Blade Disciple (Fighter/Monk)

(Original Concept by Big Lemon)

Primary Class: Fighter.

Secondary Class: Monk.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Die: d10.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The blade disciple may select three monk skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal fighter class skills. The blade disciple gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The blade disciple is proficient with all simple weapons, all heavy and light bladed weapons listed in fighter’s weapon training groups, plus the kusarigama, naginata, nunchaku, skuriken, siangham, and temple sword. A blade disciple is not proficient with any armor or shields.

AC Bonus: Starting at 1st level, a blade disciple gains the monk’s AC bonus ability. This ability replaces light armor proficiency and medium armor proficiency.

Fast Movement (Ex): A blade disciple's land speed is faster than the norm for his race by +10 feet. This benefit applies only when he is wearing no armor and not carrying a heavy load. Apply this bonus before modifying the blade disciple's speed because of any load carried or armor worn. This bonus stacks with any other bonuses to the blade disciple's land speed. This ability replaces shield proficiency.

Mystic Blade (Su): At 1st level, a blade disciple select one weapon from those listed as heavy blades or light blades in the fighter’s weapon training ability. Once chosen, it cannot be changed. A blade disciple’s mystic weapon is treated as a monk’s unarmed strike for the purpose of using his mystic ki pool. This ability replaces heavy armor proficiency.

Blade Guard (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, a blade disciple becomes adept at protecting himself from attacks while wielding his chosen weapon. He gains a +1 shield bonus to AC. This bonus increases by +1 at 6th level and every four levels thereafter (to a maximum of +5 at 18th level). The blade disciple only gains the benefits of this ability when he is wearing no armor and not carrying a heavy load. This ability replaces bravery.

Unarmed Strike: At 2nd level, a blade disciple gains the monk’s unarmed strike ability, but deals only 1d4 points of unarmed damage (1d3 for a Small blade disciple, 1d6 for a Large blade disciple). This damage can be increased by the use of his mystic ki (see Mystic Ki Pool below). This ability replaces thebonus feat gained at 1st level.

Evasion (Ex): At 3rd level, a blade disciple gains the monk’s evasion ability. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 2nd level.

Mystic Ki Pool (Su): At 4th level, a blade disciple gains the monk’s ki pool ability with a number of points in his mystic ki pool is equal to 1/2 his blade disciple level + his Wisdom modifier. As long as he has at least 1 point in his mystic ki pool, he can make a ki strike with either his mystic weapon or his unarmed strike.

• At 4th level, ki strike allows his mystic weapon or unarmed attacks to be treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

• At 7th level, his mystic weapon or unarmed attacks are also treated as cold iron and silver for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

• At 10th level, his mystic weapon or unarmed attacks are also treated as lawful weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.

• At 16th level, his mystic weapon or unarmed attacks are treated as adamantine weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction and bypassing hardness.

By spending 1 point from his mystic ki pool, a blade disciple can do one of the following:

• Make one additional attack at his highest attack bonus when making a mystic weapon attack or unarmed strike, or

• Increase his speed by 20 feet for 1 round, or

• Give himself a +4 dodge bonus to AC for 1 round.

• Add his unarmed strike damage to his mystic weapon damage rolls for 1 round

• Increase his unarmed damage to 1d6 for 1 round ( to 1d8 at 10th level, or to 1d10 at 16th level)

Each of these powers is activated as a swift action. The mystic ki pool is replenished each morning after 8 hours of rest or meditation; these hours do not need to be consecutive. This ability replaces Armor training and armor mastery.

Weapon Training (Ex): This is exactly like the fighter’s weapon training ability except that the blade disciple may only select one weapon from each of the heavy blade and light blade weapon groups each time he gains this ability.

Sudden Strike (Ex): At 7th level, a blade disciple becomes adept at moving quickly when his foes are surprised. During a surprise round, the blade disciple may act as if it had a full round to act, rather than just one standard action. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 6th level.

Mystic Surge (Ex): At 11th level or higher, a blade disciple can heal his own wounds as a standard action. He can heal a number of hit points of damage equal to his blade disciple level by using 2 points from his mystic ki pool. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 10th level.

Improved Evasion (Ex): At 15th level, a blade disciple gains the monk’s improved evasion ability. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 14th level.

Uncanny Initiative (Ex): At 19th level, a blade disciple does not need to roll for initiative. He always treats his initiative roll as if it resulted in any number of his choosing (from 1 to 20). This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 19th level.

Weapon Mastery (Ex): This is exactly like the fighter ability of the same name, except that this ability applies only to the blade disciple’s chosen weapon.

Table: Blade Disciple