First thing's first: This is NOT a "How to fix the monk" thread!
That said, reading all the stuff on this board about the monk's mechanics and theme did give me these ideas. Sorry if you guys have heard them before.
Here's what I have so far:
There could be an archetype/alternate class for the magus which uses wisdom for magic and class features.
It gets a limited form of spellcasting: Most of its spells must either be used on itself or the target of a spellstrike made with a monk weapon. It's possible that a few ranged touch attacks might be included to, but that would be the exception, not the rule.
The spell list would need revising. It would focus on flashy punches, subtle self buffs and the kind of supernatural tricks the monk base class can do. You'd be able to Cure, Haste or Magic Fang yourself, use Dimension Door, make shocking punches etc.
As for changes to proficiencies and class features, I'd give it d6 unarmed strikes, monk proficiencies and something to keep it standing without armour.
I'm not yet sure what its arcana list might look like or what it would get in place of the heavy and medium armour abilities.
What do you guys think of this? Does anybody have any suggestions?
The Psychic Warrior from Psionics Unleashed might be what you are looking for:
- Uses wisdom for it's powers.
- Limited form of "spellcasting" mostly targeting yourself.
- All the things you listed are on the power list of the PsyWar. The few missing in Psionics Unleashed are included in Psionics Expanded.
- There is an Archetype that gives the PsyWar increasing damage with unarmed strikes in Psionics Expanded.
- Already the base class has an path that grants an AC bonus if you are wearing no armor.
Just take a look. I think it might fit perfectly. ;)
Elemental Fist as a bonus feat, used as a monk, and perhaps even scaling like it does for the Monk of the Four Winds, might work. Could be an available arcana.
I like the idea of Wis for spellcasting, although giving the class Wis to AC wholesale might step on the monk's territory way too much. Maybe some kind of scaling dodge bonus later on - starting at level 7? - that cannot exceed the monk's Wis (so, a Wis-based Canny Dodge that starts at level 7).
No spellstrike with IUS? That doesn't seem very monky, no?
It might be appropriate to have something replace Spell Recall, although obviously that won't be a fan favorite.
Ascetic Magus
There are monestaries that train monks to take advantage of arcane secrets as they train their bodies for martial combat. These monks combine spell power with their improved physique to great effect. They shun the use of any manufactured weapon or armor, using only thier bodies and minds (spells) in combat. Where brothers of other orders may invest in enlightenment, these monks focus on battle and offense.
Weapon Proficiency: An ascetic magus is proficient with unarmed strikes only. He gains the unarmed strikes feat, and does 1d6 base damage with his unarmed strikes.
This increases at 4th level to 1d8, and increases by one step every 4 levels thereafter (8th, 12th, 16th, 20th.) Small ascetic magi start with 1d4 and large with 1d8. This replaces a magus' normal weapon proficiencies.
Ascetic Armor: An ascetic magus shuns anything that limits his mobility or extra protections for his natural grace. He gains an Armor class bonus to his AC equal to his Int (or Wis if you want to keep it a Wis bonus...which is wierd for arcane, ymmv) bonus as an insight (or dodge, again ymmv) bonus to his armor class. He loses this bonus if he wears any armor or is medium encumbered, or in any other instance in which he loses his dex bonus to AC.
At 7th level his skin becomes hardened from countless exercises. He gains a +2 natural armor bonus to his armor class, and this increases to +4 at 13th level.
This replaces the normal armor prociciencies, medium armor and heavy armor.
Ki Pool Same as monk, replaces spell recall.
Bonus feats Must choose from item creation, metamagic or monk feats (listed under the monk class). Replaces normal Bonus feats.
Arcane repairation Works as wholeness of body as a monk, ecept they may use a point from his arcane pool or ki pool to heal himself his magus level in hit points. Replaces Fighter Training.
Of course everything else in the magus descrption that references swords you'd replace with unarmed strikes, etc.
Thanks Kryzbyn, that could be a start, at the least.
Qik, spellstrike is actually key to this idea. That's why I didn't mention elemental fist. I considered that redundant when you're already swinging punches powered up with elemental spells.
Ravian, I'm well aware of the psionic warrior. I agree its similar in many ways, but it's not quite what I'm going for here. I want this class to use the rules for spells out of the core rulebook, aside from anything else.
I'm aiming to make the magic of this class feel more like ki powers than arcane spells or psionic powers. Possibly I'd classify them as something apart from arcane, divine or psionic, but you never know, I might decide one of those designations fits.
Meh I liked it :P
I'll probably put more thought into it, and tighten it up for home game use.
I'll get some critiques in a new thread...