| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Okay. Here we are again. No, this not about spaying or neutering the monk, but transforming the class into a solid contributor to the party.
I have given much thought as to what a monk really needs and then whittled it down to the bare basics. Here is my view of what would make the monk into a competitive class; your own opinion may well vary from mine. :) No worries, just let me know what you think.
I deliberately went with a minimalist approach this time. Unless it is listed below, no current ability of the monk is changed. And with each, my reasoning for the change is listed. Changes are bolded . . . as are the names of ability in question. The monk still gets everything at the same level. I think you fellows and gals can figure it out.
Enjoy . . . and feel free to critique and criticize to your heart's content.
MA
Weapon Proficiency: Monks are proficient with the brass knuckles, cestus, club, crossbow (light or heavy), dagger, handaxe, javelin, quarterstaff, shortspear, sword sword, sling, spear, and with any weapon with monk listed as a special property.
REASONING: A common fix on the boards. The unarmed fighter gets it; why shouldn't the monk?
Bonus Feat: At 1st level, 2nd level, and every 4 levels thereafter, a monk may select a bonus feat. These feats must be taken from the following list:
Catch Off-Guard, Combat Reflexes, Deflect Arrows, Dodge, Improved Grapple, Improved Sunder, Scorpion Style, and Throw Anything.
At 6th level, the following feats are added to the list: Gorgon's Fist, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Disarm, Improved Feint, Improved Trip, and Mobility.
At 10th level, the following feats are added to the list:
Greater Grapple, Greater Sunder, Improved Critical, Medusa's Wrath, Snatch Arrows, and Spring Attack.
At 14th level, the following feats are added to the list: Greater Bull Rush, Greater Disarm, Greater Feint, and Greater Trip.
A monk need not have any of the prerequisites normally required for these feats to select them.
Reasoning: No longer do you need that Int 13 to get Greater Trip. It just makes sense to me.
Ki Pool (Su): At 4th level, a monk gains a pool of ki points, supernatural energy he can use to accomplish amazing feats. The number of points in a monk's ki pool is equal to 1/2 his monk level + his Wisdom modifier. As long as he has at least 1 point in his ki pool, he can make a ki strike.
At 4th level, ki strike allows his unarmed attacks to be treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. Furthermore, when using ki strike the monk can use his Wisdom modifier instead of his Strength or Dexterity modifier on attack rolls with his unarmed attacks.
At 7th level, his unarmed attacks are also treated as cold iron and silver for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
At 10th level, his unarmed attacks are also treated as lawful weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction. Furthermore, when using ki strike the monk can add 1/2 his Wisdom modifier (round down) on damage rolls with his unarmed attacks. The monk still adds his Strength modifier on damage rolls with his unarmed attacks.
At 16th level, his unarmed attacks are treated as adamantine weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction and bypassing hardness.
By spending 1 point from his ki pool as a swift action, a monk can do one of the following:
*Make one additional attack at his highest attack bonus when making a flurry of blows attack, or
*Move 20' as part of the same swift action used to activate this ability; when a monk activates this ability and either performs a charge or makes a full-attack, the monk's base attack bonus is equal to his monk level for this attack or attacks (as per flurry of blows, see above), or
*Give himself a +4 dodge bonus to AC for 1 round.
The ki pool is replenished each morning after 8 hours of rest of meditation; these hours do not need to be consecutive.
As the monk advances in level, he gains access to new uses of his ki pool, as detailed below.
REASONING: Okay. This is the big one. First off, starting at 4th level, a monk can use Wisdom for attack rolls instead of damage on unarmed attacks only. This will prevent the ability from being an easy dip for a Cleric or Druid, and since it applies only to unarmed attacks, isn't THAT great for a Cleric (a Druid on the other hand . . .). And starting at 10th level, the monk gets to add 1/2 his Wisdom mod to damage . . . plus his Strength mod. This should FIX the problems a monk has with attacks and damage.
The second change is another big one: moving 20' as part of the same swift action of spending ki? This will let monks to make short-range pounches and alleviates some of the disparity between a monk's abilities.
Catfall (Ex/Su): At 4th level or higher, a monk always lands on his feet after a fall (but not when deliberately tripped); this part of the ability is exceptional in nature. In addition, a monk is capable of falling great distances without harm. When this ability is first gained, the monk may spend 1 point from his ki pool as an immediate action to reduce the damage taken from a fall by 4d6.
For each additional level gained thereafter as a monk, the falling damage is reduced by an additional 1d6, to a maximum reduction of 20d6 for a 20th level monk, allowing a monk of such high level to fall any distance without suffering harm. A monk using this ability is not slowed when falling, nor does he require a wall or other surface within arm’s length; this part of the ability is supernatural. NOTE: This replaces Slow Fall.
REASONING: Now it is worth keeping. You don't have to have a wall handy, but is now based on an expendable resource . . . ki.
Acrobatics (Ex): At 5th level, a monks adds his level to all Acrobatics checks. In addition, he always counts as having a running start when making jump checks using Acrobatics. By spending 1 point from his ki pool as a swift action, a monk gains a +20 bonus on Acrobatics checks for 1 round. NOTE: This replaces High Jump.
REASONING: Monks are tumbling fools . . . but only got bonuses on Jump? Not anymore.
Wholeness of Body (Su): At 7th level or higher, a monk can heal his own wounds. By spending 1 point from his ki pool as a standard action, he may heal 4d6 points of damage. The amount of damage healed increased by an additional 1d6 at every odd level gained thereafter as a monk (9th, 11th, 13th, etc.) to a maximum of 10d6 at 19th level.
By spending 2 points from his ki pool, a monk can instead use this ability as a swift action.
REASONING: Damage healed is more random, but averages higher. Plus, by spending MORE ki, you can use this ability in combat as well as the paladin laying on of hands.
Abundant Step (Su): At 12th level or higher, a monk can magically slip between spaces, as if using the spell dimension door, with the following exceptions: using this ability is a move action that consumes 2 points from his ki pool. His caster level for this effect is equal to his monk level. He may take up to two additional creatures with him using this ability by spending 2 additional points from his ki pool for each creature transported. He may take additional actions remaining after using this ability, as if he possessed the feat Dimensional Agility.
At 16th level, he may activate this ability on a charge instead of a move action, as if he possessed the feat Dimensional Assault. When a monk activates this ability, the monk's base attack bonus is equal to his monk level for this attack only (as per flurry of blows, see above).
REASONING: These two feats SHOULD have been part of the monk class all along. Note that the monk doesn't ACTUALLY have the feats; so if he wants Dimensional Dervish and the rest, he has to select Agility for real. And now the monk can actually rescue someone . . . at a STEEP cost in ki.
Diamond Soul (Ex): At 13th level, a monk gains spell resistance equal to his current monk level +10 against any spell that lacks (harmless) in its saving throw. In order to affect the monk with a spell (or spell-like ability), a spellcaster must get a result on a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) that equals or exceeds the monk's spell resistance. As an immediate action, the monk may spend 1 point from his ki pool to gain a +4 bonus on his spell resistance for 1 round. The monk may voluntarily lower his spell resistance as a standard action; doing so lasts for one round. On the next round, his spell resistance automatically regains effect (unless the monk spends another standard action to lower it again).
REASONING: Made it an ability, not a LIABILITY like the original. Mostly.
Well, that's it. Just those changes and the monk (I believe) will come into his own as a solid class. Tell me your thoughts. Share. You know you want to. :)
Master Arminas
Seems like some fairly solid changes. My group already did the acrobatics one, and i allow "fist wraps" as weapons, no additional damage, but can be enchanted for your fists, so monks can still use unarmed strikes with enhancements. Lots of people gonna argue monk is good enough without these changes, but i dont see anything game breaking.
I misread "fix" as "fist." Needless to say I was momentarily appalled before I realized my mistake. I thought this thread was about something else entirely.
Anyway, carry on. Nothing to see here.
Instead of just taking a 20ft move as a swift action, why not do something like:
"By spending 1 point from his ki pool as a swift action, the monk can increase his speed by +20 feet for 1 round. If the monk takes a 5-foot step during this time, he can instead move up to 20 feet." Plus all of your additional stuff.
That would allow a monk to jump, climb, stealth, and tumble farther, and move greater distances, while still giving him mobility during a full-attack.
Me likey.