strikingsnake

Benefits of the Striking Snake: They gain skill points at the rate of a rogue and gain feats at the rate of a fighter. This does not include any special bonus feats gained due to the nature of their training. They can either choose to specialize in thier weapon or take a fighters base attack skill per level. All other base abilities come from the rogue charts.

Hindrances of the Striking Snake: Unable to wear armor. Must choose one Unique weapon talored to them only. Using any other weapon brings about severe penalties in attack and dexterity. No missile weapons can be used. Cannot choose any other class down the road unless willing to give up current abilities.

Special Feats: These are broken up into four categories based on the striking snake's special ongoing training through life. They are all based off his Chi life force which becomes more powerful as he goes up in level. The four forms of Chi training for the striking snake are as follows.

Chi Movement- this form of training reflects the striking snake's ability to move gracefully like a snake, either in combat or non-combat situations. Though these skills are considered feats, some are prone to failure and reflect certain skills that must be obtained first in order to use them. For instance the Chi Movement feat known as "Instant Stand" requires the player to roll a balance check to see if the Feat is actually pulled off. These feats do not require a check if attempted in a non-stressful situation or if a successful concentration check is made at beginning of round.

Chi Defensive- This reflects the Striking snakes ability to avoid physical danger in its many forms. Though these are feats many of them are prone to failure and require an additional attack roll to avoid the danger. For example, at first level dullas automatically gains the parry skill and is able to attempt to parry off a creature up to one size larger than himself. He can only parry as many attacks as he is able to make in one round. Dullas must first declare at beginning of round that he will be withholding one attack to parry with providing the attack comes after his first attack initiative. The creature attacks and dullas can see that he going to get through his normal defenses so dullas attempts to block it at the last minute. Both dullas and the creature must make an attack roll. Whoever rolls off the highest wins. If dullas wins he successfully blocks the attack that would have slipped by his normal defenses. If the creature wins the attack roll then he still makes it past dullas' defenses and hits normally. More detail will be explain on these when I actually list the abilities and how they work.

Chi Mentality- This reflects the striking snake's ability to become one with themselves, their weapon, and the environment around them. A striking snake's true power comes from their chi life force. They feel all matter has a chi, from a simple rock to an ancient gold dragon. They consider chi to be the binding material that makes up existence. When one can better understand their own chi, they become a more powerful force to be reckoned with. Some examples of Chi mentality is the feat called "Meditation". At first level a striking snake can meditate drawing in the chi energy around them into themselves. This allows them to rest faster. For every hour that a striking snake mediatates he gains back 2 hours of complete rest.

Chi Offensive- This is the striking snakes ability to channel his chi into his fighting techniques. For example, at first level the striking snake is able to channel his chi energy to take on the form of his weapon and channel it out ahead of the end of his weapon, thereby giving it more distance. It is a slow process of training in the beginning and the striking snake is only able to channel his chi one inch ahead of his weapon for every level up to 6th before he fully begins to understand its true potential.

Leap-Chi Movement- the striking snake learns to channel their chi energy allowing them the ability to leap higher and farther than a normal person. They begin with the ability to leap 4 feet up and 3 feet forward from a stand position. If they have at least ten feet of run space ahead of them they can make a running leap at double the stand still abilities. This ability increase at 1ft upward and 1ft forward for every level above 1st that they striking snake obtains.

Ward attack-Chi Defensive- at first level the striking snake is allowed to declare a withheld attack. This withheld attack is then used to defend against an incoming attack that would normally hit the striking snake. If the attack does not hit then the striking snake does not waiste his move. This comes from his inner chi ability to determine that an attack will slip past his normal defenses at the last minute and allows him one last oportunity to defend against it by using a purposely withheld attack to ward it off. If the striking snake has not used his withheld attack to defend against another attack by the end of the round, then the striking snake may then use their withheld attack as normal but only after all other character and creature's actions have already happened. To determine if an attack is defended another set of attack rolls must be made. One from the person attacking the striking snake and one from the striking snake themselves. Whoever rolls the higher attack, all bonuses included, wins the action. If striking snake wins roll then they have successfully blocked the hit even if a critical strike would have been made. If person attacking striking snake wins then they saw the block attempt coming and was able to avoid it and still land their original attack.

Chi Meditation-Mental- The striking snake has begun to become one with there surroundings using there chi ability. They are now able to meditate and draw energy from their current surroundings into themselves allowing them to rest and recouperate faster. Every hour of meditation is equal to two hours of full rest. This is a state of mind and does not require them to be in any certain position.

Distance attack-Chi Offensive- The striking snake has learned to become one with his weapon and even mimic it using his chi abilities. This allows him to force a mimic of his weapon out ahead of the actual weapon he is using. This is a force and does not show form or substance much like all the chi energy used. Critical strikes cannot be made in this way however a backstab can since backstabs tend to take more time and concentration to use. For every level achieved the striking snake gains a few inches extended to his range.

Instant stand-Chi movement- Upon falling or being knocked down for any reason the striking snake is allowed a balance check to see if they can leap back to their feet instantly. This does not take an action and negates having to wait a round to obtain the standing position.

Chi attack-chi offensive- The striking snake has learned how to channel his chi attack abilities to draw out the chi energy from another creature or object. He can now strike creatures or objects that can only be hit with a special weapon. This does not give him any bonuses to attack or damage. Nor could he hit a creature that required a +1 or better weapon. He could however damage a creature that simply can only be hit by silver weapons since this does not dictate the use of a +1 or better type weapon.

Improved Movement- Chi Movement- this works the same as a Monks improved movement but is derived more from the striking snakes ability to move chi out of his way and behind him in order for him to move faster. Same rules as the Monks improved movement applies to this feat.

All-Around-Site-Chi Mental- The striking snake is beginning to use his chi to better see things around him but mostly his attackers. In this case he is now able to visualize attackers and things moving from all sides as if right in front of him. He can no longer be flanked except by creatures who cannot be seen and is able to make an attack on creatures from all sides without fully turning around to face them.

Prone Fighting-Chi Offensive- The striking snake has learned more of a snakes fighting techniques and is now able to successfully fight and defend when not on their feet. This includes sitting and laying on ones back or kneeling much like a snake can fight with no arms or legs.

Levitate-Chi Movement- The striking snake is now able to use their chi force to help push them upward. They must have a solid surface under them and a full round to concentrate before levitating. At this point they are able to levitate one foot per level/ per round. If they make a concentration check, then they are able to perform other activities from current height. If they make another concentration check then they are able to move from left to right as long as there is a solid surface beheath them. They cannot fight while levitating.

Improved Parry-Chi Defense- Striking snake is now able to parry an attack from creatures two sizes larger than themselves. If the attack is normally able to push the striking snake back in some way then the best the striking snake can do is prevent weapon damage however they still get thrown or pushed back. Example: A red dragon uses his tail swipe to hit dullas. Dullas at the last minute sees the huge tail coming and positions himself and his weapon to parry away the damage but still gets swept away from the tail and possibly taking thrown damage still.

Chi Craft-Chi Mental- The striking snake has learned to channel chi energy and permanentaly store it into their weapon of choice. This works in conjunction with their craft weapon skill and allows them to replace their current magical weapon that they have grown to become one with. An appropriate craft skill check is made when using this skill to generate a new weapon for themselves and can only be used when their weapon of choice is lost or destroyed. Their Chi conscience does not allow them to make and sell these items for profit or use for anything other than themselves since in essence it is a part of them. Their ability of how powerful a weapon they can create reflects their chi attack ability further explained in next feat below.

Improved Chi attack-Chi Offensive- The striking snake has become more powerful and precise with his ability to attack and can now strike a creature who can only be hit with a +1 or better weapon. Furthermore the Striking snake has realized the potential of their distance attack and are able to hit at a distance of one foot per level now. Again no critical strikes can be made at this point except for a rogue's sneak attack.

FeatherWalk-Chi Movement- The striking snake has further developed his chi levitate ability and is now able to walk normally a few inches above ground at his full and normal movement rate. This does not take a round of concentration like the chi levitate. This ability can also be used to walk across surfaces that are not hard like liquids, quicksand, etc. This move requires a balance check. If the balance check is failed no progress forward is made and the striking snake must wait until his next round before attempting again.

Improved All-Around-Site-Chi Mental- The striking snake is now able to see in a different type of vision using his chi. Since everything has a form of chi the striking snake can now close their eyes and visualize the environment from a chi perspective. This takes one action to innitiate visualization and will allow the striking snake to see objects in complete darkness. Since darkness has no form or energy the striking snake is not hindered by it. If a burst of light is created in darkness however to blind someone then the striking snake will be affected in the same fashion thru the burst of lights chi form. A magical darkness will also affect the striking snake's vision. Since it is magical and thus has a form of energy about it the striking snake will be affected by it much like anyone else. Creatures invisible however will be seen by the striking snake since they still have form and substance to them.

Improved Chi attack-Chi Offensive- The striking snake further improves their ability to hit creatures that can only be hurt by a +2 or better weapon. For the sake of not repeating this again this ability will continue to increase every three levels from this point on.

Ok well that is all of the bonus feats that I have transferred over from second edition. The only thing that would be added to this would be bought using the normal amount of feats given to a warrior. These feats will mostly be chosen to enhance his fighting abilities. like two weapon fighting style, ambidexterity and so on. I simply did not need to change these or give them fancy names because they are exactly the same as in second edition

Please feel free to email Dullus with any questions you might have. This is a work in Progress and likely will change when 3rd Ed. Rogue Skills become more defined!