Variant Monk

Epic Meepo · May 01, 2006, 08:37:54 PM

Except for quotes from earlier posts, the content of this post is Open Game Content, as defined in the Open Game License version 1.0a Section 1(d).

Quote from: nastynateI still think a scholarly monk needs more skill points (on par with a rogue).

The bonus non-lethal damage isn't bad, although I think it could be better. Maybe + 1d6 per five levels starting at fifth. Something good, but not tied to the PHB monk in anyway, so it won't cause confusion in it's application.[/blockquote]

Yeah, that wording was kind of confusing. I'll probably just change it to 1 die per X levels, as you suggest. On the other hand, I think one die per 5 levels may be too much; see my response to the quote that follows.

QuoteCutting down the number of uses of the aura is a bad idea I think. monks don't have any game breaking abilities in their arsenal, and some will not even be usable by the people around them most of the time (like the AC bonus)...unless the non-lethal bonus damage is available as an aura effect...

Even though the aura itself is supernatural, it can grant extraordinary abilities, so the nonlethal damage bonus is available as an aura effect. That - along with the ability to toggle between improved evasion and spell resistance for the entire party - was my primary reason for thinking I might want to cut back on the aura uses somewhat.

Also, if I limit the number of uses of the aura, I don't have to take away the fast movement ability from the monk. (A continuous aura that can grant a massive enhancement bonus to speed is way too powerful, but an X per day aura that has that option is more reasonable, and more versatile than a continuous aura that can't do that.)

Quote...the 50' radius is huge! That should definately be smaller. You could try an aura of 10' that gradually gets larger as they gain levels.

I wanted the range of the aura to compete with the range of bardic music buffs, all of which easily compete with a 50' range.

(I had picked 50' because that's the raius of a bless spell. If I were going to make the aura usable only a certain number of times per day, I was going to tie it to a bless effect that also applied to the monk's allies.)

QuoteAlso if it's usuable once per round as free action, why not make it constant, and they can assign a new ability as a free action? that seems to make more sense to me.

Good point. Unless I decide to give it uses per day, I'll probably just make it continuous.

QuoteI think it is balanced, though it would make a better cohort than PC. That however may just be my personal taste showing through on things however.

Cohort's good enough for me. I just want a non-combatant monk variant to be around in some capacity other than NPC class.

But I agree that I will have to do some tweaking and clarification before I finalize things.

Epic Meepo · May 03, 2006, 02:36:40 PM

I've editted the OP so that it now uses the format of the PHB II. I've also simplified things a bit, so hopefully, the variant monk class features are unique, easy to use, and balanced.

Soup Nazi · May 03, 2006, 03:29:53 PM

Eric this latest version is brilliant! The only thing I question is if the aura converts enough damage to non-lethal damage. It scales on a level similar to damage reduction, but it doesn't actually negate any. You could probably increase the amount of damage converted, or possibly even use damage reduction in place of it (although that might be a little too powerful). Just something to consider, and this is wonderful even if you elect to leave it just as it is.

Epic Meepo · May 03, 2006, 04:53:24 PM

Quote from: nastynateThe only thing I question is if the aura converts enough damage to non-lethal damage. It scales on a level similar to damage reduction, but it doesn't actually negate any. You could probably increase the amount of damage converted, or possibly even use damage reduction in place of it (although that might be a little too powerful). Just something to consider, and this is wonderful even if you elect to leave it just as it is.

I'd thought about making the aura convert more damage, too. In the end I was conservative because the monk is giving up very little to get the aura (the ability to choose three bonus feats instead of having them assigned, and a speed bonus that doesn't stack with very much).

Besides, having both lethal and nonlethal damage can effectively double the strength of healing spells used on you. I didn't want to make parties with both a cleric and a monk too powerful. (Otherwise, every cleric ever is going to take a monk cohort without thinking twice about it.)

Soup Nazi · May 03, 2006, 06:22:55 PM

Quote from: Epic_Meepo
Quote from: nastynateThe only thing I question is if the aura converts enough damage to non-lethal damage. It scales on a level similar to damage reduction, but it doesn't actually negate any. You could probably increase the amount of damage converted, or possibly even use damage reduction in place of it (although that might be a little too powerful). Just something to consider, and this is wonderful even if you elect to leave it just as it is.

I'd thought about making the aura convert more damage, too. In the end I was conservative because the monk is giving up very little to get the aura (the ability to choose three bonus feats instead of having them assigned, and a speed bonus that doesn't stack with very much).

Besides, having both lethal and nonlethal damage can effectively double the strength of healing spells used on you. I didn't want to make parties with both a cleric and a monk too powerful. (Otherwise, every cleric ever is going to take a monk cohort without thinking twice about it.)

Like I mentioned there's nothing at all wrong with this build as it is. It's just a little difficult for me to imagine the non-lethal conversion being too powerful, even if it does effect the whole party; your point however on the synergy it has in conjunction with a cleric is well made, and I wouldn't want the monk to be a "must have" cohort. I'm glad to see some of my suggestions helped.

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