Monk Variants

I've uploaded a compilation of monk variants from Dragon Magazines.
It can be found in the download section or you can get it here.

Right then, as you mentioned about 4th level being the cut-off point for retro-change I'd better get my finger out!

Is it possible to do the sidewinder template, but add in one of the variants too?

I'm ok with you taking the Sidewinder variant, but i'm not sure about taking another variant within that structure......
Let me know what you're thinking and i'll look into it.

(feel free to p.m. me if you don't want everyone to know your sneaky shinannegans )

I've looked into this a bit more for you...

As was similarly discussed with James' character options, the Sidewinder Monk is a variant class, this makes it a CORE CLASS. So i would say that another variant would probably not be possible. However, I'm not averse to the different FIGHTING STYLES that crop up all over the place, these can easily be added into a monk class. but they do seem to limit your feat options...

Obviously there may be room for some negotiation depending on your plans. If it fits with the feel of the character and isn't over-powered I'd say that there's a chance. After all if you seem to waltz through too many fights then i'll just have to make them harder

The Waltz fighting style always has been a little over powered !

Hmm I have a question about drunken master. In the Complete Warrior, the toned down version of drunken master does not make it clear if your unarmed damage increases as per monk? (Not much point doing a monk prestige class if the damage doesn't stack!)

Having said that, the example drunken master appears to have 1d10 unarmed damage which is more than the monk levels should give it, but one category less than the total levels would give it? So I'm confused!!!

It looks like a typo. Like you say it should be 1d8 at 5th level monk, and as it doesn't say that the unarmed damage stacks then i can't see where it comes from, if they stacked it should be 2d6. TBH i don't usually pay much attention to the sample characters as they seem to be consistently wrong

I've scoured the errata and FAQs and can't find any reason why this anomally exists. I think we should just put it down to a miscalculation or something....

Yeah it is a bit weird. Altho thinking about it, if it's a typo, it seems more likely it was meant to say d12 that would mean it had stacked. I mean you'd have to get 2 digits wrong if it was supposed to be d8 eh?

Ah well, I might have to have a look at the old Drunken master, which was much better, and increased your unarmed damage rather than giving a bonus with improvised weapons etc.

Ok I've looked into it some more and this is what i think....

I would be happy for you to take the Drunken Master class from CW with the addition of the unarmed damage progression of the version in S&F ie.

1st - 1d8
5th - 1d10
9th - 1d12

I think that this is where the error has come from and i don't think that these are unreasonable values for a character thats roots lie in unarmed combat. TBH i think that they have forgotten to put it in as otherwise the class is overly nerfed.

Hmm thanks for that.

I'm still not sure what to do now tho lol. Think I may have to skip drunken master, which is a shame, but I can't really see the point of a monk prestige class if the damage doesn't stack.

I make the distinction between stacking and the increases in S&F as I would probably have d8 damage before I can get into any prestige classes hehe (and not sure how many levels of dm I would do). If only there was a feat that let all of your classes stack for working out your unarmed damage!

Ho hum!

Looking through D&D forums about the drunken master it does indeed seem that most peoples opinions of the PrC are not good. It also does seem that all monk abilities end once the PrC is taken.
Not sure why.... perhaps too many other features are gained, who knows?????

As for a feat for unarmed damage stacking, there are ones for progression with other classes (monk/rogue etc... (i think)) so there may well be one, i dunno.

Let me look into it, it may be that increasing in monk unarmed damage is something that can be implemented.