Greco-Roman Athlete (or Hellenistic Athlete) -- an Archetype for the Monk


Homebrew and House Rules

Silver Crusade

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Unlike Monks of the Far East and India, the Greco-Roman Athlete does not engage in mystical meditation, but focuses on the principles of Arete -- or Excellence -- in Athletic pursuits. The Adventuring Greco-Roman Athlete also learns Pankration -- a Martial Art that specializes in utilizing all of the body's strength to defeat one's foes. The name means "All Powers" or "All Strength" depending on the translation. It's a no holds barred martial art where it's Olympic form does not embrace biting (for reasons of hygiene, a human can transmit Tetanus through biting), or eye gouging -- however Adventuring Athletes will use these techniques.

Picture of Greco-Roman Athlete wearing a Jock Strap. Don't look at Work (it's rated Mature on DeviantArt). Did I mention that greco-roman athletes practiced in the nude?

Anthropometry, safe to look at while at Work.

Greek heroes who are Athletes: Atalanta, Hercules, Theseus, Castor, and Polydeuces (or Pollux).

A Greco-Roman Athlete has the following class features:

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Greco-Roman Athletes are proficient with the club, crossbow (light or heavy), dagger, handaxe, javelin, discuss, shot-put, chariot*, quarterstaff, sling, and spear.

Pankration Style: at 1st level, the adventuring Greco-Roman Athlete learns the Pankration style feat. This replaces the stunning fist feature. The greco-roman Athlete also learns Animal Affinity (for chariot riding).

Bonus Feats: The belief in a mystical ki is not part of Western Culture. The Greco-Roman Athlete gives up his/her Ki pool at 4th, 7th, 10th, and 14th levels for the Pankration style feat path. These feats are: Combat Expertise (4th Level), Crippling Critical (7th level), Vital Strike (10th Level), and Deadly Stroke (16th Level). Also, the Athlete's strikes improve to hit magic foes (at 4th level), hit foes that can only be hit by Cold Iron or Silver weapons (7th level), hit foes that can only be hit by lawful weapons (level 10), and finally, be able to hit foes of Adamantine quality (level 16).

Chariot Power Drive: The adventuring Greco-Roman Athlete learns how to drive his Chariot faster, incorporating techniques used by charioteers in the Pan-Hellenic Olympic Games. The effect is that the chariot's speed is increased by +10 and causes increased damage in a ram or butt (+2d6 damage). This replaces Quivering Palm at 15th level (The deadly stroke feat more than makes up for the loss).
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PANKRATION (combat, style)

Pankration was a combat sport introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC and founded as a blend of boxing and wrestling but with scarcely any rules. The only things not acceptable were biting and gouging of the opponent's eyes. The term comes from the Greek παγκράτιον [paŋkrátion], literally meaning "all might" from πᾶν (pan-) "all" + κράτος (kratos) "strength, might and power". The style was developed by the Greeks as a weaponless martial art for soldiers and hoplites to protect themselves. Myth says that it was either developed by Castor and Polydeuces, or Theseus and Hercules. It's literally street fighting taken to a discipline.

Prerequisites: Str 12, Dex 13 (Monks get this for free if they take the Greco-Roman Athlete Archetype)

Benefit: You are training your body to be the ultimate weapon against your foes. You gain a +2 bonus to strike, as you watch for openings to grapple with or box with your opponent.

Non-Monk Feat Path: Pankration was taught to warriors as well as athletes. The feat path includes: Pankration, Pankratic Expertise, and Pankratic Crippling Strike.


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I would reduce the charioteer aspect from the archetype. Charioteers were a specialised class of athletes, often of very different stock than wrestlers. Realistically, charioteers are barely worth a mention before the ROman imperial era. Trying to gather all athletes from the early Doric period to the aftermath of Byzantium may be a bit much.

You also seem to have missed out on the great emphasis Pankration puts on balance and equilibrium. It might be interesting to represent that aspect somehow.


I would play that, from an RP perspective. I'd have to try it out some to see if its mechanics are balanced.


Nice, would go well with my Spartan Ripoff.

Akron Race:

HEADER: Akrons are humans that live in the mountain town of Valdris seperated from the rest of humanity. They work hard from birth to the grave and have a disdain for people that let others do their work for them. They especially dislike those that use slaves. Akrons love battle and are trained at an early age to fight, wearing heavy armor and preferring close combat with swords and spears.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Akrons are taller and more muscular than average humans, with prominent jaws and brows and extremities. They have tan to black skin, dark eyes and dark hair.

SOCIETY:Akrons are strict isolationists. They live communally and do not exchange with outsiders or deal in currency. At the age of 4 children are removed from their mothers and put into a system of foster care run by workers, who decide where to assign the children, and moved frequently to best teach the child the neccesary life skills. At 15 all children are entered into the military, learning the combat arts and remain until the age of 25 where they continue in the military or embark upon a trade and start teaching the children. Women and men do not marry, though some choose to cohabitate, and they usually look for physical aspects or battle glory in a partner instead of beauty.

RELATIONS: Akrons get along with the other races but frown upon many of their practices. They are outspoken and witty, though sometimes seen as callous by others.

ALIGNMENT AND RELIGION: Akrons adhere to laws and are generally good or neutral. Many Akrons are followers of Sarenrae and a temple resides in Valdris.

ADVENTURERS: Some Akrons feel trapped by their predestined lives and leave for new experiences and freedom.

Akron Traits:

+2 STRENGTH +2 CONSTITUTION -2 DEXTERITY

SLOW AND STEADY: Akrons have a base speed of 20 feet, but their speed is never modified by armor or encumberance

LUCKY: Akrons gain a +1 racial bonus on all saving throws.

STABILITY: Akrons receive a +4 racial bonus to their CMD when resisting bull rush or trip attempts while standing on the ground.

SKILL BONUS INTIMIDATE: Akrons recieve a +2 on Intimidate checks.

INTEGRATED: Akrons gain a +1 bonus on Bluff, Disguise, and Knowledge (local) checks.

RELENTLESS:Akrons gain a +2 bonus on combat maneuver checks made to bull rush or overrun an opponent. This bonus only applies while both the Akron and its opponent are standing on the ground.

HATRED: Akrons gain a +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against Orcs and Hobgoblins.

LIGHTBRINGER: Akrons are immune to light-based blindness and dazzle effects, and are treated as one level higher when determining the effects of any light-based spells or effects they cast (including spell-like and supernatural abilities). Akrons that have an Intelligence of 10 or higher may use light at will as a spell-like ability.

Diogenes was a great Monk.
"Why go to the Olypiad to watch the wrestlers when you can stay here and watch a man fight a fever."

Silver Crusade

Makarion wrote:

I would reduce the charioteer aspect from the archetype. Charioteers were a specialised class of athletes, often of very different stock than wrestlers. Realistically, charioteers are barely worth a mention before the ROman imperial era. Trying to gather all athletes from the early Doric period to the aftermath of Byzantium may be a bit much.

You also seem to have missed out on the great emphasis Pankration puts on balance and equilibrium. It might be interesting to represent that aspect somehow.

I couldn't think of anything to replace quivering palm for the monk except for the chariot. I stopped at the feat chain. I guess I should have done a lot more research on the martial art.

you have any ideas?


Let them Hulk Hogan some damage that's done to them, once per day.


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GM Elton wrote:
Makarion wrote:

I would reduce the charioteer aspect from the archetype. Charioteers were a specialised class of athletes, often of very different stock than wrestlers. Realistically, charioteers are barely worth a mention before the ROman imperial era. Trying to gather all athletes from the early Doric period to the aftermath of Byzantium may be a bit much.

You also seem to have missed out on the great emphasis Pankration puts on balance and equilibrium. It might be interesting to represent that aspect somehow.

I couldn't think of anything to replace quivering palm for the monk except for the chariot. I stopped at the feat chain. I guess I should have done a lot more research on the martial art.

you have any ideas?

For a wrestler, it would not be out of character to add Endurance (and/or Diehard) to the available feats. In MMA matchups, the amazing staying power of wrestlers compared to various other styles of fighters is quite noticeable.

As far as the equilibrium aspect goes: how about an ability to take 10 on Acrobatics- or Dex checks related to keeping your balance? This could even include tightrope walking, if you wish. The discipline involved is not that different, and it may lead to some surprising character builds for people so inclined.

If you want to do some more research, consider looking not only at Pankration but also at Sambo wrestling. It's a Russian style that inherited quite a lot of Graeco-Roman and Pankration.


You could do something similar to Monkey Style, only they would be fighting on their back instead.

Silver Crusade

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Makarion wrote:


For a wrestler, it would not be out of character to add Endurance (and/or Diehard) to the available feats. In MMA matchups, the amazing staying power of wrestlers compared to various other styles of fighters is quite noticeable.

As far as the equilibrium aspect goes: how about an ability to take 10 on Acrobatics- or Dex checks related to keeping your balance? This could even include tightrope walking, if you wish. The discipline involved is not that different, and it may lead to some surprising character builds for people so inclined.

If you want to do some more research, consider looking not only at Pankration but also at Sambo wrestling. It's a Russian style that inherited quite a lot of Graeco-Roman and Pankration.

Well, I should have trained in it. :) Pankration instead of Kung-fu.

Oh well. okay, so, take 10 on Acrobatics, alright. I was thinking of adding Endurance or Diehard, really. It was my first instinct. Unfortunately, I thought.

Silver Crusade

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Skullford - Forgive me, I'm nub wrote:
You could do something similar to Monkey Style, only they would be fighting on their back instead.

Yeah, going through the stories, they mixed wrestling, grappling, and boxing. According to one story, a man dislocated his competitor's ankle, crippling him. But I'm pretty sure they weren't always on their back. Besides, Monkey style was based on how Macaques fight, and the guy that made it made 4 styles.


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I like the Endurance idea.

A focus on balance could not only be an Acrobatic skill bonus, but a CMD bonus vs Trip, Bull-Rush, & Reposition.

As it is a heavy focus on wrestling, Quickened Grapple (converting grapple CMB checks to replace an attack instead of being a standard action) would provide a HUGE inherent bonus within their specialty. Greater Grapple & Rapid Grapple combine for a similar effect, though, so access to those two feats sticks within the printed rule set more directly.


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Okay . . ..

Looking at the feedback, trying to incorporate it, and taking the time to identify the innate Monk abilities lost because of the lack of a Ki Pool (not arguing about it being gone, just noting the consequences), I come up with the following adaptation of the archetype.

For those who don't know, I'm scheduled to play the Monk in Gm Elton's proposed game for which he built this archetype! So, I have vested interest. <g>

For consideration:
Greco-Roman Athlete
Unlike Monks of the Far East and India, the Greco-Roman Athlete does not engage in mystical meditation, but focuses on the principles of Arete -- or Excellence -- in Athletic pursuits. The Adventuring Greco-Roman Athlete also learns Pankration -- a Martial Art that specializes in utilizing all of the body's strength to defeat one's foes. The name means "All Powers" or "All Strength" depending on the translation. It's a no holds barred martial art where it's Olympic form does not embrace biting (for reasons of hygiene, a human can transmit Tetanus through biting), or eye gouging -- however Adventuring Athletes will use these techniques.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Greco-Roman Athletes are proficient with the club, crossbow (light or heavy), dagger, handaxe, javelin, discuss, shortspear, shot-put, quarterstaff, sling, and spear.

Pankration Style: at 1st level, the adventuring Greco-Roman Athlete learns the Pankration style feat. This replaces the stunning fist feature.

Bonus Feat: Add Endurance to the Greco-Roman Athlete's bonus feat list at 1st level. Add Greater Grapple to the bonus feat list at 6th level. Add Rapid Grapple to the bonus feat list at 10th level.

Pankratic Expertise: At 4th Level, the Greco-Roman Athlete gains the Combat Expertise feat, and his specialized training grants his unarmed attacks the ability to count as magical weapons. This ability replaces the Ki Pool.

Pankratic Crippling Strike: At 7th level, she gains the Crippling Critical feat, and her specialized training now grants her unarmed attacks the ability to count as Cold Iron and Silver weapons. his ability replaces Wholeness of Body.

Advanced Pankration Training: At 10th level the Greco-Roman Athlete gains the Vital Strike feat and his unarmed attacks now count as Lawful weapons. At 15th level, he gains the Improved Vital Strike feat. At 16th level, he gains the Deadly Stroke feat and his unarmed attacks count as Adamantine weapons. At 19th level, the Greco-Roman Athlete gains the Greater Vital Strike feat. This ability replaces Abundant Step, Quivering Palm and Empty Body abilities.

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Pankration Style (Combat, Style)
Pankration was a combat sport introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC and founded as a blend of boxing and wrestling but with scarcely any rules. The only things not acceptable were biting and gouging of the opponent's eyes. The term comes from the Greek παγκράτιον [paŋkrátion], literally meaning "all might" from πᾶν (pan-) "all" + κράτος (kratos) "strength, might and power". The style was developed by the Greeks as a weaponless martial art for soldiers and hoplites to protect themselves. Myth says that it was either developed by Castor and Polydeuces, or Theseus and Hercules. It's literally street fighting taken to a discipline.
Prerequisites: Str 12, Dex 13, Improved Grapple, Improved Unarmed Strike
Benefit: You are training your body to be the ultimate weapon against your foes. You gain a +2 bonus to unarmed attacks and CMB checks for grappling, as you watch for openings to grapple or box with your opponent.
Special:Non-Monk Feat Path: Pankration was taught to warriors as well as athletes. The feat path includes: Pankration, Pankratic Expertise (currently mechanically equivalent to Combat Expertise feat benefits), and Pankratic Crippling Strike (currently mechanically equivalent to Crippling Critical feat benefits).


This looks pretty cool. I'd like to see more on wrestling and grappling styles. I'm going to see if I can retrain one of the feats I have and give this a playtest with my Co-GM.


Unless it's already reflected somewhere in one of the feats/abilities, (if so, forgive me for not noticing it) it might be worth reflecting the nature of this fighting style by modifying how this class is treated while prone.

Either reduce the to-hit penalty, allow them to recover without provoking AoO, or allow them to regain their as a swift action.

Perhaps giving them all three, one each at 6/12/18?

Just 2cp. I don't know if it's optimal, but it feels thematically appropriate to me.


I still picture Jon Jones throwing Stephen Bonnar around when I read the title.

The addition of modifying how the practitioner is treated whole prone would be really cool.


I agree that a modifier to grappling/unarmed while prone would be cool, but having a flat +2 that stacks with Weapon Focus is already really powerful and offsets the -4 prone penalty by half already.

From what I can tell/adapted, this archetype trades away some pretty powerful spell-like abilities but it trades them (one-for-one) for some pretty powerful feats and then gains an additional feat to "make up the difference."

One thing that jumped out at me is that nothing prevents the player form taking the Stunning Fist feat as normal character advancement. I see it as being a Dirty Tricks-type attack, such as a knee to the groin, popping both ears, etc. Traditional unarmed combat techniques that are long known to delay a response from the majority of opponents.


True enough, I didn't think about it stacking with Weapon Focus.

I also noticed the prerequisite Str is 12, shouldn't it be 13.

Maybe someone on these boards can come up with a companion style regarding the prone situation.


Don't know. 12 is what GM Elton posted, so it is what I ran with.

You might notice I added Improved Unarmed Strike & Improved Grapple as pre-reqs on top of the attribute requirements. They seem like obvious pre-reqs to me.

Edit: At a glance, yeah, it appears that all minimum attribute requirements are 13 or higher, but always an odd value. So that's a good catch.


I found this version on the Xena d20 page.

Pankration (General)  
You are trained in a particularly brutal form of wrestling.
Prerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, Improved Grapple.
Benefit: If you start your turn  grappling, you get an additional attack at your highest attack bonus. This action can be used to attack an opponent with an unarmed strike, natural attack or light weapon, damage your opponent, pin or break a pin, use the opponents weapon or doing any other attack action that is possible while grappling.

Hope this helps.

Silver Crusade

hustonj wrote:

Don't know. 12 is what GM Elton posted, so it is what I ran with.

You might notice I added Improved Unarmed Strike & Improved Grapple as pre-reqs on top of the attribute requirements. They seem like obvious pre-reqs to me.

Edit: At a glance, yeah, it appears that all minimum attribute requirements are 13 or higher, but always an odd value. So that's a good catch.

I listed strength 12 because it felt right.

I did 13 first, and it didn't make any sense to me. So I did 12. Lowering it by 1 pt. because some of the actor athletes on the Nova program back in 1999-2000 didn't all look like strength 13, yet they could do surprising things with their bodies.

Silver Crusade

hustonj wrote:

Okay . . ..

Looking at the feedback, trying to incorporate it, and taking the time to identify the innate Monk abilities lost because of the lack of a Ki Pool (not arguing about it being gone, just noting the consequences), I come up with the following adaptation of the archetype.

For those who don't know, I'm scheduled to play the Monk in Gm Elton's proposed game for which he built this archetype! So, I have vested interest. <g>

I also built the archetype for my home-brewed setting. I did not like the monk as is. You can drop the fighter, and all the others in China, and have them speak Chinese and the fighter can study Tai Chi Quan and be a really mobile fighter.

But if you take the monk out of China and drop him in England in the 12th Century and he starts talking about Chi and being a be-er, Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men would look at him funny.

The monk class is the only class that is, in it's description, oriented to a Far Eastern culture. If Paizo stripped away the Far Eastern Context and just called it a martial artist, it would be far more acceptable.


Arkady Zelenka wrote:

I still picture Jon Jones throwing Stephen Bonnar around when I read the title.

[Mike Goldberg voice]"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"[/Mike Goldberg voice]


You can still include something like ki.

When Heracles was wrestling the Nemean Lion or Antaeus or Cerberus there was some god floating nearby infusing him with mystical courage or strength. So just call it divine fortune instead of ki.

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