Monks have always seemed to me to be a very static class. In my opinion, they have nowhere near the fighting potential or customization of Blademasters, and are not the most viable for PK as melee classes go. As such, I’ve tried to think of a way that they could become something for PK, other than “dirt; thrash; trip”.
Level 1: Scrolls, Staves, Anatomy, Dodge, Hand to Hand
Level 2: Prayer Beads
Level 4: Martial Arts B
Level 5: Dirt Kicking
Level 6: Low Kick*
Level 7: Aura
Level 8: Fast Healing
Level 9: First Parry
Level 10: Meditation, Chakera Strike*
Level 11: Disarm, Kickboxing B
Level 12: Chii
Level 13: Lore
Level 14: Crane Stance
Level 15: Jump Kick*, Weapon Study*
Level 16: Second Parry
Level 17: Anatomy Expertise*, Martial Arts A
Level 18: Blind Fighting, Chii Bolt*
Level 19: Shield Disarm
Level 20: Horse Stance, Trance
Level 21: Leg Sweep*
Level 22: Healing
Level 23: Tiger Stance, Balance
Level 24: Chii Bolt*, Martial Focus*
Level 26: Preying Mantis, Observe*
Level 28: Roundhouse Kick*, Kickboxing A
Level 30: Drunken Stance, Chii Bolt*
Level 32: Catalepsy
Level 34: Counter
Level 37: Monkey Stance
Level 38: Chii Bolt*
Level 42: Buddha Stance
Level 45: Dragon Stance
Level 47: Martial Mastery*
Low Kick, Jump Kick, Leg Sweep, Roundhouse Kick
Syntax: Kick
The disciples of monasteries, before they begin to specialize in a specific style of fighting, are taught the basic methods of hand-to-hand combat. They are instructed in how to use a number of body parts as weapons – including their feet. As their training progresses, monks evolve in the complexity of their attacks. At the peak of their strength, they can literally kick a foe to death.
(Similar to Blademaster onslaught, this is a sequence of attacks. Low Kick – Damage, Jump Kick – Air Thrash, Leg Sweep – Trip, Roundhouse Kick – Damage, with chance to hit twice, based on hit/dam and skill proficiency)
Weapon Study-
Syntax: Automatic
Monks, having no use for any weapons other than their bodies, are untrained in all but the most basic of weaponry techniques. However, throughout their training, monks are taught to defend and attack enemies with weapons so proficiently, that they can perform both functions as well as they could wielding a weapon themselves.
(Allows a monk to fight an armed foe, using their proficiency in hand-to-hand and martial arts to determine their capacity to attack and defend)
Chakera Strike-
Syntax: Automatic
Monks are taught to analyze their foes as they fight, looking for weak points in every enemy. With every slash or stab, they learn a bit more about their enemies, and in turn, they can quickly weaken a foe by utilizing their vulnerabilities. This understanding can be gained not only through combat, but also by studies of the movements of their enemies.
(Similar to old Chakera strikes, but proficiency in skill increases chance of success, and the adverse effects of the strike- Higher proficiency/anatomy level can cause lag enemy and/or drain their mana)
Anatomy Expertise-
Syntax: Automatic
Through intense study of a particular rival, a monk can develop a thorough understanding of that enemy and similar entities. Through such concentrated examination, a monk may progress past the normal level of mastery in a foe’s anatomy, giving them the ability to excel at fighting their chosen opponent.
(Allows selected anatomy to rise to 10 points above normal)
Chii Bolt-
Syntax: Store
Where most battlers fight using their physical abilities, or mages fight using their strength of mind, monks utilize their prowess in both of these areas. As such, they are capable of focusing their spiritual energies into a physical power, giving them the ability to strike with added force.
Level 1 – Elemental Damage (Syntax: Release , two hour timer of elemental attacks)
Level 2 – Magic Damage (Syntax: Release Magic, two hours timer of magic attacks)
Level 3 – Neutralize Protections (Syntax: Release, one-time use)
Level 4 – Spiritual Assault (Syntax: Release Spirit, two hour timer, extra magic attack every other round, similar to Shaman spirit)
Martial Focus-
Syntax: Automatic
A skilled monk may choose from an array of abilities to specialize in, to utilize against their favored enemy. These tactics are only used if the monk is a true master of that enemy’s anatomy. Instinctively used in combat, these abilities have different negative effects on members of the race of monk’s chosen anatomy expertise.
Affects, similar to the mals from critical strikes, randomly initiated in combat. For example-
Monk’s high kick wounds you.
Monk’s jab injures you.
Monk strikes you in the kidney.
Monk’s kidney strike grazes you.
You feel very ill.
Observe-
Syntax: Observe
Through the process of intent observation, combined with physical combat, a monk can gain a more complete understanding of a particular foe’s strengths and weaknesses. By engaging in a concentrated observation of a foe during combat, the monk enhances their capacity to learn about their rival, gaining such knowledge more quickly.
(Two tick timer, with ten ticks between uses. Increases rate at which anatomy is learned, sacrificing damage output to do so)
Martial Mastery-
Syntax: Store
True mastery in fighting a chosen foe, comes from two things – first and foremost, a monk’s understanding of their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. And second, that monks own personal strength, both spiritually and physically. When a level of true mastery is reached, a monk may store their chii a final time. The immense power of this ability is a chore, draining the monk severely. However, the power of this chii is said to be able to vaporize foes with but a single blow.
Chii Bolt, Level 5 – Enhanced Focus
Syntax: Automatic
Allows the monk to fight a member of their expert race more efficiently, using Chakera strikes. Greatly increases the potential to hit a Chakera strike, as well as increasing the frequency and damage of the Martial Focus abilities. Twenty-four tick timer, seventy-two ticks between uses. Puts monk under three tick ‘drained’ affect, and uses up 300 mana.
Forward 99% props to Balinor