To be honest, spending 3 points to stab through a wall isn't a huge issue unless they have a way to get the points back. 3 is a lot, and it's certainly an interesting, if fairly wuxia, ability.
Although it does make me wonder if they could spend the 3 points to "attack through" the platemail of that fighter. Kinda strange to think about, but eh.
Also, I highly recommend NOT letting them attack against touch AC with melee strikes. That effectively makes most of their attacks "attacks at full BAB", in the sense that they're going to hit. That'll pump their damage per round far higher than it should be.
Yeah...logicly you'd think he could, but mechanicly, platemail doesn't provide cover, so we're safe :)
I agree on the touch AC. It's one of the things that makes gunslingers such a pain in the ass.
@ JiCi These abilities are meant to be used with all slashing weapons. Scimitars, longswords, shortswords, falchions, greatswords and halbreds, etc.
I have specified that the flurry of blows may be used with a single weapon, so you can dual wield, use one sword (or axe) or flurry with a slashing polearm, no big deal.If you are going to keep the slashing weapon aspect of the archetype, I must point out that a short sword is a piercing weapon. Other than that it all looks good. It definitly reminds me of the weapon master from Black Company, which is my favorite class in that setting. Good job.
Crap. Ok, well...I think I may go ahead and change the archtype to Zen Weaponmaster, and include all damage types.
Zen Weaponmaster
A master of blade, club or halbred, these men and women train to wield weapons as an extension of themselves. Some choose to use wield two weapons, or a single blade, or even pole-arms.
Regardless, in combat they are all equally deadly.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Zen weaponmasters are proficient with their choice of any one simple, martial or exotic weapon, in addition to their normal weapon proficiencies.
Flurry of Blows (Ex): Starting at 1st level, a zen weaponmaster can make a flurry of blows as a full-attack action, but only when using their chosen melee weapon.
A zen weaponmaster’s flurry of blows otherwise functions as normal for a monk of his level, with the exception that he may use all of his flurry attacks with a single weapon.
When using flurry of blows, the zen weaponmaster must be using a melee weapon with which he has the Weapon Focus feat. A zen weaponmaster applies his Strength bonus (not ½ Strength bonus on offhand attacks) on all damage rolls made with flurry of blows, even if he is using a weapon two-handed (not 1 ½ Strength bonus).
Bonus Feats: At first level, a zen weaponmaster gains Weapon Focus as a bonus feat.
All other zen weaponmaster’s bonus feats must be taken from the following list: Combat expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Power Attack, Weapon Finesse and Weapon Focus.
At 6th level, the following feats are added to the list: Cleave, Improved Disarm, Improved Sunder, Mobility, Vital Strike and Weapon Specialization.
At 10th level, the following feats are added to the list: Greater Weapon Focus, Improved Critical, Spring attack, Two weapon rend* and Two Weapon Defense*.
A zen weaponmaster monk need not have any of the prerequisites normally required for these feats to select them. These feats replace the monk’s normal bonus feats.
Perfect Strike (Ex): At 1st level, a zen weaponmaster gains Perfect Strike as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites. A zen weaponmaster can use Perfect Strike with any weapon with which he has the Weapon Focus feat. At 10th level, the monk can roll his attack roll three times and take the highest result. If one of these rolls is a critical threat, the monk must choose one of his other two rolls to use as his confirmation roll. This ability replaces Stunning Fist.
Ki Weapon (Su): At 5th level, a zen weaponmaster may spend 1 point from his ki pool as a swift action to change the damage dice of his chosen weapon to that of his unarmed strikes. This lasts
until the start of his next turn. For example, a Medium zen weaponmaster’s shortsword normally deals 1d6 damage; using this ability, his shortsword deals 1d8 damage until the start of his next
turn. This ability replaces purity of body.
Dance of Blows (Ex): At 7th level, while flurrying, a zen weaponmaster may take a 5' step between each attack, up to half his movement. This movement does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
At 14th level he may move up to half his movement and still use flurry of blows. This ability replaces wholeness of body.
Zen strike (Su): At 11th level, a zen weaponmaster may hit targets that he might otherwise miss. By spending 1 point from his ki pool as a swift action, the zen weaponmaster can ignore concealment. By spending 2 points, he can ignore total concealment or cover. By spending 3 points, he can ignore
total cover. These effects last for 1 round. This ability replaces diamond body.
Ki Focus weapon (Su): At 17th level, as long as he has at least 1 point of ki in his ki pool, a zen weaponmaster may treat his slashing weapons as if it they were ki focus weapons, allowing him to use his special ki attacks as if his slashing weapons were unarmed attacks. This ability replaces tongue of the sun and moon.
*These feats will work only while flurrying, as it emulate the two weapon fighting rules.
I'll flesh out the fluff more later. THought about changing the name at the last minute to Wushu Fighter, but, wushu masters can use many weapons, not jsut one they are dedicated to.
My original idea was to call this the Weapon Master, and open it up to all damage types. Since there already was a weaponmaster archtype, I decided to limit it to slashing weapons. I could rename it the Zen Weaponmaster, and remove the slashing verbiage...
How about Zen Swordsman?
Now here's an important question...
What are the reasons why a monk wouldn't take this, other than wanting to take an archetype that changes an ability this does as well.
Would not take this:
1)Wants to flurry with his unarmed attacks.
2)Wants to keep the mystical abilities this archtype replaces (ie wholeness of body, etc.)
3)Doesn't want to be tied to one weapon for most of his class abilities.
4)Likes the monk as is.
My original idea was to call this the Weapon Master, and open it up to all damage types. Since there already was a weaponmaster archtype, I decided to limit it to slashing weapons. I could rename it the Zen Weaponmaster, and remove the slashing verbiage...How about Zen Swordsman?
Not liking the all-inclusive archtype?
Zen Swordsman would work, unless you want to use pole arms...
Technically, you can still flurry with unarmed strikes with this archetype :) I'd recommend changing the name of weapon and armor proficiency to be "Chosen Weapon" so that all abilities that reference that phrase are referencing a clearly defined phrase, rather than a derived one as it currently is. Granted, Ki Weapon would be a bit weird...
Also, Ki Focus Weapon still is limited to slashing weapons for the all-weapons version.
And don't most monks just use one weapon type anyways? Usually unarmed fists. That's what I've gathered after seeing a dozen or so monks in play, and from reading the boards.
Do you think the immunity to diseases and poisons, as well as the standard-action-plus-two-ki-points to heal your level in damage is enough of a reason to not take this archetype if you were even half-way interested in optimization? The "balance cost" of losing Unarmed Strike is negligible since you can't even use it with a weapon normally.
What do you get in return for losing immunity to diseases and poisons, as well as wholeness of body?
(btw, I'm not trying to be stand-offish. Just trying a different style of discussing homebrew.)
Zen Weaponmaster
A master of blade, club or halbred, these men and women train to wield weapons as an extension of themselves. Some choose to use wield two weapons, or a single blade, or even pole-arms.
Regardless, in combat they are all equally deadly.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Zen weaponmasters are proficient with their chosen weapon. The zen weaponmaster monk chooses any one simple, martial or exotic weapon, and this becomes their chosen weapon. This is in addition to their normal weapon proficiencies.
Flurry of Blows (Ex): Starting at 1st level, a zen weaponmaster can make a flurry of blows as a full-attack action, but only when using his chosen weapon. He may not use his unarmed strikes or any other weapon.
A zen weaponmaster’s flurry of blows otherwise functions as normal for a monk of his level, with the exception that he may use all of his flurry attacks with a single weapon.
When using flurry of blows, the zen weaponmaster must be using a melee weapon with which he has the Weapon Focus feat. A zen weaponmaster applies his Strength bonus (not ½ Strength bonus on offhand attacks) on all damage rolls made with flurry of blows, even if he is using a weapon two-handed (not 1 ½ Strength bonus).
Bonus Feats: At first level, a zen weaponmaster gains Weapon Focus for their chosen weapon as a bonus feat.
All other zen weaponmaster’s bonus feats must be taken from the following list: Combat expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Power Attack, Weapon Finesse and Weapon Focus.
At 6th level, the following feats are added to the list: Cleave, Improved Disarm, Improved Sunder, Mobility, Vital Strike and Weapon Specialization.
At 10th level, the following feats are added to the list: Greater Weapon Focus, Improved Critical, Spring attack, Two weapon rend* and Two Weapon Defense*.
A zen weaponmaster monk need not have any of the prerequisites normally required for these feats to select them. These feats replace the monk’s normal bonus feats.
Perfect Strike (Ex): At 1st level, a zen weaponmaster gains Perfect Strike as a bonus feat, even if he does not meet the prerequisites. A zen weaponmaster can only use Perfect Strike with his chosen weapon. At 10th level, the monk can roll his attack roll three times and take the highest result. If one of these rolls is a critical threat, the monk must choose one of his other two rolls to use as his confirmation roll. This ability replaces Stunning Fist.
Ki Weapon (Su): At 5th level, a zen weaponmaster may spend 1 point from his ki pool as a swift action to change the damage dice of his chosen weapon to that of his unarmed strikes. This lasts
until the start of his next turn. For example, a Medium zen weaponmaster’s shortsword normally deals 1d6 damage; using this ability, his shortsword deals 1d8 damage until the start of his next
turn. This ability replaces purity of body.
Dance of Blows (Ex): At 7th level, while flurrying, a zen weaponmaster may take a 5' step between each attack, up to half his movement. This movement does not provoke an attack of opportunity.
At 14th level he may move up to half his movement and still use flurry of blows. This ability replaces wholeness of body.
Zen strike (Su): At 11th level, a zen weaponmaster may hit targets that he might otherwise miss. By spending 1 point from his ki pool as a swift action, the zen weaponmaster can ignore concealment. By spending 2 points, he can ignore total concealment or cover. By spending 3 points, he can ignore total cover. These effects last for 1 round. This ability replaces diamond body.
Ki Focus weapon (Su): At 17th level, as long as he has at least 1 point of ki in his ki pool, a zen weaponmaster may treat his chosen weapons as if it was a ki focus weapon, allowing him to use his special ki attacks as if his chosen weapon were unarmed attacks. This ability replaces tongue of the sun and moon.
*These feats will work only while flurrying, as it emulate the two weapon fighting rules.
There, made some fixes.
The monk can use any monk weapon in a flurry if they chose instead of their unarmed attacks. The advantage that the unarmed strikes have RAW is that they always use the unarmed damage listed. A weaponmaster has to spend his chi to do so, otherwise he is limited to weapon damage. This may not seem like much, but it is something to consider.
It depends on the style of monk you wish to play. If you want to play a more melee combat focused monk, as opposed to one who is immune to disease poison, gets stunning fist, has spell resistance and can speak with any creature. (I just realized I might need to change the end cap too...)
I believe that the diamond soul is the SR ability. That's just from memory tho, and it tends to trip me up.
Oh you're right!
Also, I'd recommend a new thread since it's changed quite a bit :)
To go with a more wuxia theme, I'm thinking of having an air walk deal replace slow fall.
Air Walk (Ex): You can walk through air across empty spaces like they were solid. At 4th level, the zen weaponmaster can ignore empty space of 20ft as part of their movement. This increases again by 10ft every 2 levels beyond 4th, totaling 100ft at 20th level. The weaponmaster must begin and end his movement on solid ground or some other solid object (trees, roofs, etc.). This ability replaces slow fall.
Quit being right Cheapy >.<
I do have a few more comments, but I'll wait for that thread. One of which is really not recommending Air Walk, as that's pegged at monk level 12 and requires 2 feats.
Very true there - but you could put the feat in as a possible bonus feat.
Nice!! Saving this!!
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Flurry of Blows (Ex): Starting at 1st level, a blade master can make a flurry of blows as a full-attack action, but only when using a slashing melee weapon.
A blade master’s flurry of blows otherwise functions as normal for a monk of his level, with the exception that he may use all of his flurry attacks with a single weapon.
There's a really big difference between Flurrying with a 1h weapon as compared to a 2h weapon. I don't believe one should be able to use all Flurry attacks with a 2hander. Seems overpowered. Now, a scimitar in each hand seems just fine. Or, a greatsword then unarmed (like a knee or a kick) then greatsword also seems just fine.
There's a really big difference between Flurrying with a 1h weapon as compared to a 2h weapon. I don't believe one should be able to use all Flurry attacks with a 2hander. Seems overpowered. Now, a scimitar in each hand seems just fine. Or, a greatsword then unarmed (like a knee or a kick) then greatsword also seems just fine.
Flurry of Blows (Ex): Starting at 1st level, a blade master can make a flurry of blows as a full-attack action, but only when using a slashing melee weapon.
A blade master’s flurry of blows otherwise functions as normal for a monk of his level, with the exception that he may use all of his flurry attacks with a single weapon.
It's already done with the Sohei. On the flip side remember when you flurry you only get the normal strength bonus, not strength x 1.5. It's only advantageous for Power Attack.
Actually I limited Power Attack in the same fashion as the flurry, if PA is being used while flurrying.
I'll create the new new thread.
Here is the new thread.