In the spirit of the E6 system and full acknowledgment of the quadratic power of casters, I am rewriting all the core classes to play with classic D&D flavor up to level 6, then ramp up from there to match the power of casters.
Warning: Expect the lower levels to look amazing, but not answer any of the real problems of a class. (casters vs mundanes, etc.) 1-6 form the class chassis, while the rest of the class adds new abilities depending on the benchmarks we set.
Monk BAB Fort Ref Will AC Speed Abilities
1 +1 +2 +2 +2 +0 +0 Strength through Understanding, Unarmed Strike
2 +2 +3 +3 +3 +1 +0 AC Bonus, Evasion
3 +3 +3 +3 +3 +1 +10 Flurry of Blows
4 +4 +4 +4 +4 +2 +10 Bonus Feat
5 +5 +4 +4 +4 +2 +10 Ki Strike
6 +6 +5 +5 +5 +3 +20 Quivering Palm
7 +7 +5 +5 +5 +3 +20 Improved Evasion
8 +8 +6 +6 +6 +4 +20 Improved Ki Strike
9 +9 +6 +6 +6 +4 +30 Balance of Body
10 +10 +7 +7 +7 +5 +30 Abundant Step
11 +11 +7 +7 +7 +5 +30 Greater Flurry
12 +12 +8 +8 +8 +6 +40 Balance of Mind
13 +13 +8 +8 +8 +6 +40 Greater Ki Strike
14 +14 +9 +9 +9 +7 +40 Perfection of Body
15 +15 +9 +9 +9 +7 +50 Balance of Soul
16 +16 +10 +10 +10 +8 +50 Perfection of Mind
17 +17 +10 +10 +10 +8 +50 INSERT ABILITY HERE >.<
18 +18 +11 +11 +11 +9 +60 Perfection of Soul
19 +19 +11 +11 +11 +9 +60 Perfect Ki Strike
20 +20 +12 +12 +12 +10 +60 Moment of True Perfection
AC Bonus (Ex):When unarmored and unencumbered, gains a +1 bonus to AC at 2nd level. This bonus increases by 1 for every two monk levels thereafter (+2 at 4th, +3 at 6th, etc).
This bonus to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the monk is flat-footed. She loses this bonus when she is immobilized or helpless, when she wears any armor, when she carries a shield, or when she carries a medium or heavy load.
At 2nd level or higher if a monk makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, she instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if a monk is unarmored. A helpless monk does not gain the benefit of evasion.
The unique teachings of the monk's discipline lead her to approach problems from a different manner than most characters. Instead of brute force or guile, the Monk lets the hard-learned wisdom of the ages guide her. She meditates for 1 hour at a specific time each day to center herself and refresh her knowledge of these teachings. This confers a number of benefits:
• The monk adds her Wisdom bonus (if any) to her AC. This bonus to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the monk is flat-footed. She loses this bonus when she is immobilized or helpless.
• The monk may replace her strength with her wisdom to determine her bonus to melee attack rolls.
• The monk gains a number of Ki Points at the start of each day equal to her class level + her wisdom modifier. Ki Points are used to boost other monk abilities. Unspent Ki Points are lost next time you meditate.
These abilities all require a perfect balance of mind, body and soul. Becoming encumbered or wearing any armor or shields disables these abilities.
When unarmored, a monk may strike with a flurry of blows at the expense of accuracy. When doing so, she may make one extra attack in a round at her 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 monk might make before her next action. When a monk reaches 6th level she no longer sacrifices accuracy to perform a flurry. A monk must use a full attack action to strike with a flurry of blows.
When using flurry of blows, a monk may attack only with unarmed strikes or with special monk weapons (kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, shuriken, and siangham). She may attack with unarmed strikes and special monk weapons interchangeably as desired. When using weapons as part of a flurry of blows, a monk applies her Strength bonus (not Str bonus × 1½ or ×½) to her damage rolls for all successful attacks, whether she wields a weapon in one or both hands. The monk can’t use any weapon other than a special monk weapon as part of a flurry of blows.
In the case of the quarterstaff, each end counts as a separate weapon for the purpose of using the flurry of blows ability. Even though the quarterstaff requires two hands to use, a monk may still intersperse unarmed strikes with quarterstaff strikes, assuming that she has enough attacks in her flurry of blows routine to do so.
Ki Boost: By spending a Ki Point, the Monk may replace any single action attack (from a standard action attack, an attack of opportunity, etc) with a Flurry of Blows.
At 3rd level, a monk gains an enhancement bonus to her speed, as shown on the above table. A monk in armor or carrying a medium or heavy load loses this extra speed.
Starting at 5th level, The monk learns to channel her Ki directly into her fists. By spending a Ki Point as a swift action, her fists become a Magical +1 weapon for a number of rounds equal to her monk level + her Wis bonus. In addition, the effect can be discharged to deal an extra 1d4 of damage per monk level.
Ki Boost: For every 2 additional points spent, the bonus increases by 1 and the damage die of the discharge effect increases by one. (d4,6,8,10,12,20)
Starting at 6th level, a monk can set up vibrations as a full round action within the body of another creature that can thereafter be extremely harmful if the monk so desires. This attack costs 1 Ki Point, and she must announce her intent before making her attack roll. If the monk strikes successfully and the target takes damage from the blow, the quivering palm attack succeeds. Thereafter the monk can try to disable the victim at any later time, as long as the attempt is made within a number of days equal to her monk level. To make such an attempt, the monk merely wills the target to be disabled (a free action), and unless the target makes a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + ½ the monk’s level + the monk’s Wis modifier), it does. If the saving throw is successful, the target is no longer in danger from that particular quivering palm attack, but it may still be affected by another one at a later time.
Ki Boost: You may spend any number of Ki Points in order to increase the DC by an equal amount.
The Monk's Ki Strike gains all manner of interesting effects. She may now add weapon enhancements, rather than +1 bonuses.
Ki Boost: By spending 3 additional Ki Points, Your Ki Strike lasts 12 hours.
At 8th level, the Monk gains greater control of her Body. She gains a +2 bonus to fortitude saves.
Ki Boost: You may spend 1 Ki Point to reroll a failed fortitude save. You may only do this once per save.
With a burst of speed and the expenditure of 2 Ki Points, the Monk can escape even the stickiest of situation. This effect acts as a Dimension Door spell with a maximum range of 10 feet per 2 monk levels and the inability to carry any thing with you other than your own gear.
Ki Boost: Spending an additional 4 Ki Points changes Abundant Step to an Immediate action, and does not prevent further actions if taken during her own turn.
When a monk reaches 11th level, her flurry of blows ability improves. In addition to the standard single extra attack she gets from flurry of blows, she gets a second extra attack at her full base attack bonus.
At 12th level, the Monk's control grows to encompass her unconscious mind, alerting her to dangers before she is even aware of them. She gains a +2 bonus on Reflex saves and Initiative
Ki Boost: You may spend a Ki Point to reroll a failed Reflex save. You may only do this once per save.
Your Ki Strike lasts 12 hours, and the cost to add additional enhancements is reduced to 1.
At 14th level, the Monk's control over her body is perfected. She gains an additional +2 to Fortitude saves, as well as immunity to all poisons, diseases, and the nauseated and sickened conditions.
At 14th level, the Monk fully understands herself, gaining a +2 bonus to Will saves and SR 10+Monk Level+Wisdom Modifier.
Ki Boost: You may spend a Ki Point to reroll a failed Will save. You may only do this once per save.
At 16th level, the Monk's control over mind is perfected. She gains an additional +2 to Reflex saves and Initiative.
Ki Boost: You may spend a Ki Point to reroll your Initiative.
At 18th level, the Monk's Soul becomes perfectly at peace, unreachable to those that would do it harm. The Monk gains an additional +2 to Will saves, as well as immunity to any effect that traps her soul and negative energy damage. If she is healed by negative energy (due to being undead or similar) then she becomes immune to positive energy damage instead.
At level 19, the Monk's Ki Strike no longer requires expenditure of Ki Points. Instead, the Ki Strike is automatically a +10 equivalent (including the d20 discharge die). If discharged, she regains the benefits of Ki Strike next time she meditates, but may still be renewed through Ki Point expenditure if needed before then.
By tapping her reserves of Ki, the monk gains a boost to her abilities, approaching her perfect self for a short time. As a swift action, you may spend any number of Ki Points. Your Monk level is considered that many higher for the purpose of special monk abilities, Base Attack Bonus, and Saves. Moment of Perfection lasts a single round.
so it feels like an upgrade to Unarmed Strike.
On "Strength Through Understanding": Making a Wis based starting package just feels right.
On "Ki Strike": Smite+Soulbound Weapon on your hands.
On "Quivering Palm": It's a fun ability IMO, and I think I fixed the biggest problems. Should I require having the Edge?
On "Abundant Step": Should be much easier to use now, with an emphasis on personal transportation in a pinch across the battlefield. The Boost makes it an "Oh Shit" button as well.
On "Moment of True Perfection": This allows the "Perfect Being" effect intended for the level 20 Monk. Might need more buffing. Might also make it grant an Epic feat that the new form qualifies for.
