Fire, Cold, Shock, Acid, Sonic .... Ki?

[Harad Navar]

In thinking about how to make the monk archetype more desirable, I had some thoughts about ki. What if ki could be transmittable into other energy types, but possibly with a reduced damage, using a ki enhanced monk weapon? Having an energy attack combined with an unarmed strike would make the monk more of a challenge to a character in heavy armor. This would add the flavor of a monk of the four winds within the existing game mechanics.

A monk could also combine ki with crafting to make enhanced items. A monk with ranks in blacksmithing could craft ki focus items/weapons with 6 slots (much like a wizard's spell book) for ki feats/techniques/energy attacks. I know that monks will have to have a material focus to use ki just as a fighter will need a physical weapon. This could fit the bill nicely.

A monk with ranks in herbalist could convert ki into healing or suppression of long term injuries like those from critical hits.

Mutable ki could be combined with with combat maneuvers to damage as well as trip/bull rush/throw.

Thoughts?

[Imbicatus]

My only concern in making a Ki focus item function like a wizards spellbook is that it make the monk too much like a wizard. Ki abilitys should come from within the monk; they may require an external focus to use, but their source it the person using them. A spellbook like focus makes it feel as if it's an outside power that you unlock though the book. I know its a minor quibble mechanically, but it's a major issue thematically.

I do really like the idea of making energy based attacks using unarmed or ki weapons. Not just elemental damage such as electric, fire, or ice, but positive energy to heal (reiki) or negative energy to kill (dim mak).

[Harad Navar]

I agree that ki should be from the monk and not stored in a weapon. However, it may require a special focus to manifest ki outside of the monk's body. I had also thought that in order to keep the monk balanced ki should be defensive as well as offensive. Ki could be used to create a shield like force effect. I was thinking of ki focus bracers of defense. The bracers do not store ki but act as the focus for converting ki into an elemental force outside the body. The shield effect would provide partial protection from specific energy attacks as well as improved defense against physical attacks.

• Fire shield - defense against cold energy and an increased protection against piercing attacks
• Cold (Ice) shield - defense against fire energy and an increased protection from slashing attacks
• Air shield - defense against shock/electrical energy and an increased protection against small projectile attacks
• Water shield - defense against acid energy and an increased protection from bludgeoning attacks
• ki vibration shield - defense against sonic energy and an increased protection from touch attacks, especially ki based tough attacks

I also agree that ki can have other uses. As you say, Imbicatus, positive energy healing and negative energy drain, although I think that heal would be for good monks while harm would be for evil monks. Neutral monks could use both but still might take an alignment hit.

To not make the monk over-powered, the ki defensive abilities could require that they be off a round before it can be brought up for a different energy.

[Keovar]

I'm actually not much of a fan of 'sonic' getting classed as an energy type in D&D/PFRPG, since it should really just interfere with perception (hearing) or if extremely strong, act just like any other kinetic impact. However, I think it fits the monk theme quite well. As far as I'm aware, the PFRPG doesn't yet have an official 'psionic' class, since for the most part anything one could do is already sufficiently covered by other spellcaster types. Even so, there could be room for a 'physical adept'-style monk that uses psi-flavoured magic to enhance physical effects, while also using kiai yells to throw short-ranged sonic attacks to stun, trip, etc. Using ki-points would also fit with the tradition of psionicists using point-pool spellcasting.

[Vancent]

I just want a kamehameha wave attack.

Also, why stop at those four or five energy types? The full list of such descriptors is:

Quote:

acid, air, chaotic, cold, curse, darkness, death, disease, earth, electricity, emotion, evil, fear, fire, force, good, language-dependent, lawful, light, mind-affecting, pain, poison, shadow, sonic, and water.

A language-dependent ki strike would be interesting...and "shock" doesn't appear to be a thing.

I agree that ki should come from within, but there can still be special items and weapons and armor that can channel their users ki to create magic-like effect. Though, just because ki comes from within doesn't mean it has to come from within you. Items that can steals another person's ki and store it or use it against them might be fun...

[Being]

Vancent wrote:

...A language-dependent ki strike would be interesting...

I just read of an example in Dave Gross' pathfinder novel 'Master of Devils' in which a protagonist, Count Varian Jaggere is studying the ways of Ki at something akin to a shao-lin temple. One of his tasks is in the art of calligraphy, and he has indeed mastered the use of ink and brush. In melee combat with a bully he successfully uses the brush to paint the ideographs of 'hold' and 'man' on one of his opponents, which does.

[Vancent]

Oh yeah! I read that. That should totally be in the game. Also, wiffle scrolls.