Monk/Fighter prestige based off Rock Lee (Naruto)

[El Jeraldo]

Monk/Fighter prestige based off Rock Lee (Naruto)

I’m looking to try and make a prestige class modeled after Rock Lee from an anime called Naruto. For those of you who haven’t seen the anime, Rock Lee is basically a monk in DnD terms that is 100% hand to hand fighting. He has the ability to unlock the “8 life gates” (or something like that I cant remember what exactly they are called). To prepare to unlock the gates he must perform the “secondary lotus” a crazy grappling move; to actually unlock the first gate he must perform an even crazier grappling move called the “primary lotus”, then form there he can push his power higher to try and unlock the rest of the gates. The idea is that every time you unlock the next gate it increases his hitting power, damage, and speed, but with each gate he unlocks it puts more strain on his body so that when he is done fighting and returns to normal he is in a lot of pain and extremely exhausted. The damage he does to himself by unlocking higher gates continues to increase until if he were to unlock the 8th gate he would die at the end of its duration because the power derived form it would tear his body apart. That ability is what I am trying to emulate with a prestige class, but seeing as how I as of currently have only been playing DnD for about 1.5 years I’m not positive I have to ability to make this with out it being balanced; I think I would make it ridiculously overpowered and I would like to avoid that.

So basically I’m asking if anyone has done previous work in this direction or knows of a good place to start. If the EN World community could come together and help me put this together piece by piece, I would be eternally grateful. (It would be extremely beneficial if you have seen Naruto of course)

-El Jeraldo

 

[Nifft]

Here's one take (but it's based on Psi-powers and thus not strictly taijitsu).

Cheers, -- N

 

[Kularian]

Well, I've seen Naruto. Well, a lot of it anyway. Let me begin by saying: Lee rocks.

So, let's get down to business. If I recall correctly, each of the 8 gates unlocks something different, does it not? That would probably be the first step, in finding out what they do. Now, I've put together a few classes in my day, some of which were overpowered, some underpowered, some just right, so I think I should be a good candidate for assistance.

So first, the gates and what they do:

Eight Gates

The basis for the idea of the chakra gates comes from the body's limits on the functions within it. This makes the body much weaker, but it keeps the body from expiring too soon. By opening these gates, the user can surpass their own physical limits at the cost of extreme damage to their own bodies. Rock Lee is able to open the first five gates. Guy, who taught Lee the skill, is able to open at least six. Kakashi can open at least one gate, as shown in scene where Kakashi releases the gate (a shot of his brain shows the relevant point activating). The gates and what they release are listed below:

* Opening (Initial) releases the brain's ability to limit the strain on the muscles, giving the user five times their normal strength.
* Rest (Heal) releases the brain's limit on the body's stamina, making a battle-worn person become miraculously ready to fight as if the fight had just started.
* Life is located on the spinal cord, and releases the limit on the nervous system, which makes information travel at a faster rate and creates even more stamina. As a side effect, the user's skin turns red, indicating an increased blood-oxygen level.
* Pain (Harm) releases the limit on oxygen intake in the lungs, creating much more oxygen for the body to use.
* Closing (Limit) releases the limit on the amount of chakra released at one time.
* Joy (View) removes the limit on how much fat and proteins the intestines can digest, and releases otherwise useless energy resources, giving the body even more power and stamina.
* Shock (Wonder / Insanity) removes the limit on how fast the body can move, removes wastes from dead skin cells to feces, and gives the body a much cleaner system to work with, producing more power and stamina.
* Death uses up all the body's energy and opens the final gate located at the heart. It makes the heart pump at maximum power and exceeds the power of the last gates. This uses up all the cells' energy and gives them power well above that of any Kage. This "big bang" effect lasts only for a while and ends up with the muscles, including the heart, being completely destroyed and killing the user.

And the two lotus'

Front Lotus

This jutsu requires opening the first chakra gate, giving the user five times their normal strength. Having prepared for the jutsu by unwrapping the bandages on his arms, the user kicks his opponent into the air, then performs Shadow of the Dancing Leaf. Once he is behind his opponent, he then wraps the arm bandages around them, and grabs them in a bear hug, then piledrives them into the ground while spinning rapidly. The resulting impact will likely kill his opponent, though this has yet to happen due to extenuating circumstances. Because it uses one of the chakra gates, the user is left extremely fatigued, making this jutsu a "double-edged sword."

Reverse Lotus

This jutsu is an advanced and more destructive version of the Front Lotus, which requires that at least three chakra gates be opened (in every instance in which it has been used, five gates are opened). Once enough gates are open, the user launches the target into the air and hits them with one arm and one foot, sending the target crashing into the ground. This is usually fatal due to the speed and power behind the attack. Because so many chakra gates are opened at once, it can only be used once, since the user will likely be unable to stand afterward. Guy's version involves him launching the enemy into the air, spinning like a drill, and delivering a bone-shattering punch.

So...obviously we'll have to tone them down a bit. A character with 20 str suddenly getting 100...? Na, I don't think so.



EDIT: That works quite well, N. I like that quite a bit, to be honest, hehe. But since we're building an entire class around it, instead of a power, it will indeed be a bit different. But I hope you don't mind if we do 'borrow' from your idea?

 

[El Jeraldo]

Okay. Between your description, Kularian, and the power provided by Nifft, I think we can get a good start.

I had originally planned for this to be a high prerequisite prestige class. With that in mind I believe we should line up the prestige, I 'm thinking 10 levels.

lvl 1 - start with something to show intensive training like +10' to base land speed
lvl 2 - now get into the gates and lotus like 1st gate and front lotus (they tend to go together)
lvl 3 - 2nd gate
lvl 4 - 3rd gate
lvl 5 - 4th gate
lvl 6 - 5th gate
lvl 7 - reverse lotus
lvl 8 - 6th gate
lvl 9 - 7th gate
lvl 10 - 8th gate

This is just a beginning brainstorm about layout of abilities. from here we should try and decide what the benefits of the first gate will start at and work up through the rest. I believe the lotus' can be worked out well enough later, I find the gates to be the most important right t now.

So any ideas...yes?...no? on this layout. Also how high do you think the boost should be for the first gate?

Thanks for being willing to help.

-El Jeraldo

 

[Notmousse]

Wow... After reading what these gates do I'm surprised anyone would wanna try this.

Aside from the 8th gate's 'game over' aspect let us take a look at the others. First one you start pulling all your muscles. Second and third you get high and twitchy (and turn red), minus the pleasent side effects. Next you're hyperventilating. Then you've got the same overexertion on your soul as for your muscles. On top of that you're digesting your own body at the next level. To top off the pulled muscles, hyper twitchy nerves, hyperventilation, and soul rending you get to poop yourself too? Holy crap! And if you manage you hit gate 8 you're dead, red, and you've pooped yourself.

Now I've gotta do a write up on this...

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

Having watched Naruto on occasion... I think you would really need to develop an entire d20 variant to handle this. But, if you want to tone it down to be generic D20 fantasy acceptable {anime tends to be a bit over the top} you may want to consider using a variant on Rage...possibly requiring the Psi ability to get into the PrC..

Each option builds upon the previous ones, and the Rage lasts for a period of rounds equal to the PrC class level attained.

Opening: +4 to STR/dazed for 2x rounds of Rage
Rest: Remove Fatigue, + temp HP as if rested for 8 hours/fatigued
Life: +4 Dex, gain Combat Reflexes/Sickened
Pain: +10 Level DR/- /fatigued
Closing: Can use Concentration effect {spells, psi} during rage/no spells/psi for 2x rounds of Rage
Joy: +4 Con/stunned for 2x rounds of rage
Shock: +1 move action per round / paralyzed for 2x rounds of Rage
Death: +10 to Str, Dex, and Con/ Some sort of save vs massive CON drain

? eh, something like that

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

I just see Rock Lee and I want him to be killed off, just so I don't have to look at his hair anymore!

...sorry, I have no input to contribute.

 

[El Jeraldo]

Cool, I like the progression you came up with Primitive Screwhead. First of all I totally understand that this would have to be toned down to be used in a DnD setting.

The only gate I am uneasy with is the 5th gate, closing. I’m not sure that being able to use concentration abilities would be a very beneficial bonus for some one who would be taking this class (I'm assuming a monk or fighter type class). In this step you unrestraint the chakra flow, so my question is what could represent this unlimited flow of chakra.

Okay here is an idea for the fifth gate, it is probably too over powering but anyway, since it is restraining the source of the characters power, I want to make him hit harder but not necessarily do more damage so I’m thinking add a knock back effect to his attacks. Such as after an attack the victim must make some sort of strength check or other type of save or be moved back 5ft/knocked prone. A close but missed check would be moved back 5ft and a missed check by a large margin would be knocked prone. How is that for an idea, good or too overpowering?

Please give input it is very much appreciated and don’t worry about hurting my feelings by saying my idea is dumb; I'm hard to offend. Thanks for the help!

Oh and for Tequila Sunrise, I like Rock Lee as a character, but alas...I too wish at times that his hair would die.

-El Jeraldo

 

[Primitive Screwhead]

I was thinking in terms of this being linked to the Psionic ability Nifft linked to upthread.. hence opening the gates to power would be allowing psionic manifesting while raged.. which could get pretty nasty.

Without the Psi aspect, hmm..
Not sure about the knock back effect. One concern is the abstractness of HPs and was a hit really a *hit* problem. The other problem is you hit on the first strike in a flurry, get the knock back effect, and can't reach your opponent anymore

How bout increasing movement options:
The 5th gate allows you to move 5 feet between each strike in a full attack. This movement does not draw an AoO.

Downside, movement rating halved for the duration of any Fatigue effect gained from the rage