Specifically, I want to simultaneously allow the unarmed combat system from Dragon Tiger Ox, the two Talented Monk PDFs from Rogue Genius Games, and Path of War. Are there any interactions between Dragon Tiger Ox's unarmed strikes and Broken Blade I should be worried about? Does the use of Talented Monks throw off any balance points with Dragon Tiger Ox?
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I have ran a game with this combination. I didn't have any issues.
The base brawler class also fits the mix as well.
What level of fantasy are you allowing? Are you allowing the qinggong monk archetype?
If so and you don't mind a little avatar flair you might want to check out Amora Game's Mystic.
Are you focusing on "China" or will samurai show up in your game? If they do it can make for an interesting campaign.
Going more "real" with the combo you suggested is good. If you are going the more fantastical you can also pull from Heros of the Jade Oath by Rite Publishing.
My definitions:
Realish: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (the fantasy level is low)
Fantastical: Last Airbender - (the use visual supernatural abilities)
PS: Also look at Little Red's Heroes of the East series.
If you get stuck or need to bounce ideas, PM me or post and I will try to share my experiences.
Heroes of the east 3 has a variety of ninja archetypes so that you have more ki class options. Other heroes of the east books should contain new base classes with ki points too.
Amora game's mystic that Garnath shared is very well written. Perfect for any game that fits them in their setting.
I doubt the dragon tiger ox unarmed combat stuff will be too overpowering. It will definitely be stronger, since kicks and such deal larger dice values.
The Mnemetic from Amora Games would also probably work really well for this. Instead of being Ki based he's more the "genius martial artist."
I have ran a game with this combination. I didn't have any issues.
The base brawler class also fits the mix as well.
Ah, forgot about the Brawler. Yes, do allow Advanced Class Guide.
What level of fantasy are you allowing? Are you allowing the qinggong monk archetype?
Yes, and Talented Monk lets any Monk buy from Qinggong abilities, as well as providing elemental powers.
If so and you don't mind a little avatar flair you might want to check out Amora Game's Mystic.
Not sure it covers anything I don't have, especially since the Kineticist is coming out soon, which I intend to buy and which covers the elementalist role.
Are you focusing on "China" or will samurai show up in your game? If they do it can make for an interesting campaign.
Actually, I focus on "North America", and had a medieval colonial era. My favorite country is based off of California (where I grew up) along with the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii. I imagine it as a former "Spanish" and then "British" colony that got a lot of its initial settlers from "China", to the point where their language isn't "English", it's a creole of "English" and various "Chinese" dialects, with a fair amount of "Japanese", "Arabic", "Vietnamese", "German", "Spanish", "Italian", and "Hawaiian" influence. Recently, several other ethnic influences have been creeping in, with "Indian", "Thai", "Javanese", and Southern Nyamban (I use the Nyambe setting as my Africa analog) being the current face of immigration. We have "Athabascan", "Salish", "Chumashan", and "Penutian" tribes, as well as "Hawaiians", whos populations were devastated before and during colonization and have a history of being persecuted. I plan a more involved role in society for these indigenous peoples than throwing them on reservations, but I haven't figured out what it is yet.
What all this means is that both "China" and "Japan" are relevant, and a character from either area would not be too out of place, but there is a far greater variety of character concepts that just them. I've just gone over one nation, and there is already a great wealth of different possibilities.
Going more "real" with the combo you suggested is good. If you are going the more fantastical you can also pull from Heros of the Jade Oath by Rite Publishing.
I own Heroes of the Jade Oath, but haven't had time to really pour over it.
My definitions:
Realish: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (the fantasy level is low)
Fantastical: Last Airbender - (the use visual supernatural abilities)
My flavor is Victoriana/Old West with greater international influence and magitech instead of steampunk. That means the magic level is pretty high, and we have stuff like railroads, even though medieval weapons and early firearms (though we don't have black powder, but rather alchemist's powder) are still the standard weapons (Gunslingers can cobble together highly experimental versions of advanced firearms at higher level, but they are epic maintenance hogs and aren't safe, so only Gunslingers get to have them.). Visual supernatural abilities are definitely in use. The Victorian, Old West, California Colonial, and various ethnic visuals are legion, as are the steampunk visuals, even though magic is the catalyst of industrialization rather than steam.
PS: Also look at Little Red's Heroes of the East series.
If you get stuck or need to bounce ideas, PM me or post and I will try to share my experiences.
Thanks.
I doubt the dragon tiger ox unarmed combat stuff will be too overpowering. It will definitely be stronger, since kicks and such deal larger dice values.
Yes, but kicks throw you off balance. Doesn't that compensate?
I doubt the dragon tiger ox unarmed combat stuff will be too overpowering. It will definitely be stronger, since kicks and such deal larger dice values.Yes, but kicks throw you off balance. Doesn't that compensate?
It depends. If the foe is dead, then the downside is partially negated. If they misjudge their foe's abilities, and manage to not kill them in a flurry of deadly kicks, they are asking to be tripped and beaten soundly by stomps. As long as you as a GM make sure the downsides are enforced reasonably, then all is well. Makes a nice risk reward. Even more risky with Path of War since recovering from off-balance before your next turn is an immediate action. So you lose access to:
this round's counter
next round's boost
changing stances next round
reentering your stance if you get style disrupted
Kind of makes mixing the system even more unintentionally awesome.
Though I do wish to advocate for Amora's Mystic over using Monk archetypes and the Kineticist. The Mystic truly feels like a blend of the martial and the elemental, like an actual bender from Avatar. They are not a elemental laser spamming class, and fit their class features together seamlessly. They feel much smoother than trying to fit a talented monk into that role.
The mystic and Kineticist cover completely different roles.
Mystic comes off as a Qingong Monk with an elemental focus and a focus on martial arts with elemental enhancement. Lots of spell like abilities that cost Ki.
Kineticist is a stationary laser or a dude with an elemental whip.
Completely different play styles.
The mystic and Kineticist cover completely different roles.
Mystic comes off as a Qingong Monk with an elemental focus and a focus on martial arts with elemental enhancement. Lots of spell like abilities that cost Ki.
If you have the second Talented Monk PDF you have elemental Qinggong abilities.
Of course they have other class features aside from the Ki techniques. Though I guess that can work too.
The Mnemetic though is pretty awesome. Have you read the Battle Royale manga? The class is similar to the "terminator" dude.
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My flavor is Victoriana/Old West with greater international influence and magitech instead of steampunk. That means the magic level is pretty high, and we have stuff like railroads, even though medieval weapons and early firearms (though we don't have black powder, but rather alchemist's powder) are still the standard weapons (Gunslingers can cobble together highly experimental versions of advanced firearms at higher level, but they are epic maintenance hogs and aren't safe, so only Gunslingers get to have them.). Visual supernatural abilities are definitely in use. The Victorian, Old West, California Colonial, and various ethnic visuals are legion, as are the steampunk visuals, even though magic is the catalyst of industrialization rather than steam.
Oh cool take on it! If you are interested in movies with that theme, check out the "The Good, The Bad, and The Weird"
If you are looking for the a wuxia jian carrying swordperson, I think the swashbuckler would fit. If not I'm sure the community could come up with a good archetype for it.