Monkey Fist Initiate [Archive] - Wizards Community

Monkey Fist Initiate [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
enygmatic_me
03-05-07, 05:03 AM This was far from Kegan's first bar fight, but as he stared at his opponent he found himself unsure of what to make of his odd behavior. He had seen a little creature act like this once when in port down south after a long run of ore which they swapped out for exotic textiles. A monkey, he thought, yeah, that is what the little thing was called.

The several ales he had imbibed earlier only made Kegan feel the weird motions to be all the more comical. He began to wonder if he had picked a fight with some court jester or perhaps the town idiot. Steadying himself Kegan brought his fists up and prepared to get a few good licks in before the town guard broke up this little release of boredom.

Kegan threw his ham-like fist out straight at his opponents face only to find his opponent not there. Before he could recover though, Kegan felt a pain erupt in his side. His breathing became labored and movement became difficult for Kegan. The waves of pain from his side was more then he had expect from the small foreigner.

Kegan turned in time to see his opponent dive and roll at him. Kegan dropped his guard low to defend against the incoming attack only to have his opponent leap in the air at the last moment and land squarely upon his shoulders before raining a series of punches down upon his head. The world soon became blurry before fading to black as Kegan felt cool earth against his cheek.

Kegan woke later on a straw pallet, drenched in water. "Get him up and back to the ship," he heard the voice of his captain,"And when his sorry excuse for a backside is more conscious let him know these fees are coming out of his pay." Kegan felt himself hoisted up by his arms and he could vaguely make out Melig and Cyldain through his bruised eyes as they helped him walk back to the ship. The last words Kegan could remember before losing consciousness kept running through his head. "When drinking in the company of monkeys it is often easier on ones head to trade tales then to trade blows."

Legend says the Monkey Fist style was developed by a martial arts master who had been wrongfully imprisoned. As he sat in his cell he would watch a troupe of monkeys as the interacted in a little glade just outside his window. Watching the the tumbling and amusing behavior of the monkeys the Martial Arts master began to integrate some of these movements into his daily exercises and eventually developed the foundation of what would become the Monkey Fist style.

Some, who delve deeper into the legends, believe that the Martial Arts master, upon his release from prison, was approached by the great monkey king Sun Wukong himself and further taught the mysteries and techniques that would eventually allow the Monkey Fist style to become the fighting art is today. If this is true, though, no one is really sure.

Prerequisites:
BAB: +3
Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike, Superior Unarmed Strike
Skills: Perform (Buffoonery) 8 ranks, Tumble 8 ranks
Special: Evasion or Uncanny Dodge class feature.

Level BAB F R W Special
1st +1 +0 +2 +0 Chattering Monkey, Monk Abilities
2nd +2 +1 +3 +1 Sneak Attack +1d6, Deceptive Style
3rd +3 +1 +3 +1 Resplendent Monkey,
4th +4 +2 +4 +2 Sneak Attack +2d6, Improved Deceptive Style
5th +5 +2 +4 +2 Iron Monkey

HD: d8
Class Skills Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), and Use Rope (Dex)
-Skill Points per Level 6 + Intelligence modifier

Class Features

Weapons and Armor: The Monkey Fist Initiate gains no new weapon or armor proficiencies.

Chattering Monkey (Ex): At 1st level the Monkey Fist Initiate learns to use flips, tumbles, and comedic behavior to distract their opponents. The Monkey Fist Initiate may use Perform (Buffoonery) in place of Bluff to feint in combat.

Monk Abilities (Ex): Levels of Monkey Fist Initiate count as Monk levels for determining Fast Movement, Slow Fall, and Unarmored AC bonus. If the Monkey Fist Initiate gains any of these abilities from having levels in another class (like Barbarian or Monk) these levels stack.

Sneak Attack (Ex): At 2nd level, if the Monkey Fist Initiate can catch an opponent when they are unable to defend themselves effectively from the Monkey Fist Initiate’s attack, they can strike a vital spot for extra damage.

The Monkey Fist Initiate’s attack deals extra damage any time their target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the Monkey Fist Initiate flanks their target. This extra damage is 1d6 at 2nd level, and it increases to 2d6 at 4th. Should the Monkey Fist Initiate score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied.

Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet.

With a sap (blackjack) or an unarmed strike, a Monkey Fist Initiate can make a sneak attack that deals non-lethal damage instead of lethal damage. They cannot use a weapon that deals lethal damage to deal non-lethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual -4 penalty.
A Monkey Fist Initiate can sneak attack only living creatures with discernible anatomies—undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack. Any creature that is immune to critical attacks is not vulnerable to sneak attacks. The Monkey Fist Initiate must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. They cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach.

If the Monkey Fist Initiate gains sneak attacks from a different source, such as having levels of rogue, these sources of damage stack.

Deceptive Style (Ex): Due to its seemingly random and often comical movements, the Monkey style of combat is deceptive by nature. At 2nd level the Monkey Fist Initiate gains a bonus to Perform (Buffoonery) checks to feint in combat equal to their class level.

Resplendent Monkey (Ex): Though the movements of the Monkey Fist Initiate seem random the truth is they are a well thought out and complex routine. At 3rd level the Monkey Fist Initiate has developed these movements to such a level as to cause their opponents to be uncertain about how to properly attack. The Monkey Fist Initiate may now add their Intelligence Modifier (if any) to their Armor Class as long as they are wearing light or no armor.

Improved Deceptive Style (Ex): At 4th level the Monkey Fist Initiate may now feint as a free action. The Monkey Fist Initiate may still only attempt to feint once against a target in a given round.

Iron Monkey (Ex): At 5th level the specialized training of the Monkey Fist Initiate grants them Damage Reduction 2/- and Light Fortification (25% chance that a critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally). If the Monkey Fist Initiate gains Damage Reduction or Fortification from another source they do not stack, use the greater of the two as appropriate.
Darth Sephiroth
03-05-07, 11:47 AM First off, this looks like it is aimed as a Monk PrC, but doesn't have any real Monk continuances in the class and could stand to have them.

Secondly, don't use Spoiler tags on abilities, it gets very tedious to read through them when working on trying to figure the class out.
enygmatic_me
03-05-07, 12:18 PM First off, this looks like it is aimed as a Monk PrC, but doesn't have any real Monk continuances in the class and could stand to have them.

It really isn't aimed at Monks. It is designed to be another form of unarmed combatant though and to allow monks to take levels if they so chose. The class that would benefit the most from this PrC would be a rogue actually.

Secondly, don't use Spoiler tags on abilities, it gets very tedious to read through them when working on trying to figure the class out.

Yeah, I'll fix that.
Darth Sephiroth
03-05-07, 12:28 PM It really isn't aimed at Monks. It is designed to be another form of unarmed combatant though and to allow monks to take levels if they so chose. The class that would benefit the most from this PrC would be a rogue actually.

Except that a Monk would only need to take 1 feat in order to qualify which is superior Unarmed Strike. All of the other prerequisites are easy since both skills are class skills and Monks get Evasion, so a Monk could take this class at pretty much any level after 6. The Monk abilities also fit this extremely well for use, I'd suggest adding the Monks Speed and AC bonus progression to this as they'd fit very well and it would work great for both Monks and Rogues.
enygmatic_me
03-05-07, 01:38 PM Except that a Monk would only need to take 1 feat in order to qualify which is superior Unarmed Strike. All of the other prerequisites are easy since both skills are class skills and Monks get Evasion, so a Monk could take this class at pretty much any level after 6. The Monk abilities also fit this extremely well for use, I'd suggest adding the Monks Speed and AC bonus progression to this as they'd fit very well and it would work great for both Monks and Rogues.

OK, how does that look?
Darth Sephiroth
03-05-07, 01:40 PM Perfectly, it makes it a slightly broader class for who would look into it
enygmatic_me
03-05-07, 01:44 PM Perfectly, it makes it a slightly broader class for who would look into it

Thanks for the help.
Darth Sephiroth
03-05-07, 07:31 PM glad to help
enygmatic_me
03-09-07, 09:40 PM Added Flavor Text, and before the end of the decade no less.
Darth Sephiroth
03-10-07, 03:11 AM you might want to switch the flavor text from bold to italic, lots of bold doesn't look right
enygmatic_me
03-10-07, 03:12 AM you might want to switch the flavor text from bold to italic, lots of bold doesn't look right

Agreed with and done. What do you think of the flavor text?
Darth Sephiroth
03-10-07, 05:15 PM It seems very good at the moment
enygmatic_me
03-10-07, 06:31 PM Added more to the flavor text.
Darth Sephiroth
03-11-07, 12:07 AM looks good
TheAnthroDM
03-11-07, 12:15 AM I like it, I don't see why the class features should be hidden though
enygmatic_me
03-11-07, 12:24 AM I like it, I don't see why the class features should be hidden though

Thanks.

I use the drop down mostly in hopes to keep a little bit of tidiness to the thread. It isn't always need, but I think it looks a little cleaner overall.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
enygmatic_me 03-05-07, 05:03 AM	This was far from Kegan's first bar fight, but as he stared at his opponent he found himself unsure of what to make of his odd behavior. He had seen a little creature act like this once when in port down south after a long run of ore which they swapped out for exotic textiles. A monkey, he thought, yeah, that is what the little thing was called. The several ales he had imbibed earlier only made Kegan feel the weird motions to be all the more comical. He began to wonder if he had picked a fight with some court jester or perhaps the town idiot. Steadying himself Kegan brought his fists up and prepared to get a few good licks in before the town guard broke up this little release of boredom. Kegan threw his ham-like fist out straight at his opponents face only to find his opponent not there. Before he could recover though, Kegan felt a pain erupt in his side. His breathing became labored and movement became difficult for Kegan. The waves of pain from his side was more then he had expect from the small foreigner. Kegan turned in time to see his opponent dive and roll at him. Kegan dropped his guard low to defend against the incoming attack only to have his opponent leap in the air at the last moment and land squarely upon his shoulders before raining a series of punches down upon his head. The world soon became blurry before fading to black as Kegan felt cool earth against his cheek. Kegan woke later on a straw pallet, drenched in water. "Get him up and back to the ship," he heard the voice of his captain,"And when his sorry excuse for a backside is more conscious let him know these fees are coming out of his pay." Kegan felt himself hoisted up by his arms and he could vaguely make out Melig and Cyldain through his bruised eyes as they helped him walk back to the ship. The last words Kegan could remember before losing consciousness kept running through his head. "When drinking in the company of monkeys it is often easier on ones head to trade tales then to trade blows." Legend says the Monkey Fist style was developed by a martial arts master who had been wrongfully imprisoned. As he sat in his cell he would watch a troupe of monkeys as the interacted in a little glade just outside his window. Watching the the tumbling and amusing behavior of the monkeys the Martial Arts master began to integrate some of these movements into his daily exercises and eventually developed the foundation of what would become the Monkey Fist style. Some, who delve deeper into the legends, believe that the Martial Arts master, upon his release from prison, was approached by the great monkey king Sun Wukong himself and further taught the mysteries and techniques that would eventually allow the Monkey Fist style to become the fighting art is today. If this is true, though, no one is really sure. Prerequisites: BAB: +3 Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike, Superior Unarmed Strike Skills: Perform (Buffoonery) 8 ranks, Tumble 8 ranks Special: Evasion or Uncanny Dodge class feature. Level BAB F R W Special 1st +1 +0 +2 +0 Chattering Monkey, Monk Abilities 2nd +2 +1 +3 +1 Sneak Attack +1d6, Deceptive Style 3rd +3 +1 +3 +1 Resplendent Monkey, 4th +4 +2 +4 +2 Sneak Attack +2d6, Improved Deceptive Style 5th +5 +2 +4 +2 Iron Monkey HD: d8 Class Skills Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), and Use Rope (Dex) -Skill Points per Level 6 + Intelligence modifier Class Features Weapons and Armor: The Monkey Fist Initiate gains no new weapon or armor proficiencies. Chattering Monkey (Ex): At 1st level the Monkey Fist Initiate learns to use flips, tumbles, and comedic behavior to distract their opponents. The Monkey Fist Initiate may use Perform (Buffoonery) in place of Bluff to feint in combat. Monk Abilities (Ex): Levels of Monkey Fist Initiate count as Monk levels for determining Fast Movement, Slow Fall, and Unarmored AC bonus. If the Monkey Fist Initiate gains any of these abilities from having levels in another class (like Barbarian or Monk) these levels stack. Sneak Attack (Ex): At 2nd level, if the Monkey Fist Initiate can catch an opponent when they are unable to defend themselves effectively from the Monkey Fist Initiate’s attack, they can strike a vital spot for extra damage. The Monkey Fist Initiate’s attack deals extra damage any time their target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the Monkey Fist Initiate flanks their target. This extra damage is 1d6 at 2nd level, and it increases to 2d6 at 4th. Should the Monkey Fist Initiate score a critical hit with a sneak attack, this extra damage is not multiplied. Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. With a sap (blackjack) or an unarmed strike, a Monkey Fist Initiate can make a sneak attack that deals non-lethal damage instead of lethal damage. They cannot use a weapon that deals lethal damage to deal non-lethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual -4 penalty. A Monkey Fist Initiate can sneak attack only living creatures with discernible anatomies—undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack. Any creature that is immune to critical attacks is not vulnerable to sneak attacks. The Monkey Fist Initiate must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. They cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach. If the Monkey Fist Initiate gains sneak attacks from a different source, such as having levels of rogue, these sources of damage stack. Deceptive Style (Ex): Due to its seemingly random and often comical movements, the Monkey style of combat is deceptive by nature. At 2nd level the Monkey Fist Initiate gains a bonus to Perform (Buffoonery) checks to feint in combat equal to their class level. Resplendent Monkey (Ex): Though the movements of the Monkey Fist Initiate seem random the truth is they are a well thought out and complex routine. At 3rd level the Monkey Fist Initiate has developed these movements to such a level as to cause their opponents to be uncertain about how to properly attack. The Monkey Fist Initiate may now add their Intelligence Modifier (if any) to their Armor Class as long as they are wearing light or no armor. Improved Deceptive Style (Ex): At 4th level the Monkey Fist Initiate may now feint as a free action. The Monkey Fist Initiate may still only attempt to feint once against a target in a given round. Iron Monkey (Ex): At 5th level the specialized training of the Monkey Fist Initiate grants them Damage Reduction 2/- and Light Fortification (25% chance that a critical hit or sneak attack is negated and damage is instead rolled normally). If the Monkey Fist Initiate gains Damage Reduction or Fortification from another source they do not stack, use the greater of the two as appropriate.
Darth Sephiroth 03-05-07, 11:47 AM	First off, this looks like it is aimed as a Monk PrC, but doesn't have any real Monk continuances in the class and could stand to have them. Secondly, don't use Spoiler tags on abilities, it gets very tedious to read through them when working on trying to figure the class out.
enygmatic_me 03-05-07, 12:18 PM	First off, this looks like it is aimed as a Monk PrC, but doesn't have any real Monk continuances in the class and could stand to have them. It really isn't aimed at Monks. It is designed to be another form of unarmed combatant though and to allow monks to take levels if they so chose. The class that would benefit the most from this PrC would be a rogue actually. Secondly, don't use Spoiler tags on abilities, it gets very tedious to read through them when working on trying to figure the class out. Yeah, I'll fix that.
Darth Sephiroth 03-05-07, 12:28 PM	It really isn't aimed at Monks. It is designed to be another form of unarmed combatant though and to allow monks to take levels if they so chose. The class that would benefit the most from this PrC would be a rogue actually. Except that a Monk would only need to take 1 feat in order to qualify which is superior Unarmed Strike. All of the other prerequisites are easy since both skills are class skills and Monks get Evasion, so a Monk could take this class at pretty much any level after 6. The Monk abilities also fit this extremely well for use, I'd suggest adding the Monks Speed and AC bonus progression to this as they'd fit very well and it would work great for both Monks and Rogues.
enygmatic_me 03-05-07, 01:38 PM	Except that a Monk would only need to take 1 feat in order to qualify which is superior Unarmed Strike. All of the other prerequisites are easy since both skills are class skills and Monks get Evasion, so a Monk could take this class at pretty much any level after 6. The Monk abilities also fit this extremely well for use, I'd suggest adding the Monks Speed and AC bonus progression to this as they'd fit very well and it would work great for both Monks and Rogues. OK, how does that look?
Darth Sephiroth 03-05-07, 01:40 PM	Perfectly, it makes it a slightly broader class for who would look into it
enygmatic_me 03-05-07, 01:44 PM	Perfectly, it makes it a slightly broader class for who would look into it Thanks for the help.
Darth Sephiroth 03-05-07, 07:31 PM	glad to help
enygmatic_me 03-09-07, 09:40 PM	Added Flavor Text, and before the end of the decade no less.
Darth Sephiroth 03-10-07, 03:11 AM	you might want to switch the flavor text from bold to italic, lots of bold doesn't look right
enygmatic_me 03-10-07, 03:12 AM	you might want to switch the flavor text from bold to italic, lots of bold doesn't look right Agreed with and done. What do you think of the flavor text?
Darth Sephiroth 03-10-07, 05:15 PM	It seems very good at the moment
enygmatic_me 03-10-07, 06:31 PM	Added more to the flavor text.
Darth Sephiroth 03-11-07, 12:07 AM	looks good
TheAnthroDM 03-11-07, 12:15 AM	I like it, I don't see why the class features should be hidden though
enygmatic_me 03-11-07, 12:24 AM	I like it, I don't see why the class features should be hidden though Thanks. I use the drop down mostly in hopes to keep a little bit of tidiness to the thread. It isn't always need, but I think it looks a little cleaner overall.