But seriously, we've made, and will be making changes... check back for edits! While the whole thing is subject to change, an ** denotes something we are actively revising.


Level Fort Will Reflex BAB UnarmedDmg Class Features
1 +1 +1 +2 1 1d6 Unarmed Strike
2 +2 +2 +3 2 1d6 Slashing Strike/Focused Mind
3 +2 +2 +3 3 1d6 Combat Style
4 +3 +3 +4 4 1d6 Arts Mastery
5 +3 +3 +4 5 1d6 Counter Strike
6 +4 +4 +5 6/1 1d8 Swift Strike
7 +4 +4 +5 7/2 1d8 Focused Strike
8 +5 +5 +6 8/3 1d8 Arts Mastery
9 +5 +5 +6 9/4 1d8 Imp. Combat Style
10 +6 +6 +7 10/5 1d8 Imp. Counter Strike
11 +6 +6 +7 11/6/1 1d10 Reflex Mastery
12 +7 +7 +8 12/7/2 1d10 Stance Mastery
13 +7 +7 +8 13/8/3 1d10 Arts Mastery
14 +8 +8 +9 14/9/4 1d10 Imp. Focused Strike
15 +8 +8 +9 15/10/5 1d10 Piercing Strike
16 +9 +9 +10 16/11/6/1 2d6 Combat Mastery
17 +9 +9 +10 17/12/7/2 2d6
18 +10 +10 +11 18/13/8/3 2d6 Magic Strike
19 +10 +10 +11 19/14/9/4 2d6
20 +11 +11 +12 20/15/10/5 2d6 Death Strike



Hit Die: d8
Skill points (5+Int mod) x4 at first level, 5pts+Int mod

Class Skills: Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge Dungeoneering (Int), Knowledge Local (Int), Knowledge History (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), Concentration (Con).

Proficiencies: Stoic Fists are not proficient with any kind of armor or shields. Upon gaining first level, a Stoic Fist takes a minus 2 penalty to any weapons outside of class proficiency weapons, unless proficiency is granted through a feat. This penalty stacks with normal non-proficiency weapon penalties. Stoic Fists are poficient with the Quarterstaff, Nunchaku, Shuriken, Sai, Butterfly Swords, and Kusari-Gama.

AC Bonus: Stoic Fists gain AC equal to their Intelligence modifier. This does not stack with the Monk’s Wisdom based armor bonus, but does stack with any other applicable bonuses.

Class Features

Able Learner: Stoic Fists gain the Able Learner feat at first level even if for reasons of race they would not otherwise qualify

Stoic Fists can be any non-chaotic.

Daily requirement of 1 hour morning meditation. Failure to do so results in loss of strike abilities and chosen weapon bonuses. Can be negated by a DC 15 concentration check per attempt.

Unarmed Strike: As the Monk class feature. Damage listed is for Medium creatures. Creatures other than Medium adjust their unarmed damage as appropriate (PHB page 41, Table 3-11)

At level 2: Focused Mind: Allows substitution of Int mod for Con mod for all Concentration checks

Strikes: Through diligent training and careful study, Martial Artists have found new ways to inflict damage unarmed.

Slashing Strike: Stoic Fists can change the damage type of their unarmed attacks to more efficiently combat different types of creatures. Upon reaching 2nd level, a Stoic Fist may choose to deal slashing as opposed to bludgeoning damage for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction at will when attacking unarmed.
At 15th level, he can also deal piercing damage.
At 18th level the Martial Artist’s unarmed attacks become treated as magical attacks to overcome damage reduction.

Swift Strike: Through intense training and study, the Stoic fist is able to get the most out of even the subtlest movements. He gains an additional hit to his full round attack, with a BAB equal to 1/2 his class level.

Counter-Strike: Stoic Fists continually look for opportunities granted them in combat by the missteps of their enemies. Upon reaching 5th level, a Stoic Fist can take an Attack of Opportunity once per round against an enemy in range who misses him with a melee attack. At 10th level he may use this ability a number of times per round up to or equal to his Dexterity modifier. The Stoic Fist may use this ability unarmed or when wielding a weapon allowed to him by his class proficiencies.

Focused Strike: The Stoic Fist may draw upon his keen intellect to enhance his attacks and damage while unarmed. At 7th level, the Martial Artist may add his Intelligence modifier to his unarmed attack rolls. At 14th level he may add this bonus to damage rolls on unarmed attacks.

Death Strike: At the peak of a Stoic Fists' power, he may channel his power in a blow of consummate skill that ruptures organs, shuts down nervous systems, or stops a beating heart. Using this ability is a full-round action to deliver this single hit. A creature so damaged by this ability must make a Fortitude save (DC 15+one-half Martial Artist level+Int modifier+Arts Mastery Bonus if applicable) or die instantly. Creatures with no discernable anatomy or Constitution score are immune to this effect.

Mastery Abilities: After many fights and long hours spent reviewing them, Stoic Fists gain mastery over several components of combat.

Combat Style: The Stoic Fist chooses one of their six weapons to devote themselves, and so gains bonuses when wielding it (they take no penalties for the other class weapons). The Stoic Fist must choose one weapon at 3rd level to receive bonuses and special combat effects.

Quarterstaff

3rd level +1 AC

9th level +2 AC, Whirlwind Strike (as Whirlwind Attack Feat, one melee attack against all foes in range at highest attack bonus.)

16th level +3 AC, +1 on attack and damage

Nunchaku

3rd level Make one extra attack with weapon at -1 penalty

9th level Make one extra Counter-Strike per turn at -1 penalty

16th level +1d4 damage on nunchaku attacks

Shuriken

3rd level Range increases by 30 feet

9th level Base land speed increases by 15 feet**

16th level Once per encounter, Martial Artist gains true strike on one throw, +3 damage on shuriken attacks

Sai: Oriental Adventures series +4 to disarm

3: +1 disarm (Stacks with inherent weapon bonus)

9:+2 disarm;+1AC

16:+2 disarm;+2AC

Butterfly Swords:

3rd: lose dual weapon penalties

9th: +1AC

16th: Glaring Strike as a full-round action, may attempt to Dazzle opponent (Will Save 15 + Arts Mastery + 1/3 Class Levels to avoid) Opponent can take no actions until Stoic Fist's next activation. Must be used in light at least equivalent to torchlight. Ineffective against sightless creatures.

Kusari-Gama:

3: ranged grapple

9: substitute counter strike for grapple, free action shift

16: whirlwhind strike, chance that any enemy hit is knocked prone

Technique Masteries


Stance Mastery: At 12th level, a Stoic Fists' study of defensive techniques improves to the point he can no longer be flanked, making him immune to the Sneak Attack ability of Rogues unless the Rogue has four more levels in the Rogue class than the Stoic Fist has class levels.

Reflex Mastery**: At 11th level, the Stoic Fist's perceptions are so great, that battle seems to be happening in slow motion around him.. Once per day, for a number of rounds equal to 3+ Int Mod, the Stoic Fist can "slow time" in this way, granting him Dex Bonus over again to his AC and any attack rolls (even melee) during this period. With a DC 20 Concentration check, a Stoic Fist may try to do this additional times per day. This DC increases by 5 upon each successful check. A failed check prohibits any more attempts for that day.

Arts Mastery: Over time, the Stoic Fist develops specialized techniques to defeat enemies he has faced many times in his career. At 4th,8th, and 13th level, the Stoic Fist masters a new fighting tactic designed to take down a specific enemy. Upon selection he rolls 1d3 and gains that bonus on attack and damage rolls as well as AC bonus against that enemy. When a Stoic Fist gains a new mastery at the specified levels, he may add +1 to any Arts Mastery bonus already gained. When using Death Strike against such a chosen enemy, this bonus is added to the DC of the saving throw.

Creature types allowed for Arts Mastery bonus: Aberration, Animal, Construct, Dragon, Fey, Giant, Humanoid plus subtype (Common, Aquatic, Gnoll, Reptilian), Monstrous Humanoid, Undead.

Since not everyone might have Oriental Adventures, here's the stats on new weapons.

Sai 1d4 dmg (Bludgeoning) Crit X2
Butterfly Sword 1d6 dmg (Slashing) Crit 19-20/X2
Kusari-Gama 1d6/1d4 (Slash/Bludg) Crit X2 Double Weapon, reach 10ft

I sent you some comments via PM, Chess...

One thing that I might like to see, though, is a broader range of weapons (rope darts, monk's spade, etc)... but, of course, I realize the weaponry isn't the point, here. The Stoic Fist is a weapon.

I know this thread has been idle for at least a month, but I had a couple thoughts of my own. Like Eol, I agree, some more weapon options would be interesting, but at the same time perhaps you should add a combat style option for the Stoic Fist who prefers not to rely on weapons at all. You've added bonuses for weapons, yet haven't given him all that many options past the strikes.

Also, couldn't you just take the Versatile Unarmed Strike feat from the PHB2 and gain the option to do slashing or piercing damage at first level instead of as class feature?

I don't know if anyone is interested, but my interest has been kindled in this again. Am working on a more polished version to release, aided by Padre J Roulston.

*evaporates*