Making a Monk Pt.3
Posted on 24/06/08 15:04
The Tiger
Last time we discussed the stance mechanic in a very general sense, now its time to talk about specific stances. The first is going to be our offensive based stance. Tiger stance is the epitome of offensive Monk capability in such that it mimics the properties of the fire element of the world. Tiger stance monks will be fast, ferocious and unrelenting in their assault. So let’s take a look at the Tiger Stance Power.
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Tiger (Base Stance) Monk Feature
Your stance emulates the strength of a tiger; aggressive, fast and strong. You take the fight to the enemy standing at the front of the battle.
At-Will * Martial
Special: Linked Weapon : Katar
Move Action Personal
Effect: You gain +2 to your attack and damage rolls using Monk Powers and +2 Reflex Defense.
Sustain Free: This power remains active until you switch stances.
--------------------
The most important thing to note is that to assume the stance is a move action. I did this intentionally so that if you want to switch between base stances it is going to require slightly more planning. It also allows me to work in some specific feats to get around this and such. Next Is the fact that it has a linked weapon. Monks in stances do not gain proficiency bonus’ for weapons they are proficient with while in a stance that is not linked with that weapon and they suffer a -4 penalty when using an unlinked weapon that they are not proficient with in a stance. This enforces the ideal that certain weapons are meant to be used with certain fighting styles.
Now it’s time to look at some of the base powers that will be associated with the Tiger Stance that will be available early on.
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Twin Paws Monk Attack 1
You strike with both weapons felling enemies around you.
At-Will * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Melee Weapon
Requirement: You must be using two melee weapons.
Targets: One or two creatures.
Attack: Strength vs. AC (main hand and offhand weapon), two attacks.
Hit: 1[W] damage per attack
Increase damage to 2[W] at 21st level.
Special: While in Tiger Stance or deviants you may add your Strength bonus your damage.
--------------------
Here we’ve got an adaptation of the Ranger Twin strike. While it mirrors this ability the Monk gains the ability to add his strength modifier to the damage while in the Tiger stance.
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Twin Rip Monk Attack 1
You strike with your fists at a single foe breaking his will.
Encounter * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Melee Weapon
Requirement: You must be using two melee weapons.
Target: One Creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC (Main hand and Off hand weapon)
Hit: 1[W] per attack. If both attacks hit you deal additional damage equal to your Wisdom modifier.
Special: While in Tiger Stance or deviants you may add your Strength bonus your damage.
--------------------
Again the adaptation of a ranger ability, while this one is not as powerful at its base as its counterpart standing in Tiger stance does bring it up to par.
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Jaws of the Tiger Monk Attack 1
You push your attacks against your opponent allowing for a window of weakness, there you strike driving him back.
Daily * Martial, Melee Weapon
Standard Action Melee Weapon
Requirement: You must be using two melee weapons.
Target: Once Creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC (Main hand and Off hand weapon), Strength vs. Reflex (unarmed strike, three attacks.
Hit: 2[W] per attack. If your unarmed strike his you may push the target one square away from you.
Miss: Half damage and the target cannot be pushed.
Special: While in Tiger Stance or deviants you may add your strength modifier to the damage and you unarmed strike knocks the target prone if it hits.
--------------------
Here we have an adaptation of a Ranger daily power. While this power is stronger then its ranger counterpart it does limit the monk in his versatility when compared to what the other stances will have to offer. This gives you a glimpse into what I have planned for the other stances but now I want to talk about deviant stances. Deviants stances are intended to be a modification of a base stance to slightly emulate another stance. For example a Tiger Stance that takes upon some of the hit and retreat style of a viper stance would have full use of all the Tiger stance abilities that are open to stance deviants but would also pick up some of the mobility of the Viper stance. Since both stances are dual wield stance they blend nicely when it comes to using each others powers. Here’s an example.
--------------------
Panther Stance (Tiger Stance Deviant) Monk Feature
Your stance emulates that of the Panther, quiet, swift and deadly.
At-Will * Martial
Special: Linked Weapon : Katar
Requirement: You must be trained in either Stealth or Bluff.
Minor Action Personal
Effect: You add +2 to all of your attack and damage rolls when using Monk powers.
Sustain Free: This power remains active until you switch stances.
--------------------
Panther stance loses some of its defenses in Reflex but it gains the ability to use Viper Stance powers that refer to it. In my next entry I’ll go into the Viper stance some more and show off what I am talking about with its relation to the Panther Stance.
-Geoff
Discuss this entry here.
ps. Here's a little treat for those of you actually reading this blog.
Last time we discussed the stance mechanic in a very general sense, now its time to talk about specific stances. The first is going to be our offensive based stance. Tiger stance is the epitome of offensive Monk capability in such that it mimics the properties of the fire element of the world. Tiger stance monks will be fast, ferocious and unrelenting in their assault. So let’s take a look at the Tiger Stance Power.
--------------------
Tiger (Base Stance) Monk Feature
Your stance emulates the strength of a tiger; aggressive, fast and strong. You take the fight to the enemy standing at the front of the battle.
At-Will * Martial
Special: Linked Weapon : Katar
Move Action Personal
Effect: You gain +2 to your attack and damage rolls using Monk Powers and +2 Reflex Defense.
Sustain Free: This power remains active until you switch stances.
--------------------
The most important thing to note is that to assume the stance is a move action. I did this intentionally so that if you want to switch between base stances it is going to require slightly more planning. It also allows me to work in some specific feats to get around this and such. Next Is the fact that it has a linked weapon. Monks in stances do not gain proficiency bonus’ for weapons they are proficient with while in a stance that is not linked with that weapon and they suffer a -4 penalty when using an unlinked weapon that they are not proficient with in a stance. This enforces the ideal that certain weapons are meant to be used with certain fighting styles.
Now it’s time to look at some of the base powers that will be associated with the Tiger Stance that will be available early on.
--------------------
Twin Paws Monk Attack 1
You strike with both weapons felling enemies around you.
At-Will * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Melee Weapon
Requirement: You must be using two melee weapons.
Targets: One or two creatures.
Attack: Strength vs. AC (main hand and offhand weapon), two attacks.
Hit: 1[W] damage per attack
Increase damage to 2[W] at 21st level.
Special: While in Tiger Stance or deviants you may add your Strength bonus your damage.
--------------------
Here we’ve got an adaptation of the Ranger Twin strike. While it mirrors this ability the Monk gains the ability to add his strength modifier to the damage while in the Tiger stance.
--------------------
Twin Rip Monk Attack 1
You strike with your fists at a single foe breaking his will.
Encounter * Martial, Weapon
Standard Action Melee Weapon
Requirement: You must be using two melee weapons.
Target: One Creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC (Main hand and Off hand weapon)
Hit: 1[W] per attack. If both attacks hit you deal additional damage equal to your Wisdom modifier.
Special: While in Tiger Stance or deviants you may add your Strength bonus your damage.
--------------------
Again the adaptation of a ranger ability, while this one is not as powerful at its base as its counterpart standing in Tiger stance does bring it up to par.
--------------------
Jaws of the Tiger Monk Attack 1
You push your attacks against your opponent allowing for a window of weakness, there you strike driving him back.
Daily * Martial, Melee Weapon
Standard Action Melee Weapon
Requirement: You must be using two melee weapons.
Target: Once Creature
Attack: Strength vs. AC (Main hand and Off hand weapon), Strength vs. Reflex (unarmed strike, three attacks.
Hit: 2[W] per attack. If your unarmed strike his you may push the target one square away from you.
Miss: Half damage and the target cannot be pushed.
Special: While in Tiger Stance or deviants you may add your strength modifier to the damage and you unarmed strike knocks the target prone if it hits.
--------------------
Here we have an adaptation of a Ranger daily power. While this power is stronger then its ranger counterpart it does limit the monk in his versatility when compared to what the other stances will have to offer. This gives you a glimpse into what I have planned for the other stances but now I want to talk about deviant stances. Deviants stances are intended to be a modification of a base stance to slightly emulate another stance. For example a Tiger Stance that takes upon some of the hit and retreat style of a viper stance would have full use of all the Tiger stance abilities that are open to stance deviants but would also pick up some of the mobility of the Viper stance. Since both stances are dual wield stance they blend nicely when it comes to using each others powers. Here’s an example.
--------------------
Panther Stance (Tiger Stance Deviant) Monk Feature
Your stance emulates that of the Panther, quiet, swift and deadly.
At-Will * Martial
Special: Linked Weapon : Katar
Requirement: You must be trained in either Stealth or Bluff.
Minor Action Personal
Effect: You add +2 to all of your attack and damage rolls when using Monk powers.
Sustain Free: This power remains active until you switch stances.
--------------------
Panther stance loses some of its defenses in Reflex but it gains the ability to use Viper Stance powers that refer to it. In my next entry I’ll go into the Viper stance some more and show off what I am talking about with its relation to the Panther Stance.
-Geoff
Discuss this entry here.
ps. Here's a little treat for those of you actually reading this blog.
