* * * Wizards Community Thread * * * -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Thread : Martial Arts, Kits and Class Change Started at 10-14-04 04:41 AM by Querdenker Visit at http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=322438 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 1] Author : Querdenker Date : 10-14-04 04:41 AM Thread Title : Martial Arts, Kits and Class Change I've just gotten hands on the "Oriental Adventures" Campaign setting, and (once again) I have a sh*tload of questions... Assuming I start play as a Kensai character with a natural AC of 7. I choose Martial Arts as the special "Weapon" for the Kensai. The first Martial Arts Style I learn is Kung Fu wich gives an AC of 6. I spend another slot on Kung Fu for my first Special Maneuver and one of my additional slots for high intelligence on a second maneuver. 1) Is the Style's AC relative to the natural AC (means I have AC 3 when fighting with Kung Fu) or is it an absolute AC (means I have AC 6 when fighting with Kung Fu)? 2) I am not allowed to use magic armor or weapons, but may use nonmagic armor and/or weapons, right? 3) Does bonus from armor add to the AC bonus from Martial arts? If not: When my natural AC, modified by nonmagic armor is lower than my AC in Kung Fu, can I choose which to take? 4) Upon using a weapon (that is allowed for use with my chosen martial arts style and that I'm proficient with) do I get the attack/damage bonus that comes from the Kensai class? 5) Upon reaching lvl. 9 (just for example) I make a class change to Psionic and take the Sensei Kit from the Dark Sun Campaign Setting (which is ok, because the Kensai is a class, not a Kit). The Sesei has the Benefit of continouus specialization in martial arts, but normally uses the simple martial arts rules. How would You handle this? 6) After the class change I lose all abilities from the Kensai character. But I do keep my martial arts style and the other proficiencies, right? 7) Does my natural AC change to 10 or do I keep AC 7 from the Kensai? 8) Do I get an AC Bonus for high dexterity after the class change? 9) Upon reaching a higher level in Sensei than in Kensai, do I get both, the lower natural AC and the dexterity bonus to AC? A lot of questions, I know... hope, You guys can help me. Best wishes, Quer -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 2] Author : MadBall Date : 10-14-04 05:45 AM I apologize, if I made some mistakes as Oriental Adventures is not by my Hand right now: 1. (means I have AC 6 when fighting with Kung Fu)? Yes. ONLY when fighting (using Kung Fu) you have Armor Class 6. When not fighting you have Armor Classe 7 (natural from your Kensai Class). 2. You are not allowed to wear ANY armor and as true in the case of an Kensai you are ONLY allowed to use your special bonus in regard of your mastered weapon when using that weapon. This would mean your Kensai is not good in using ANY weapon (other then his Martial Arts Style) then a normal Kensai would be when you have selected Naginata for instance. 3. No armor bonus can be applied because no magic or nonmagic armor can be used with a Kensai. >When my natural AC, modified by nonmagic armor is lower than my AC in Kung Fu, can I choose which to take?< Your natural AC will be never modified by nonmagic armor. It can only be lower then your AC in martial styles if you use some other magic item which offers an armor class bonus. In this case I would apply the following rule: - if you are not fighting you have your natural class as provided by the Kensai class modified with Items armor bonus - if you are fighting you have your martial arts style armor class modified with Items armor bonus 4. NO. Because your Kensais Weapon Mastery is Martial Styles. He gets his bonus when fighting with that specific weapon. In your case its your Hands! 5. I would not allow this, except you can depict a very interesting story why a character from Kara Tur changes to a class which is availbale actually on a complete different primary plane. Rulewise I would say that this is cheesy! Fluffwise I would say, lets hear the story first! 6. If one allow to let you switch to Sensei (at least it sounds nice, Kensai/Sensai) it would mean that you are a dual class character (must be human) and with regard of you previous class's abilities (Kensai) the rules say, that you are not earning any experience for any encounter and only half experience for the adventure if you use any proficency or special ability from your old class. When you reach an higher level then your previous class those restriction will be gone. In case of matching proficiencies and abilities this would be mandatory off course (still seems a bit cheesy for me). 7. Good question. I would switch it to your new class basic armor class. You would not sort of loose it. But fluffwise you character is concentrating on the ways of the new class and not anymore the ways of its old class. But he does not forget his abilities, it is just a question of concentrating. Humans are only able to concentrate on one thing, but can virtually be anything, anyone. Thats the idea behind these rules. 8. Yes. But it will (should) be aplied on your new class basic AC. 9. That is something I am not sure about (no rulebook at Hand) but I think the Kensai class will receive dexterity donus to its armor class (ALLWAYS in restriction to how dexterity bonus are applied) but I am not quite sure. Need to look up. I think there is a passage written in the rules which states this clearly. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 3] Author : Querdenker Date : 10-15-04 05:36 AM Ok. A character like that would be pretty munchkin, but our GM is running a pretty munchkin Campaign. I also know, the matching martial arts proficiencies are quite cheesy, but I just wanted to know, how you would handle this (assuming you were to run a powergaming campaign). In addition: if I take martial arts as the specialty of the kensai, why would it not cover the weapons allowed in that specific martial arts style (except for being cheesy)? But thank you anyway, you've already been a great help (I misread the passage about magic armor and weapons. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 4] Author : Kheldren Date : 10-15-04 07:15 AM if I take martial arts as the specialty of the kensai, why would it not cover the weapons allowed in that specific martial arts style (except for being cheesy)?The Kensai is a real purist - for him using anything other than the purest form of the martial art (i.e. unarmed) would be betraying his (or her) dedication. Just as a Kensai cannot go for a two-weapon fighting style if the weapons are different - no matter how common it might have been around him. Actually "cannot" is too strong a word - if I remember correctly you can wield the weapons - you just gain 50% xp. The martial arts style teaches flexibility yes, which is the multiple weapons, but the kensai disdains the flexibility and sticks to the pure form. :) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- [Post 5] Author : Querdenker Date : 10-15-04 07:43 AM Jup. That sounds perfectly logical (even) to me. :) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Downloaded from Wizards Community (http://forums.gleemax.com) at 05-10-08 08:16 AM.