New class: the Martial Artist

[Louis IX]

I know I'm posting several ideas one after the other, but I just can't stop myself (grins). Here is another go at a fighter/monk mix. As usual, feel free to comment and criticize. If you want to, that is...

Class: the Martial Artist

HD: d10
BAB progression: Full
Saves: good (all)
Skills: 4 points per level
Alignment: any
Armor proficiency: none, no shield
Weapon proficiency: none
Abilities: Fighting Prowess, Martial Arts

Fighting Prowess
The Martial Artist gains the following abilities from the Fighter: Weapon Training (unarmed), Feats (can select from Fighter feats or Monk feats of the same level), Bravery. He gains the following abilities from the Monk: Improved Unarmed Strike, Flurry of Blows, Fast Movement, AC bonuses. He also gains the Weapon Finesse at first level.

Martial Arts
The Martial Artist selects a discipline at first level. Each time he gains a level, he can opt to learn a new discipline or to gain a dan in one of the disciplines he already knows (he starts at first dan and can’t go further than ten in any one discipline, upon which he gains the title of Master and can train students).

List of disciplines:

• Judo
  - first dan: Improved Trip
  - second dan: Improved Grapple
  - third dan: another +1 on Trip maneuvers
  - fourth dan: another +1 on Grapple maneuvers
  - fifth dan: can try to trip creatures one size category larger than what he could normally do
  - sixth dan: Greater Trip
  - seventh dan: Greater Grapple
  - eighth dan: can use one action to trip and grapple at the same time
  - ninth dan: +1 to Constitution
  - tenth dan: +1 to Constitution, +1 to Wisdom

• Karate
  - first dan: unarmed damage goes up by one size category (1d3 becomes 1d4)
  - second dan: unarmed damage goes up by one size category (1d4 becomes 1d6)
  - third dan: +1 to unarmed damage
  - fourth dan: unarmed damage goes up by one size category (1d6 becomes 1d8)
  - fifth dan: unarmed damage goes up by one size category (1d6 becomes 1d8)
  - sixth dan: +1 to unarmed damage
  - seventh dan: unarmed damage goes up by one size category (1d8 becomes 2d6)
  - eighth dan: unarmed damage goes up by one size category (2d6 becomes 3d6)
  - ninth dan: +1 to Strength
  - tenth dan: +1 to Strength, +1 to Wisdom

• Taichi
  - first dan: +1 dodge bonus to AC & CMD
  - second dan: Evasion
  - third dan: Uncanny Dodge
  - fourth dan: +1 dodge bonus to AC & CMD
  - fifth dan: Improved Evasion
  - sixth dan: Improved Uncanny Dodge
  - seventh dan: +1 dodge bonus to AC & CMD
  - eighth dan: Stunning Fist
  - ninth dan: +1 to Dexterity
  - tenth dan: +1 to Dexterity, +1 to Intelligence

• Kendo
  - first dan: Martial Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword)
  - second dan: Armor Proficiency (light)
  - third dan: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword)
  - fourth dan: gains Dazzling Display
  - fifth dan: Armor Proficiency (medium)
  - sixth dan: can use Dazzling Display as a standard action
  - seventh dan: Armor Proficiency (heavy)
  - eighth dan: can use Dazzling Display as a move action
  - ninth dan: +1 to Intelligence
  - tenth dan: +1 to Intelligence, +1 to Wisdom

• Kung Fu
  - first dan: Improved Initiative
  - second dan: can jump while charging
  - third dan: +2 to Acrobatics
  - fourth dan: Improved Bull Rush
  - fifth dan: Pounce
  - sixth dan: Greater Bull Rush
  - seventh dan: Improved Overrun
  - eighth dan: Greater Overrun
  - ninth dan: +1 to Wisdom
  - tenth dan: +1 to Wisdom, +1 to Constitution
  

Normally, a Master Martial Artist trains a number of students limited by his Charisma bonus (minimum one). At level 10, the Martial Artist can open a Dojo to train ten times more students. If he does so, he gains the Leadership feat. Training students over a level means that they gain first dan in the discipline he trained them into.

[Captain Sir Hexen Ineptus]

First look, pounce on anything with full base attack bonus and no level adjust just seems over powered. I would suggest granting a limited pounce. Things can great really bad with pounce, and weapon use.

[Fake Healer]

I really like this idea. It feels totally different than a monk. I would suggest a path that allows for weapon wielding martial artists, like maybe dudes that use tai-chi swords, shield and chinese broadsword, long staff, hook swords, escrima sticks, etc....more kung-fu discipline like that. Very nice though.

[Cartigan]

Martial Artist just sounds like it is stealing the Monk's thunder because that is really the point of the Monk. I think we should just look at fixing the Monk instead of creating a shadow class that is basically a Monk if it wasn't an NPC class.