Monk

[Blood axe]

Some things in the Monk class have never made sense to me. Picking Locks, pick Pockets, speaking with plantscausing more damage with your hand then a giant's axe,etc,etc.
Im working on tweeking the Monk a bit. Ive used ideas from many different sources(Players book, Castles & Crusades, Brave Halfling, others).

IT IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.

Hd- d8 ( but only 9HD and only 1 HD at level 1)
Saves- Cleric
Attacks- Fighter

Level One
awareness- only surprised on 1
control fall- half damage from any falls
Feign death
+1 AC
attack 1-4 damage

Level Two
Thief Skills as Level One Thief- hide in shadows, Move Silently, Hear noise, Climb Walls
attack 1-6 damage

Level Three
Deflect missiles
+1 AC
attack 1-6 damage

Level Four
Ki - hands count as magic +1 weapon- no actual bonus
Purity of Body +4 saves vs Poison, Diseases, Hold, Slow
attack 1-8 damage

Level Five
+1 AC
Ki strike- once per day he can concentrate his Ki into one attack-it is +2 to hit, if it hits it causes X2 damage- but only 1 attack that round at higher levels
attack 1-8 damage

Level Six
meditate 1 turn and heal self 1hp/level
fast healing- heals twice as fast as normal
needs half sleep as normal- meditates deeply instead
attack 1-8 damage

Level Seven
attack 1-10 damage
+1 AC

Level Eight
Still Mind +4 saves vs. Sleep, Charm, Illusions, Geas, Quests
Ki - hands count as magic +2 weapon- no actual bonus
attack 1-10 damage


Level Nine
+1 AC
Second attack at 1-4 damage- so 1-10/1-4

Level Ten
Diamond Soul +4 vs. Death spells, Energy Drain, Stat drains, Ageing
attacks 1-10/1-6

Level Eleven
+1 AC
attacks 1-10/1-8

Level Twelve
attacks are 1-10/1-10
Ki- hands count as magic +3 weapon- no actual bonus
Quivering Palm- as in AEC book, but +2 hit, x2 damage, saves at -4 or dies.

------------------

Vow of poverty.
Monks do gain bonus for Str/Dex .
No armor, but can use magical protection such as Bracers of Defense, Cloak of Protection, etc.
Weapons usable as Thief.

[greyarea]

Interesting. I like it so far.

What about the number of attacks per round? I notice you have a second attack damage, is that all rounds or do the attacks progress per AEC?

Do thief skills progress after level 2 such that Monks are always one level behind thieves in applicable skills?

[3llense'g]

Level Six
attack 1-8 damage

Level Seven
attack 1-10 damage


Level Eight
attack 1-8 damage

I guess L7 is a typo?

[Blood axe]

Level Six
attack 1-8 damage

Level Seven
attack 1-10 damage


Level Eight
attack 1-8 damage

I guess L7 is a typo?

Fixed.

[Blood axe]

Interesting. I like it so far.

What about the number of attacks per round? I notice you have a second attack damage, is that all rounds or do the attacks progress per AEC?

Do thief skills progress after level 2 such that Monks are always one level behind thieves in applicable skills?

Number attacks is only one per round until Level 9. Then they gain a secondary attack.

IMHO the AEC is WAY overpowered. A Fighter finally gains a second attack at Level 15. A Monk has FOUR attacks every round and they each do 3- 36 damage!!!
No Fighter can match that , even with a powerful magic weapon.

Yes, Thief skills progress, so only one Level behind Thieves for Hide/Move/Hear/Climb.

[greyarea]

I think that's on purpose, Blood Axe. I think they're supposed to be fantastically underpowered at low levels and frighteningly overpowered at higher ones.

That said, I'd prefer to play this more balanced version.

I think perhaps a few more bodily control skills -- hold breath for X turns or resistance to fire or cold or ability to see in low light conditions -- at higher levels would jive with the classic Kung Fu monk character. Or called shot attacks -- eye gouging for blindness or stunning attacks or nerve jabs to deaden limbs or make the enemy drop weapons -- might make sense.

[Blood axe]

Im working on it. Im also counting on your input, because you will be playing the Monk.
Straight out- my version of the Monk will never do damage like that. It makes absolutely no sense at all.
4 attacks that do 3-36 damage each. He can kill a Dragon in one round.

I have been thinking about other "body control " powers- like resisting elements, holding breath,etc., but I dont want it too complicated. Maybe as "minor powers" to fill out lower levels, so at every level you gain a little something.

Im open to suugestions, as this is rough draft.