Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JulesCARV 04-08-07, 01:14 AM	I have an idea for an evil monk prestige class. Basically, members of this prestige class would take self-denial to such extremes that they would basically kill themselves, probably through starvation, but they keep going through force of will. (They achieve undeath at level 10 or so.) I'm provisionally calling them Mortifiers -- a reference both to the fact that they mortify the flesh in the sense of extreme abstinence, self-flagellation, etc, and also to the fact that they mortify in the sense of becoming undead. They would advance some monk features, and gradually gain undead traits as they waste away. By level 8 or so, they're skin and bones, and look like they just got out of Dachau -- but a bit too late to survive. To show their toughness, they might gain DR / - or something. Thoughts? I'm thinking that as prerequisites they might require knowledge (religion) 4 ranks, lawful evil (or possibly LE or LN) alignment, Purity of Body, and maybe some concentration and autohypnosis.
Karzach 04-08-07, 01:36 AM	I wouldn't necessarily require being evil as a prerequisite, though as he becomes an undead creature through force of will, he might end up being evil.
Molot 04-08-07, 09:14 AM	I'd allow good, deathless version of the class. Only lawful neutral shouldn't be allowed to enter, due to not extreme enough focus. Aura (like cleric's one) of good or evil is a must. Levels in prc should count as a monk levels for flurry of blows, Unarmed Damage and Unarmored Speed Bonus. AC Bonus will be effectively substituted by undead/deathless traits, so I wouldn't count it in. If character wasn't monk before, he should get those abilities. I'd make requirements a bit less "stiff" - not only monks should be able to enter. My Requirements: Feats: Iron Will (Through the will he became what he became) Stunning Fis (Something that is easiest for a monk to get) Self-Sufficient (Flavour-wise fits, and makes character need to actually try to enter) Skills: Concentration 8 ranks (just seems fit) Knowledge (religion) 8 ranks (undead and deathless falls under this category) Heal 8 ranks (You gotta know your body, don't you?) Other: Base Will Save +4 (monk 4, fighter 12) Must start training under the eye of someone who already entered the path of the INSERTNAMEHERE That'd be about it. And don't forget to add note "this class does not count when determining if character can take more levels in monk, paladin or any other classes that does not normally allows returning to them". Did I say that not only monks should be able to benefit?
JulesCARV 04-08-07, 12:52 PM	Eight ranks of heal? Hmm... given that monks don't have heal as a class skill, that seems rather steep.
Molot 04-08-07, 03:10 PM	Eight ranks of heal? Hmm... given that monks don't have heal as a class skill, that seems rather steep.Little cross-class learning never killed nobody. And seriously, it might be as well 4 ranks, just to mark that aspect of knowledge. I might agree on Knowledge (religion) 4 too. And, as I recall from Discovery Channel, there were monks that starved themselves to dead. They used to eat only things with huge amount of tannins. When they were ready, after many months or even years of preparation, they went down to the underground crypt, with only air tube to the surface and a bell inside. Monastyr's community meditated above, and when they heard bell ring (once a day), they knew "not yet". When ritual was finished, the corps of "meditating forever" monk was taken out and worshipped. Note that they do not rot or anything, they can look almost the same for hundreds of years. It seems like good template for final ritual of this class. Holly version for deathless, rotten and dark for undead of course.
The_Shaman 04-08-07, 03:20 PM	"Iron Will (Through the will he became what he became) Stunning Fist (Something that is easiest for a monk to get) Self-Sufficient (Flavour-wise fits, and makes character need to actually try to enter)" Nice, but those are 4 feats as afaik SF requires improved unarmed strike -and I don't know why it'd be necessary. Self-sufficient is imo not needed - they don't want to survive, after all, although endurance might be a better fit anyway if you specifically want to make it harder to enter the class (must be some form of a fad - many DMG prestige classes want little or no feats), or perhaps something from ye olde Libris Mortis. Why should it be a typical monk PrC anyway? However, I do see them taking quite a few ranks in concentration. Maybe less heal, though - but a few ranks in autohypnosis instead (it's in the psionic section of the SRD). Perhaps the Kn (religion) ranks would be tied to creating an object or ritual that marks their departure on the way to (un)death, which they have to enact as a special requirement.
Molot 04-08-07, 03:45 PM	Nice, but those are 4 feats as afaik SF requires improved unarmed strike -and I don't know why it'd be necessary.Original author wanted it to be monkish PrC, and that's the way to make it easiest for monks. That's all. I would not fight for it. Self-sufficient is imo not needed - they don't want to survive, after all, although endurance might be a better fit anyway if you specifically want to make it harder to enter the class (must be some form of a fad - many DMG prestige classes want little or no feats), or perhaps something from ye olde Libris Mortis.I'm against Libris Mortis here, as I see it as deathless class too. Why should it be a typical monk PrC anyway?Not through magic or devotee their became what their became, but through training and discipline. Also, if I recall correctly, it has a bit historical info, my prev post contains what I can remember. But I would not fight for it, as I've said ;) Original author may do it, however. However, I do see them taking quite a few ranks in concentration. Maybe less heal, though - but a few ranks in autohypnosis instead (it's in the psionic section of the SRD).Some_skill 8 is to make sure that entry is possible only after 5 levels of base class(es). I always though that introducing XPH material into non-psi creations is kinda... not right. Perhaps the Kn (religion) ranks would be tied to creating an object or ritual that marks their departure on the way to (un)death, which they have to enact as a special requirement.Good idea :)