Hello. I wrote up this archetype today for an NPC that I'm adding to my campaign. Granted, I got a little carried away, as the NPC will only be level 11 and the archetype covers up to level 20, but I was hoping for some constructive criticism on the design.
Resonant Form
The monk loses the following class features (exchanges are in the text below):
Still mind
Slow fall
Wholeness of body
Diamond body
Diamond soul
Abundant step
Quivering palm
Timeless body
Empty body
Perfect self
The monk gains a +2 competence bonus to Perform (vocal) and a +2 competence bonus to Sense Motive. When assisting another PC by performing vocally, the assist bonus is +4 instead of +2. Suggested use: beatboxing
Sonic Boom Fist -> Changed to following functionality:
At 1st level, the resonant form gains Stunning Fist as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites. At 5th level and ever 5 levels thereafter, the monk deals an extra 1d6 sonic damage when using Stunning Fist. In addition, at 5th level, any creature that fails its saving throw against the monk's stunning fist is deafened for 1 round per 5 monk levels. For example, a level 10 monk deals 2d6 additional sonic damage, stuns the enemy for 1 round, and deafens the enemy for 2 rounds if they fail their saving throw. The sonic damage is not reduced on a successful save.
Rumbling thoughts -> At 3rd level, the resonant form gains a +2 on all saving throws against effects with the sonic descriptor. This replaces still mind.
Humming body -> At 5th level, a resonant form's body begins to hum with a low tone, inaudible unless a creature presses an ear to the monk. The resonant form gains a +1 deflection bonus to their AC when wearing no armor. This bonus increases by 1 at level 10 and every 5 levels thereafter, for a total of +4 at level 20. This ability replaces diamond body, diamond soul, and timeless body.
Supersonic rush -> At 5th level, a resonant form can burst through the air with incredible speed. He can fly at 5 times his movement speed in one uninterrupted movement. Using this ability is a standard action; He cannot take other creatures with him when he uses this ability; He can use this ability a number of times per day equal to his Wisdom modifier. At 10th level, the resonant form may activate this as a move action by spending 1 Ki point with no limit of uses per day. At 15th level, the resonant form may activate this ability as a swift action by spending 2 Ki points with no limit of uses per day. This feature replaces slow fall and abundant step.
Ground thumper -> At 7th level, a resonant form can disrupt the footing of creatures around them by channeling sound into the ground as a swift action. By spending 2 Ki points, the terrain within 10 ft of the resonant form is considered difficult terrain for all other creatures. Any creatures other than the monk that are within range when the effect is activated must make a Reflex save or fall prone (DC 10 + 1/2 monk level + Wis). The difficult terrain effect continues for a number of rounds equal to the monk's Wisdom modifier. This ability replaces wholeness of body.
Destructive resonance -> At 15th level, a resonant form can unleash a violent dissonance into the body of an enemy or object hit with his unarmed strike. He can use this destructive resonance attack once per day, and it must be announced before making the attack roll. If the monk strikes successfully and the target takes damage from the blow, the target makes a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 monk level + Wisdom). If the target fails, they take 2d8 points of sonic damage per monk level, and must make the save the following round. The effect continues until either the target succeeds on a save, or the target takes physical damage from another source. Non-magical objects or walls hit with this attack automatically shatter, breaking apart up to a 10-foot cube of matter into a pile of pieces. This ability replaces quivering palm.
Thrumming aura -> At 19th level, a resonant form can create an aura as a swift action at the cost of 2 Ki points. The aura emanates out to a 10-foot radius. Any projectiles originating outside of the aura and passing into or through it have a 50% chance to miss. Any projectiles originating inside of the aura deal an extra 1 sonic damage per monk level and have their range increment increased by 10 feet. The aura lasts for a number of rounds equal to the monk's Wisdom modifier, and can be dismissed as a free action. This ability replaces empty body.
Feedback -> At 20th level, the energy stored within the resonant form is powerful and volatile, transferring into the weapons of enemies that strike him. When an enemy strikes him in melee, the resonant form may spend 2 Ki points as an immediate action to cause a damaging resonance to occur in the weapon or the enemy that struck him, as chosen by the monk. If the monk chooses to affect the weapon, hardness is ignored. The feedback affects the target as resonating word. This ability replaces perfect self.
This archetype seems REALLY top heavy, you switch out a bunch of your high end abilities but in exchange you get more of them before level 7. I'd space the abilities out a bit further.
This archetype seems REALLY top heavy, you switch out a bunch of your high end abilities but in exchange you get more of them before level 7. I'd space the abilities out a bit further.
Hmm... So, the main problem is that the replacements for diamond body, diamond soul, timeless body, and abundant step come too soon? I was hoping to balance that out by making the abilities weaker, with an increasing scale.
Would "supersonic rush" and "humming body" be better starting later? Their power remains around the same at level ~20, but the bonuses are gained later.
Supersonic rush -> At 8th level, a resonant form can burst through the air with incredible speed. He can fly at 5 times his movement speed in one uninterrupted movement. Using this ability is a standard action; He cannot take other creatures with him when he uses this ability; He can use this ability a number of times per day equal to his Wisdom modifier. At 12th level, the resonant form may activate this as a move action by spending 1 Ki point with no limit of uses per day. At 16th level, the resonant form may activate this ability as a swift action by spending 2 Ki points with no limit of uses per day. This feature replaces slow fall and abundant step.
Humming body -> At 10th level, a resonant form's body begins to hum with a low tone, inaudible unless a creature presses an ear to the monk. The resonant form gains a +1 deflection bonus to their AC when wearing no armor. This bonus increases by 1 at level 13 and every 3 levels thereafter, for a total of +4 at level 19. This ability replaces diamond body, diamond soul, and timeless body.
After running this past some friends that aren't on the boards, I've received a comment that I should try to work in a usage of 'Ki Shout', and that 'humming body' is overpowered, due to deflection bonuses stacking with other deflection bonuses (like from a ring of protection).
I'm also a little hesitant about keeping 'humming body', as a class getting deflection bonuses from class levels doesn't really have a precedent in other classes. Well, not that I know of, anyway. If anyone knows of a class that gives a deflection bonus, I would be interested in hearing about it.
Would it be reasonable to scrap 'humming body' for gaining usage of Ki Shout? Should it cost Ki points, or have a limited number of uses per day? I see that Qinggong Monk offers it after level 14 for 3 Ki points, so that might be a reasonable replacement, although that is for replacing only one class feature, while I'm dropping three.
Lastly, I've been thinking that for 'flavor', the class should possibly either have penalties to stealth or bonuses to stealth. I can see it going either way, as it would either be "they constantly generate noise, so they are easy to detect" or "they have control over sound, which lets them be quieter than usual". I might do it as a replacement for 'rumbling mind', since that is worse than 'still mind' was.
Hmm...Do you have a properly formatted version of what the current archetype is? It'd make it easier to comment on.
Sure thing. Sorry about the delay in responding. I haven't decided whether I want to replace humming body or not, so it still exists below.
Resonant Form
The monk loses the following class features (exchanges are in the text below):
Stunning fist
Still mind
Slow fall
Wholeness of body
Diamond body
Diamond soul
Abundant step
Quivering palm
Timeless body
Empty body
Perfect self
The monk gains a +2 competence bonus to Perform (vocal), Sense Motive, and Stealth checks. When assisting another PC by performing vocally, the assist bonus is +4 instead of +2. Suggested use: beatboxing
Sonic Boom Fist -> At 1st level, the resonant form gains Stunning Fist as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites. At 5th level and ever 5 levels thereafter, the monk deals an extra 1d6 sonic damage when using Stunning Fist. In addition, any creature that fails its saving throw against the monk's stunning fist and takes sonic damage from the attack is deafened for 1 round per 5 monk levels. For example, a level 10 monk deals 2d6 additional sonic damage, stuns the enemy for 1 round, and deafens the enemy for 2 rounds if they fail their saving throw. The sonic damage is not reduced on a successful save. This ability replaces stunning fist.
Rumbling thoughts -> At 3rd level, the resonant form gains a +2 on all saving throws against effects with the sonic descriptor. This replaces still mind.
Ground thumper -> At 7th level, a resonant form can disrupt the footing of creatures around them by channeling sound into the ground as a swift action. By spending 2 Ki points, the terrain within 10 ft of the resonant form is considered difficult terrain for all other creatures. Any creatures other than the monk that are within range when the effect is activated must make a Reflex save or fall prone (DC 10 + 1/2 monk level + Wis). The difficult terrain effect continues for a number of rounds equal to the monk's Wisdom modifier. This ability replaces wholeness of body.
Supersonic rush -> At 8th level, a resonant form can burst through the air with incredible speed. He can fly at 5 times his movement speed in one uninterrupted movement. Using this ability is a standard action; He cannot take other creatures with him when he uses this ability; He can use this ability a number of times per day equal to his Wisdom modifier. At 12th level, the resonant form may activate this as a move action by spending 1 Ki point with no limit of uses per day. At 16th level, the resonant form may activate this ability as a swift action by spending 2 Ki points with no limit of uses per day. This feature replaces slow fall and abundant step.
Humming body -> At 10th level, a resonant form's body begins to hum with a low tone, inaudible unless a creature presses an ear to the monk. The resonant form gains a +1 deflection bonus to their AC when wearing no armor. This bonus increases by 1 at level 13 and every 3 levels thereafter, for a total of +4 at level 19. This ability replaces diamond body, diamond soul, and timeless body.
Destructive resonance -> At 15th level, a resonant form can unleash a violent dissonance into the body of an enemy or object hit with his unarmed strike. He can use this destructive resonance attack once per day, and it must be announced before making the attack roll. If the monk strikes successfully and the target takes damage from the blow, the target makes a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + 1/2 monk level + Wisdom). If the target fails, they take 2d8 points of sonic damage per monk level, and must make the save the following round. The effect continues until either the target succeeds on a save, or the target takes physical damage from another source. Non-magical objects or walls hit with this attack automatically shatter, breaking apart up to a 10-foot cube of matter into a pile of pieces. This ability replaces quivering palm.
Thrumming aura -> At 19th level, a resonant form can create an aura as a swift action at the cost of 2 Ki points. The aura emanates out to a 10-foot radius. Any projectiles originating outside of the aura and passing into or through it have a 50% chance to miss. Any projectiles originating inside of the aura deal an extra 1 sonic damage per monk level and have their range increment increased by 10 feet. The aura lasts for a number of rounds equal to the monk's Wisdom modifier, and can be dismissed as a free action. This ability replaces empty body.
Feedback -> At 20th level, the energy stored within the resonant form is powerful and volatile, transferring into the weapons of enemies that strike him. When an enemy strikes him in melee, the resonant form may spend 2 Ki points as an immediate action to cause a damaging resonance to occur in the weapon or the enemy that struck him, as chosen by the monk. If the monk chooses to affect the weapon, hardness is ignored. The feedback affects the target as resonating word. This ability replaces perfect self.