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Something I'd love to see is a new Style Feat along a line that seems, when I think about it, to have been obvious enough to make the original list: a general purpose style that makes the MADness of the monk into a positive. So how about something like...
"Like the mythical Phoenix, your fighting techniques blend wisdom with power."
Phoenix Style: Improved Unarmed Strike, STR 13, WIS 15.
While using Phoenix Style and making a single attack with the standard attack action, you may add your Wisdom modifier to your attack and damage rolls.
Phoenix Grace: ... Power Attack, BAB+4 or Monk 5.
While using Phoenix Style, you may reduce the penalty for using Power Attack by your Wisdom Modifier (Minimum 1).
Phoenix Strikes: ... WIS 17, Flurry of Blows, BAB+6 or Monk 7.
While using Phoenix Style, the penalty and bonus from Power Attack increases by one step. While making a Flurry of Blows attack, you may add your Wisdom modifier to your damage rolls.
I like where you're going with this, maybe if you tighten up the wording we can use these feats.
Little red goblin games did this in dragon tiger ox.
Edit: well we did "A" phoenix style. Looks a lot different though.
I like it.
On consideration, the whole 'Wisdom to AB' thing probably shouldn't be duplicated on Style and Grace... probably. I'd worry that this style is perhaps OP, but considering you need at least a level dip of monk to grab the last level, the idea is more to make monks more powerful (aka dragon style alternate option) than to make an OP general style feat line. Well anyhow, propose modifications freely; don't be shy about it.
In theory if people weigh in on this kind of thing in numbers it might actually get some attention! Or so goes my delusions of monk relevance.... I'm not sure how to make the wording any 'tighter' without changing the effect, but hey, you have the power to do so yourself, so... do it!
On a related note, does anyone else think that a Monk using a weapon, or even better a Monk using both weapon and unarmed at the same time, is the most-est badass way to monk? Maybe it's just me, but all I can picture when I think of a powerful Monk is a 'Kung-Fu-watersong-broadsword-and-unarmed-strikes' Monk style. I'd love to see some kind of reward for using a weapon AND unarmed strikes at the same time. Isn't that what really devastating Kung-Fu is all about? Bonus points for punching someone with the hand holding the sword as a last attack...
This would be--by a serious margin--the most powerful feat chain for the monk.
At level 12: a monk with a wis of 18 (which is very attainable) could power attack at no penalty add a total of 12 damage to every single attack. That is bonkers damage. That is cavalier challenge (or paladin smite) extra damage with every full attack. If the monk is weilding a weapon in 2 hands and flurrying (such as a sohei with a nodachi) would do strictly more damage than a cavalier's challenge (16 extra damage per hit!).
[a note on the math: the feat chain is generally MORE powerful than the damage from a cavalier challenge before level 12 and generally less damage after level 12; for example, at level 8 an 18 wis monk would add 10 damage to every flurry of blows attack vs. the cavalier's level bonus of 8 while at level 16, a wis 20 monk would add 15 damage to every attack in the flurry]
Do you mean for it to be this powerful?
Dotting for interest.
If your worried about power, maybe start with having Wisdom replace Strength on attacks and work your way up to adding it.
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the fluff seems to be a complete miss.
is fire involved?
does it bring you back from the dead?
flight?
birds?
at all related to the bestiary entry? ... well it does have a decent wisdom score.
my quick take on it. it probably needs a passive ability as well.
phoenix style: adds your wis as fire damage, otherwise it is the same
phoenix grace: You may also apply your damage bonus from power attack to the fire damage from phoenix style, by doubling the penalty to hit. (effectively doubling the damage bonus with no penalty if you take Furious Focus).
Phoenix strike: when using the phoenix style standard action attack, you also heal an amount equal to the fire damage dealt at the start of your next turn. If this brings you above 0 hp you may take a free action to stand that does not provoke an AoO.
Not bad, though this does make for some very brutal cheese with Clerics and Druids, as if a 1 level Monk Dip (UC or otherwise) isn't already a damn good idea for them.
But I'm with GeneticDrift: What does a Phoenix have to do with any of that? I find that a style is usually named after what it embodies.
I could rename that feat chain to Sage Style and I can easily get a much better flavor backing with the sort of namesake that comes with (Sagehood? Sagedom?). Whatever, here's an example:
Sage Style
With the wisdom of the Sage, you fight with your mind and spirit as well as your body.
Pre-Requisites: Wisdom 13, Improved Unarmed Strike, BAB +2 or Monk level 1
Benefit: When using Sage Style, you may add your Wisdom modifier to your attack rolls in place of your Strength modifier for your unarmed strikes.
Sage Acumen
As your ascension to become a Sage progresses, so does your spirit progress through your body.
Pre-Requisites: Wisdom 15, Iron Will, Improved Unarmed Strike, Sage Style, BAB +7 or Monk level 5
Benefit: When using Sage Style, you may speak a chant of enlightenment to an ally within 30 feet as a swift action once per day, granting an insight bonus equal to your Wisdom modifier to a single 20-sided dice roll of their choice. The ally must be able to hear you to receive this benefit, and it lasts until the end of your next turn. A single ally can receive this bonus no more than once every 24 hours.
Sage Enlightenment
At the peak of ascension, your mind and spirit have become their own body.
Pre-Requisites: Wisdom 17, Iron Will, Perfect Strike, Improved Unarmed Strike, Sage Style, Sage Acumen, BAB +11 or Monk level 9
Benefit: When using Sage Style, you may add your Wisdom modifier to your attack and damage rolls in place of your Strength modifier for all attacks you make, and you may use your chant of enlightenment on any creature a number of times per day equal to your Wisdom modifier.
In addition, you substitute your Strength modifier with your Wisdom modifier for your carrying capacity, as well as any Strength-based skills and ability checks. For any other effects pertaining to your Strength score, treat yourself as having a score of "-". (That is, effects which target strength, both positive and negative, have no effect.) These benefits are constant, and apply even when Sage Style isn't activated.
Now, when it comes to Phoenixes, here's what I come up with:
Phoenix Style
You spread your arms and echo a piercing shriek, embodying the bold stance of the Phoenix.
Pre-requisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, BAB +1 or Monk level 1
Benefit: Whenever you damage an enemy while Phoenix Style is active, you deal an additional 1D6 points of fire damage. This damage stacks with effects such as the Flaming property, but is not multiplied on a critical hit. Whenever an enemy damages you with a melee attack, succeeds at a grapple check against you, or uses the swallow whole ability against you, you deal 1D6 fire damage. Consecutive grapple checks and time spent swallowed whole deal this fire damage every round you are grappled or swallowed whole. Enemies using a weapon with the reach special quality are not affected by this ability.
In addition, you may put skill points into the Fly skill, even if you do not possess a regular means of flight.
Phoenix Fury
The flames of the Phoenix engulf you and your nearby surroundings.
Pre-requisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, Fly 3 Ranks, BAB +5 or Monk level 3
Benefit: Your Phoenix Style fire damage increases to 2D6, and you may add your Wisdom bonus to the fire damage dealt by your Phoenix Style (if any). In addition, enemies who are adjacent to you or damage you with a weapon that possesses the reach special quality suffer the fire damage dealt by your Phoenix Style.
Phoenix Aspect
The power of the Phoenix runs through you, acquiring some of its physical prowess.
Pre-Requisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, Fly 5 Ranks, BAB +9 or Monk level 7
Benefit: You take on the physical adaptations of the Phoenix, growing a pair of vestigial wings and feathers, flowing with radiant colors. When Phoenix Style is active, you receive a Fly Speed equal to your base, unaltered land speed (perfect maneuverability), Fire Resistance equal to your character level, and vulnerability to Cold effects. In addition, the area of effect of your Phoenix Style increases to 10 feet from your position, and its damage doubles (dealing 4D6 + twice your Wisdom modifier).
I could've went more ham with the Phoenix benefits, but it just seemed wrong to give such an easy way to get stuff like Self-Resurrection and Regeneration.
The western phoenix and the eastern phoenix aren't the same thing at all...
The western phoenix and the eastern phoenix aren't the same thing at all...
Tell that to the Beastiary. Last I checked, there are Eastern Dragons as well as Western Dragons, so if there is a difference, it better be included in the next Beastiary.
It also never occurred to me that Phoenixes (should we just call them Phoenii?) actually had a regional diversity, so I'm not sure what to tell you.
The western phoenix and the eastern phoenix aren't the same thing at all...Tell that to the Beastiary. Last I checked, there are Eastern Dragons as well as Western Dragons, so if there is a difference, it better be included in the next Beastiary.
It also never occurred to me that Phoenixes (should we just call them Phoenii?) actually had a regional diversity, so I'm not sure what to tell you.
Eh well, I was referring to eastern/western in the sense of European/Chinese. I didn't come up with "Phoenix Style" as a bestiary reference, but as a tribute to Chinese lore.
The original concept was abstractly based on using wisdom to strike with greater "balance" as a sort of 'force without force' wei wu wei thing. Ultimately the name wasn't really that important anyhow; the idea was to make being a wisdom-based Monk much more feasible.
Oh, and I also themed it "Phoenix Style" also as a counter-point to "Dragon Style".
Then Fenghuang would likely be a better choice. In Chinese tradition, it's Fenghuang that is juxtaposed with the Dragon as a symbol of royalty.The original concept was abstractly based on using wisdom to strike with greater "balance" as a sort of 'force without force' wei wu wei thing. Ultimately the name wasn't really that important anyhow; the idea was to make being a wisdom-based Monk much more feasible.
Oh, and I also themed it "Phoenix Style" also as a counter-point to "Dragon Style".
Well "fenghuang" is typically rendered "phoenix" for westerners - however incorrectly - so... there it was. Juxtaposed with the dragon was the point, among other things.
There are concepts that take a lot more investment in comparison to other feats which do not and yet accomplish the same thing. Also, 1D6 Fire Damage is hardly relevant beyond 3rd level, as creatures will have resistances or immunities by that point. The fact that Paizo thinks a 1D6 Fire Damage Aura (which requires a specific race and a 3 feat investment) is strong or worthwhile for a 7th level character is just baffling, especially when that damage only occurs 1/round, flat. Since it's race-tied, that just tells me Ifrits are lame (something which further reinforces my initial impression of them), and that you probably shouldn't play them if you want to optimize.
That being said, it makes more thematical sense to make the first feat apply to Unarmed Strikes and Natural Weapons only, since the other weapons aren't a part of your body (which the style originally enhances), though I think I would make Phoenix Fury apply that damage to all attacks, especially since it has the boost to apply its damage to creatures wielding reach weapons (whereas before it does not).
Phoenix Aspect gives you a Fly Speed at 7th level Monk (or 9 BAB) of (usually) 30 feet (Perfect Maneuverability). Giving them a fly speed, or even pseudo-fly speed, earlier than that can be akin to Wizard-level power, something which I don't think a Monk (or other character) should feasibly encroach on any sooner than I currently have it.
I also considered applying Elemental Fist as a pre-requisite, but the only way you acquire Elemental Fist is with a certain Monk archetype, or by hitting BAB 8, with having 13 Constitution and Wisdom, which is just way too much, especially if I want to start the feat chain at 1st or 3rd character levels.