Oriental Monk Fighting Style ideas [Archive] - Wizards Community

Oriental Monk Fighting Style ideas [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
fuzzyrabbitstrikesback
07-13-05, 01:22 PM I'm planning on playing a monk in an Oriental-based campaign soon, and I am looking for some ideas about making my own fighting style (like those in Unearthed Arcana). For reference, a friend and I are going to be fraternal twin brothers, both monks. I plan on using a soft form, and he's going to use a hard form. (Sort of like Yin and Yang, I guess).

Usable material will include Oriental Adventures, Core, and Complete Series. Everything else will be on a case-by-case basis, but anything not horribly broken should be ok.

Anyway, I want my form to specialize in hitting pressure points. Important feats I feel are needed:
Weapon Finesse
Stunning Fist
Unbalancing Strike
Pain Touch
Abiliity Focus (if the DM allows Savage Species)
Possibly Falling Star Strike

I want my character to be wise for his age. He strikes precisely and feels that one carefully placed strike is more potent than any number of forceful attacks.

Thanks in advance for any help.
TheMightyMcClaw
07-13-05, 10:52 PM First, If you're interested in real-world wushu styles to look at for inspiration, I'd check out Snake Fist or Southern Praying Mantis (Hakka Fist). Snake is one of the Five Animals in Shaolin, and heavily utilizes fingertip strikes (either with the first two fingers extended, or the whole hand) to strike various acupressure points. Southern Praying Mantis utilizes the one-knuckle punch to do the same thing.

Second, I would recomend being a physician of sorts. A doctor would have a good knowledge of acupressure and human anatomy, so a pressure-point style would be fitting. It would also match up with the wise, peaceful sort of character you seem to have envisioned. Also, it seems that kung-fu fighting doctors have been running all over since Wong Fei Hung.
fuzzyrabbitstrikesback
07-13-05, 11:28 PM TheMightyMcClaw: thanks for the reply! I've been toying around with a style for an hour or two, and I think I at least have the starting point. It follows the Unearthed Arcana format.

Pressure Points
The Pressure Point monk forgoes brute strength in favor of delicately-placed strikes at vital points on the body.
*Note: Knowledge (physiology) replaces one other Knowledge skill as a class skill.
1st Level Skill Bonus: Knowledge (physiology)
1st Level Feat: Stunning Fist
2nd Level Feat: Unbalancing Strike
6th Level Feat: Falling Star Strike
6th Level Bonus Ability: The DCs for your Unbalancing Strike, Stunning Fist, and Falling Star Strike are each increased by 1.
Prerequisites: 9 ranks in Knowledge (physiology), Weapon Finesse

Knowledge (physiology)
Knowledge (physiology) is used to assess the physical internal workings of a creature.
If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (physiology), you get a +2 bonus to Heal checks on humanoids.

-------------------------------
Well, that's what I have at the moment. As for real-world styles, I'm more interested in creating my own.

Also, the doctor idea does have merit. While I may not run around in a proverbial white coat and gloves, I may try to swap in Heal in place of Hide or Move Silently. Still, I want him to be a monk at heart.
MrBone
07-14-05, 07:02 AM Sounds a bit like what I have in mind for a character I'm playing.

I was toying with the idea of having a reverse effect from the pressure point strikes as well. Instead of just doing damage/stun it would heal minor amounts of damage/stun. One thing I thought about that was a bit tricky was other creatures physiology. Does the physiology skill cover all creatures, large and small? And is it likely that a monk would know the pressure points on a giant arachnid?
fuzzyrabbitstrikesback
07-14-05, 11:31 AM MrBone - Looking through Oriental Adventures, both Unbalancing Strike and Falling Star Strike specifically mention "humanoids" as targets. Therefore, it makes sense to extend that limitation to Stunning Fist. It would make little sense if you could stun a giant spider but not unbalance it. Now, regarding the giant spider scenario. Why not use Knowledge (physiology)? Give each creature a Knowledge DC you need to beat to discern their anatomy. If you make the DC, you can override the "humanoid only" barrier on your Stunning/Unbalancing/Falling star strikes against this one creature. In the spider scenario, you'd just have to beat a DC of 30 (or whatever the DM decides) to figure out how to disable it. One check would be all you'd need for that encounter. But you'd have to make the DC for the next spider you run into, regardless of if it's the same kind.

Secondly, on healing: I'm going to work the skill Heal into my monk's skill list. And Knowledge (physiology) would give a +2 synergy bonus to any Heal checks made on creatures with an anatomy you understand.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
fuzzyrabbitstrikesback 07-13-05, 01:22 PM	I'm planning on playing a monk in an Oriental-based campaign soon, and I am looking for some ideas about making my own fighting style (like those in Unearthed Arcana). For reference, a friend and I are going to be fraternal twin brothers, both monks. I plan on using a soft form, and he's going to use a hard form. (Sort of like Yin and Yang, I guess). Usable material will include Oriental Adventures, Core, and Complete Series. Everything else will be on a case-by-case basis, but anything not horribly broken should be ok. Anyway, I want my form to specialize in hitting pressure points. Important feats I feel are needed: Weapon Finesse Stunning Fist Unbalancing Strike Pain Touch Abiliity Focus (if the DM allows Savage Species) Possibly Falling Star Strike I want my character to be wise for his age. He strikes precisely and feels that one carefully placed strike is more potent than any number of forceful attacks. Thanks in advance for any help.
TheMightyMcClaw 07-13-05, 10:52 PM	First, If you're interested in real-world wushu styles to look at for inspiration, I'd check out Snake Fist or Southern Praying Mantis (Hakka Fist). Snake is one of the Five Animals in Shaolin, and heavily utilizes fingertip strikes (either with the first two fingers extended, or the whole hand) to strike various acupressure points. Southern Praying Mantis utilizes the one-knuckle punch to do the same thing. Second, I would recomend being a physician of sorts. A doctor would have a good knowledge of acupressure and human anatomy, so a pressure-point style would be fitting. It would also match up with the wise, peaceful sort of character you seem to have envisioned. Also, it seems that kung-fu fighting doctors have been running all over since Wong Fei Hung.
fuzzyrabbitstrikesback 07-13-05, 11:28 PM	TheMightyMcClaw: thanks for the reply! I've been toying around with a style for an hour or two, and I think I at least have the starting point. It follows the Unearthed Arcana format. Pressure Points The Pressure Point monk forgoes brute strength in favor of delicately-placed strikes at vital points on the body. *Note: Knowledge (physiology) replaces one other Knowledge skill as a class skill. 1st Level Skill Bonus: Knowledge (physiology) 1st Level Feat: Stunning Fist 2nd Level Feat: Unbalancing Strike 6th Level Feat: Falling Star Strike 6th Level Bonus Ability: The DCs for your Unbalancing Strike, Stunning Fist, and Falling Star Strike are each increased by 1. Prerequisites: 9 ranks in Knowledge (physiology), Weapon Finesse Knowledge (physiology) Knowledge (physiology) is used to assess the physical internal workings of a creature. If you have 5 or more ranks in Knowledge (physiology), you get a +2 bonus to Heal checks on humanoids. ------------------------------- Well, that's what I have at the moment. As for real-world styles, I'm more interested in creating my own. Also, the doctor idea does have merit. While I may not run around in a proverbial white coat and gloves, I may try to swap in Heal in place of Hide or Move Silently. Still, I want him to be a monk at heart.
MrBone 07-14-05, 07:02 AM	Sounds a bit like what I have in mind for a character I'm playing. I was toying with the idea of having a reverse effect from the pressure point strikes as well. Instead of just doing damage/stun it would heal minor amounts of damage/stun. One thing I thought about that was a bit tricky was other creatures physiology. Does the physiology skill cover all creatures, large and small? And is it likely that a monk would know the pressure points on a giant arachnid?
fuzzyrabbitstrikesback 07-14-05, 11:31 AM	MrBone - Looking through Oriental Adventures, both Unbalancing Strike and Falling Star Strike specifically mention "humanoids" as targets. Therefore, it makes sense to extend that limitation to Stunning Fist. It would make little sense if you could stun a giant spider but not unbalance it. Now, regarding the giant spider scenario. Why not use Knowledge (physiology)? Give each creature a Knowledge DC you need to beat to discern their anatomy. If you make the DC, you can override the "humanoid only" barrier on your Stunning/Unbalancing/Falling star strikes against this one creature. In the spider scenario, you'd just have to beat a DC of 30 (or whatever the DM decides) to figure out how to disable it. One check would be all you'd need for that encounter. But you'd have to make the DC for the next spider you run into, regardless of if it's the same kind. Secondly, on healing: I'm going to work the skill Heal into my monk's skill list. And Knowledge (physiology) would give a +2 synergy bonus to any Heal checks made on creatures with an anatomy you understand.