Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GEEKAZOID 06-26-05, 12:22 AM	ASCETIC NPC Class Ascetics seek harmony and long life through a philosophy that advocates simplicity, peaceful coexistence and a noninterference with the natural course of things. Ascetics are also devoted to the mastery of self, spending a greater part of their lives in quiet contemplation honing body, mind and spirit to perfect balance. Hit Die: d8. Alignment: Lawful neutral. Class Skills: The ascetic’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Knowledge (nature/religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis) and Spot (Wis). Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int modifier) x4. Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int modifier. Table: The Ascetic Level BAB Fort Ref Will 1st +0 +2 +2 +2 2nd +1 +3 +3 +3 3rd +1 +3 +3 +3 4th +2 +4 +4 +4 5th +2 +4 +4 +4 6th +3 +5 +5 +5 7th +3 +5 +5 +5 8th +4 +6 +6 +6 9th +4 +6 +6 +6 10th +5 +7 +7 +7 11th +5 +7 +7 +7 12th +6/+1 +8 +8 +8 13th +6/+1 +8 +8 +8 14th +7/+2 +9 +9 +9 15th +7/+2 +9 +9 +9 16th +8/+3 +10 +10 +10 17th +8/+3 +10 +10 +10 18th +9/+4 +11 +11 +11 19th +9/+4 +11 +11 +11 20th +10/+5 +12 +12 +12 Class Features The following are class features of the ascetic NPC class. Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The ascetic is proficient with the club, quarter staff and sling. He is not proficient with any other weapons, nor is he proficient with any type of armor or shields. Ex-Ascetics An ascetic who becomes any alignment other than Lawful Neutral cannot gain new levels as an ascetic. Like a member of any other class, an ascetic may be a multiclass character, but multiclass ascetics face a special restriction. An ascetic who gains a new class or (if already multiclass) raises another class by a level may never again raise her ascetic level.
GEEKAZOID 06-26-05, 12:22 AM	Renamed class (formerly taoist) June 26 re-tristevoix Added survival skill to skill list June 26 re-tristevoix Added Profession (Herbalist) June 26 re-rialto Limited Knowledge skills to Religion and Nature June 26 Removed Move Silent and Handle Animal from skill list June 26 re-Lord Schpungus Limited Perform skill to Chant and Tai-Chi June 26 Removed Heal, Speak Language, Survival and Tumble skills from skill list. June 27 Added Escape Artist skill to skill list and removed descriptors from Perform and Profession skills. June 27 Removed Balance, Escape Artist, Perform and Profession skills from skill list. June 28 Reworded Ex-Ascetic alignment penalty to allow only LN. June 28 Corrected spelling error June 30
GEEKAZOID 06-26-05, 12:25 AM	Hey all, This is something I came up with after some discussions on other threads concerning NPC classes. Someone mentioned the lack of an NPC version of the monk. So I thought I would take a shot at it. The ascetic npc represents the hermit deep in the woods or the Tibetan monks high in the mountains. What do you think?
tristevoix 06-26-05, 02:42 PM	Looks good, but more importantly, I think it stands for its own compared with the other existing NPC classes. You can see here any ascetic, sage hermit or fakir and such. At best it could be a sort of expert, but I'd rather use a taoist. Three things I'd like to comment: - I would call it an "ascetic" or somesuch, if only to generalize the class, unless the moral/philosophical affiliation was intended. - I would add Survival as a skill because I think it can represent the aspect of someone more attuned to its environment, able to live more easily off of nature, to resist its conditions, and to understand it more. - I would have used the average BAB in order to reflect the honing of the body (because as it is, it is no better than a commoner), but then again I guess that's why you used good saves all around. But all in all, I think you did well! Cheers!
GEEKAZOID 06-26-05, 03:26 PM	Hey, thanks tristevoix :) You actually answered my first question already. I've been trying to come up with a more generic version of taoist but monk was already taken. I think I'll go with your suggestion. Survival was originally part of the list but I had removed it. It seemed too adventurous. But your argument makes sense, I'll add that too. As far as BAB though, I thought the 3/4 was too much. I was leaning towards a pacifist, cloistered flavor, someone who doesn't find himslef with a need to fight very often. But it is still up for debate. Anybody else want to add 2 cents?
Rialto 06-26-05, 04:50 PM	Seems like an interesting NPC class. You can probably throw in Profession (Herbalist). Perhaps at higher level an Ascetic may develop some lesser powers like minor divinations spell-like abilities /ascetics in real life were often sought after for advice and guidance/ and maybe something like Monk's purity of body.
GEEKAZOID 06-26-05, 05:43 PM	Good call rialto. Herbalism will be added. However, the special abilities are something that I'm not sure about. I feel that the npc classes are meant to be stripped down to the necessities. But this too is still up for debate.
Paste Pot Pete 06-26-05, 06:17 PM	Quick Question: Where did you get the table for all of the saves and BAB progressions. Also I really like the idea but do think that the BAB should be SLIGHTLY increased, because to restate "They should (from my pov) be better than the commoner)
GEEKAZOID 06-26-05, 06:43 PM	do you think that the BAB should be SLIGHTLY increased, because to restate "They should (from my pov) be better than the commoner) d8 hit points (highest for npcs) 4 skill points large skill list...18 skills is more than expert All GOOD SAVES All of these things make them better than the commoner. Now I am thinking the skill list is too big...
Lord Schpungus 06-26-05, 06:44 PM	They are better than the commoner. They have mastery over their their bodies and minds (saves). I would take out a few skills, probably Move Silently and Handle Animal, and drop them down to d6 hit dice.
GEEKAZOID 06-26-05, 06:58 PM	They are better than the commoner. They have mastery over their their bodies and minds (saves). I would take out a few skills, probably Move Silently and Handle Animal, and drop them down to d6 hit dice.Those skills could be removed. -Move Silent was included to represent their control over their own movements. But it could be represented by an ability bonus to dex. -Handle Animal was included to represent a oneness with nature. But then again, maybe this is contrary to the noninterference with nature philosophy. Unless anybody disagrees, I'll go with removing them. The d8 hit dice I think should stay. It represents their pursuit of long life and a mastery of self.
GEEKAZOID 06-27-05, 11:46 PM	OK, If anybody cares, I made some changes to the skill list. Basically, I removed anything that wasn't on the monk skill list and anything that seemed like an adventure skill. This may be the final version. Anybody have any suggestions?
wi1dfire_b1ue 06-28-05, 04:20 PM	Maybe Alignment to same as Druids? Other than that, it looks solid.
GEEKAZOID 06-28-05, 07:12 PM	Maybe Alignment to same as Druids? Other than that, it looks solid. Interesting, why do you say that. My thinking is that it takes a very self disciplined and regimented person to stay on the path of the ascetic. This is represented by the lawful aspect. And their belief in balance of natural way of things is represented in neutrality. Plus it coincides with the monk's alignment restriction and their reasons. I'd like to hear what you think.
GEEKAZOID 06-29-05, 10:02 PM	Well, that's it. That should be my last edit. If you haven't noticed, I used the great cleave feat on the skill list and axed it down to size. I decided to stay with only those skills that are most important to the ascetic. With 4 SPs per level, the ascetic has plenty to spread out to cross-class skills if so desired. Also, the ex-ascetic clause was rewritten to penalize for becoming any alignment other than LN. So with that, the time has come. Unless some really good argument is made in favor of a change... I'm callin it a class. ENJOY :tongue:
GEEKAZOID 07-03-05, 05:27 PM	Alright, maybe I'm not done. Question: Considering the skill list of 7 skills, is 4 SPs too many? Is 2 SPs nough? Or should I replace some removed skills? sheesh, all this for an npc class
thinkhard 07-03-05, 05:32 PM	he doesn't have any unarmed damage progressions or anything. basically, he's a good-saved warrior with a few skills but a lowerd HD and BAB. Is that what you were going for?
GEEKAZOID 07-03-05, 07:00 PM	he doesn't have any unarmed damage progressions or anything. basically, he's a good-saved warrior with a few skills but a lowerd HD and BAB. Is that what you were going for?I see him as a commoner practicing extreme self discipline. This is my interpretation of a monk that does not go on adventures. From DMG 3.5 p.107 ...(these are) classes specifically designed for NPCs. None of them....stand up as a playable class for PCs. Instead, they represent the rest of the people in the world around the PCs that do not train to go on adventures and explore dungeons (emphasis mine).Such a monk would not focus on combat. But he would focus on the other aspect of the monk; self perfection. What I envision are individuals wrapped in robes sitting in rows chanting in unison, working art of calligraphy where each stroke is a catalyst to spiritual perfection, and pondering the simplest of things to glean the greatest of wisdoms. This is the type of monk a PC would not become but would most certainly exist in the peoples around him. And as far as game mechanics, this class' niche in the NPC classes is all good saves. Adepts have spells, aristocrats have status, experts have skills, warriors have combat, and ascetics have saves. If one of this class wants unarmed damage then he need only take improved unarmed strike as his first feat. If he wants flurry of blows, then he has crossed into the realm of the monk. As the ascetic spends as much time mastering self as the wizard does spells, he has only the wizards bab. However, if this is a persistent point of contention, perhaps improved unarmed strike could be given for free at level 2. What do you think?
thinkhard 07-04-05, 12:46 AM	I'm just saying, he's better than a commoner, but worse at his job than the other NPC classes are. Warriors are better at fighting than he is at being intelligent, experts are better at being, well, experts than he is at fighting...maybe he's supposed to be a hybrid, but basically he feels like a quasi intelligent commoner with good saves, as opposed to a really smart commoner (expert) or a really strong one (warrior) but i dunno.
GEEKAZOID 07-10-05, 11:39 PM	I'm just saying....he feels like a quasi intelligent commoner with good saves....Swap wise commoner for intelligent commoner and thats a very apt description.
ragingmaro 07-11-05, 12:37 AM	I think you should throw in some unarmed damage and some of the weaker monk abilities.
thinkhard 07-11-05, 12:45 AM	yeah, he's not balanced well against the other NPC classes (except commoner, which is supposed to suck the most)
Rakasha#5 07-11-05, 08:21 AM	Hey, thanks tristevoix :) You actually answered my first question already. I've been trying to come up with a more generic version of taoist but monk was already taken. I think I'll go with your suggestion. Survival was originally part of the list but I had removed it. It seemed too adventurous. But your argument makes sense, I'll add that too. As far as BAB though, I thought the 3/4 was too much. I was leaning towards a pacifist, cloistered flavor, someone who doesn't find himslef with a need to fight very often. But it is still up for debate. Anybody else want to add 2 cents? Needs some of the monkish purity abilities