DREAD MONK

This archetype is based heavily on the Dread by Dreamscarred Press.

A dread monk strives to control fear itself, defending himself from it and using it to attack his enemies.

Quick Summary: Replaces stunning fist, Still Mind, Purity of Body, Wholeness of Body, Diamond Body, Abundant Step, Quivering Palm, Empty Body. Modifies Diamond Soul.

Terror Strike (Su)

At first level, a Dread Monk learns to infuse their natural attacks with mind-affecting, fear effects.

You may attempt a Terror Strike a number of times a day equal to your monk level. If the attack misses, the effect is wasted. If you hit on the next attack with an unarmed strike, you can attempt to inflict an additional mind-affecting, fear effect. If a target already has a status effect from another source equal to or greater than the one you're applying, your strike will have no effect.

At 1st level, choose one option you qualify for from the list below. At 2nd level, 4th level and every four levels thereafter, you can choose new options to add to your arsenal.

• Cower: The target must make a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + ½ your monk level + your Wisdom modifier) or gain the cowering condition for 1 round. Multiple strikes will increase the duration of the penalty.
• Fright: The target must make a Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ your monk level + your Wisdom modifier) or gain the frightened condition for 1 round. Multiple strikes will increase the duration of the penalty.
• Shaken: The target must make a Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ your monk level + your Wisdom modifier) or gain the shaken condition for 1d4 rounds. Multiple strikes will increase the duration of the penalty.
• Weak: The target must make a Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ your monk level + your Wisdom modifier) or gain the fatigued condition for 1d6 rounds. Multiple strikes will increase the duration of the penalty.
• Insanity: Spend a ki point and the target gains a -2 penalty to Wisdom for 1d4 rounds. Multiple strikes will increase the duration of the penalty, but not increase it beyond -2. You must be 4th level to select this option.
• Drain: Spend a ki point and the target must make Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ your monk level + your Wisdom modifier). On failure, you drain away one prepared spell or spell slot at random of a level equal to or less than ½ your monk level. You must be 8th level to select this option.
• Sick: The target must make a Fortitude saving throw (DC 10 + ½ your monk level + your Wisdom modifier) or gain the sickened condition for 1 minute. Multiple strikes will increase the duration of the penalty. You must be 8th level to select this option.
• Slow: Spend a ki point and the target must make Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ your monk level + your Wisdom modifier). On failure, the target is slowed (as the spell) for 1d6 rounds. Multiple strikes will increase the duration of the penalty. You must be 8th level to select this option.
• Insomnia: The target must make Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ your monk level + your Wisdom modifier) or gain a lingering fear that prevents rest for one day. Inability to rest means the target cannot regain spells or power points, nor heal normally. Multiple insomnia strikes do not stack. You must be 12th level to select this option.
• Panic: The target must make a Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ your monk level + your Wisdom modifier) or gain the panicked condition for 1d6 rounds. Multiple strikes will increase the duration of the penalty. You must be 12th level to select this option.
• Chill: Spend two ki points and the target must make Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ your monk level + your Wisdom modifier) or be wracked with subconscious doubt and gain a negative level. You can only inflict one negative level at a time on a specific target, and a target that makes its saves is immune to your chill for 24 hours. You must be 12th level to select this option.
• Nightmare: The target is hit with a nightmare so vivid he must make Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ your monk level + your Wisdom modifier) or die. If the target succeeds, it becomes shaken for 1d4 rounds, but is immune to your nightmare for 24 hours. You must be 16th level to select this option.
• Paranoia: The target must make Will saving throw (DC 10 + ½ your monk level + your Wisdom modifier) or become intensely paranoid, treating all creatures as enemies. The target reacts violently to anyone who approaches and will use the most efficient means of disposing the enemy. The target also attempts a save against all effects he could, unless he makes a successful Spellcraft check to identify the effect. This condition lasts for 1 minute per monk level. Multiple strikes will increase the duration of the paranoia. You must be 16th level to select this option.

Terror Strike replaces Stunning Fist.

Disciple of Dread (Su)

At 3rd level, you gain a bonus on saving throws vs. fear effects equal to your monk level. At 11th level, you gain immunity to fear effects, including the cowering, frightened, panicked and shaken conditions. This ability replaces Still Mind and Diamond Body.

Right Behind You (Ex)

At 5th level, whenever an adjacent foe that is shaken attempts to take a 5-foot step away from you, you can, as an immediate action, take a 5-foot step so long as you end up adjacent to the foe that triggered this ability. This replaces Purity of Body.

Devour Fear (Su)

At 7th level, whenever you make a successful unarmed strike, you may spend a ki point as a swift action and gain life from the target equal to half the amount of damage you dealt with this blow (rounded down). If the strike was a terror strike and the target failed their saving throw, or if the strike required no saving throw (such as the insanity option), you instead gain life equal to the damage you dealt with the attack. This is a mind-affecting, fear effect and the target must be conscious and aware for this ability to function. You may decide to use this ability after you learn the attack is successful, but before damage is determined. This ability replaces Wholeness of Body.

Nightmare Step (Su)

At 12th level, you can use others' fears to guide you straight to them. By spending a ki point, you can teleport up to 100 ft. away into a square adjacent to a shaken, frightened, panicked or cowering target. You must have line of sight to the target.

However, if you spend two ki points, you can target any creature in range that you made shaken, frightened, panicked or cowering, even if you can't see them. If there is no unoccupied, adjacent square, or the target is out of range, you appear as close to the target as possible.

This is a move action that provokes attacks of opportunity from your starting square and ending square, but not from your chosen target. Each time you use this ability against the same target in the same day, it costs one extra ki point for every time you targeted them. This ability replaces Abundant Step.

Shroud of Fears (Su)

At 13th level, you can use others' fear as a defense. By spending a ki point as a swift action, you manifest a shroud of shapes drawn from the inner fears and terrors of those who view you. This gives you concealment (20% miss chance), and is a mind-affecting, fear effect. You must spend one ki point every round beyond the first in order to maintain the shroud. Opponents immune to mind-affecting or fear effects are unaffected and see you normally.

At 15th level, you instead gain total concealment (50% miss chance). Opponents immune to mind-affecting or fear effects are still unaffected.

This ability replaces Quivering Palm and Empty Body and pushes Diamond Soul to 19th level.

Diamond Soul (Ex)

At 19th level, you gain spell resistance equal to your current monk level + 10.

Favored Class Bonus

If you choose Monk as your favored class, you can take ¼ of a new terror strike as your favored class bonus each time you gain a Monk level.

[ Display entire Dread Monk progression table ]