes. From the softness of the snake, one learns to develop chi and deliver chi into strikes. The snake fist strike to pressure points can cause pain, unconciousness, or even death The snake has no special conditioning excerices-- the practitioner draws upon conditioning of the other animals (crane,dragon, and tiger) as the practitioner goes through stages of trainng. Instead the snake teaches how to develop the "snake spirit" which is the ability relax and concetrate to keep calm, focused and clear of thought and mastering the snake allows an individual to use chi to strike as if his strength was seven times normal.

Leopard Fist: Smaller than the tiger, the Leopard relies on speed and footwork rather size to generate power. The Leopard provides speed and balance and provides the bridge between the power of the tiger and the penetrating attacks of the crane. The Leopard harnesses power into a small area to concentrate force into trauma. He relies less on blocking -- striking quickly in a series of overwhelming blows before his opponent can react (Flurry of Blows). He also fights in close quarters using elbows and forearms and has a blow which strikes the temple.

Tiger Fist: TIger is hard external strength unlike the Dragon which is internal (i.e., chi) strength. The tiger claw primary purpose is to strike with the palm and then grab to rip and tear. The Tiger also incorporates powerful palm strikes and some takedowns, locks, and countergrabs and utilizes some pain touch,

Dragon Fist: The Dragon represent soft circular power terminating in sudden hard power. The dragon's movements combine soft and hard movement generating power from the waist and/or spinning motions. The dragon has also has a claw. Unlike the Tiger Claw, the dragon claw is not used for tearing but for pulling his opponent off balance and to the ground. (Improved trip and throws) and locking. The main benefit of the Dragon is that it brings the ability to harness Chi to increase strength (Ki Strength), generate more damage, and focus chi through the eyes to intimidate opponents.

 

[Mirth]

Jack,

I really like the flavor of this monk, with all of the "poetic martial-artsy names." Have you actually playtested this class, or is this hot off the drawing board? Using the Force skills from SW like this seems to be a bit overpowering for a 1st level character, especially since you get as many chi points as you have wisdom and these skills are much like spells. Also, I was thinking of trying to make the Jedi Master class into a Prestige Class for this. Have you done that already? Either way, I can't wait to introduce "Jack Daniel's Monk" into my campaign.

Jay

 

[Jack Daniel]

Actually this hasn't been playtested yet, but we did catch one flaw over on the Wizards.com boards, and I'm pretty sure I fixed up there -- I dropped chi points = wisdom and just went with subdual damage, so the feel was more like Vitality loss.

 

[Mirth]

Jack,

Could you post a link to your thread on the Wizards boards? I'd like to keep up with the discussion there too. I think the subdual damage is a good idea, as I said above the Wis = Chi seemed a bit overpowering.

 

[Jack Daniel]

Of course.

http://boards.wizards.com/rpg-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=110;t=005320#000000