Break the Kata Master

[Wise Old Man]

Let's go to the "logical extreme" with this, this is by far one of the most badass monk archetypes I've seen. Break this monstrosity to good use.

[SunsetPsychosis]

The biggest thing that jumps out at me about the archetype is that the extra deflection abilities that come from the deeds would combine amusingly with Crane Style to make an unhittable monk.

[Diminuendo]

does Kata Master stack with Hungry Ghost Monk?

Edit: no, but Qinggong Monk does for Ki Leech

[plaidwandering]

opportune parry and riposte just doesn't seem all that good, you have to spend the panache before they even make the attack roll

and things that are going to hit you, are going to have a big attack bonus for you to need to beat

since this isn't a flurry roll, you only get your 3/4 bab

[Wise Old Man]

Yeah but you can also use your Ki for Panache as well, which makes things a lot easier for you. I do agree that it doesn't help to have 3/4 BAB for Parry and Riposte but I am lucky to even have it for a monk, plus with the Targeted Strike, that's exactly how I picture a martial artist from all the fighting movies I've seen so far.

So lets put this in another perspective, obviously this archetype is not multi-archetype friendly, it wants to be its own monk. So what are some great feats and styles we can use to boost this "normal" monk.

There must be genius ways to use Panache and Grit.

[TypeSaber]

What about Kata Master + Drunken Master, Unlimited Counters as long as you keep boozing it up.

[Diminuendo]

needs more Ki Leech 1 Panache and 1 Ki point every Crit or Kill

Use a blade of Sword Saint with it; make it Keen, if you confirm thats 2 points every 3 attacks.

[Hrothdane]

It stacks with Master of Many Styles, making a two level dip in monk even more ridiculously good.

[Chris Lambertz]

Removed a post. Let's dial back the profanity please.

[Alex Mack]

TypeSaber wrote:

What about Kata Master + Drunken Master, Unlimited Counters as long as you keep boozing it up.

They don't stack as both replace still mind. It's prolly pretty good with MoMS as a dip as you likely get more use out of the deeds with full BAB classes.

[LoneKnave]

Okay, I'll just repost break ideas:

2 levels of ninja to get CHA pool instead.

4 Levels of Iroran paladin (alternatively, a good dip for Iroran paladin, or even a normal paladin, possibly other CHA classes).

Sensei. Let's allies parry by you spending Ki points.

That's about it.

[Imbicatus]

Too bad they don't have access to signature deed.

[Skaldi the Tallest]

I've got a Swashbuckler 5 / MoMS 2 that's going to retrain into Kata Master.

His gimmick is running around in Snake Style and Panther style provoking from many enemies and parrying their attacks. When they attack, he hits them with Panther style, giving them an attack penalty. When he successfully parries, he gets to attack with snake style and, as long as he either hits with that attack or has panache, he gets a third attack.

[mysticbelmont]

I'm currently playing a kata master/synthesist. It's working out great. You get tons of attacks, you can sill heal yourself, you get to cast spells, and you have more AC than you would if you went straight monk.

Plus, if you need extra speed, just grab more leg evolutions.

[RumpinRufus]

"plaidwandering wrote:

opportune parry and riposte just doesn't seem all that good, you have to spend the panache before they even make the attack roll

and things that are going to hit you, are going to have a big attack bonus for you to need to beat

since this isn't a flurry roll, you only get your 3/4 bab

If you don't think you can parry successfully on the first attack, save it for the iterative.

Also keep in mind that, since it is an opposed roll, it is much "swingier" than a normal check. Even the BBEG is going to roll 5 and below on 25% of the rolls.

Imbicatus wrote:

Too bad they don't have access to signature deed.

Well, Swashbuckler doesn't have access to Signature Deed either, technically...

[Imbicatus]

RumpinRufus wrote:

Imbicatus wrote:

Too bad they don't have access to signature deed.

Well, Swashbuckler doesn't have access to Signature Deed either, technically...

true. I don't think I had realized that yet when I posted it.

Although it's clearly intended for swashbucklers to have signature deed. Hopefully it will be fixed in the ACG errata for the second printing.

[Avoron]

I've been thinking about the Kata Master and Sensei archetypes, and whether anything useful can come from the fact that they stack.

Specifically, I've been considering the combination of Mystic Wisdom and Targeted Strike. Here:

Mystic Wisdom (Su):

At 6th level, a sensei may use his advice ability when spending points from his ki pool to activate a class ability (using the normal actions required for each) in order to have that ability affect one ally within 30 feet rather than the sensei himself. At 12th level, a sensei may affect all allies within 30 feet rather than himself (spending points from his ki pool only once, not once for each target)."

Ki Pool (Su):

At 4th level, a kata master can treat ki points as panache points for any swashbuckler deed gained through this archetype. This ability modifies ki pool."

Targeted Strike (Ex):

At 7th level, a kata master gains the swashbuckler's targeted strike deed.

This ability replaces wholeness of body.

Targeted Strike (Ex):

At 7th level, as a full-round action the swashbuckler can spend 1 panache point to make an attack with a single light or one-handed piercing melee weapon that cripples part of a foe's body. The swashbuckler chooses a part of the body to target. If the attack succeeds, in addition to the attack's normal damage, the target suffers one of the following effects based on the part of the body targeted. If a creature doesn't have one of the listed body locations, that body part cannot be targeted. Creatures that are immune to sneak attacks are also immune to targeted strikes. Items or abilities that protect a creature from critical hits also protect a creature from targeted strikes.

When using the Targeted Strike deed, a swashbuckler normally spends one panache point as a full-round action, which allows the swashbuckler to make an attack.

My thought is that this could mean:
When using the Targeted Strike deed and the Mystic Wisdom ability, a sensei/kata master may instead spend one ki point as a full-round action, which allows all allies within 30 feet to make an attack that has special effects.

Would this work to give all allies a free attack? And a targeted strike, no less? Or am I stretching the wording of the ability too far?

[Mr.Nightray]

I was thinking Kata master-Master of many styles \ Mouser. Specifically looking at monkey Style and monkey Shine. Looking to be a halfling and get into their square and abuse the bodyguard feat.