Chinese based class? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Chinese based class? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Anarchysun85
08-19-07, 06:06 PM I am looking for a class thats close to what you would see in movies like "Hero" of any of those films like that. I want a PC that has that kind of feel to it. And no not like a Monk.:D
Oakes
08-19-07, 06:18 PM Many current PC classes have equivalents in a non-European culture.

"Influenced" spellcasters are found in Complete Arcane and Complete Divine: the Wu-Jen (Mystic; Taoist?) and Shugenja. (Sage; Legalist?)

Fantastic Kung-Fu film buffs might be interested in the Tome of Battle: Book of the Nine Swords' Swordsage and Warblade.

The monk remains your best Player's Handbook option. And, as always, you can take a look in the PEACH Orchard for classes people have designed and posted on the board.
Tempest Stormwind
08-19-07, 06:20 PM I am looking for a class thats close to what you would see in movies like "Hero" of any of those films like that. I want a PC that has that kind of feel to it. And no not like a Monk.:D

Swordsage.

That is in every regard *exactly* out of a wuxia movie, a la Hero (or pretty much anything Jet Li's done) and similar. It's even been complained about for being *too* wire-fu.

Just focus on Shadow Hand, Diamond Mind, Setting Sun and Tiger Claw. The remaining two disciplines (Stone Dragon and Desert Wind) might apply in niche characters but the others are generally what you're looking for:
Shadow Hand: Running on air, scurrying up walls, striking opponents' pressure points, death from the dark.
Diamond Mind: Movement at the speed of thought, anticipating opponent defenses and breaching them.
Setting Sun: Counters, throws, instant chases, attack deflection and reversal.
Tiger Claw: Jumping attacks, devastating death-from-above finishers.

Sound interesting? Look at the Tome of Battle: Book of Nine Swords.
Anarchysun85
08-19-07, 10:19 PM Cool thx man sounds like a good match for what I was looking for. If anyone else can think of something that would be great also.
MagusBlack
08-19-07, 10:36 PM Hero is a great movie, good choice.

Though you would want to focus on the Iron Heart maneuvers, as they are effective, and less flashy...in terms of "flash".

For acrobatics use the Blade Dancer Prestige Class from Oriental Adventures, but change it to give the option of either spellcasting or maneuvers for the prerequiste.
Tempest Stormwind
08-20-07, 01:04 AM Hero is a great movie, good choice.

First, I should definitely say I agree.

Though you would want to focus on the Iron Heart maneuvers, as they are effective, and less flashy...in terms of "flash".

None of the disciplines I mentioned above except Shadow Hand have any 'flash' -- and the maneuvers I suggested from Shadow Hand weren't the flashy ones (no teleports or shadow nooses), but rather those that emulate wire-fu (i.e. Step of the Dancing Moth, Balance on the Air, and the assorted ability damage / precision damage abilities).

Furthermore, Iron Heart isn't available to the swordsage as it's warblade-exclusive. And the warblade definitely does *not* fit the wire-fu archetype, because nearly all of those abilities are found in Shadow Hand. The closest you'll get on the warblade would be the occasional jump attack in Tiger Claw, which the swordsage also has.

For acrobatics use the Blade Dancer Prestige Class from Oriental Adventures, but change it to give the option of either spellcasting or maneuvers for the prerequiste.

Not a bad choice, but you can already get most of that just with straight Swordsage. The blade dancer is a good class, but I don't think it's ideal here.
Jaxgaret
08-20-07, 01:37 AM I'm going to second Tempest's suggestion here.

Look no further than the Swordsage; it is precisely what you are looking for.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Anarchysun85 08-19-07, 06:06 PM	I am looking for a class thats close to what you would see in movies like "Hero" of any of those films like that. I want a PC that has that kind of feel to it. And no not like a Monk.:D
Oakes 08-19-07, 06:18 PM	Many current PC classes have equivalents in a non-European culture. "Influenced" spellcasters are found in Complete Arcane and Complete Divine: the Wu-Jen (Mystic; Taoist?) and Shugenja. (Sage; Legalist?) Fantastic Kung-Fu film buffs might be interested in the Tome of Battle: Book of the Nine Swords' Swordsage and Warblade. The monk remains your best Player's Handbook option. And, as always, you can take a look in the PEACH Orchard for classes people have designed and posted on the board.
Tempest Stormwind 08-19-07, 06:20 PM	I am looking for a class thats close to what you would see in movies like "Hero" of any of those films like that. I want a PC that has that kind of feel to it. And no not like a Monk.:D Swordsage. That is in every regard exactly out of a wuxia movie, a la Hero (or pretty much anything Jet Li's done) and similar. It's even been complained about for being too wire-fu. Just focus on Shadow Hand, Diamond Mind, Setting Sun and Tiger Claw. The remaining two disciplines (Stone Dragon and Desert Wind) might apply in niche characters but the others are generally what you're looking for: Shadow Hand: Running on air, scurrying up walls, striking opponents' pressure points, death from the dark. Diamond Mind: Movement at the speed of thought, anticipating opponent defenses and breaching them. Setting Sun: Counters, throws, instant chases, attack deflection and reversal. Tiger Claw: Jumping attacks, devastating death-from-above finishers. Sound interesting? Look at the Tome of Battle: Book of Nine Swords.
Anarchysun85 08-19-07, 10:19 PM	Cool thx man sounds like a good match for what I was looking for. If anyone else can think of something that would be great also.
MagusBlack 08-19-07, 10:36 PM	Hero is a great movie, good choice. Though you would want to focus on the Iron Heart maneuvers, as they are effective, and less flashy...in terms of "flash". For acrobatics use the Blade Dancer Prestige Class from Oriental Adventures, but change it to give the option of either spellcasting or maneuvers for the prerequiste.
Tempest Stormwind 08-20-07, 01:04 AM	Hero is a great movie, good choice. First, I should definitely say I agree. Though you would want to focus on the Iron Heart maneuvers, as they are effective, and less flashy...in terms of "flash". None of the disciplines I mentioned above except Shadow Hand have any 'flash' -- and the maneuvers I suggested from Shadow Hand weren't the flashy ones (no teleports or shadow nooses), but rather those that emulate wire-fu (i.e. Step of the Dancing Moth, Balance on the Air, and the assorted ability damage / precision damage abilities). Furthermore, Iron Heart isn't available to the swordsage as it's warblade-exclusive. And the warblade definitely does not fit the wire-fu archetype, because nearly all of those abilities are found in Shadow Hand. The closest you'll get on the warblade would be the occasional jump attack in Tiger Claw, which the swordsage also has. For acrobatics use the Blade Dancer Prestige Class from Oriental Adventures, but change it to give the option of either spellcasting or maneuvers for the prerequiste. Not a bad choice, but you can already get most of that just with straight Swordsage. The blade dancer is a good class, but I don't think it's ideal here.
Jaxgaret 08-20-07, 01:37 AM	I'm going to second Tempest's suggestion here. Look no further than the Swordsage; it is precisely what you are looking for.