I have a player who has been really good at his character and I am conflicted on whether or not to give him something he asked about. I say about and not for because he made a suggestion for an advancement and possible storyline hook but not a demand.
His character is an Elan character with the Winged Creature Template from Savage Species. Now that template has a LA of 2 but a CR of 1 and so we went with the CR and it has not been much of an issue. He bought off this CR at level 4 (started a level behind the rest).
Well his character is a Monk//Arcanist and took the Lost Tradition feat from Bastards & Bloodlines splat book. He got this due to his argument that the Elans live mostly separated from society and that they would have trained to use a different stat to cast spells. He switched his caster ability score to Cha instead of Int.
Well on to point, his character is a Neutral Good (Using the Adopted and Enlightened Warrior Traits) and as a Monk is focusing on personal enlightenment and of course is set out to be a good person and only ever do good. His balance as he put it is that his Arcanist half is meant to explore and perfect his world view, but his monk half is meant to be personal exploration and growth.
So he has been a paragon of good really, doing his best to at least. He has been using Exalted Deeds and I have been paying close to him because of this. He has Touch of Golden Ice, Nimbus of Light and I think the Martial Strike one I don't have his sheet in front of me.
So I was curious if I should give him the Saint Template. Now of course it would be during play and he would be required to go pray at either multiple special temples or a singular super hard to get to one.
But the powers of the Saint Template make me worried, I don't think he would use it out of hand but it is a serious power boost.
I don't feel there's a reason for the template. If you're wanting the story for it give him a magic item that fits, some blessed armor that doesn't stop his monkness, or gloves that still use his unarmed strikes. Or figure out some power he can use, like can do SOMETHING 1 time per day.
And that is kind of the problem, sure I can do SOMETHING but what is that something. I really cannot think of what to give him, especially since yes I know it has a lower then normal CR/LA for what it gives, but that is also because it immediately and permanently ends if they do something Non-Good with it.
I think Saint actually sures up the weaknesses of the Monk especially if they are forced to eat up 3 feats on Exalted feats, and none of those are OMG powerful, heck Power Attack on a Fighter or Barb does more damage then anything those can inflict.
I am just worried about the power spike, and yeah he would be 2 levels behind the party on likely his Monk Half but I dont think losing 2 levels of Monk is much of an issue.
Well what does the saint do? Pick one of those things as his something. Or ask him what he wants as a divine boon.
Well given his power increase I am forced to increase the Party CR so giving them all the Advanced Template may be nice, a +4 to all their stats and a +2 NA might make them all feel better about the power increase.
I am not worried about it too much just the power increase and how it may effect the power balance. I mean saint is powerless against Neutral character period.
But I do agree with an argument my player brought up. Saint should have been built into the Monk because it compliments it and increases its powers perfectly.
May even play a Monk Saint in another game I am playing in.