|
I've often implemented the unarmed combat feats from d20 Modern, which is more of what I'm looking for than what the monk class grants. I'd like to see something akin to that, so that I can play a straight fighter as a formidable unarmed combatant. Think like a pugilist, or a thug, or even a boxer!
Not possible with the monk.
For an actual martial artist, especially with the current build, I'd just go with a Fighter. The Monk covers something specific (more of a taoist internal alchemist, really).
Along these lines, I would tend to make Flurry of Blows a feat requiring Improved Unarmed Combat and then just eliminate Monk entirely. For the more martial, Fighter works, for the more contempative a cleric, for the more sneaky, rogue. Basically, just make monk a role and let any class fit it.
I think monk still deserves to be a base class. However I think monastic orders (and knight and paladin orders for that matter) should be composed of members of several classes. Most classes can easily find a solid niche in a monk order...easy to see a monk travelling with a cleric, rogue and wizard who are also members of the same order he is. Afterall, i doubt monks hire out of the order for arcane and divine magical items and it makes more sense to have a "full-time" wizard or cleric in the order than a monk/wizard or monk/cleric who splits his duties. However, I think the monk represents a character whose devotion to martial and spiritual aspects who fills a role similar to a martial-spellcaster hybrid class.
I would like to see more options available to them as far as their ki-powers go instead of the basic choice of "striking" or "grappling". Perhaps class abilities that are more closely a fighting style than just "Does he punch or does he grab?"
For non-monk martial artists something along the lines of "Shou Disciple" prestige class (only 5 levels) from Unapproachable East FR sourcebook would be a good option....especially for a character who was part of a monastic order but whose primary duties were different form those who have the actual monk class.
I do not expect Paizo to include something like that in a core book (only so much space), but a later book detailing such would be nice. I am a big fan of class-books presenting options relevent to the given class. Though I am a bit tired of "here is the book on this class...oh and two more base classes."
http://www.zipworld.com.au/~hong/dnd/martialartist.htm
This remains the best martial artist/monk/wuxia class I've seen for 3E before Tome of Battle. It's versatile enough to be used for anything from a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon wuxia swordsman through an unarmed Shaolin-style monk to a rapier-wielding swashbuckler (probably best if you switched Wis abilities to Cha for that, though).
I wouldn't mind at all if something like this found it's way into Pathfinder. Or, perhaps even better, if the fighter were made versatile an interesting enough that it could work equally well as a bouncy, tumbly unarmoured martial artist type as a plated, heavy, tank type.
For more unique monks, you can 1) use Fighting Styles from the SRD and 2) change the monk's weapon list for each style (to include ability to mix armed and unarmed attacks and use Flurry of Blows with weapons specific to each style).
For swashbucklers, you can use the OGL variant I designed (using the Thug as the basis):
Fighter Variant: Swashbuckler
The swashbuckler is a duellist and rake, one who is adept with both a sharp sword and sharp wits. He has most of the fighter's strengths, along with an aptitude for social interaction. He concentrates on mobility and canny use of tactics and terrain to defeat his opponents, rather than heavy weapons and armor.
Swashbucklers tend to neutral or chaotic alignments.
Class Skills
Add the following skills to the fighter's class list- Bluff, Diplomacy, Sense Motive, and Tumble. The swashbuckler gains skill points per level equal to 4 + Int modifier (x4 at 1st level).
Class Features
The swashbucker has all of the standard fighter's class features, except as noted below.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Swashbucklers are proficient with simple and martial weapons, light armor, and bucklers.
Bonus Feats
At 1st level, swashbucklers must choose either Combat Expertise or Weapon Finesse as a their bonus feat. Remove Power Attack (and feats in the Power Attack feat chain) from the list of bonus feats available to swashbucklers.
Dislike the idea of calling them Chinese Opera or HKAT feats myself. I think Chi or Wuxia feats would be more appropriate.
Yeah what separates the monk and other martial artists? Martial artist is not a class good concept, sense martial arts is not just unarmed combat. Nor should unarmed combat just be the province of the monk and also the monk uses more than unarmed combat. What's the monk got that other classes don't?
If you say ki, well that's not true. In settings were there's ki everybody has ki and all warriors use it in they're fighting even if they are not aware. Ki is not some arcane power only certain people can use. As far as I'm concerned if a 20th level monk can run 240 ft in 6 seconds, or what not using his ki then a 20th level fighter should be capable of comparable feats. Which is already true to some extent as for instance it's not inconceivable that a high level fighter could pound his way through a steel wall barehanded given enough time, high enough strength and Power Attack. Heck a 6th level fighter with a 16 Strength and Power Attack could chop through a stone wall in about 3 minutes. So if you have a fighter who fights unarmed and unarmored what separates him from a monk? Cause they should be capable of the same kinds of things.