The Sho-lin


     " And the Gentle Gods and spirits, grew aghast as the evil spread through the land. They gathered together with the crystal dragon kings and for four days and nights deliberated the fate of man. Finally they found their answer in the form of a simple scholar teaching alone. The scholar taught against ignorance and prejudice with words. This simple man was chosen and passed the knowledge by the Gods themselves to fight evil in all its forms. The power of the mind; to teach and bring knowledge to ignorance. The power of the Body; to fight evil physically. The power of spirit; to bring hope to the darkness. Thus the first of the great masters of the Sho-lin walked into the lands of the world, and darkness became light in his path."
     The Sho-lin is a variant of the monk class combined with powers and skills held by both the paladin and cavalier classes. The primary purpose of the Sho-lin monk is to travel the world teaching, aiding those in need, and fighting the powers of darkness. To a Sho-lin  helping a poor family in need build a new barn and planting crops is as much important as slaying/stopping a creature of evil. It is important to note that a Sho-lin would rather convert an evil creature to a neutral or good alignment than to kill them. A sho-lin that succeeds in this time consuming and difficult task gains double the normal amount of experience for that encountered creature. A Sho-lin sees physical combat as a last resort, and never a means to an ends. This by no means places the Sho-lin in a pacifistic role, as 60% of a Sho-lins' personal time is consumed by physical combat training.
     All Sho-lin are required to be either Lawful or (surprise) chaotic good. This by no means should be considered lawful stupid or chaotic insane. In either case the Sho-lin have a code of conduct that's each believes in strongly and in either case follows to his or her personal design.
     Sho-lin is restricted in weapon types to martial weapons, or blunt weapons only.

Monk

EXP                Lvl             Spec.   Hitpoints     Tittle
0-3,350                      1                        A               2Die4+1                 Novice
3,351-6,700                 2                                B               3Die4+1                 Initiate
6,701-13,000                    3                                C               4Die4+1                Brother
13,001-23,000                  4                                D               5Die4+1                Disciple
23,001-40,000                 5                                E                6Die4+1              Immaculate
40,001-80,000                 6                                F                 7Die4+1                Master
80,001-140,000               7                                G                8Die4+1           Master Superior
140,001-220,000             8                                H               9Die4+1          Master of Dragons
220,001-380,000             9                                I                10Die4+1       Master of North wind
380,001-560,000            10                              J                11Die4+1        Master of west wind
560,001-1,000,000         11                              K               12Die4+1        Master of East wind
1,000,001-1,320,000      12                              L               13Die4+1          Master of Autumn
1,320,001-1,700,000      13                             M               14Die4+1          Master of Summer
1,700,001-2,500,000      14                             N               15Die4+1            Master of Winter
2,500,001-3,510,000      15                             O               16Die4+1           Master of Spring
3,510,001-4,200,000      16                             P                 17Die4+1             Master of Sky
4,200,001+                     17                         Q             18Die4+1        Grand Master of
                                                                                                                        Flowers

Special Sho-lin Abilities.
A: Feign death.
B: Immune to ESP. 90%Immune to sleep and charm
C: Speak with animals at will.
D: Pressure point healing, self/others. 1Die6 per level beyond 4th
E: Immune to Disease, 20%+5lvl Immune to magical disease
F: Empathy 1/day per level, for one turn.
G: Body Equilibrium/Mind over body 1/day per level, for one turn
H: Immune to telepathy and Psionic blast.
I:  Immune to poison.
J: Immune to confining spells. (Hold person, web.)
K: Pass without trace, at will.
L: Dimensional door. 1/day per level over 12th. 500ft.
M: Quivering palm. (as book)
N: Open hand damage considered wounding at will.
O: Truesight 1/day per level over 15th level
P: Plane Shift 1/day per level over 16th.
Q: Once a Month, Resurrect self or other no constitution loss.

     Upon reaching 3rd level a Sho-lin may affect creature with his/her bare hands as though they were a +1 magical weapon. Apon reaching 6th level they may affect creatures requiring a +2 magical weapon. Apon reaching 9th level they may effect creatures requiring a +3magical weapon with their bare hands. Apon reaching 12th level they may affect creatures requiring a +4 magical weapon with their bare hands. Apon reaching 15th level they may affect creatures requiring a +5 magical weapon with their bare hands.

                       Monk Martial abilities.
Level       AC      Move         Additional att#/Dam     +Hit/+Dam
  1                    9         15                         -                     -               +1
  2                    8         16                         -                     -            
  3                    7         17                         -                     -                               +1
  4                    6         18                         1\4                               +2
  5                    5         19                         1\4               +1              
  6                    4         20                         1\2               +2                            +2
  7                    3         21                         1\2               +2
  8                    2         22                         1\1               +1die       +3
  9                    1         23                         1\1               +1die+1               
  10                  0         24                         3\2               +1die+2                    +3
  11                 -1         25                         3\2               +2die     
  12                 -2         26                         2\1               +2die+1   +4
  13                 -3         27                         2\1               +2die+2          
  14                 -4         28                         5\2               +3die                        +4
  15                 -5         29                         5\2               +3die+1
  16                 -6         30                         3\1               +3die+2   +5
  17                 -7         31                         3\1               +4die            


     Special notes.
*Automatically gains Missile deflection martial arts skill. They continue to improve at this skill gaining a +1 for every three level and apon reaching 7th level a Sho-lin may attempt to reflect a missile attack back apon the attacker. This requires a second roll using the same values as normal missile deflection without the +1per three levels.
     *The Sho-lin monk only suffers half damage from area effect spells and special attacks(ie, fireball, lightning bolt, dragons breath.)  and with a successful saving throw suffers no damage.

At first level begins with one free martial arts style and two of that styles special maneuvers. The Sho-lin gains an additional maneuver once every 2 levels. Apon reaching 6th level the Sho-lin gains another free style and two free maneuvers in that style as well.
The Monk also begins play with 3 weapon prof.s and 3 nonweapon prof.s. Gaining 1/1 every 3 levels of exp.
The Sh-lin Monk also causes extra damage with weapons in hand. +1 per 2 levels of exp. Also on a nat. 20 roll on a die20 to hit causes double weapon die damage. A Sho-lin may also choose to use any weapon in hand to lower an opponents chance to hit by -3(plus any magical bonous to hit) This may be performed in stead of an attack with the weapon, and must be done for the entire round of combat. This does not decrease the So-lin'' number of hand-to-hand attacks. (But they may not perform a punch maneuver with the hand holding the weapon.
At first level a sho-lin attacking hand-to-hand "stuns" an opponent on a roll of nat. 18 or better on a die20. Stun effects last 1-3 rounds.
The Sho-lin may automatically incorporate a martial arts weapon into any martial arts style, regardless of whether or not the style normally incorporates a weapon. The Monk gains a +3 to hit with the weapon when doing so.
The Sho-lin may function without food unlike other living creatures without weakening. (Wisdom+constitution= divided by 4+1day for every 4levels of exp.
The Sho-lin may function without water unlike other living creatures without weakening. (Wisdom+constitution=divided by 6+1 day for every 5levels of exp.
The Sho-lin may meditate instead of sleeping. For every 4 hours meditations they gain the benefit of 8 hours of sleep, while being fully aware of their surroundings.

Chi
     Chi is a spirit power which the Sho-lin channel and focus through intense concentration and will. It is neither magical or psionic in nature, and should be considered a natural power. The Sho-lin determines their Chi stat by:           
                                    For every 2pts of wisdom over 14; +1chi
               For every 3pts of Intelligence over 14; +1chi
               For every 4pts of Charisma over 10;+1 chi

     The Sho-lin then receives 1pt of chi per level of exp. These points may be spent to activate certain powers. Only one power may be activated a round, and only 1pt of Chi may be spent per level in a round. The following powers are available.
            *Heal 6pts of damage(self or other) per 1pt of Chi.
     *Negate 3pts of damage from a die of damage. Note at higher    
                  levels this may be used against multi die attacks.
*Cause an additional +2pts of damage on a single attack per 1pt   
      of Chi.
*Cause damage as next higher Die. 5pts of Chi for entire round.
     *Cure disease for 4pts of Chi.
     *Remove Curse for 5pts of Chi.
     *Dispel Evil for  5pts of Chi. (as current level)
     *Double damage for full round. 8pts of Chi.
     *Triple damage for a single Hit. 10pts of Chi.
     *Double movement. 3pts of Chi per round.
     *Triple movement. 5pts of Chi per round.
     *Fly, at current Movement. 5pts of chi per round.
     *Phase through wood/stone, at current movement. 7pts of chi per
           round.
     *Fight while in negative hitpoints. 1pt of Chi per round.
     *Additional parry or block attempt. 3Chi per round.
     *Reroll saving throw. 5pts Chi per attempt.
     *Reroll to hit attempt. 5pts Chi per attempt.

The Sho-lin regains 1 point of Chi for every 8 hours of meditation.  Sho-lin also gain certain thieving skills  based on level/dex and race.
Level     Openlocks  Find/remove traps  MoveSilently  Hide  HearNoise  Climb  Surprise
   1           25%                  20%                             15%             10%         10%             85%     32%
   2                   29%                  25%                             20%             15%         10%             86%    30%
   3                   32%                  30%                             27%             20%          15%            87%    28%
  4                    37%                   35%                            33%              25%         15%            88%     26%
  5                    42%                  40%                             40%              30%         20%           89%     24%
  6                    47%                   45%                             47%              35%         20%           90%     22%
  7                    52%                  50%                              55%             40%         25%           91%     20%
  8                    57%                   55%                             60%              45%         25%          92%     18%
  9                    62%                   60%                             65%              50%        30%           93%     16%
 10                    67%                  65%                              70%              55%        30%           94%     14%
 11                    52%                  70%                              75%               60%        35%           95%     12%
 12                    57%                  75%                              80%               65%        40%           96%     10%
 13                   62%                  80%                               85%               70%       40%           97%      8%
 14                   67%                  85%                               90%               75%         45%          98%      6%
 15                   72%                  90%                               95%               80%         50%          99%      4%
 16                   77%                  95%                               95%               80%         50%          99%      4%
 17                  82%                  95%                                95%               80%         50%          99%       4%

     Sho-lin Martial arts style.
# of attacks: 3/1
Damage: 1die8
Base AC Bonus: +5
Method of attack: Hand and foot.
Manuvers.
       Kick               Lock               Movement
1.Circle kick                     3.Incapacitator                     5.Leap
2.Flying Kick                                                                 6.Speed
3.Snap Kick*                                          
4.Axe Kick*
5.Spin kick*

     Strike               Throw           Weapon
2.Crushing Blow       1.Fall                              1.Weapon Block*
3.Eagles claw            2.Instant stand           2.Weapon catch/break
4.Storm punch*        3.Hurl                              3.Turning Block
5.Open Palm*           4.Great Hurl

Mental/Physical
1.Meditation
2.Spirit Striking*
4.Blind Fighting
5.Iron skin

*Snap Kick. By use of this very fast kick attack a Sh-lin may modify his/her initiative. The decision to use the kick must be made before initiative is rolled and must be the first attack. This maneuver grants a +3 to initiative. The Snap kick may also be used on the end of a round for an additional "free" attack, however if used in this method my not be used for initiative bonus for that round or the following.

*Axe kick. This devastating kick uses 90% of the Monks body strength in a single kick attack. It requires two attacks to perform and if successful multiplies the kick die damage(plus martial bonus) times four.

*Spin Kick. To be used when the Monk is completely surrounded this attack allows the Monk to strike all attackers within 5ft.

*Weapon Block. This maneuver allows the Sho-lin to block any weapon attack with a successful save vrs pet, and does not affect the monks number of attacks for that round.

*Storm punch. By focusing his speed and strength the Monk whips his fist around the air several times building and intense static charge. Apon impact the punch delivers regular damage and 1die6 per level electrical damage.

*Open Palm. A variant of the quivering palm this attack is delivered simply by the monk placing his/her open palm against the target. The attack causes internal damage only and double normal damage.

*Spirit striking. This maneuver allows the Monk to strike into the ethereal/astral without leaving the prime. It also allows the monk to see into the ethereal/astral at will.
     The opening stance of this martial style grants the Sho-lin certain bonuses during the first round of combat. For the first round the Monk is a +2 to initiative and +1 to all hit and damage..
Item Limitation

The sho-lin is restricted to No more than the following items and treasure. They are required to tithe more than 50% of all income to the poor and needy.
2Magical weapons
1magical armor device
4Misc magical items
4potions.


Class Written by Kenneth Haun