After recently watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, I was struck with a sudden desire to try and stat-up and play a Li Mu Bai-style character. I think this could be accomplished with a combination of Maneuver Master Monk and Kensai Magus, with possibly the Bladebound archetype added in to simulate the Green Destiny (which is, in my reckoning, an aldori dueling sword with the ability to do puncturing as well as slashing damage).
My question is how would you build this character? And what would you do to mimic the wuxia ability to run up walls and glide all crazy?
Running up walls and gliding is of course the spell fly. It's sad that you are going for Kensai, a cool archetype nonetheless, because a Hexcrafter would have the more reliable flight hex ability. A hex that empowers one to levitate, fly and generally be more aerodynamic.
The rest sound pretty solid though. Going with Crane Style is a given and you don't need to worry about MAD too much since your persistence is coming from a variety of sources(wisdom, spells, negated hits, etc). 16-17 starting strength, a jian-like blade(shorsword or longsword), dex and con to survive the first few levels, so likely in the 14 range, and you'll be all set.
Running up walls and gliding is of course the spell fly. It's sad that you are going for Kensai, a cool archetype nonetheless, because a Hexcrafter would have the more reliable flight hex ability. A hex that empowers one to levitate, fly and generally be more aerodynamic.
The rest sound pretty solid though. Going with Crane Style is a given and you don't need to worry about MAD too much since your persistence is coming from a variety of sources(wisdom, spells, negated hits, etc). 16-17 starting strength, a jian-like blade(shorsword or longsword), dex and con to survive the first few levels, so likely in the 14 range, and you'll be all set.
Good advice on the Hexcrafter archetype, although I don't know if it exactly fits the flavor I'm going for. The Magus does get Fly in her third level spell selection, so I may go that route. I found a Psionic ability called Wall Walk that looks like it would also be perfect, but I a) don't like psionics overly much and b) don't know how I could re-skin it to fit as a monk/magus ability.
I was thinking of going with Crane style with a Master of Many Styles, but I like the idea of taking the Improved and Greater combat maneuvers with Maneuver Master, like Dirty Tricks, Trip, and Disarm. Those seemed a little more iconic of Li Mu Bai's fighting style, but I could still select Crane Style at later levels I 'spose.
I will be re-skinning an aldori dueling sword as a Jian. It will behave exactly like an Aldori Dueling Sword except it will do piercing damage in addition to dueling. Might see if I could take the Aldori Dueling Master feat along with it. I had intended on taking Weapon Finesse and mostly forgoing strength for the maneuvers and additional AC bonus from high dexterity.
If memory serves, Crouching Tiger is the movie adaptation of one of the later volumes of a 7 book series. I have several graphic novels based off the earlier works and they also agree that Green Destiny is a supernaturally sharp weapon that could cut nearly anything. Any attempt to model Li Mu Bai and his sword would almost have to be adamantine.
Rite Publishing's In the Company of Tengu features a 20 level racial paragon class for tengu that focuses on mobility fighting, leaping, feathered step (which is being able to stand on a thin branch as if you weighed next to nothing - very similar to Li Mu Bai in the bamboo groves), and eventually limited flight.
Of course this is specifically for a Tengu character, and not any other race, but otherwise fits your concept well I think. Might be worth a look.
Rite Publishing is also currently working on the Martial Arts Guidebook which will feature new archetypes and fighting styles comparable to Tome of Battle: Book of Nine Swords with mechanics better fitting Pathfinder. One of the goals to create the "run up the walls" and "soaring jumps" featured in the style of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Of course this book is still in the design stage, so it won't be out for a while.
Rite Publishing's In the Company of Tengu features a 20 level racial paragon class for tengu that focuses on mobility fighting, leaping, feathered step (which is being able to stand on a thin branch as if you weighed next to nothing - very similar to Li Mu Bai in the bamboo groves), and eventually limited flight.
Of course this is specifically for a Tengu character, and not any other race, but otherwise fits your concept well I think. Might be worth a look.
Rite Publishing is also currently working on the Martial Arts Guidebook which will feature new archetypes and fighting styles comparable to Tome of Battle: Book of Nine Swords with mechanics better fitting Pathfinder. One of the goals to create the "run up the walls" and "soaring jumps" featured in the style of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Of course this book is still in the design stage, so it won't be out for a while.
Gamer-Printer: Thanks for the heads-up, I'll be sure to check out the Tengu book, and perhaps the Martial Arts Guidebook when it drops and if I've yet to play the character.
An adamantine Jian would be interesting, but I'm still really intrigued by the idea of using Bladebound and getting a "free" intelligent weapon. The Blackblade can overcome any DR as well, I'm just not certain I would want to deviate from Monk and miss out on the higher level goodies it receives.
There's also a variant Kensai magus (called Kensei - the correct spelling, btw) in that same Tengu book with access to some divine spells in addition to mobility sword play and magic.
As an aside, Rite Publishing just started a Kaidan Campaign Setting Kickstarter today! Link Here.
There's also a variant Kensai magus (called Kensei - the correct spelling, btw) in that same Tengu book with access to some divine spells in addition to mobility sword play and magic.
As an aside, Rite Publishing just started a Kaidan Campaign Setting Kickstarter today! Link Here.
That Hishoken class is pretty nifty (btw, what does that mean) G-P, and now has me thinking about the Samurai/Sword Saint I was also building. Would you happen to know when the Martial Arts Guidebook is releasing?
Hishoken means 'lustrous feathered one' or 'kingfisher' in Japanese.
I'm not sure when the Martial Arts Guidebook is due out, but I'd guess August or September at the latest.
My Kaidan Campaign Kickstarter is scheduled to end on September 16th with a scheduled product due date of October - so I'm guessing the Martial Arts Guidebook is a month or two before Kaidan's release.
Well... as for samurai, Rite Publishing just released Way of the Samurai a supplement that goes deep into the concept of samurai as a member of the Buke social caste - that includes rangers, wizards, gunslingers, and 4 samurai archetypes (and 3 new orders).
There's even rules for creating custom Samurai Clans with stat blocks like City stat blocks, family crests, alignments, profit centers, wealth, etc. As well as sample samurai house, the town it controls, statted major NPCs, 2 magic items and a map of the town. There are even rules for Honor that is easily inserted into any PFRPG game.
I'm not trying to make you buy more stuff - but you keep mentioning your intentions and I have stuff that applies ... sorry.
Kaidan is my feudal Japanese horror setting, BTW - in case I confused you on why I posted the link to the Kaidan campaign setting Kickstarter.
Personally I would probably go all Monk using the Ki Mystic and Weapon Adept archetypes. Then pick up Spider Step and Cloud Step which combined with a monks High Jump should simulate the wuxia style of running up walls and gliding through the air with no problems. The Crane Style line I think shows how in the movie Li Mu Bai was never really the aggressor in the fights and offers some more AC eventually. Use an adamantine Jian* as your weapon and you should be golden.
*:
Luven Lightfingers Gear & Treasure Shop pg.8 and 12
Jian Cost 17gp Dmg(S) 1d6 DMG(M) 1d8 Critical 19-20x2 Range - Weight 4lbs. Type S Special monk
Jian: A specially balanced longsword with a sleek hilt, sans-cross guard and a similarly styled pommel. The pommel often has a swivel for attaching a ribbon, cord, or horsehair plume, the movements of which emphasize the fluid motions of the blade or are used to distract the opponent. Anyone proficient with a longsword can also use a jian.
That's quite all right G-P, the more info the better! I doubt my GM will want to fully indulge in Kaidan-esque campaign, let alone institute a new system, but it is something I am definitely interested in so I will likely go ahead and pick it up.
Thank you for the suggestions Vaelkas. I was intending on taking Spider Step and Cloud Step, and using Kryzbyn's homebrew Zen Weaponmaster archetype, and possibly Ki Mystic. I really like Crane Style too, so I'll likely work it into the build as well. I was actually looking at the intelligent weapon rules, and wish there were more options to "grow" an intelligent weapon, a la the Blackblade Magus.
