Welcome to Gaia! ::

Think you're creative? Think you know the system pretty well? Think you're better than everyone else? Prove it.

Anyone is allowed to design a Prestige Class whenever they want and try to have it approved, but how often is it backed by cash incentive? We're having a contest to see who can design the absolute coolest Prestige Class, and the winner takes home 5000 Gold (from my pocket, no less!) and has the Prestige Class approved for future use by anyone who'd like to enter it. People who have good, usable ideas that aren't quite as pure awesome as the winner's will also have theirs approved and will be awarded a 500 gold runner up fee.

Rules? You bet.

1) Don't steal. If I find out you used a Prestige Class from published material, i'll track you down and visit you at home. You don't want that. (Oh, and i'll kick you out of the guild. you don't want that either.)

2) To be eligible, it must be LEGIBLE. I cannot emphasize that enough. I can ignore a spelling mistake or bad grammar occasionally, but I refuse to be abused by someone's poor use of the English language. Take the time to proof read your submission, and make sure it doesn't have spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors. I am NOT going to edit anyone's submission, so if it can't fly as presented, you fail. Period. I will not be nice about telling you why, either. You have been warned.

3) Naturally, in order to be considered, it has to be balanced and not twinked out or overpowered. While doing so won't gain you my ire, you still won't win, or get an honorable mention.

4) Most Prestige Classes have ten levels, and none have more than that. You don't have to have that many, but you can't have more.

5) Follow the Greyhawk background; if you try to implement elements from other settings, you won't win.

6) I can be bribed.

7) Be a good sport. You are in a contest, and only one person can win. It probably won't be you, so get over it.

8 ) The deadline is midnight, June 30. All submissions entered after that date are fail. (I might still accept them for use, but I won't pay a red cent.)

9) Have fun. The spirit here is to get everyone active and interested.

10) All final submissions should be placed in this thread. One submission per person, please.

I made up a prestige class called a Talented Performer, it was simmilar to the Exemplar in that it was really about supporting skills rather than feats and special abilties, but it had a few neat special abilties that allowed you to use your perform skill a few times a day in the place of other skills for skillchecks. It also let you "pretend" to play the role of a 'Valliant Hero' (melee bonuses), 'Flashy Magician' (minor spell-like abilties) or a 'Ruffian' (stealthy, sneaky stuff) each day by spending time getting mentally into a role, simmilar to Chameleon or Factotum.

It was fun, but by no means something that would win a "Coolest Prestige Class Evar!" contest.

Hm... I'll have to think on this.....

[[Ok so this is a pretty good rough draft (at least I think) on a class that I've been meaning to work on...I'm trying my best to make this like an advanced monk class rather then some almighty being so forgive me if some things seem off...though if anyone feels like pointing out something feel free to contact me...I'll be replacing the monk abilities as soon as I can think of something better...]]

Title
Transcendental One

Background
A monks quest is to lose ones self and become something far beyond this plane. Transcendental Ones are the few who have mastered their art and become humble enough to accept such an honor. Few students are able to find this and are able to split with the last shell of all material things because of the way they are brought up. By leaving behind everything they gain something that is unseen by most until shown in combat.

Most schools have at least one master who is a member of these few. Though they may seem old and vulnerable in fact their bodies are timeless and are a near unstoppable force. By training so long these masters have become an outside being and have developed a new ability to bend elements around them to their will. They seem near to gods with the ability to move rocks and summon fire with their ki. In anywhere but their schools a Transcendental One may seem like an old man or woman a thug could easily take advantage of. This would be unwise for two reasons, they probably don’t have anything of value and the thug would probably get a good beating after the end of his attack.

Monks are the backbone of this class, and are very respected from just about every school once they achieve such a feat. Few other classes are accepted into the ranks of the Transcendental Ones though Some Druids, Rangers, Clerics, and Fighters may be able to meet the requirements of starting to train with someone so highly regarded in the martial arts community.

New students are taken in small packs of perhaps 8 or less, they train for many years in a monestary being trained by a Transcendental One and any other master they choose fit to teach techniques. They are secluded from the outside world so casting away material shells becomes easier and easier as the students become humbled by their masters and separated from all others. Failures are kicked out of the high mountain monestaries and new Transcendental Ones are picked once the elder sees fit. The training is rigorous and not only taxing of the body but of the mind, Transcendental Ones often liking to speak in riddles or poem verses so others can decipher truth for themselves.

NPC’s of this class are rarely seen, but can be heard of by traveling monks or those still in monestaries if asked or reminded. Few outside the monestary are lucky enough to read scrolls or see a Transcendental One. They are too humble to come out and say of their deeds or accomplishments.
Hit Die
D8
Requirements
Alignment: Any Lawful
Ability: Wisdom 14
Skill: Concentration 8 ranks, Balance 2 ranks, Tumble 2 ranks
Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike [or monk ability], Dodge, Combat Reflexes
Special: Flurry of blows and Ki strike abilities are needed for the training to become this class. Also you must survive training from a previous Transcendental One and the masters they choose to help.
Class Skills
A Transcendental Ones skills are Balance, Bluff, Climb, Craft, Hide, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Perform, Swim, Tumble, Concentration, Diplomacy, and Sense Motive
Skill Points Per Level: 4 + Int Modifier
Special Quality
Transcendental Ones can still go up in Monk levels and keep their abilities.
Table
1: BAB: +0 Fort save: 0 ref save: 2 will save: 2 Special: Timeless body, Bonus Feat [between acrobatic and athletic], Mastery Dedication
2: BAB: +1 Fort save: 0 ref save: 3 will save: 3 Special: Quivering Palm, Water Bending
3: BAB: +2 Fort save: 1 ref save: 3 will save: 3 Special: Abundant Step, Diamond Soul, Perfect Meditation
4: BAB: +3 Fort save: 1 ref save: 3 will save: 3 Special: Wholeness of body, Earth Bending
5: BAB: +3 Fort save: 1 ref save: 4 will save: 4 Special: Bonus Feat [Between Acrobatic and Athletic], Shed needs
6: BAB: +4 Fort save: 2 ref save: 4 will save: 4 Special: Purtiy of Body, Air Bending
7: BAB: +5 Fort save 2 ref save: 5 will save: 5 Special: Tounge of the sun and moon, Nerve Attacks
8: BAB: +6 Fort save: 2 ref save: 5 will save: 5 Special: Fire Bending, Breath of Fire
9: BAB: +6 Fort save: 3 ref save: 6 will save: 6 Special: Ancient Master, Clarity of Mind
10: BAB: +7 Fort save: 3 ref save: 7 will save: 7 Special: Perfect Body, Chakra Control, Spiritual Dance

Class Features:
-Timeless Body: Upon attaining completion of training a Transcendental One No longer takes penalties fro growing older. Though they still die once they reach their time, which has probably been elongated from their training.

-Mastery Dedication: A Transcendental One is a master in their respective art. Upon completing general training they must decide the path they wish to take with their martial arts. It can be a weapon dedication or a specific style of combat.

-Quivering Palm: An unarmed Transcendental One can put vibrations in someone’s body with just a simple touch or a full attack. Once the vibrations are set, the person can decide if these are fatal or not, they can use quivering palm once a week and must announce the attack. This does not affect monsters who are immune to critical attacks but once landed the target must make a fortitude save of DC 10 + ½ Transcendental levels + Transcendental Wis Modifier. If saved the attack must be made again.

-Water Bending: a Transcendental One learns how to first move water about since it is the least destructive of the elements. Can’t create water and needs a source of some kind. Can create a whip with the water [1D6 damage] or control it’s temperature to freeze it to make a wall or keep opponents stuck. Also with appropriate concentration checks, DC 10, water can be converted to heal minor wounds.

-Abundant Step: A Transcendental One can step through planes with an ability similar to dimensional door, caster level is equal to Transcendental One level.

-Diamond Soul: Gains immunity to poisons
Perfect Medication: Can copy elf like meditation, a Transcendental One can meditate for four hours and have rested fully. Also with this meditation they can ignore other bodily limits such as food.

-Wholeness of Body: Can heal own wounds for twice Transcendental level.
Earth Bending: Gains the ability to wrap the very earth around himself to make armor similar to breastplates. Also can simply wrap it around feet and hands for an extra 1D6 damage per strike. But gets an extra 15% arcane failure rate while wearing the bonus.

-Shed Needs: After meditating rather then eating with comrades and drinking a few cups of water a Transcendental One can sustain himself on the simple water and a combination of ki and the universe around him/her.

-Purity of Body: Can control body’s immune system and gains immunity to disease.
-
Air Bending: Uses centrifugal force of a very spin based and arm rotation based martial arts to focus his ki. Doing this he can influence air current and force, can make blades of air that do 2D4 but are gone on contact. Can cause slow fall up to 50ft.

-Tongue of the sun and moon: Can talk to any living creature, to share their wisdom.

-Nerve Attacks: Can attempt to touch certain nerve points to stop animation. Target will still live but will have stopped for 5 rounds. Not able to use on creatures immune to critical hits. Attacker attempts a touch attack, target after being hit can make a DC 18 stun save.

-Fire Bending: Can manifest Ki to make fire Transcendental One level per meditation period. Fire is short lived but burns intensely for 3D6 damage. Can be used to start other fires, such as torches or to set a field of grass/ thatched roof ablaze.

-Breath of Fire: After filling their mouth with alcohol a Transcendental One can use their Ki to set it ablaze and spray it in a cone. The fire sprays in a 20ft cone and does 3D12 damage.

-Ancient Master: Life seems to be a simple limitation to true masters. At this point in their lives a Transcendental One can try to take students. They can pick up new skills with ease similar to improvised weapons. Anything seen or touched at least once Transcendental Ones can attempt to try and master themselves.

-Clarity of Mind: Similar to Blank Mind spell. Makes Transcendental Ones immune to being targeted by spells that affect the mind or will. Also makes him/her immune to rage spells.

-Perfect Body: If not already from Monk levels the Transcendental One gains a perfect body.

-Chakra Control: Transcendental Ones can control the flow of their Ki in order to counter other Monk’s or Transcendental One’s nerve, quivering palm, and ki attacks. They must announce beforehand that they are moving their charka away from whose attack. Similar to dodge.

-Spiritual Dance: The Transcendental One can complete a small kata in order to split his body into four clones. Each clone is an expert in each of the different elements, these clones cannot split and can only use one of the four bending abilities. Each clone is 4 total levels lower then the original but can act on their own. Most of the time they have different cloth colors and/or unique personalities. Can only use this ability once a week.

I will have a semi late entry... some time this weekend

Is anyone going to submit more ideas??

Come on Rinith, you've only got 10 more days...

I could ditch the Mind abilities. I was just taking the concept of the shifter feats from Races of the Wild (I think it's from races of the wild) where you get to choose different sorts of shifter progressions, all of them are physical except one was mental. While my abilities aren't modeled off of that, the concept of one mental direction seemed fun.

hm... I'll give it some thought...

Rofl.

hmmm -sits to think on class- well i'll probably have more time to think about it after warped tour...