I'm finally getting around to bringing this over from the old Briliant Gameologists site, so here it is. My psionic take on the monk class with some ideas borrowed/blatantly stolen from
Dreamscarred Press.
The monk class, conceptually speaking is one of the more interesting classes. Honestly people, what isn't cool about the idea of some unarmed warrior mystic who's powers are derived from martial arts and spiritual focus and decication. Sadly the the PHB monk leaves much to be desired in that regard. So I present to you my monk revision, which doesn't have all of its flavor worked out yet. I know its not a very original revision but I hope its good enough. So here it goes.
MonkOnce upon a time in China, some believe, around the year one double-aught three, head priest of the White Lotus Clan, Pai Mei, was walking down the road, contemplating whatever it is that a man of Pai Mei's infinite power contemplates - which is another way of saying "who knows?" - when a Shaolin monk appeared, traveling in the opposite direction. As the monk and the priest crossed paths, Pai Mei, in a practically unfathomable display of generosity, gave the monk the slightest of nods. The nod was not returned. Now was it the intention of the Shaolin monk to insult Pai Mei? Or did he just fail to see the generous social gesture? The motives of the monk remain unknown. What is known, are the consequences. The next morning Pai Mei appeared at the Shaolin Temple and demanded of the Temple's head abbot that he offer Pai Mei his neck to repay the insult. The Abbot at first tried to console Pai Mei, only to find Pai Mei was inconsolable. So began the massacre of the Shaolin Temple and all sixty of the monks inside at the fists of the White Lotus. And so began the legend of Pai Mei's five-point-palm-exploding-heart technique. -The hit man Bill talking about Pei Mei, a particularly violent and accomplished member of this class.
Making a MonkSoon to be filled out.Abilities: The mendicant lifestyle of a monk demands a strong spiritual connection to the cosmos rooted in self discipline and inuition. In fack the monk gains much of his ki related powers due to this spiritual awareness, making a good Wisdom score vital to any member of the monk class. As befit's their nature as unarmored and largely unarmed warriors good Dexterity, Strength and Constitution scores are also a must, as well as being a result of this mystical training.
Races: Human, githzeri and khalastar are the most likely candidates for a monastic life style and philosophy.
AlignmentAny. The path to enlightenment is open to those of all temperments. Whether they are kind or cruel, devoted to the many or upholding the individual, matters little. Pei Mai is living proof of this.
Hit Died8.
Class SkillsThe monk’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Knowledge (martial lore) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), and Tumble (Dex).
Skill Points at 1st Level(6 + Int modifier) ×4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level6 + Int modifier.
Table: The Monk | Level | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special | Flurry of Blows Attack Bonus | Unarmed Damage | AC Bonus | Unarmored
Speed Bonus | Power Points | Powers Known | Maximum Power Level Known |
| 1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +2 | Ki style (bonus feat, lesser style), flurry of blows, unarmed strike | -1/-1 | 1d6 | +1 | +0 feet | 0 | 1 | 1st |
| 2 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +3 | Ki style (bonus feat), evasion | +0/+0 | 1d6 | +2 | +0 feet | 1 | 2 | 1st |
| 3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +3 | Still mind, tongue of the sun and moon | +1/+1 | 1d6 | +3 | +10 feet | 3 | 3 | 1st |
| 4 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +4 | Ki strike (magic, silver, cold iron), slow fall 20 ft. | +2/+2 | 1d8 | +3 | +10 feet | 5 | 4 | 2nd |
| 5 | +5 | +4 | +4 | +4 | Purity of body | +4/+4 | 1d8 | +4 | +10 feet | 7 | 5 | 2nd |
| 6 | +6/+1 | +5 | +5 | +5 | Ki style (bonus feat, greater style), slow fall 30 ft. | +5/+5/+0 | 1d8 | +5 | +20 feet | 11 | 6 | 2nd |
| 7 | +7/+2 | +5 | +5 | +5 | - | +6/+6/+1 | 1d8 | +6 | +20 feet | 15 | 7 | 3rd |
| 8 | +8/+3 | +6 | +6 | +6 | Slow fall 40 ft. | +7/+7/+2 | 1d10 | +6 | +20 feet | 19 | 8 | 3rd |
| 9 | +9/+4 | +6 | +6 | +6 | Improved evasion | +8/+8/+3 | 1d10 | +7 | +30 feet | 23 | 9 | 3rd |
| 10 | +10/+5 | +7 | +7 | +7 | Ki strike (ghostouch), slow fall 50 ft. | +9/+9/+4 | 1d10 | +8 | +30 feet | 27 | 10 | 4th |
| 11 | +11/+6/+1 | +7 | +7 | +7 | Diamond body, greater flurry | +11/+11/+11/+6/+1 | 1d10 | +9 | +30 feet | 35 | 11 | 4th |
| 12 | +12/+7/+2 | +8 | +8 | +8 | Abundant step, slow fall 60 ft. | +12/+12/+12/+7/+2 | 2d6 | +9 | +40 feet | 43 | 12 | 4th |
| 13 | +13/+8/+3 | +8 | +8 | +8 | Diamond soul | +13/+13/+13/+8/+3 | 2d6 | +10 | +40 feet | 51 | 13 | 5th |
| 14 | +14/+9/+4 | +9 | +9 | +9 | Slow fall 70 ft. | +14/+14/+14/+9/+4 | 2d6 | +11 | +40 feet | 59 | 14 | 5th |
| 15 | +15/+10/+5 | +9 | +9 | +9 | Quivering palm | +15/+15/+15/+10/+5 | 2d8 | +12 | +50 feet | 67 | 15 | 5th |
| 16 | +16/+11/+6/+1 | +10 | +10 | +10 | Ki strike (adamantine), slow fall 80 ft. | +16/+16/+16/+11/+6/+1 | 2d8 | +12 | +50 feet | 79 | 16 | 6th |
| 17 | +17/+12/+7/+2 | +10 | +10 | +10 | Timeless body | +17/+17/+17/+12/+7/+2 | 2d8 | +13 | +50 feet | 91 | 17 | 6th |
| 18 | +18/+13/+8/+3 | +11 | +11 | +11 | Slow fall 90 ft. | +18/+18/+18/+13/+8/+3 | 2d8 | +14 | +60 feet | 103 | 18 | 6th |
| 19 | +19/+14/+9/+4 | +11 | +11 | +11 | Empty body | +19/+19/+19/+14/+9/+4 | 2d8 | +15 | +60 feet | 115 | 19 | 6th |
| 20 | +20/+15/+10/+5 | +12 | +12 | +12 | Perfect self, slow fall any distance | +20/+20/+20/+15/+10/+5 | 2d10 | +15 | +60 feet | 127 | 20 | 6th |
Class FeaturesAll of the following are class features of the monk.
Weapon and Armor ProficiencyMonks are proficient with club, crossbow (light or heavy), dagger, handaxe, javelin, kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, sai, shortspear, shortsword (jian), shuriken, siangham and sling.
Monks are not proficient with any armor or shields
When wearing armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load, a monk loses her AC bonus, as well as her fast movement and flurry of blows abilities.
AC Bonus (Ex)When unarmored and unencumbered, the monk adds her Wisdom bonus (if any) to her AC. In addition, a monk gains 0a +1 bonus to AC for every three out of four monk levels (+1/+2/+3 at 1st, 2nd and 3rd, +4/+5/+6 at 5th, 6th and 7th, +7/+8/+9 at 9th, 10th and 11th, +10/+11/+12 at 13th, 14th and 15th, +13/+14/+15 at 17th, 18th and 19th).
These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the monk is flat-footed. She loses these bonuses 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.
Flurry of Blows (Ex)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. The resulting modified base attack bonuses are shown in the Flurry of Blows Attack Bonus column on Table: The Monk. 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 5th level, the penalty lessens to -1, and at 9th level it disappears. 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. As with any other use of a full attack action, flurry of blows allows for movement between attacks. Monks may also combine flurry of blows with dual weapon fighting.
Greater FlurryWhen 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.
Power PointsA monk’s ability to manifest her mystical powers is limited by the amount of power points she has available. Her base daily allotment of power points is given on Table: The Monk. In addition, she receives bonus power points per day if she has a high Wisdom score (see Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Power Points). Her race may also provide a bonus to power points per day, as may certain feats and items. A 1st-level monk gains no power points for her class level, but she gains bonus power points (if she is entitled to any), and can manifest the single power she knows with those power points.
Powers KnownA monk begins play knowing one monk power of your choice. Each time she achieves a new level, she unlocks the knowledge of a new power.
Choose the powers known from the psychic warrior power list. (Exception: The feats Expanded Knowledge and Epic Expanded Knowledge do allow a monk to learn powers from the lists of other classes.) A monk can manifest any power that has a power point cost equal to or lower than her manifester level.
The total number of powers a monk can manifest in a day is limited only by his daily power points alotment.
A monk simply knows her powers; they are ingrained in her mind. She does not need to prepare them (in the way that some spellcasters prepare their spells), though she must get a good night’s sleep each day and meditate to regain all her spent power points.
The Difficulty Class for saving throws against monk powers is 10 + the power’s level + the monk’s Wisdom modifier.
As an additional restriction monks may only learn powers from the clairsentience and psychometabolism disicplines plus either psychokinesis or psychoportation discipline. Thankfully this only covers powers learned as a monk nor does this restriction cover.
Maximum Power Level KnownA monk begins play with the ability to learn 1st-level powers. As she attains higher levels, she may gain the ability to master more complex powers.
To learn or manifest a power, a monk must have a Wisdom score of at least 10 + the power’s level.
Unarmed StrikeAt 1st level, a monk gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat. A monk’s attacks may be with either fist interchangeably or even from elbows, knees, and feet. This means that a monk may even make unarmed strikes with her hands full. There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a monk striking unarmed. A monk may thus apply her full Strength bonus on damage rolls for all her unarmed strikes.
Usually a monk’s unarmed strikes deal lethal damage, but she can choose to deal nonlethal damage instead with no penalty on her attack roll. She has the same choice to deal lethal or nonlethal damage while grappling.
A monk’s unarmed strike is treated both as a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons.
A monk also deals more damage with her unarmed strikes than a normal person would, as shown on Table: The Monk. The unarmed damage on Table: The Monk is for Medium monks. A Small monk deals less damage than the amount given there with her unarmed attacks, while a Large monk deals more damage; see Table: Small or Large Monk Unarmed Damage.
Ki Style: A monk chooses a Ki style at 1st level, a school of thought and combat which defines how he fights and thinks, acts and reacts. You can also choose to forego a Ki style and instead choose a number of bonus feats. The different Ki styles are detailed below.
{space for Ki Styles}
Bonus Feats: Some monks are not trained in a certain Ki style and thus gain bonus feats instead. At 1st level, she may select Stunning Fist, Improved Grapple or Form Mind Blade
MBF as a bonus feat. At 2nd level, she may select either Combat Reflexes, Deflect Arrows, Psionic Fist, or Psionic Weapon as a bonus feat. At 6th level, she may select either Deep Impact, Improved Disarm, Improved Trip, or Unavoidable Strike as a bonus feat. An enlightened monk need not have any of the prerequisites normally required for these feats to select them. Feats introduced here are labeled with an asterisk (*), while those marked with a MBF are from The Mind Unveiled: Mind Blade Feats.
Evasion (Ex)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 wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless monk does not gain the benefit of evasion.
Fast Movement (Ex)At 3rd level, a monk gains an enhancement bonus to her speed, as shown on Table: The Monk. A monk in armor or carrying a medium or heavy load loses this extra speed.
Still Mind (Ex)A monk of 3rd level or higher gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against spells and effects from the school of enchantment.
Tongue of the Sun and Moon (Ex)A monk of 3rd level or higher can speak with any living creature.
Ki Strike (Su)At 4th level, a monk’s unarmed attacks are empowered with ki. Her unarmed attacks are treated as silver and cold iron magic weapons for the purpose of dealing damage to creatures with damage reduction. Ki strike improves with the character’s monk level. At 10th level, her unarmed attacks are also treated as ghost touch weapons. At 16th level, her unarmed attacks are treated as adamantine weapons for the purpose of dealing damage to creatures with damage reduction and bypassing hardness.
Slow Fall (Ex)At 4th level or higher, a monk within arm’s reach of a wall can use it to slow her descent. When first using this ability, she takes damage as if the fall were 20 feet shorter than it actually is. The monk’s ability to slow her fall (that is, to reduce the effective distance of the fall when next to a wall) improves with her monk level until at 20th level she can use a nearby wall to slow her descent and fall any distance without harm. At the same time the distance the monk can be away from a wall also improves by 10 feet every two levels after the 4th.
Purity of Body (Ex)At 5th level, a monk gains immunity to all diseases except for supernatural and magical diseases. Even then she gains a bonus to her saving throws against supernatural illness of +1 or her Wisdom modifier, which ever is better.
Improved Evasion (Ex)At 9th level, a monk’s evasion ability improves. She still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks, but henceforth she takes only half damage on a failed save. A helpless monk does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.
Diamond Body (Su)At 11th level, a monk gains immunity to poisons of all kinds.
Abundant Step (Su)At 12th level or higher, a monk can slip magically between spaces, as if using the spell
dimension door, once per day for every six monk levels. Her caster level for this effect is one-half her monk level (rounded down). Unlike with
dimension door a monk may execute a full-attack action, standard action or move action before or after using abundant step.
Diamond Soul (Ex)At 13th level, a monk gains spell resistance to hostile spells equal to her current monk level + 10. In order to affect the monk with a spell, a spellcaster must get a result on a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) that equals or exceeds the monk’s spell resistance.
Quivering Palm (Su)Starting at 15th level, a monk can set up vibrations within the body of another creature that can thereafter be fatal if the monk so desires. She can use this quivering palm attack once a week level/5 plus Wisdom modifier, and she must announce her intent before making her attack roll. Constructs, oozes, plants, undead, incorporeal creatures, and creatures immune to critical hits cannot be affected. Otherwise, if the monk strikes successfully and the target takes damage from the blow, the quivering palm attack succeeds. Thereafter the monk can try to slay 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 die (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 dies. 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. By eith spending 5 power points or expending her psionic focus a monk can employ this power against an otherwise immune creature.
Timeless Body (Ex)Upon attaining 17th level, a monk no longer takes penalties to her ability scores for aging and cannot be magically aged. Any such penalties that she has already taken, however, remain in place. Bonuses still accrue, but the monk does
not die of old age when her time is up.
Empty Body (Su)At 19th level, a monk gains the ability to assume an ethereal state for 1 round per monk level per day, as though using the spell
etherealness. She may go ethereal on a number of different occasions during any single day, as long as the total number of rounds spent in an ethereal state does not exceed her monk level.
Perfect SelfAt 20th level, a monk becomes a magical creature. She is forevermore treated as an outsider rather than as a humanoid (or whatever the monk’s creature type was) for the purpose of spells and magical effects. Additionally, the monk gains damage reduction 10/magic, which allows her to ignore the first 10 points of damage from any attack made by a nonmagical weapon or by any natural attack made by a creature that doesn’t have similar damage reduction. Unlike other outsiders, the monk can still be brought back from the dead as if she were a member of her previous creature type.
Playing a MonkSoon to be filled out.ReligionWhile very spiritual monks rarely devote themselves to a single god or goddess. This is not due to lack of belief in any way, but instead due to a reverence for all deities and spirits that relflect the monk's temperment. The exceptions typically worship the likes of Heironeous, St. Cuthbert, Kord, Keoghtom, Boccob, Hextor or Trithereon of Greyhawk. On Ebberon they may commonly be members the Silver Flame or the Blood of Vol.
Other ClassesSoon to be filled out.CombatSoon to be filled out.AdvancementSoon to be filled out.
