Chain Dancer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Chain Dancer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
unrulycow
01-18-06, 08:15 PM This class was inspired by watching martial artists using a manriki-gusari. It is basically a long chain with weighted, bludgeoning ends. It has stats in Oriental Adventures, but no 3.5 ed. books that I know of. The thing that strikes me most about this fighting style is it's grace and dance-like nature. So I set out to modify the Dervish (from Complete Warrior) to work with a chain weapon. Despite the fact that I had a specific weapon in mind while creating the class, (and the fact that the spiked chain as drawn in the Player's Handbook appears nearly impossible to wield as a reach weapon) mechanically it works fine with the spiked chain or Drow Scorpion Chain (from Eberron) as well.

Chain Dancer
Requirements:
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Skills: Perform (dance) 3 Ranks, Tumble 3 Ranks.
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (chain), Weapon Focus (chain).

Class Skills:
The chain dancer's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Swim (Str), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex), Use Rope (Dex).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier

Class Features:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Chain dancers gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.

AC Bonus (Ex): A chain dancer gains this bonus to Armor Class as long as she is wearing no armor or light armor and not carrying a shield. This bonus to AC applies even against touch attacks or when the chain dancer is flat-footed. She loses this bonus when she is immobilized or helpless, when she wears any armor heavier than light, when she carries a shield, or when she carries a medium or heavy load.

Chain Dance (Ex): A chain dancer can become a whirling dancer of death a certain number of times per day. While in this chain dance, she can take a full attack action (for melee attacks only) and still move up to her speed. However, the chain dancer must move a minimum of 5 feet between each attack when using this ability, and she cannot return to a square she just exited (though she may return to that square later during her full attack). The chain dancer is subject to attacks of opportunity while dancing, but may tumble normally as part of her move. A chain dancer prevented from completing her move is also prevented from finished her full attack.

A chain dancer gains a bonus on her attack and damage rolls while in a dance. This bonus is +1 at 1st level, and it increases by an extra +1 at every odd-numbered level thereafter. A chain dancer may only perform a chain dance while wielding a chain weapon (manriki-gusari, spiked chain, drow scorpion chain, or other similar weapons at DM's discretion). She cannot perform a dance in any armor heavier than light or if she is using a shield. While dancing, a chain dancer cannot use skills or abilities that involve concentration or require her to remain still, such as Move Silently, Hide, or Search. A chain dancer with the bardic music ability can, however, sing while she dances, and a chain dancer can also use the Combat Expertise feat while in a dance. A chain dancer cannot perform a dance while under the effects of a rage or frenzy ability.

A chain dancer can perform a dance only once per encounter. A dance lasts 1 round for every two ranks of Perform (dance) that the character has. At the end of a dance, the character becomes fatigued for the duration of the encounter (unless she is a 9th-level chain dancer, at which point this limitation no longer applies).

Movement Mastery (Ex): A chain dancer is so certain of her movements that she is unaffected by adverse conditions. When making a Jump, Perform (dance), or Tumble check, she may take 10 even if stress and distraction would normally prevent her from doing so.

Fast Movement (Ex): At 2nd level and higher, a chain dancer gains an enhancement bonus to her speed. A chain dancer in any armor heavier than light or carrying a medium or heavy load loses this bonus.

Improved Trip: At 3rd level, a chain dancer gains the Improved Trip feat, even if she does not meet the prerequisites.

Improved Disarm: At 4th level, a chain dancer gains the Improved Disarm feat, even if she does not meet the prerequisites.

Improved Reaction: When she attains 6th level, a chain dancer gains a +2 bonus on initiative rolls.

Trip Master (Ex): At 7th level and above, a chain dancer is considered to be one size category larger for the purposes of trip and disarm attacks.

Tireless Dance: When a chain dancer reaches 9th level, the character no longer becomes fatigued for the duration of the encounter at the end of a chain dance.

Whirlwind Attack: at 10th level, a chain dancer gains the Whirlwind Attack feat, even if she does not meet the prerequisites.

Hit Dice: D10

Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1 +1 +0 +2 +2 Chain dance 1/day, movement mastery
2 +2 +0 +3 +3 Fast movement +5 ft.
3 +3 +1 +3 +3 Improved Trip, chain dance 2/day
4 +4 +1 +4 +4 Improved Disarm
5 +5 +1 +4 +4 Fast movement +10 ft., chain dance 3/day
6 +6 +2 +5 +5 Improved reaction
7 +7 +2 +5 +5 Trip Master, chain dance 4/day
8 +8 +2 +6 +6 Fast movement +15 ft.
9 +9 +3 +6 +6 Tireless dance, chain dance 5/day
10 +10 +3 +7 +7 Whirlwind attack
unrulycow
01-22-06, 11:09 AM No one has any opinion on this class?
BoneLord_of_Skullthrone
01-22-06, 03:38 PM I like the flavor of this, but a monk with BAB +5 will probably already have Improved Trip or Improved Disarm as a bonus feat? Do they get anything special when they reach 3rd or 4th level (as appropriate) of this PrC?
unrulycow
01-23-06, 10:13 AM Despite some similar abilites, this class isn't really designed to be taken by monks. To make it more monk friendly, you'd want to drop those feats, and have levels in Chain Dancer stack with monk levels for AC and movement speed (dropping the bonuses from the class) and make chains available as part of a flurry of blows. Those modifcations were just a quick thought and not real thoroughly thought out, but if you feel like making some monk modifications, I'd be interested in seeing them
OctoberRaven
01-23-06, 10:30 AM Drop the HD to d8, and consider giving a Dancing Chains (somewhere in the BoVD) spell-like ability at 10th level (CL 10) for Chain Dancers with a Charisma score of 14 or higher.

Edit- Otherwise, nicely done.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
unrulycow 01-18-06, 08:15 PM	This class was inspired by watching martial artists using a manriki-gusari. It is basically a long chain with weighted, bludgeoning ends. It has stats in Oriental Adventures, but no 3.5 ed. books that I know of. The thing that strikes me most about this fighting style is it's grace and dance-like nature. So I set out to modify the Dervish (from Complete Warrior) to work with a chain weapon. Despite the fact that I had a specific weapon in mind while creating the class, (and the fact that the spiked chain as drawn in the Player's Handbook appears nearly impossible to wield as a reach weapon) mechanically it works fine with the spiked chain or Drow Scorpion Chain (from Eberron) as well. Chain Dancer Requirements: Base Attack Bonus: +5 Skills: Perform (dance) 3 Ranks, Tumble 3 Ranks. Feats: Combat Reflexes, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (chain), Weapon Focus (chain). Class Skills: The chain dancer's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Swim (Str), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex), Use Rope (Dex). Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier Class Features: Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Chain dancers gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor. AC Bonus (Ex): A chain dancer gains this bonus to Armor Class as long as she is wearing no armor or light armor and not carrying a shield. This bonus to AC applies even against touch attacks or when the chain dancer is flat-footed. She loses this bonus when she is immobilized or helpless, when she wears any armor heavier than light, when she carries a shield, or when she carries a medium or heavy load. Chain Dance (Ex): A chain dancer can become a whirling dancer of death a certain number of times per day. While in this chain dance, she can take a full attack action (for melee attacks only) and still move up to her speed. However, the chain dancer must move a minimum of 5 feet between each attack when using this ability, and she cannot return to a square she just exited (though she may return to that square later during her full attack). The chain dancer is subject to attacks of opportunity while dancing, but may tumble normally as part of her move. A chain dancer prevented from completing her move is also prevented from finished her full attack. A chain dancer gains a bonus on her attack and damage rolls while in a dance. This bonus is +1 at 1st level, and it increases by an extra +1 at every odd-numbered level thereafter. A chain dancer may only perform a chain dance while wielding a chain weapon (manriki-gusari, spiked chain, drow scorpion chain, or other similar weapons at DM's discretion). She cannot perform a dance in any armor heavier than light or if she is using a shield. While dancing, a chain dancer cannot use skills or abilities that involve concentration or require her to remain still, such as Move Silently, Hide, or Search. A chain dancer with the bardic music ability can, however, sing while she dances, and a chain dancer can also use the Combat Expertise feat while in a dance. A chain dancer cannot perform a dance while under the effects of a rage or frenzy ability. A chain dancer can perform a dance only once per encounter. A dance lasts 1 round for every two ranks of Perform (dance) that the character has. At the end of a dance, the character becomes fatigued for the duration of the encounter (unless she is a 9th-level chain dancer, at which point this limitation no longer applies). Movement Mastery (Ex): A chain dancer is so certain of her movements that she is unaffected by adverse conditions. When making a Jump, Perform (dance), or Tumble check, she may take 10 even if stress and distraction would normally prevent her from doing so. Fast Movement (Ex): At 2nd level and higher, a chain dancer gains an enhancement bonus to her speed. A chain dancer in any armor heavier than light or carrying a medium or heavy load loses this bonus. Improved Trip: At 3rd level, a chain dancer gains the Improved Trip feat, even if she does not meet the prerequisites. Improved Disarm: At 4th level, a chain dancer gains the Improved Disarm feat, even if she does not meet the prerequisites. Improved Reaction: When she attains 6th level, a chain dancer gains a +2 bonus on initiative rolls. Trip Master (Ex): At 7th level and above, a chain dancer is considered to be one size category larger for the purposes of trip and disarm attacks. Tireless Dance: When a chain dancer reaches 9th level, the character no longer becomes fatigued for the duration of the encounter at the end of a chain dance. Whirlwind Attack: at 10th level, a chain dancer gains the Whirlwind Attack feat, even if she does not meet the prerequisites. Hit Dice: D10 Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special 1 +1 +0 +2 +2 Chain dance 1/day, movement mastery 2 +2 +0 +3 +3 Fast movement +5 ft. 3 +3 +1 +3 +3 Improved Trip, chain dance 2/day 4 +4 +1 +4 +4 Improved Disarm 5 +5 +1 +4 +4 Fast movement +10 ft., chain dance 3/day 6 +6 +2 +5 +5 Improved reaction 7 +7 +2 +5 +5 Trip Master, chain dance 4/day 8 +8 +2 +6 +6 Fast movement +15 ft. 9 +9 +3 +6 +6 Tireless dance, chain dance 5/day 10 +10 +3 +7 +7 Whirlwind attack
unrulycow 01-22-06, 11:09 AM	No one has any opinion on this class?
BoneLord_of_Skullthrone 01-22-06, 03:38 PM	I like the flavor of this, but a monk with BAB +5 will probably already have Improved Trip or Improved Disarm as a bonus feat? Do they get anything special when they reach 3rd or 4th level (as appropriate) of this PrC?
unrulycow 01-23-06, 10:13 AM	Despite some similar abilites, this class isn't really designed to be taken by monks. To make it more monk friendly, you'd want to drop those feats, and have levels in Chain Dancer stack with monk levels for AC and movement speed (dropping the bonuses from the class) and make chains available as part of a flurry of blows. Those modifcations were just a quick thought and not real thoroughly thought out, but if you feel like making some monk modifications, I'd be interested in seeing them
OctoberRaven 01-23-06, 10:30 AM	Drop the HD to d8, and consider giving a Dancing Chains (somewhere in the BoVD) spell-like ability at 10th level (CL 10) for Chain Dancers with a Charisma score of 14 or higher. Edit- Otherwise, nicely done.