Base Class - Monk

[Garryl]

Monk base class
So, it's a Monk remake. Hopefully totally cool, too. Be totally zen while you punch people to death. Or punch them to life. I'm not judging.
The new AC bonus ability Lets you wear no armor or light armor without stressing about it. Either way is good, and you wind up with about the same AC.
Inspired by the Serene Guardian PrC from the Shattered Gates of Slaughtergarde module and the Diablo 3 Monk class.
Original post: http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=243.160;msg=96897

Hit Die: d8

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Pressure Strikes Known	Mantras Known	Releases Known
1	+1	+2	+2	+2	AC Bonus, Mantras (Novice), Pressure Strikes (Novice), Unarmed Strike	2	1	--
2	+2	+3	+3	+3	Evasion	3	1	--
3	+3	+3	+3	+3	Still Mind	4	2	--
4	+4	+4	+4	+4	--	5	2	--
5	+5	+4	+4	+4	Purity of Body	7	2	--
6	+6/+1	+5	+5	+5	Mantras (Student), Pressure Strikes (Student), Releases (Student), Resonance	8	3	2
7	+7/+2	+5	+5	+5	--	9	3	3
8	+8/+3	+6	+6	+6	--	10	4	3
9	+9/+4	+6	+6	+6	Diamond Body	11	4	4
10	+10/+5	+7	+7	+7	Double Mantra	13	4	4
11	+11/+6/+1	+7	+7	+7	Greater Resonance, Mantras (Master), Pressure Strikes (Master), Releases (Master)	14	5	5
12	+12/+7/+2	+8	+8	+8	--	15	5	6
13	+13/+8/+3	+8	+8	+8	--	16	6	6
14	+14/+9/+4	+9	+9	+9	--	17	6	7
15	+15/+10/+5	+9	+9	+9	--	19	6	7
16	+16/+11/+6/+1	+10	+10	+10	Mantras (Secret), True Resonance, Pressure Strikes (Secret), Releases (Secret)	20	7	8
17	+17/+12/+7/+2	+10	+10	+10	Timeless Body	21	7	9
18	+18/+13/+8/+3	+11	+11	+11	--	22	8	9
19	+19/+14/+9/+4	+11	+11	+11	--	23	8	10
20	+20/+15/+10/+5	+12	+12	+12	Triple Mantra, Undying Style	25	8	10

Class skills (4 + Int modifier per level): Balance, Climb, Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (religion), Listen, Move Silently, Perform, Profession, Sense Motive, Spot, Swim, and Tumble.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: As a Monk, you are proficient with all simple weapons, and with the handaxe, kama, nunchaku, sai, shuriken, and siangham. You do not gain proficiency with any sort of armor or shield.

AC Bonus (Ex): You gain a +3 armor bonus to your Armor Class. This bonus increases by 1 per 3 class levels. As an armor bonus, this bonus does not stack with the benefits of traditional armor.

Additionally, while wearing light or no armor, your movements are free and your ability to dodge attacks is limited only by how well you can predict them. You gain an insight bonus to your Armor Class equal to your Wisdom modifier.

Pressure Strikes: You learn a number of pressure strikes based on your level. These come in 4 grades: Novice, Student, Master, and Secret. You can apply a single pressure strike to any unarmed strike attack you make, but you can only use any given pressure strike once per round. Some pressure strikes impede your enemies. Others rejuvenate and enhance your allies. Most pressure strikes are extraordinary abilities.

Much like touch spells, you can automatically hit yourself and willing allies with pressure strikes. This still counts as an attack and can generate resonance as normal, but you need not make an attack roll.

Initially, you can only learn and use novice pressure strikes. Starting at 6th level, you can learn and use student pressure strikes. At 11th level, this improves to master pressure strikes, and at 16th level you gain access to secret pressure strikes.

The save DC of your pressure strikes is equal to 10 + 1/2 your Monk level + your Wisdom modifier.

Mantras: You learn a number of mantras based on your level. Mantras are continuous effects, usually either emanations or personal effects. Starting a mantra is a swift action, and ending one is a free action. Normally, you can maintain only one mantra at once, which takes only a free action each round. At 10th level you learn to maintain two mantras at once. Starting at 20th level, you can instead maintain three at once.

Using a mantra requires focusing on a group of sounds, syllables, or words with mystic meanings relating to the universe. Only creatures that can hear these sounds can be affected by one of your mantras. Normally, this requires chanting them out loud, but telepathy can communicate them just as well. If you do not wish for any creatures other than yourself to be affected, you can silently think of the sounds in your mind.

Initially, you can only learn and use novice mantras. Starting at 6th level, you can learn and use student mantras. At 11th level, this improves to master mantras, and at 16th level you gain access to secret mantras.

The save DC of your mantras is equal to 10 + 1/2 your Monk level + your Wisdom modifier.

Unarmed Strike (Ex): You gain Improved Unarmed Strike and Superior Unarmed Strike feats as bonus feats at 1st level, even if you do not qualify for them. Your unarmed strikes deal damage as if you were a character of your Monk level plus 4, or of your character level, whichever is better. Your unarmed attacks may be with either fist interchangeably or even from elbows, knees, and feet. This means that you may even make unarmed strikes with your hands full. Your unarmed strike is treated both as a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons.

Evasion (Ex): Beginning at 2nd level, if you make a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, you instead take no damage. Evasion can be used only if you are wearing light armor or no armor. You do not gain the benefit of Evasion while helpless.

Still Mind (Ex): Starting at 3rd level, you gain a +2 bonus on saving throws against all charm and compulsion effects.

Purity of Body (Ex): Beginning at 5th level, you become immune to all diseases.

Resonance (Su): Starting at 6th level, whenever you hit a creature with at least two attacks in a single round, you create one point of resonance in that creature. If you do not add to or use this resonance within 24 hours, it dissipates harmlessly. Starting at 11th level, you can create an additional point of resonance if you hit a creature three times in a single round. At 16th level, you can create a third point of resonance if you hit a creature four times in a single round. You normally need to make a full attack to create resonance, but a single attack followed by an attack of opportunity later in the round is just as effective.

While you can generate any amount of resonance in any amount of subjects, the amount you can effectively maintain in a single subject is limited. You cannot generate more resonance in a single subject than your Monk level at any given time. If you already have more resonance in a subject than your level, you do not remove the excess, you simply cannot generate more with this ability.

If multiple creatures create resonance in the same subject, track each pool separately. They don't interact with each other. Resonance can only be used by the creature that created it.

Releases: Starting at 6th level, you learn to release the resonance that you can build in your foes and your allies. You learn a number of releases based on your level. Releases are supernatural abilities that can be used as a swift action. Regardless of their effects, using a release removes all of your resonance from the target, and you can only use a release on a creature that has at least one point of resonance.

Initially, you can only learn and use novice and student releases. Starting at 11th level, you can learn and use master releases. At 16th level you gain access to secret releases.

The save DC of your releases is equal to 10 + 1/2 your Monk level + your Wisdom modifier.

Diamond Body (Ex): Beginning at 9th level, you become immune to all poisons.

Timeless Body (Ex): Upon attaining 17th level, you no longer take penalties to your ability scores for aging and cannot be magically aged. Any such penalties that you have already taken are removed. Bonuses still accrue, and you still die of old age when your time is up.

Undying Style (Ex): At 20th level, the Heavens themselves acknowledge you as a successor to your martial arts style, and will not let its knowledge die. If you would die of anything but natural causes, and you are not resurrected within a year and a day (or if resurrection is prevented somehow, such as by destroying your soul itself), the undying spirit of your legacy passes on to one of your descendants or relatives, however distant, so the style will live on. Treat this as a reincarnate spell, except it requires no body, there is no level loss, and the species of the target is limited to your own, or as close to original as possible (templates may be lost, at the DM's discretion). This effect cannot take place more than once a generation. The reincarnated creature retains all memories of the "original", but has lived a different life up until then for all effects and purposes.


Change Log

(click to show/hide)

22/6/2017: Reposted to Min Max Forums.
2/12/2015: Updated formatting, typos.
11/5/2014: Completed.
18/3/2013: First posted.

[Garryl]

Pressure Strikes

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Novice

• Actualizing Touch: Attack deals no damage. Subject gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls and saving throws for 1d4+1 rounds.
  
• Circle Kick: Attack strikes two adjacent foes.
  
• Deadly Reach: Attack has +20' reach.
  
• Focused Fist: Attack gains a +1 enhancement bonus and automatically confirms critical threats.
  
• Hand Afire: Attack deals +1d6 fire damage.
  
• Kneading Hands: Attack deals no damage, instead removing that much nonlethal damage.
  
• Least Chakra Block: Target must make a Fort save or suffer penalties and lose the use of magic items and soulmelds on the crown, feet, or hands chakras for 1 round.
  
• Leg Sweep: Attempt to trip the target as a free action if attack hits.
  
• Scorpion Claw: Attempt to start a grapple as a free action if attack hits.
  
• Sickening Blow: Target must make a Fort save or be sickened for 1 round.
  
• Three-Sided Strike: Attack as if flanking.
  
• Thunderclap: Target must make a Fort save or be deafened for 1d4+1 rounds.
  

Student

• Bodily Release: Attack deals no damage. Target is allowed a new saving throw against any ongoing stunning, paralyzing, or movement-impairing effects.
  
• Hand Ablaze: Attack deals +2d6 fire damage.
  
• Hand of Revelation: Attack ignores miss chances, may reveal invisible targets.
  
• Healing Hands: Attack deals no damage, instead healing that much damage.
  
• Lesser Chakra Block: As least chakra block, but also affects the arms, brow, or shoulder chakras and lasts for 1d3 rounds.
  
• Lockjaw: Target must make a Fort save or have difficulty speaking. For 1 round, any action that involves speaking takes an additional move action that also provokes attacks of opportunity. Bonuses and immunity against paralysis also apply to this pressure strike.
  
• Mental Release: Attack deals no damage. Target is allowed a new saving throw against any ongoing mind-affecting effects.
  
• Ordered Strike: Attack bypasses all damage reduction. Target's DR may be reduced for 1 round.
  
• Seven-Sided Strike: Attack as if flanking and foe flat-footed.
  
• Shadow Hand: Attack as an incorporeal touch attack.
  
• Shattered Palm Strike: Target must make a Fort save or drop anything held and lose the use of its hands for 1 round.
  
• Staggering Strike: Target must make a Will save or be staggered for 1d3 rounds.
  
• Student's Focused Fist: Attack gains a +2 enhancement bonus, doubled critical threat range, and automatically confirms critical threats.
  
• Void Release: Attack deals no damage. Target gains a +2 morale bonus to all ability scores for 1d4+1 rounds.
  

Master

• Greater Chakra Block: As lesser chakra block, but also affects the throat and waist chakras and lasts for 1d4+1 rounds.
  
• Gut Blow: Target must make a Fort save or be nauseated for 1 round.
  
• Master's Focused Fist: Attack gains a +3 enhancement bonus, tripled critical threat range, and automatically confirms critical threats.
  
• Mending Touch: Attack deals no damage. Target is cured of many conditions.
  
• Pyrrhic Hand: Attack deals +3d6 fire damage.
  
• Resonant Palm: Creates 1 additional resonance on the target if it already has any resonance.
  
• Stunning Fist: Target must make a Will save or be stunned for 1 round.
  
• Sweeping Strike: Attack all enemies within reach.
  
• Wholeness of Body: Attack deals no damage. Subject is healed for the damage it would have dealt and is cured of up to 1d4 ability damage to one ability score.
  

Secret

• Hand of Fate: Attack deals no damage. Target rolls all d20 rolls twice and takes the better result for the next 1d4+1 rounds.
  
• Hand of Judgement: If target fails a Will save, it rolls all d20 rolls twice and takes the worse result for the next 1d4+1 rounds.
  
• Piercing Trident: Attack all enemies in a cone with radius equal to triple your normal reach.
  
• Quivering Palm: Creates 2 additional resonance on the target if it already has any resonance.
  
• Secret Chakra Block: As greater chakra block, but also affects the heart and soul chakras and lasts for 1d6+2 rounds.
  
• Secret Focused Fist: Attack gains a +5 enhancement bonus and automatically threatens and confirms a critical hit.
  
• Touch of Eternity: Target must make a Will save or be frozen in time for 1 round.
  
• Volcanic Hand: Attack deals +5d6 fire damage.
  

Mantras

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Novice

• Flowing Waves: You and allies gain a bonus on Reflex saves and to AC against critical confirmation rolls.
  
• Passionate Flame: Nearby enemies must make a Will save or take fire damage every round.
  
• Step on the Wind: Fall slowly, ignore difficult terrain.
  
• Stoic Earth: You and allies gain DR/- and a bonus on Fort saves when you move very little.
  

Student

• Dark Thoughts: Nearby living creatures take 1d6 damage every round. You gain temporary hit points equal to the total damage dealt this way, which last for 1 round.
  
• Inner Sanctuary: Enemies must make a Will save to attack you if you haven't attacked them yet.
  
• Step of Light: You and allies gain an enhancement bonus to all movement speeds and a dodge bonus to AC based on the distance moved.
  
• Tongue of the Sun and Moon: You and allies can communicate with any living creature, regardless of language. Gain a bonus on Listen and Sense Motive checks.
  

Master

• Abundant Step: Teleport instead of moving.
  
• Dark Speech: Channel unholy power to weaken and exhaust nearby enemies.
  
• Diamond Soul: Gain Spell Resistance that you can raise or lower with no action.
  
• There and Nowhere: Gain Improved Evasion. Nearby allies gain Evasion even in armor.
  
• Words of Creation: Channel holy power to strengthen and restore nearby allies.
  

Secret

• Empty Body: Become incorporeal or shift to and from the ethereal plane.
  
• Fortune's Favored: Channel anarchic power take the higher of 2d20 on most rolls.
  
• Perfect Self: Gain DR 10/magic, +4 to all ability scores, and don't auto-miss attacks or auto-fail saves on a natural 1.
  
• Universal Order: Channel axiomatic power to take 15 on most rolls.
  

Releases

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Novice
None

Student

• Damaging Release: Subject takes 1d10 damage per resonance.
  
• Flurry of Blows: Make an additional attack against the target at your highest attack bonus.
  
• Harrying Release: An invisible force distracts the target for 1 round per resonance, allowing all attackers to treat it as flanked.
  
• Painful Release: Subject takes a penalty to AC and saves for a short while.
  
• Staggering Release: Subject takes a penalty to all movement speeds for a short while.
  
• Sweeping Wind: Target may be checked, knocked prone, or blown away based on its size and resonance.
  
• Wave of Life: Release positive energy, healing all allied living creatures within 30' of the target for 1d8 per resonance and dealing that much damage to undead (Will half).
  

Master

• Cyclone's Grasp: Enemies within 30' of the target may be checked, knocked prone, or blown toward the target based on their size and the target's resonance.
  
• Greater Flurry: Make two additional attacks against the target at your highest attack bonus.
  
• Living Call: Returns a recently slain creature to life as revivify.
  
• Release Burdens: Removes a number of negative levels, ability drain, and ability damage based on the target's resonance.
  
• Traumatic Release: Subject takes 2d6 damage per resonance and is shaken for a short time.
  
• Unraveled Dweomer: As a greater dispel magic, either centered on or targeting the target. Can dispel no more magical effects than the target's resonance.
  

Secret

• Breath of Nirvana: Allies within 30' of the target heal 20 hp per resonance, enemies may be blinded or stunned.
  
• Confounding Release: Target is confused (no save) for one round per resonance.
  
• Second Birth: Target is completely restored, as per greater restoration.
  
• Serenity: Target is immune to damage and automatically succeeds on most saving throws for a short time.
  
• Soul Release: Separate the target's soul or animating energies from its body. Target must make a Will save or die, be knocked unconscious, or be dazed based on its resonance.
  
• Way of the Hundred Fists: Make three additional attacks against the target at your highest attack bonus.
  

Pressure Strike Descriptions

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Actualizing Touch
Grade: Novice Pressure Strike
Duration: 1d4+1 rounds
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
Your attack deals no damage. Instead, the subject you hit gains a +2 morale bonus on attack rolls and saving throws for the duration.


Bodily Release
Grade: Student Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
Your attack deals no damage. Instead, the subject can make a new saving throw against any number of ongoing stunning, paralyzing, or movement-impairing effects currently affecting it. If the subject succeeds at the new saving throw, the effect ends immediately. Bodily Release never undoes instantaneous effects, such as hit point or ability score damage, but it does eliminate any conditions such as stunning, paralysis, and entangling that were caused by the ongoing effect. If an ongoing effect doesn't allow a save (such as power word stun), then this pressure strike won't help the subject recover.


Circle Kick
Grade: Novice Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal, but resolve it against up to two targets within reach. Both targets must be adjacent to each other. You make a single attack roll, damage rolls, and (if applicable) critical confirmation roll. These rolls apply against both targets of your attack.


Chakra Block, Greater
Grade: Master Pressure Strike
Duration: 1d4+1 rounds
This pressure strike functions as lesser chakra block, except as noted above and that you can also select from the throat and waist chakras.

• Throat: -2 penalty on all Charisma checks and Charisma-based skill checks and 25% chance to fail to activate or cast spells and abilities with verbal components (similar to being deaf, although the two conditions stack).
  
• Waist: -2 penalty to Fortitude saves.
  

Chakra Block, Least
Grade: Novice Pressure Strike
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Fort negates
Make your attack as normal. If you hit, choose one of the crown, feet, or hands chakras. The subject must make a Fortitude save or have that chakra blocked for the duration. On a failed saving throw, the subject loses the benefit of any chakra binds to that chakra, and is unable to use or benefit from magic items worn on that chakra's associated body slot. The subject also suffers an additional penalty based on the chakra blocked. Creatures that have no Constitution scores are immune to these effects.

• Crown: -2 penalty to Will saves.
  
• Feet: -2 penalty on all initiative checks, Dexterity checks, and Dexterity-based skill checks and a -10 foot penalty to all movement speeds.
  
• Hands: -2 penalty on weapon damage rolls and on all Strength checks and Strength-based skill checks.
  

Chakra Block, Lesser
Grade: Student Pressure Strike
Duration: 1d3 rounds
This pressure strike functions as least chakra block, except as noted above and that you can also select from the arms, brow, and shoulders chakras, and that it lasts for 1d3 rounds.

• Arms: -4 penalty on grapple checks and a -2 penalty on attack rolls.
  
• Brow: -2 penalty on all Constitution checks, Wisdom checks, Constitution-based skill checks, and Wisdom-based skill checks.
  
• Shoulders: -2 penalty to Reflex saves.
  

Chakra Block, Secret
Grade: Secret Pressure Strike
Duration: 1d6+2 rounds
This pressure strike functions as greater chakra block, except as noted above and that you can also select from the heart and soul chakras.

• Heart: -2 penalty to AC.
  
• Soul: -2 penalty to spell and ability save DCs.
  

Deadly Reach
Grade: Novice Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. For the purpose of this attack, treat your melee reach as 20 feet longer than normal.


Focused Fist
Grade: Novice Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. For the purpose of this attack, your weapon gains a +1 enhancement bonus. If you threaten a critical hit, you automatically confirm it. This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Focused Fist, Master's
Grade: Master Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. For the purpose of this attack, your weapon gains a +3 enhancement bonus and its critical threat range is tripled. If you threaten a critical hit, you automatically confirm it. This increase to your weapon's critical threat range stacks with the benefits of the Improved Critical feat, the Keen weapon property, and similar effects that multiply a weapon's threat range (but remember that a doubling and a tripling equal a quadrupling, and so forth). Only the weapon's base critical threat range is multiplied, not flat increases to it (such as those granted by the Disciple of Dispater prestige class). This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Focused Fist, Secret
Grade: Secret Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. For the purpose of this attack, your weapon gains a +5 enhancement bonus and its critical threat range is 1-20. If you threaten a critical hit, you automatically confirm it. This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Focused Fist, Student's
Grade: Student Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. For the purpose of this attack, your weapon gains a +2 enhancement bonus and its critical threat range is doubled. If you threaten a critical hit, you automatically confirm it. This increase to your weapon's critical threat range stacks with the benefits of the Improved Critical feat, the Keen weapon property, and similar effects that multiply a weapon's threat range (but remember that two doublings equal a tripling, and so forth). Only the weapon's base critical threat range is multiplied, not flat increases to it (such as those granted by the Disciple of Dispater prestige class). This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Gut Blow
Grade: Master Pressure Strike
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Fort negates
Make your attack as normal. If you hit and the subject fails its saving throw, it is nauseated for the duration.


Hand Ablaze
Grade: Student Pressure Strike [Fire]
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. If you hit, you deal an additional +2d6 fire damage. This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Hand Afire
Grade: Novice Pressure Strike [Fire]
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. If you hit, you deal an additional +1d6 fire damage. This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Hand of Fate
Grade: Secret Pressure Strike
Duration: 1d4+1 rounds
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
Your attack deals no damage. Instead, the subject is blessed by good fortune. For the duration, whenever the subject would make a d20 roll, it instead rolls twice and takes the better result. This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Hand of Judgement
Grade: Secret Pressure Strike
Duration: 1d4+1 rounds
Saving Throw: Will negates
Make your attack as normal. On a failed saving throw, the subject is cursed to misfortune. For the duration, whenever the subject would make a d20 roll, it instead rolls twice and takes the worse result. This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Hand of Revelation
Grade: Student Pressure Strike
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. You ignore any miss chances caused by concealment. If your attack hits, the subject glows with an inner light for the duration, revealing its position. The subject does not benefit from the concealment normally provided by darkness, blur, [/i]displacement[/i], invisibility, or similar effects. The light is too dim to have any special effect on undead or dark-dwelling creatures vulnerable to light.


Healing Hands
Grade: Student Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will half (harmless)
If your attack hits, roll for damage normally. Instead of taking damage, the subject heals that amount of damage.


Kneading Hands
Grade: Novice Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will half (harmless)
If your attack hits, roll for damage normally. Instead of taking damage, the subject heals that amount of nonlethal damage.


Leg Sweep
Grade: Novice Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. If you hit, you can attempt to trip the subject as a free action, using the same weapon that you used to make this pressure strike's attack (even if you cannot normally trip with such a weapon). This does not provoke an attack of opportunity, and you need not make a touch attack to initiate the trip attempt. If you fail to trip the subject, you are not at risk of being tripped in return.


Lockjaw
Grade: Student Pressure Strike
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Fort negates
Make your attack as normal. If you hit and the subject fails its saving throw, it finds its mouth and vocal cords nearly paralyzed. Any action that involves speaking takes an additional move action that also provokes attacks of opportunity. The subject is similarly unable to make any bite attacks unless it takes such a move action first. Bonuses and immunity against paralysis also apply to this pressure strike.


Mending Touch
Grade: Master Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Your attack deals no damage. Instead, the subject is instantly cured of all of the following conditions: blinded, confused, dazed, dazzled, deafened, exhausted, fatigued, frightened, nauseated, panicked, paralyzed, shaken, sickened, and stunned. The subject is cured of any poisons or diseases current affecting it, although this does not remove any damage that a disease or poison may have already caused. Finally, this pressure strike also negates sleep effects and the effect of the feeblemind spell.


Mental Release
Grade: Student Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
Your attack deals no damage. Instead, the subject can make a new saving throw against any number of ongoing mind-affecting effects currently affecting it. If the subject succeeds at the new saving throw, the effect ends immediately. Mental Release never undoes instantaneous effects, such as hit point or ability score damage, but it does eliminate any conditions such as stunning, paralysis, and fatigue that were caused by the ongoing effect. If an ongoing effect doesn't allow a save (such as power word stun), then this pressure strike won't help the subject recover.


Ordered Strike
Grade: Student Pressure Strike [Lawful]
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. Your attack is considered lawful-aligned and automatically bypasses any damage reduction the subject may have (even DR/-). Further, if your attack hits, the subject's damage reduction (if any) is reduced by 5 (minimum 0) for the duration. This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Piercing Trident
Grade: Secret Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal, but resolve it against any number of targets within a cone. The cone's length is equal to triple your normal reach. You make a single attack roll, damage rolls, and (if applicable) critical confirmation roll. These rolls apply against all targets of your attack. This counts as an area attack for the purpose of attacking and damaging swarms.


Pyrrhic Hand
Grade: Master Pressure Strike [Fire]
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. If you hit, you deal an additional +3d6 fire damage. This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Quivering Palm
Grade: Secret Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. If you hit, and the subject already has at least one resonance, you generate two additional points of resonance in the subject, to a maximum of your Monk level. This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Resonant Palm
Grade: Master Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. If you hit, and the subject already has at least one resonance, you generate one additional point of resonance in the subject, to a maximum of your Monk level. This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Seven-Sided Strike
Grade: Student Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. For the purpose of this attack, treat the target as flanked and flat-footed.


Scorpion Claw
Grade: Novice Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. If you hit, you can attempt to start a grapple with the subject as a free action. This does not provoke an attack of opportunity, and you need not make a touch attack to grab the subject. If you succeed in grappling the subject, you do not deal additional unarmed strike damage. However, you can choose to pull the subject into your space instead of moving into its. If you do, the subject's movement this way does not provoke attacks of opportunity.


Shadow Hand
Grade: Student Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. Treat your attack as an incorporeal touch attack when determining whether you hit and can deal damage. This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Shattered Palm Strike
Grade: Student Pressure Strike
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Fort negates
Make your attack as normal. If you hit and the subject fails its saving throw, its hands go limp and numb. The subject immediately drops anything held in its hands and cannot use them for any purposes (such as unarmed strikes, claw attacks, or casting spells with somatic components) for the duration. Bonuses and immunity against stunning also apply to this pressure strike.


Sickening Blow
Grade: Novice Pressure Strike
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Fort negates
Make your attack as normal. If you hit and the subject fails its saving throw, it is sickened for the duration.


Staggering Strike
Grade: Student Pressure Strike
Duration: 1d3 rounds
Saving Throw: Will negates
Make your attack as normal. If you hit and the subject fails its saving throw, it is staggered for the duration.


Stunning Fist
Grade: Master Pressure Strike
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Will negates
Make your attack as normal. If you hit and the subject fails its saving throw, it is stunned for the duration.


Sweeping Strike
Grade: Master Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal, but resolve it against any number of targets within reach. You make a single attack roll, damage rolls, and (if applicable) critical confirmation roll. These rolls apply against all targets of your attack. This counts as an area attack for the purpose of attacking and damaging swarms.


Three-Sided Strike
Grade: Novice Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. For the purpose of this attack, treat the target as flanked.


Thunderclap
Grade: Novice Pressure Strike
Duration: 1d4+1 rounds
Saving Throw: Fort negates
Make your attack as normal. If you hit and the subject fails its saving throw, it is deafened for the duration.


Touch of Eternity
Grade: Master Pressure Strike
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Will negates
Make your attack as normal. If you hit and the subject fails its saving throw, it is frozen in time for the duration, as per the temporal stasis spell. This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Void Release
Grade: Student Pressure Strike
Duration: 1d4+1 rounds
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
Your attack deals no damage. Instead, the subject you hit gains a +2 morale bonus to all of its ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma) for the duration.


Volcanic Hand
Grade: Secret Pressure Strike [Fire]
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Make your attack as normal. If you hit, you deal an additional +5d6 fire damage. This pressure strike is a supernatural ability.


Wholeness of Body
Grade: Master Pressure Strike
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
If your attack hits, roll for damage normally. Instead of taking damage, the subject heals that amount of damage. In addition, choose one ability score. The subject heals 1d4 points of ability damage to that ability score.

Mantra Descriptions

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Abundant Step
Grade: Master Mantra [Teleportation]
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the shifting nature of the planes. Whenever you would move, you can instead teleport the same distance you would be able to move. Your teleportation must follow any special restrictions your movement may have. For example, if you replaced your movement with teleportation as part of a charge, you would be able to teleport up to twice your speed, but you would still have to teleport at least 10 feet and to the nearest space from which you could attack your target. Movement made as teleportation in this way only provokes attacks of opportunity from moving out of the space you began your teleportation in.


Dark Speech
Grade: Master Mantra [Evil]
Range: 30 feet
Area: 30-foot emanation
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: Fort partial
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the destructive power of evil. Enemies within the area are exhausted and any fast healing or regeneration they may have is reduced by 5 (minimum 0). Regeneration reduced to 0 this way does not convert damage into nonlethal damage. Each creature is allowed a saving throw when they first enter the mantra's area. On a successful saving throw, the creature is fatigued instead of exhausted and its fast healing and regeneration are not reduced.


Dark Thoughts
Grade: Student Mantra [Darkness]
Range: 30 feet
Area: 30-foot emanation
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: Will half
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the consuming void of darkness. Each round at the beginning of your turn, this mantra deals 1d6 damage to all living creatures within the area other than yourself. A successful saving throw halves this damage, but only for that round. You gain temporary hit points equal to the total damage taken in this way for 1 round.


Diamond Soul
Grade: Master Mantra
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the immutability of diamond. You gain spell resistance equal to 15 + your Monk level. You can raise or lower this spell resistance with no action, even when it is not your turn or your are unable to act.


Empty Body
Grade: Secret Mantra
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the emptiness of space. You can become incorporeal and ethereal. Once per round as a free action, you can switch whether you are corporeal or incorporeal, or whether you exist on the ethereal plane or on its coexistent plane.


Flowing Waves
Grade: Novice Mantra [Water]
Range: 30 feet
Area: 30-foot emanation
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the fluidity of water. You and all allies within the area gain a +2 competence bonus on Reflex saves and a +4 bonus to Armor Class against critical confirmation rolls.


Fortune's Favored
Grade: Secret Mantra [Chaotic]
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
While you continue to chant this mantra, luck itself takes a liking to you. Whenever you would make a d20 roll, roll twice and take the higher result.


Inner Sanctuary
Grade: Student Mantra
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless); Will negates
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the peace of the universe. Any opponent that you have not attacked within the past 1 minute who attempts to attack you must make a saving throw. If the save fails, the opponent can’t follow through with the attack, and that part of its action is lost. This spell does not prevent you from being attacked or affected by attacks that affect an area as long as you are not the sole subject of that area attack.


Passionate Flame
Grade: Novice Mantra [Fire, Mind-affecting]
Range: 10 feet
Area: 10-foot emanation
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: Will negates
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the destructive heat of fire. Each round at the beginning of your turn, this mantra deals 1d6 fire damage to all opponents within the area. A successful saving throw negates this damage, but only for that round.


Perfect Self
Grade: Secret Mantra
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on elements of your ideal self. You gain DR 10/magic and a +4 insight bonus to all of your ability scores. Additionally, you do not automatically fail saving throws or miss attack rolls when you roll a natural 1.


Step of Light
Grade: Student Mantra [Light]
Range: 30 feet
Area: 30-foot emanation
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the alacrity of light. You and all allies within the area gain a +20-foot enhancement bonus to all movement speeds. Further, you and your allies gain a +1 dodge bonus to your Armor Class for every 10 feet you have moved within the past round (track each subject's movement separately).


Step on the Wind
Grade: Novice Mantra [Air]
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the weightlessness of air. You never take any damage from falling, and the rate at which you fall is reduced to a mere 60 feet per round (equivalent to the end of a fall from a few feet). Further, you can step lightly, allowing you to ignore the effects of difficult terrain, caltrops, and similar impediments as though you were flying instead of placing your weight on the ground.


Stoic Earth
Grade: Novice Mantra [Earth]
Range: 30 feet
Area: 30-foot emanation
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the solidity of earth. You and all allies within the area gain a +2 competence bonus on Fortitude saves. Further, you and your allies gain DR 2/-, but only while you have moved no more than 5 feet within the past round (track each subject's movement separately).


There and Nowhere
Grade: Master Mantra
Range: 30 feet
Area: 30-foot emanation
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the evasiveness of the unknown. Whenever you or an ally within the area make a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, you instead take no damage. Unlike the Evasion ability, this functions regardless of the armor worn. Further, if you wear only light or no armor, you (but not your allies) still take only half damage on a failed saving throw against such an attack.


Tongue of the Sun and Moon
Grade: Student Mantra
Range: 30 feet
Area: 30-foot emanation
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the universal comprehension of the heavens. You and all allies within the area gain a +5 competence bonus on all Listen and Sense Motive checks and can speak to and understand any living creature, even creatures that do not have a language.


Universal Order
Grade: Secret Mantra [Lawful]
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the ordered nature of the universe. You can treat any potential d20 result as a 15. You must decide whether or not to use this option immediately before rolling the d20.


Words of Creation
Grade: Master Mantra [Good]
Range: 30 feet
Area: 30-foot emanation
Duration: Mantra
Saving Throw: None (harmless)
While you continue to chant this mantra, you take on the uplifting power of good. Allies within the area gain a +2 bonus to their Strength and Dexterity scores and gain fast healing 5.

Release Descriptions

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Breath of Nirvana
Grade: Secret Release
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Area: 30-foot burst centered on the target
Duration: Instantaneous; See text
Saving Throw: Will half (harmless); Will partial
You release the resonance you have built to bring peace of mind and free your allies from suffering. Allies within the area are healed for 20 points of damage for each point of resonance released. Enemies within the area are instead stunned for 1 round and blinded for 1d4 rounds. A successful saving throw halves the healing received or negates the stunning and reduces the duration of the blinding to 1 round.


Confounding Release
Grade: Secret Release [Mind-affecting]
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round/resonance
Saving Throw: None
The resonance you release befuddles the subject's mind. It is confused for the duration, as per the confusion spell. The subject does not get a saving throw against this effect.


Cyclone's Grasp
Grade: Master Release [Air]
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Area: 30-foot burst centered on the target
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Fort negates
A whirlwind swirls around the subject, holding it in place and blowing nearby foes towards it. If the subject fails its saving throw, it is immobilized for the duration, and thus is unable to move. If the subject is size small or smaller, it is also knocked prone. In addition, all other opponents within the area must save against this release as well. Those that fail are checked for the duration, and are thus unable to move away from the subject. If they are size small or smaller, they are also knocked prone. If they are of size tiny or smaller, they are are blown away in the direction of the subject, although they are never blown father than the subject's space. For every point of resonance beyond the first, this release can knock prone and blow away creatures of one size category larger.


Damaging Release
Grade: Student Release
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature or object
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
By releasing the resonance you have built in a foe, you can cause intense and immediate damage. This release deals 1d10 damage to the subject for each point of resonance released.


Flurry of Blows
Grade: Student Release
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature or object
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
The resonance you have built with your target pulls your weapon towards it, letting you strike with an unmatched burst of speed. You may make a single melee attack against the subject as part of this release. This extra attack may allow you to create resonance, as normal. Unlike most other releases, using more than the minimum amount of resonance provides no additional benefit.


Greater Flurry
Grade: Master Release
This release functions as flurry of blows, except that you make two additional attacks instead of only one.


Harrying Release
Grade: Student Release
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round/resonance
Saving Throw: None
You release the resonance you have built, but it does not stray far. Your resonance becomes a physical force that swirls about the subject, harrying and distracting it. All attacks against the subject for the duration of this release treat the subject as flanked.


Living Call
Grade: Master Release
Range: Touch
Target: Dead creature touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
You can release the resonance you have created in a creature to tether its soul to its body. Living Call functions like the raise dead spell. The subject has -1 hit points (but is stable) after being restored to life. The release must be used within 1 round of the subject's death. If you released at least 1 point of resonance per 2 HD of the subject at time of death, the subject receives no level loss, no Constitution loss, and no loss of spells or powers.


Painful Release
Grade: Student Release
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round/resonance
Saving Throw: None
You can release your resonance to cause debilitating pain. The subject suffers a -2 penalty to its Armor Class and on all saving throws.


Release Burdens
Grade: Master Release
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
You can release the resonance you have created in a creature to remove the ailments that sap its body and soul. For every point of resonance released, the subject is cured of one negative level, one point of ability drain to one of its ability scores, and one point of ability damage to each of its ability scores. You can choose the same or a different ability score for each point of ability drain cured.


Second Birth
Grade: Secret Release
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
The release of resonance restores the subject to its peak state. This release removes all negative levels afflicting the healed creature. This effect also reverses level drains by a force or creature, restoring the creature to the highest level it had previously attained (as per the greater restoration spell). The drained levels are restored only if the time since the creature lost the level is no more than one week per point of resonance released. This release also dispels all magical effects penalizing the creature’s abilities, cures all ability damage, and restores all points permanently drained from all ability scores. It also eliminates fatigue and exhaustion, and removes all forms of insanity, confusion, and similar mental effects. Finally, the subject is healed of all nonlethal damage. Second Birth does not restore levels or Constitution points lost due to death.


Serenity
Grade: Secret Release
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
The subject is filled with a feeling of absolute peace. It automatically succeeds on all saving throws that it does not voluntarily give up and is immune to damage. This protection only applies to the first such saving throw or damaging effect for each point of resonance released. Further, you cannot generate resonance in a subject affected by this release; you must wait until its duration has elapsed.


Soul Release
Grade: Secret Release [Death]
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: Will negates
The release of resonance separates the subject's soul from its body. If the subject fails its saving throw, it is dazed for 1 round per point of resonance released. If you release at least 1 resonance per 4 HD of the subject, you can choose for it to also fall unconscious for 1 minute per point of resonance released. If you release at least 1 resonance per 2 HD of the subject, you can choose for it to also die immediately.


Staggering Release
Grade: Student Release
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round/resonance
Saving Throw: None
The subject finds its reactions become sluggish. It suffers a -10-foot penalty to all movement speeds for each point of resonance released.


Sweeping Wind
Grade: Student Release [Air]
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Fort negates
The wind pushes back against the subject's every movement. If the subject fails its saving throw, it is checked for the duration, and thus is unable to move towards you. If the subject is size small or smaller, it is also knocked prone. If the subject is size tiny or smaller, it is also blown away. For every point of resonance beyond the first, this release can knock prone and blow away creatures of one size category larger.


Traumatic Release
Grade: Master Release [Fear, Mind-affecting]
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 round/resonance
Saving Throw: Will partial
By releasing the resonance you have built in a foe, you can cause a horrifying and painful sensation. This release deals 2d6 damage to the subject for each point of resonance released, and the subject is shaken for the duration. A successful saving throw halves the damage and negates the shaken condition.


Unraveled Dweomer
Grade: Student Release
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
By releasing the subject's resonance, you can create a burst of energy that disrupts magic. This release functions as a greater dispel magic spell, either targeting the subject or centered on a corner of the subject's space. Use your Monk level as your effective caster level for the dispel check (with no maximum). You can dispel a maximum of one magical effect for each point of resonance released.


Way of the Hundred Fists
Grade: Secret Release
This release functions as flurry of blows, except that you make three additional attacks instead of only one.


Wave of Life
Grade: Student Release
Range: 30 feet
Target: One creature
Area: 30-foot burst centered on the target
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will half (harmless)
You release the resonance you have built as a burst of life-giving energy. Living creatures and other creatures healed by positive energy within the area are healed for 1d8 points of damage for each point of resonance released. Undead and other creatures harmed by positive energy are instead dealt that much damage. A successful saving throw halves the damage or healing.

Change Log

(click to show/hide)

22/6/2017: Reposted to Min Max Forums.
2/12/2015: Updated formatting, typos. Renamed Ki Charka Block to Secret Chakra Block. Added pressure strikes: Three-Sided Strike, Seven-Sided Strike, Added mantras: Fortune's Favored. Added releases: Way of the Hundred Fists.
12/5/2014: Completed.
18/3/2013: First posted.

[Garryl]

New Feats

General Feats	Prerequisites	Benefit
Distant Release	Master releases	Use single-target releases regardless of target's location.
Frightening Resonance	Intimidate 9 ranks, Resonance	Generating resonance frightens enemies.
Increased Resonance Capacity	Resonance	+2 maximum Resonance.
Martial Strikes	Weapon Focus, pressure strikes	Use pressure strikes with focused weapons.
Pressure Strike Mastery	Student pressure strikes	Use lower grade pressure strikes 2/round.
Pressure Strike Novitiate	Improved Unarmed Strike	Learn to use a novice pressure strike.
Recycled Resonance	Resonance, master releases	Releasing resonance in others generates it in you.

Distant Release [General]
Prerequisites: Ability to use master releases
Benefits: You can use releases that target a single creature at any range and without line of sight or line of effect. You cannot use this feat with releases that affect an area or that have ranges of touch, melee attack, or less than 5 feet.


Frightening Resonance [General]
Prerequisites: Intimidate 9 ranks, Resonance
Benefits: When you generate the first point of resonance in a creature, you must choose whether or not to make use of this feat. You cannot change your decision until all of your resonance is removed from that creature (such as if you release it or it fades due to time) and you once again begin generating resonance in them. Once you have generated at least 1 point of resonance per 4 HD of the creature it is shaken. Once you have generated at least 1 point of resonance per 2 HD of the creature it is instead frightened. These conditions last as long as you maintain sufficient resonance in the creature, to a maximum of 24 hours. The first time the creature would be shaken or frightened as a result of this feat, it must make a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 your character level + your Wisdom modifier). On a success, this feat's effects are negated. The results of this saving throw stand for as long as the creature has resonance. This is a supernatural, mind-affecting, fear effect.


Increased Resonance Capacity [General]
Prerequisites: Resonance
Benefits: The maximum amount of resonance you can generate in a single creature increases by 2.
Normal: You cannot generate more resonance in a single subject than your Monk level at any given time.
Special: You can select this feat multiple times. Its effects stack.


Martial Strikes [General]
Prerequisites: Weapon Focus, ability to use pressure strikes
Benefits: You can use pressure strikes with any weapon for which you have the Weapon Focus feat.
Normal: You only use pressure strikes with unarmed strikes.


Pressure Strike Mastery [General]
Prerequisites: Ability to use student pressure strikes
Benefits: You can use each pressure strike you know of any grade below the maximum you can use one additional time per round.
Normal: You can only use any given pressure strike once per round.


Pressure Strike Novitiate [General]
Prerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike
Benefits: Choose a single novice pressure strike of your choice. You learn that pressure strike and can use it as a Monk of one half your character level.
Special: You can select this feat multiple times. Each time, choose a different novice pressure strike.


Recycled Resonance [General]
Prerequisites: Resonance, ability to use master releases
Benefits: Whenever you release resonance in a creature other than yourself, you can choose to generate resonance in yourself, up to one third the amount of resonance you released. You cannot use this ability to increase the resonance you have generated in yourself to more than one half your character level.


Change Log

(click to show/hide)

22/6/2017: Reposted to Min Max Forums.
2/12/2015: Updated formatting, typos.
12/5/2014: Completed.
18/3/2013: First posted.