Hand of Faith (Paladin/Monk)

Paladins are no stranger to training one’s body in order to fight the pawns of injustice. However, some take it a step further and turn their bodies into weapons themselves, rending all evil in their path no matter their defenses. (Original Concept by Quintin Belmont)

Primary Class: Paladin.

Secondary Class: Monk.

Alignment: Lawful good.

Hit Dice: d10.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The hand of faith selects three monk skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal paladin class skills. At 1st level, a hand of faith may select the monk’s Acrobatics skill in place of the paladin’s Ride skill. The hand of faith gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 2 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The hand of faith is proficient with all simple and monk weapons, and with five martial weapons of his choice. The hand of faith is proficient with light and medium armor, and with light shields, and the buckler.

Code of Conduct: A hand of faith must adhere to the guidelines presented in the paladin’s code of conduct.

Monastic Seminary (Ex): The hand of faith can modify his divine focus so that the powers granted to him by his deity are dependent upon his willpower and intuition instead of strength of personality. Upon learning this discipline, the hand of faith replaces all Charisma-based requirements for all paladin abilities to that of Wisdom-based. The hand of faith must select this ability at 1st level, and once selected it cannot be changed.

Smite Evil (Su): This is exactly like the paladin’s ability of the same name, except that this ability also applies to his unarmed strikes.

Unarmed Strike: At 1st level, a hand of faith gains the monk’s unarmed strike ability, except that the hand of faith deals unarmed damage as indicated on Table: Hand of Faith. This ability counts for any feat with Improved Unarmed Strike as its prerequisite.

Divine Grace (Su): This is exactly like to the paladin’s ability of the same name, but the hand of faith adds only half his Wisdom or Charisma (see Monastic Seminary) modifier to all saving throws.

Divine Stance (Ex): At 2nd level, whenever a hand of faith selects a combat feat, he counts 1/2 his level as his fighter level for any combat feats with fighter level requirements. The hand of faith otherwise counts his hand of faith level as his paladin or monk level for any feats with base attack bonus, class, or level requirements, such as Style feats. This ability replaces divine health.

Merciful Trance (Su): Beginning at 3rd level, a hand of faith can enter a meditative trance to remove a condition that is currently affecting him. At 3rd level, and every three levels thereafter, a hand of faith can select one mercy from those listed in the paladin’s mercy ability. Whenever the hand of faith uses merciful trance, he can remove all the conditions of each mercy he’s chosen. Merciful trance can remove a condition caused by a curse, disease, or poison without curing the affliction. Such conditions return after 1 hour unless the mercy actually removes the affliction that causes the condition. A hand of faith can use merciful trance a number of times per day equal to 3 + his Wisdom or Charisma modifier (see Monastic Seminary), as a standard action. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces mercy.

Divine Quickening (Su): At 4th level, a hand of faith is blessed with divine powers that augment his physical prowess. The hand of faith gains a ki pool that has a number of points equal to 1/2 his hand of faith level (see below) + his Wisdom or Charisma (see Monastic Seminary) modifier. At 4th level, and every two levels thereafter, a hand of faith can select a ki power for which he qualifies from those listed in the qinggong monk archetype entry (see p.52 of Ultimate Magic). These powers are also dependant upon the hand of faith’s Wisdom or Charisma ability (see Monastic Seminary). This ability functions like the qinggong monk’s ki power (which is part of the monk’s Ki Pool class feature), except that the hand of faith’s effective monk level when determining the number of points in his ki pool is equal to his hand of faith level –3. Thus, a 7th level hand of faith would have a number of ki points in his pool equal to 2 + his Wisdom or Charisma modifier. This ability replaces lay on hands and the paladin’s spellcasting ability.

The hand of faith replaces the following qinggong monk ki powers with the listed spells below, at the indicated level. (*Advanced Player’s Guide, Ultimate Magic, †Ultimate Combat)

Divine Bond (Sp): At 5th level, a hand of faith must select the weapon bond, and can only enhance a weapon that he is proficient with, including his unarmed strikes. If the hand of faith chooses to enhance his unarmed strikes, he gains the monk’s flurry of blows while the bond is in effect. This ability otherwise functions as and replaces divine bond.

At 5th level, the hand of faith that enhances his unarmed strike may make one additional attack using any combination of unarmed strikes or attacks with a special monk as if using the Two-Weapon Fighting feat (even if he does not meet the prerequisites for the feat). For the purpose of these attacks, the hand of faith uses his normal base attack bonus.

At 12th level, the hand of faith can make two additional attacks with his flurry of blows, as if using Improved Two-Weapon Fighting (even if the hand of faith does not meet the prerequisites for the feat).

At 19th level, the hand of faith can make three additional attacks with his flurry of blows, as if using Greater Two-Weapon Fighting (even if the hand of faith does not meet the prerequisites for the feat).

Aura of Faith: This is exactly like the paladin’s ability of the same name, except that this ability also applies to the hand of faith’s unarmed strikes.

Table: Hand of Faith