Monk Fighting Styles [Archive] - Wizards Community

Monk Fighting Styles [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dr_Draco
05-14-05, 02:46 PM In my games, I use the Monk Fighting Styles variant from UA (probably my favorite variant in the entire book), and I've come up with a few of my own that I thought I might share :). Tell me what y'all think.

Focused Mind
Monks of the Focused Mind not only attempt to attune their psychical bodies and spirituality to perfection, but also they attempt to perfect their mind. They believe the body and spirit are only part of a picture which the mind completes.
1st-Level Skill Bonus: Concentration
1st-Level Feat: Wild Talent
2nd-Level Feat: Psionic Fist
6th-Level Feat: Unavoidable Strike
6th-Level Bonus Ability: Whenever you expend your psionic focus, you may become psionically focused the next round as a swift action. You may do this once per day per 5 monk levels, to a maximum of four times per day at 20th level. Prerequisites: Concentration 9 ranks, Knowledge (psionics) 4 ranks, Psionic Meditation

Martial Arts
Martial artists excel in using weapons in their training. They learn how to use the weapon with nearly the same force as their fists and feet.
1st-Level Skill Bonus: Concentration
1st-Level Feat: Fighter Bonus Feat
2nd-Level Feat: Weapon Focus (one monk weapon)
6th-Level Feat: Weapon Specialization (one monk weapon)
6th-Level Bonus Ability: When using the chosen monk weapon, the first attack’s damage is equal to your unarmed strike damage (if higher). When using a flurry of blows, the first two attacks deal unarmed strike damage (if higher). Prerequisites: Concentration 9 ranks, Weapon Focus (chosen monk weapon), Weapon Specialization (chosen monk weapon)

Speeding Cheetah
Sprinting is the center of the Speeding Cheetah's training. They learn that the faster they strike the longer they survive in the chaotic world.
1st-Level Skill Bonus: Tumble
1st-Level Feat: Dodge
2nd-Level Feat: Mobility
6th-Level Feat: Spring Attack
6th-Level Bonus Ability: Once per day, a monk may make a single unarmed attack at her highest bonus as a swift action. Prerequisites: Balance 9 ranks, Tumble 9 ranks.

Strong Arm
For generations, practitioners of the Strong Arm style have taught that ultimate beauty is created through the sheer force and strength of their upper bodies. A beauty with a deadly punch.
1st-Level Skill Bonus: Concentration
1st-Level Feat: Stunning Fist
2nd-Level Feat: Fists of Iron
6th-Level Feat: Axiomatic Strike
6th-Level Bonus Ability: Once per round, whenever and opponent would be denied his Dexterity bonus to AC, the monk can attempt to paralyze her foe with an unarmed strike. On a successful hit, the foe must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 your character level + your Wis modifier), or he becomes paralyzed for 1 round. If the foe fails by more than 5, he is paralyzed for 2 rounds. Using this ability is a full-round action and counts as one of the monk's uses of the Stunning Fist feat for the day. If the monk has the Freezing the Lifeblood feat, this ability stacks with it. Prerequisites: Concentration 9 ranks, Power Attack
20102000
05-15-05, 10:27 AM You should have a look at Blood and fists. Its made for d20 modern, but should easily translate to D&D.
Very expanded fighting styles and feats.
Dr_Draco
05-15-05, 11:44 PM Sounds like something I might look into. Thanks :).
Dr_Draco
07-31-06, 08:19 PM I know this thread is ancient, but I'm wondering what everyone's thoughts are on these additions?
Exner
08-05-06, 11:09 PM i like them, especially the psionic based one. i always wanted the option of intergrating psionic feats into my monk...now i can!
Darth Sephiroth
08-05-06, 11:24 PM A little off actually, the fighting styles are meant to be accessible from 1st level on as a variant of the base monk with the following.

Bonus Class Skill
1st feat
2nd feat
3rd feat
Special Ability

they need to match the current fighting styles in how they work and with the template
Exner
08-05-06, 11:30 PM i like the spring attack route as well...but the extra attack as a swift action may be too good (even if it is really cool). Perhaps a +10 bonus to speed when spring attacking?
Dr_Draco
08-06-06, 03:10 PM Decided to change the Martial Arts style slightly. Not a big change, though. Just added a skill bonus (which I forgot to put) and changed the 2nd-Level Feat from a fighter bonus feat to Weapon Focus. Makes more sense, I think.

i like them, especially the psionic based one. i always wanted the option of intergrating psionic feats into my monk...now i can!Yeah, that's the main reason I did that one. It's actually the reason I decided to create some other fighting styles in the first place, lol ;).

i like the spring attack route as well...but the extra attack as a swift action may be too good (even if it is really cool). Perhaps a +10 bonus to speed when spring attacking?Hmm... I dunno, I like the extra attack, perhaps reducing it to once per day instead of twice?

A little off actually, the fighting styles are meant to be accessible from 1st level on as a variant of the base monk with the following.

Bonus Class Skill
1st feat
2nd feat
3rd feat
Special Ability

they need to match the current fighting styles in how they work and with the templateFair enough, it will be fixed.
Dr_Draco
08-15-06, 03:26 AM Added a new fighting style and some flavor text on the styles.
CryoSilver
08-16-06, 02:37 AM I did basically just this a bit back, except as a 5 level PrC; no one commented on it, and it died. Maybe I can find it somewhere...
Dr_Draco
08-19-06, 01:14 AM I did basically just this a bit back, except as a 5 level PrC; no one commented on it, and it died. Maybe I can find it somewhere...Sounds cool. If you can find it, bump it up and I'll give it a look over :cool: .
X-Codes
08-19-06, 01:34 AM I like the Psionic one. There aren't enough ways to get Wild Talent as a bonus feat without feeling like you're wasting it. It lends itself well as a starting point for Psionic Fist.

The others... meh... Not too exciting to me.
Dr_Draco
08-19-06, 08:18 PM I like the Psionic one. There aren't enough ways to get Wild Talent as a bonus feat without feeling like you're wasting it. It lends itself well as a starting point for Psionic Fist.My favorite as well ;).

The others... meh... Not too exciting to me.I find the Martial Arts style to be pretty nice because it makes monk weapons not useless at high levels (outside of being DR breakers). Being able to use your unarmed damage for the first attack or two with the weapon is nice in my view.

The other two are definitely more along the lines of the genericness of the other UA Fighting Styles. They're pretty much just more options to use with the variant.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dr_Draco 05-14-05, 02:46 PM	In my games, I use the Monk Fighting Styles variant from UA (probably my favorite variant in the entire book), and I've come up with a few of my own that I thought I might share :). Tell me what y'all think. Focused Mind Monks of the Focused Mind not only attempt to attune their psychical bodies and spirituality to perfection, but also they attempt to perfect their mind. They believe the body and spirit are only part of a picture which the mind completes. 1st-Level Skill Bonus: Concentration 1st-Level Feat: Wild Talent 2nd-Level Feat: Psionic Fist 6th-Level Feat: Unavoidable Strike 6th-Level Bonus Ability: Whenever you expend your psionic focus, you may become psionically focused the next round as a swift action. You may do this once per day per 5 monk levels, to a maximum of four times per day at 20th level. Prerequisites: Concentration 9 ranks, Knowledge (psionics) 4 ranks, Psionic Meditation Martial Arts Martial artists excel in using weapons in their training. They learn how to use the weapon with nearly the same force as their fists and feet. 1st-Level Skill Bonus: Concentration 1st-Level Feat: Fighter Bonus Feat 2nd-Level Feat: Weapon Focus (one monk weapon) 6th-Level Feat: Weapon Specialization (one monk weapon) 6th-Level Bonus Ability: When using the chosen monk weapon, the first attack’s damage is equal to your unarmed strike damage (if higher). When using a flurry of blows, the first two attacks deal unarmed strike damage (if higher). Prerequisites: Concentration 9 ranks, Weapon Focus (chosen monk weapon), Weapon Specialization (chosen monk weapon) Speeding Cheetah Sprinting is the center of the Speeding Cheetah's training. They learn that the faster they strike the longer they survive in the chaotic world. 1st-Level Skill Bonus: Tumble 1st-Level Feat: Dodge 2nd-Level Feat: Mobility 6th-Level Feat: Spring Attack 6th-Level Bonus Ability: Once per day, a monk may make a single unarmed attack at her highest bonus as a swift action. Prerequisites: Balance 9 ranks, Tumble 9 ranks. Strong Arm For generations, practitioners of the Strong Arm style have taught that ultimate beauty is created through the sheer force and strength of their upper bodies. A beauty with a deadly punch. 1st-Level Skill Bonus: Concentration 1st-Level Feat: Stunning Fist 2nd-Level Feat: Fists of Iron 6th-Level Feat: Axiomatic Strike 6th-Level Bonus Ability: Once per round, whenever and opponent would be denied his Dexterity bonus to AC, the monk can attempt to paralyze her foe with an unarmed strike. On a successful hit, the foe must succeed at a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 your character level + your Wis modifier), or he becomes paralyzed for 1 round. If the foe fails by more than 5, he is paralyzed for 2 rounds. Using this ability is a full-round action and counts as one of the monk's uses of the Stunning Fist feat for the day. If the monk has the Freezing the Lifeblood feat, this ability stacks with it. Prerequisites: Concentration 9 ranks, Power Attack
20102000 05-15-05, 10:27 AM	You should have a look at Blood and fists. Its made for d20 modern, but should easily translate to D&D. Very expanded fighting styles and feats.
Dr_Draco 05-15-05, 11:44 PM	Sounds like something I might look into. Thanks :).
Dr_Draco 07-31-06, 08:19 PM	I know this thread is ancient, but I'm wondering what everyone's thoughts are on these additions?
Exner 08-05-06, 11:09 PM	i like them, especially the psionic based one. i always wanted the option of intergrating psionic feats into my monk...now i can!
Darth Sephiroth 08-05-06, 11:24 PM	A little off actually, the fighting styles are meant to be accessible from 1st level on as a variant of the base monk with the following. Bonus Class Skill 1st feat 2nd feat 3rd feat Special Ability they need to match the current fighting styles in how they work and with the template
Exner 08-05-06, 11:30 PM	i like the spring attack route as well...but the extra attack as a swift action may be too good (even if it is really cool). Perhaps a +10 bonus to speed when spring attacking?
Dr_Draco 08-06-06, 03:10 PM	Decided to change the Martial Arts style slightly. Not a big change, though. Just added a skill bonus (which I forgot to put) and changed the 2nd-Level Feat from a fighter bonus feat to Weapon Focus. Makes more sense, I think. i like them, especially the psionic based one. i always wanted the option of intergrating psionic feats into my monk...now i can!Yeah, that's the main reason I did that one. It's actually the reason I decided to create some other fighting styles in the first place, lol ;). i like the spring attack route as well...but the extra attack as a swift action may be too good (even if it is really cool). Perhaps a +10 bonus to speed when spring attacking?Hmm... I dunno, I like the extra attack, perhaps reducing it to once per day instead of twice? A little off actually, the fighting styles are meant to be accessible from 1st level on as a variant of the base monk with the following. Bonus Class Skill 1st feat 2nd feat 3rd feat Special Ability they need to match the current fighting styles in how they work and with the templateFair enough, it will be fixed.
Dr_Draco 08-15-06, 03:26 AM	Added a new fighting style and some flavor text on the styles.
CryoSilver 08-16-06, 02:37 AM	I did basically just this a bit back, except as a 5 level PrC; no one commented on it, and it died. Maybe I can find it somewhere...
Dr_Draco 08-19-06, 01:14 AM	I did basically just this a bit back, except as a 5 level PrC; no one commented on it, and it died. Maybe I can find it somewhere...Sounds cool. If you can find it, bump it up and I'll give it a look over :cool: .
X-Codes 08-19-06, 01:34 AM	I like the Psionic one. There aren't enough ways to get Wild Talent as a bonus feat without feeling like you're wasting it. It lends itself well as a starting point for Psionic Fist. The others... meh... Not too exciting to me.
Dr_Draco 08-19-06, 08:18 PM	I like the Psionic one. There aren't enough ways to get Wild Talent as a bonus feat without feeling like you're wasting it. It lends itself well as a starting point for Psionic Fist.My favorite as well ;). The others... meh... Not too exciting to me.I find the Martial Arts style to be pretty nice because it makes monk weapons not useless at high levels (outside of being DR breakers). Being able to use your unarmed damage for the first attack or two with the weapon is nice in my view. The other two are definitely more along the lines of the genericness of the other UA Fighting Styles. They're pretty much just more options to use with the variant.