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After the few threads about monks and their problems, a thought occured, that maybe a slightly more divine monk is a good idea?
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Cloistered monk!
Cloistered Monk
(The cloistered monk serves as a more western variant of the regular eastern monk. A blend of a cloistered cleric archetype, of sorts, and monk class)
Cloistered monks are the other side of religious orders that produce paladins and clerics. They are men of god, favored by divine grace, but not as swords of vengeance or beacons of faith, but as those who spread enlightenment and safeguard knowledge. Yet, unlike cloistered clerics, they are prepared to go into the world and are trained in various forms of self-defense, including deadly martial arts.
Class Skills
Cloistered monk's class skills are Appraise (Int), Acrobatics (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (all) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis) and Spellcraft (int).
Saves – Reflex save becomes a bad save.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Cloistered monks are proficient with the following weapons: club, crossbows, heavy mace, light mace, battle aspergillum, dagger, quarterstaff, spears, battle poi and sling. He is also proficient with his deities favored weapon. They are not proficient with any armor or shields. When wearing armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load, cloistered monks loses their AC bonus and flurry of blows abilities.
Divine grace (Su)
A cloistered monk casts a limited number divine spells which are drawn from the limited cleric spell list (mostly cures and self-buffs). Her alignment, however, may restrict her from casting certain spells opposed to her moral or ethical beliefs. A cloistered monk must choose and prepare her spells in advance. To prepare or cast a spell, a cloistered monk must have a Wisdom score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a cloistered monk's spell is 10 + the spell level + the cloistered monk's Wisdom modifier. Like other spellcasters, a cloistered monk can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. In addition, she receives bonus spells per day if she has a high Wisdom score. Her base daily spell allotment is:
1st 3 1 — — — — —
2nd 4 2 — — — — —
3rd 4 2 1 — — — —
4th 4 3 2 — — — —
5th 4 3 2 — — — —
6th 4 3 3 — — — —
7th 4 4 3 1 — — —
8th 4 4 3 2 — — —
9th 4 4 4 2 — — —
10th 4 4 4 3 1 — —
11th 4 4 4 3 2 — —
12th 4 4 4 3 2 — —
13th 4 4 4 4 3 1 —
14th 4 4 4 4 3 2 —
15th 4 4 4 4 3 2 —
16th 4 4 4 4 4 3 1
17th 4 4 4 4 4 3 2
18th 4 4 4 4 4 3 3
19th 4 4 4 4 4 4 3
20th 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Cloistered monks meditate or pray for their spells. Each cloistered monk must choose a time at which she must spend 1 hour each day in quiet contemplation or supplication to regain her daily allotment of spells. Time spent resting has no effect on whether a cloistered monk can prepare spells. A cloistered monk may prepare and cast any spell on the cloistered monk spell list, provided that she can cast spells of that level, but she must choose which spells to prepare during her daily meditation.
This ability replaces the following Monk abilities: Ki pool, fast movement, slow fall, high jump, wholeness of body, diamond body, abundant step, diamond soul, quivering palm, timeless body, tongue of the sun and moon, empty body, and perfect self.
Orisons
Cloistered monks can prepare a number of orisons, or 0-level spells, each day, as noted on Table. These spells are treated like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again.
Domains
A cloistered monk's deity influences her alignment, what magic she can perform, her values, and how others see her. A cloistered monk chooses one domains from among those belonging to her deity. A cloistered monk can select an alignment domain (Chaos, Evil, Good, or Law) only if her alignment matches that domain.
Domain grants a number of domain powers, dependent upon the level of the cloistered monk, as well as a number of bonus spells. A cloistered monk gains one domain spell slot for each level of spell she can cast, from 1st on up. Each day, a cloistered monk can prepare one of the spells from domain in that slot. If a domain spell is not on the cloistered monk spell list, a cloistered monk can prepare it only in her domain spell slot. Domain spells cannot be used to cast spells spontaneously.
In addition, a cloistered monk gains the listed powers from her domain, if she is of a high enough level. Unless otherwise noted, activating a domain power is a standard action.
Bonus Feats
Cloistered monk adds these feats to the list of bonus feats she may take: Scribe scroll, Spell focus, Run, Careful Speaker, Combat Casting…
Ex-Monks
A monk who grossly violates the code of conduct required by her god loses all spells and class features, except for weapon proficiencies. She cannot thereafter gain levels as a monk of that god until she atones for her deeds (see the atonement spell description).
So, pretty much a trade of all (Su) monk powers for divine spells up to level 6, to make a "what if a cleric was a monk". Changed skills and weapons as well. 1 domain as a cherry on top. Tied to a god for roleplay fun.
Still in thought about the spell list and possible bonus feats. Maybe grand access to some original monk abilities at higher levels as feats? maybe add some original content to make them more unique? Make them an alternative class to monk/cleric?
Any thoughts, ideas?
Kind of reminds me of the warpriest in all truth. Well, if warpriests had flurry of blows.
I had Jason Statham in black linen robes kicking ass with a battle poi in mind... will add battle poi to weapon list...
Also this: I kick ass for the lord!.
That is what a divine monk is all about!
Note that without a ki pool, the Cloistered Monk would have no access to ki strike and thus no UAS compatible method to innately bypass various types of DR without using an AoMF.
He has various clerical buffs that allow for that to happen, access to itch he gets pretty early. And as far as I remember - he can probably enchant his fists or staff.
After some thinking, I decided that there is really little point in limiting the cloistered monks spell lists. Having a wide variety of spell will allow the archetype to be more customizable and flexible. And limiting with just the 6th circle of magic should be enough.
Adding the domain really was a good idea IMHO, this should also fix some problems people have with Monks. Since monks treat their fists as crafted weapons, some domain spells, heck, even clerical spell will allow him to bypass damage resistances and other buggers.
I think this should have crusaders flurry as a bonus feat.
Interesting. I like the idea, but I'd give the class more of the monk's iconic abilities - classes like the magus and the inquisitor have 2/3 casting and a lot of snazzy little powers with it, I don't think it would be broken to make the cloistered monk shape this way.
Also, I'd drop the Fort save rather than Reflex.
Interesting. I like the idea, but I'd give the class more of the monk's iconic abilities - classes like the magus and the inquisitor have 2/3 casting and a lot of snazzy little powers with it, I don't think it would be broken to make the cloistered monk shape this way.
Also, I'd drop the Fort save rather than Reflex.
Makes sense. But instead of iconic monk abilities... monk-ish abilities shaped for the cloistered archetype? Maybe steam some of them from the cleric or even paladin or Inquisitor... or better yet, create own.
This could even be a full variant class then. I'll work on it.
Interesting. I like the idea, but I'd give the class more of the monk's iconic abilities - classes like the magus and the inquisitor have 2/3 casting and a lot of snazzy little powers with it, I don't think it would be broken to make the cloistered monk shape this way.
Also, I'd drop the Fort save rather than Reflex.
Makes sense. But instead of iconic monk abilities... monk-ish abilities shaped for the cloistered archetype? Maybe steam some of them from the cleric or even paladin or Inquisitor... or better yet, create own.
This could even be a full variant class then. I'll work on it.
If you are going to make it all about the spells, why not add spells to cover all the ki-options?
If you are going to make it all about the spells, why not add spells to cover all the ki-options?
I'd rather drop Ki as of whole, and invent Ki-like powers that are more divine in nature. It doesn't really fit the cloistered monk, he no mystic with superpowers. He is a man of god who is peerless in self-defense.
I get where you are going with this...it seems very interesting. Good luck!