Zen Master- new core class

[Toptomcat]

ZEN MASTER
No fear. No anger. No passion. No mind.
The Zen Master is a warrior who follows the principles of Zen: he can completely transcend what he is normally capable of by emptying his mind of all the brain’s preconceived notions of what the body can do, and thus fight harder and longer than any human has a right to- for a brief period of focus. The principles and mental techniques of Zen also raise the perceptive abilities of a Zen Master to unheard-of levels: some say that Zen Masters have eyes in the backs of their heads.

Alignment: Any nonchaotic.
Hit Die: d10.

Class Skills
The Zen Master's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Heal (Wis), Jump (Str), Knowledge(Religion)(Int), Listen(Wis), Profession(Wis), Sense Motive(Wis), Spot (Wis), Tumble(Dex)

Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) x4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier.

BAB: As fighter
Saves: Good Will, Ref: Bad Fort

1st level: Still Mind, Zen No Mind 1/day
2nd: Uncanny dodge
3rd: Trap sense +1
4th: Zen No Mind 2/day
5th: Improved uncanny dodge
6th: Trap sense +2
7th: None
8th: Zen No Mind 3/day, Sense of Self
9th: Trap sense +3
10th: Blind-Fight
11th: Applied focus
12th: Zen No Mind 4/day, trap sense +4
13th: None
14th: Blank Mind
15th: Trap sense +5, Blind-Fight II
16th: Zen No Mind 5/day, Flexible Zen 1/day
17th: Mental discipline
18th: Trap sense +6, Flexible Zen 2/day
19th: None
20th: Greater No Mind, Zen No Mind 6/day, Flexible Zen 3/day

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Zen Master.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Zen Master is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light armor, medium armor, and shields (except tower shields).

Zen No Mind (Ex): A Zen Master can focus to free himself of the limitations of his mind a certain number of times per day. In focus, a Zen Master temporarily gains a +4 bonus to Strength, a +4 bonus to Constitution, and a +2 competence bonus on Will saves, but he takes a -2 penalty to Armor Class because the focus distracts attention from his opponents. The increase in Constitution increases the Zen Master’s hit points by 2 points per level, but these hit points go away at the end of the focus when his Constitution score drops back to normal. (These extra hit points are not lost first the way temporary hit points are.) While focusing, a Zen Master cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except for Balance, Escape Artist, Intimidate, and Ride), the Concentration skill, or any abilities that require exceptional focus, nor can he cast spells or activate magic items that require a command word, a spell trigger (such as a wand), or spell completion (such as a scroll) to function. He can use any feat he has except Expertise, item creation feats and metamagic feats. A focus lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the character's Wisdom modifier. A Zen Master may prematurely end his focus. At the end of the focus, the Zen Master loses the focus modifiers and restrictions and becomes fatigued (-2 penalty to Strength, -2 penalty to Dexterity, can't charge or run) for the duration of the current encounter. None of the bonuses conferred by a focus stack with those conferred by a rage.
A Zen Master can focus his mind only once per encounter. At 1st level he can use his Zen No Mind ability once per day. At 4th level and every four levels thereafter, he can use it one additional time per day (to a maximum of six times per day at 20th level). Entering a focus takes no time itself, but a Zen Master can do it only during his action, not in response to someone else's action.

Still Mind(Ex): The Zen Master’s unique way of thinking allows him to make the most use of his senses, because he is not subject to the thousand little niggling distractions and other thoughts that most people are. When making an active Spot, Listen, or Search check (a check actively initiated by the player) the Zen Master adds his ZM class level to that check.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 2nd level, a Zen Master retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized. If a Zen Master already has uncanny dodge from a different class, he automatically gains improved uncanny dodge (see below) instead.

Trap Sense (Ex): Starting at 3rd level, a Zen Master gains a +1 bonus on Reflex saves made to avoid traps and a +1 dodge bonus to AC against attacks made by traps. These bonuses rise by +1 every three Zen Master levels thereafter (6th, 9th, 12th, 15th, and 18th level). Trap sense bonuses gained from multiple classes stack.

Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): At 5th level and higher, a Zen Master can no longer be flanked. This defense denies a rogue the ability to sneak attack the Zen Master by flanking him, unless the attacker has at least four more rogue levels than the target has Zen Master levels. If a character already has uncanny dodge (see above) from a second class, the character automatically gains improved uncanny dodge instead, and the levels from the classes that grant uncanny dodge stack to determine the minimum level a rogue must be to flank the character.

Sense of Self (Ex): At 8th level, the Zen Master’s philosophical and spiritual nature grants him the ability to resist certain mental attacks. If he successfully makes a Will save against an attack that normally causes a partial effect with a successful save, the Zen Master suffers no effect at all. (Kudos to Shadowfoot for this ability.)

Blind-Fight (Ex):
At 10th level, the Zen Master gains the benifits of the Blind-Fight feat when focussing. At 15th level, the Zen Master gains Blind-Fight as a bonus feat.

Applied Focus (Ex): At 11th level, a Zen Master gains greater control over his mind and body- he no longer suffers the –2 AC penalty when focusing, and can use any feat or skill while focusing.

Blank Mind (Ex): While focusing, a Zen Master of 14th level or higher gains a +4 bonus on Will saves to resist enchantment spells. This bonus stacks with all other modifiers, including the circumstance bonus on Will saves he also receives during his focus.

Flexible Zen (Ex): At 16th level, the Zen Master begins applying the principles of Zen to more and more areas of his life. He can apply his Wisdom modifier as an insight bonus to any one attack roll, save, skill roll, or check once per day. At 18th level, he can apply it twice per day, and at 20th he can apply it three times.

Mental Discipline (Ex): At 17th level and higher, a Zen Master gains supremacy over the mental fatigue he experiences after a focus: he no longer becomes fatigued at the end of his focus.

Greater No Mind (Ex): At 20th level, a Zen Master's bonuses to Strength and Constitution during his focus each increase to +6, and his circumstance bonus on Will saves increases to +3.

Ex-Zen Masters
A Zen Master who forsakes his mental discipline and becomes chaotic loses all Zen Master class features, but retains BAB and saves.


This class is designed to be a primary, front-line fighting class, and was balanced with the Barbarian during creation. I need help in the following ways:

1. Help me re-name the Blank Mind and Greater No Mind abilities to something cooler.
2. Any other ideas or criticisms would, of course, be welcome.

[K Man]

1. Help me re-name the Blank Mind and Greater No Mind abilities to something cooler.

Something like - Mind Chasm perhaps? Unreflecting Mind Mirror? Master of the Thoughtless? Thought Vaccuum? I dunno...I could come up with more if necessary.

2. Any other ideas or criticisms would, of course, be welcome.

Lord knows, ask anyone that knows me, I'm all about the mad monks with the supa skills. Nothing like watching a unarmed man dive into combat with a dozen dudes and whoop all of their asses.

That said, I like the class, but there's also another side of me. A side that has faith in the game designers.

*Ducks the amazing amount of flak for that last statement.*

Ok, no seriously. I feel the core classes are great as is. And actually, this class would be better suited in an Oriental Campaign setting or something like that. In fact, they added core classes to the OA like Samurai...cause, come on, who wouldn't want to play one.

Regardless, class is cool, but I'd focus on making it either an OA specific core-class...or another prestige class.

KMan

[Toptomcat]

Eh- if Wizards sees fit to make something like the Marshal a core class, the ZM isn't too far out...
And I tried to kinda distance this one from the monk. This is more general, a fighter who depends on mental discipline along with physical discipline to fight. You'll notice that I gave it weapon and armor proficiencies, and didn't specify that certain abilities don't work when in armor.

[K Man]

if Wizards sees fit to make something like the Marshal a core class, the ZM isn't too far out...

Didn't know about this...Maybe I'm not reading something somewhere or forgetting something...shit, wouldn't be the first time, but what's a Marshall?

Again, I'm just stating my stance. I just feel that the core classes cover everything you need to. Honestly, you can achieve the same results with the right combination of feats and core classes. I.E. - Few levels in fighter, few in monk, some feats that allow for armor worn while abilities to be retained...

You could in theory create a Zen Master just by developing your character enough with a deep background and strict advancement guidleine in core classes.

Then again, there are core classes that I feel are combinations of other core classes...I.E. - Paladin=Fighter+Cleric, Ranger=Fighter+Thief etc. So who knows, maybe the core classes need to be expanded to combine several elements of each possible character combinations.

I.E. -
War Wizard(Maybe this is a marshall)=Fighter+Wiz/Sor
Zen Master=Fighter+Monk
Spell Ravager=Barbarian+Sor/Wiz or Cleric

etc etc...and just think of when you add Psion to the list of combos. Damn...you could go all over the board with this shizzle.

So I guess, I could take a stance on both sides of the arugement with this.

[Merovingian]

I might change his HD to a d8 if he is training his mind and body he is not as focused on the body as a true fighter and thus the cleric like HD, this would also go along with the pore FORT saves.
As for the mind abilities: Zen no mind = Zen center Blank mind = psyche void

Other than that cool idea.

[TheUdjat]

NOTE: I refer to 'Zen Focus' below, but I meant 'Zen No Mind'. There's a name suggestion for you. Inadvertantly.

I agree on the hit die count. But on the other hand, he's meant to be a frontline fighter, so I can see where the d10 would be necessary.

I'm not sure I feel this class is balanced with the Barbarian. But one thing I noticed, in the creation of the Zen Focus (modelled after the Barbarian Rage), is that at one point you give the class to ability to ignore the -2 penalty to AC. Barbarian gets nothing like this, but that's fine - at the same level they get an increase in Str/Con bonus. However, you go on to have the Zen Focus increased to a +8 bonus later on, much like the Barbarian's Rage ability - Not +6, as should be the case. Instead the +6 is skipped. Was this a mistake? If not, that's a change I recommend, as it otherwise becomes better than the Barbarian (who will always suffer a -2 to AC).

Also, some of the flavor doesn't add up. Is he tough, or quick? You give uncanny dodge, a favored reflex save, which indicates a quicker type of warrior. But then you give him a Con bonus in his Zen Focus. Perhaps Dex would be the better recipient of this bonus? Or perhaps Fort should be the favored save? Something to keep the flavor more in line, I think... This might go hand-in-hand with the d8 hit die idea, too.

Some of the skills might be inappropriate. You have Escape Artist, but nothing about this class yet tells me that Escape Artist is really a necessary class skill. A Barbarian, which this is modelled after, does not get Escape Artist. A monk does, but this is another issue of whether you're going for a fast type or a tough type. Heal also seems out of place.

But I'm basically with K-Man on this. I think it's generally better and wiser to stick to the base classes - It keeps everyone happy, because everyone knows what to expect, instead of suspiciously eyeing a homebrew or other-brew core class. But it also ensures that the class is designed with all the others in mind. Game designers make mistakes, but I think, on the whole, they do better than any of us would. Some of the 3.5 changes, indeed, have restored my faith in them.

I would just look for permission to freely multiclass Fighter and Monk. Or look at some of the new prestige classes like Kensai for an example. As a note on that, I actually feel much more comfortable with homebrew prestige classes than homebrew core classes.

And yeah. Definitely an oriental feeling. That's just something that depends on the game, though, I guess...

[Wizard]

Seems a bit overpowered.

As thrawn86 will tell you, I'm all about number-crunching in D&D. Sometimes it makes me a bit weak in RP'ing, but at least I can balance things!

Main beefs:
2/3 good saves
2nd best HD out of 5
Best BAB out of 3
Rage (basically)
Uncanny dodge
Trap sense
Evasion for Wil, a good save (and Shadowfoot knows what he's talking about, by the way)
5+Int mod for skills (I know it's 2, but Still Mind effectively makes it 5)
At higher levels, Applied Focus takes away the one reason to remain conscious of the world when in combat.

So what we have are better-than-average stats (Best BAB, 2nd best saves, 2nd best HD, 3rd best Skill points), combined with some of the best abilities of core classes (Rage, Uncanny dodge, Trap Sense) and a way out of MAD (the only real drawback to this class) with Flexible Zen.

The problem is, the only advice I can give is to make it more like the monkl, only with weapons. In that case, you could just give him permanent haste by virtue of his perfect focus on his weapon. By the way...Thrawn & I saw Last Samurai a few nights ago---great movie! It might help inspire you.

[Toptomcat]

MAD? C'est cu se?

How's stopping the Trap Sense progression at +2 and making Still Mind 1/2 levels?

Also about the Con bonus...perhaps 2 physical abilities, chosen at the 1st level taken of ZM, and drop the HD to d8.

And the +6/+8 thing is a typo. I'll fix that.

[TheUdjat]

MAD = Multiple Ability Dependency

[Wizard]

That sounds pretty good. I can't shake the feeling that this class might be approximated by multiclassing, though.

[TheUdjat]

Have you seen the Sohei from Oriental Adventures? I haven't taken a look at it in a while, but it might be similar to this. I know they get some sort of Rage-like (but not Rage in fluff) ability, though it boosts Str and Dex instead of Con. If I recall correctly, they're something like a Monk and Fighter in one, with some divine spells added in the manner of Ranger and Paladin. I don't remember exactly. But it might be worth checking out.

[K Man]

I think Ujdat is right on the Sohei thing...I've got my OA book at home and if you'd like, I'd be happy to post it later this weekend or something.

I knew I saw/heard of something like it somewhere...damn lack of perfect recall...

[TheUdjat]

I only remember because I played one. For a day. Then I had to change to a Samurai because it was pointed out that the Shei doesn't exist in Rokugan (the setting we were using).

I was crushed.