New Class Features You can select the Meditant Blade feature in place of the Unarmed Combatant class feature. You lose proficiency with the monk unarmed strike, and gain proficiency with the mind blade instead.
Meditant Blade You are able to channel your mental awareness and psionic potential to sheathe your attacks with blades of pure energy. When you make an attack such as a melee basic attack, you can use the mind blade, which is a weapon in the light blade group. This weapon has the light thrown and off-hand weapon properties and a +3 proficiency bonus, and it deals 1d6 damage. You must have a hand free to use your mind blade. Your mind blade can't be turned into a magic weapon, but it can benefit from a magic ki focus if you have one (see "Implements" below). ---------------------------------------------------------
The most recent changes:
Name of the feature changed. I think it sounds more like a class feature, and less like, y'know, a weapon.
Removed the bit about "counts as a dagger" - I've since decided that it can have a little bit more of its own character.
Removed the "When you make a weapon attack" bit, just so that nobody gets confused with Monk class powers (Implement, all of them) - you can use the mind blade with those powers..
Future Plans
There are feats included in the most recent post in this thread. I'll move them to the first post eventually.
I plan on adding a few more feats. I'm going to introduce a very limited version of the "shape" feats - probably just a two-handed (or versatile, haven't decided) version and a "two blade" version - each of which will come via feat, and will carry some other benefit to make it more worthwhile for a Monk (who really gains almost nothing from changing the blade's stats).
I'm considering expanding this to a full "build" for the Monk, with a strong caveat: I don't want to introduce another Flurry of Blows feature. There would be very little point in doing that. I had previously considered adding a power point using build - but it would be a ton of work to make function properly. Most likely, the "build" will simply be a set of theme-appropriate powers. Maybe even some ranged powers for the Monk (le gasp!).
New Class Features You can select the Mind Blade feature in place of the Unarmed Combatant class feature. You lose proficiency with the monk unarmed strike, and gain proficiency with the mind blade instead.
Mind Blade You are able to channel your mental awareness and psionic potential to sheathe your attacks with blades of pure energy. When you make a weapon attack such as a melee basic attack, you can use the mind blade, which is a weapon in the light blade group. This weapon has the light thrown and off-hand weapon properties and a +3 proficiency bonus, and it deals 1d6 damage. In addition, you can treat the mind blade as a dagger for the purposes of feats, class features, and powers. You must have a hand free to use your mind blade. Your mind blade can't be turned into a magic weapon, but it can benefit from a magic ki focus if you have one (see "Implements" below). ---------------------------------------------------------
Quickly, the changes:
First, I added the removal of monk unarmed strike proficiency, and the addition of mind blade proficiency. Why? Without it, you weren't actually becoming proficient with the mind blade that you got.
Second, I added that the mind blade counts as a dagger for the purposes of all feats, features, and powers. Why? Instead of adding additional feats to support the mind blade, it is more practical to merely use the existing dagger feat(s?). With this change, the Soulknife Monk can use their mind blade to utilize the Starblade Flurry feat - the effects of which would essentially be reproduced in a proper mind blade feat. It also allows one to build an even more effective "Soulknife" - using Hybrid Monk|Rogue (Rogue Weapon Talent will augment the Mind Blade).
Anyways, that's the current version I'm offering at my table. I expect to see something like it (potentially with powers supporting it - though they aren't really necessary).
I finally got a good look at the (last) version of the Monk. I'm still eager to see the soulknife translated into 4th, but if it doesn't show up in the Battlemind (and it might - though if that class is a defender, it won't quite be the soulknife I'm looking for), I found an alternative that I kind of like. Namely:
New Class Features You can select the Mind Blade feature in place of the Unarmed Combatant class feature.
Mind Blade You are able to channel your mental awareness and psionic potential to sheathe your attacks with blades of pure energy. When you make a weapon attack such as a melee basic attack, you can use the mind blade, which is a weapon in the light blade group. This weapon has the light thrown and off-hand weapon properties and a +3 proficiency bonus, and it deals 1d6 damage. When thrown, it has a range of 5/10. You must have a hand free to use your mind blade. Also, your mind blade can benefit from a magic ki focus if you have one (see "Implements" below). You are proficient with your mind blade.(v1)Show
You are able to channel your mental awareness and psionic potential to sheathe your attacks with blades of pure energy. When you make a weapon attack such as a melee basic attack, you can use the mind blade, which is a weapon in the light blade group. This weapon has the off-hand weapon property and a +3 proficiency bonus, and it deals 1d6 damage. You must have a hand free to use your mind blade. Also, your mind blade can benefit from a magic ki focus if you have one (see "Implements" below). You are proficient with your mind blade.
I figure: quick, easy, and honestly it accomplishes what I want. It also leaves room to work with either of the Monastic Traditions (along with future options as well). The damage is lower because, I feel, the weapon group change (to light blade) is worth it - and heck, with how Monk powers work, you will normally be dealing 1d8 or 1d10 with your attacks anyways. Also, it synergizes well with Rogue multiclass (or even hybrid - depending on what they do with Hybrid Talent).
Anyways, I thought I'd just toss this out there for people to use, if they want, or to give feedback on, if they want. Enjoy!
EDIT: Edited. It's v3 now (added a range listing for when used as a thrown weapon).
i think you hit the nail on the head with that one. Personally I see the Battlemind as being similar to the Psychic Warrior rather then the Soulknife. I wonder what races will be out in the PHB3???
i think you hit the nail on the head with that one. Personally I see the Battlemind as being similar to the Psychic Warrior rather then the Soulknife. I wonder what races will be out in the PHB3???
Honestly, I hope I have. The flavor and mechanics just work too well to pass it up.
That said, I suspect that the Battlemind might be a merger of the Soulknife and Psychic Warrior classes, but we'll just have to see.
I hope we see a psionic-themed race that isn't just the Gith, but I'm kind of suspecting that we'll have to wait until Darksun for that (which might be worth it, to have a non-level-adjusted Thri-kreen.
Um ok, you've got a shortsword, that has no special abilities, and deals less damage. Why would anyone ever take this path?
As of right now, to the best of my knowledge, only a full monk can get unarmed combat. So why would any member of that class ever take this option? You can't throw it, charge it up, shape it into anything else, or any of the cool things a 3.5 sk did.
Um ok, you've got a shortsword, that has no special abilities, and deals less damage. Why would anyone ever take this path?
As of right now, to the best of my knowledge, only a full monk can get unarmed combat. So why would any member of that class ever take this option? You can't throw it, charge it up, shape it into anything else, or any of the cool things a 3.5 sk did.
So give it the light thrown property and call it a day. "Shaping" it is simple, as all that is is decorative fluff. Dwarven monk soulknife? The mind blade looks like a hammer, etc.
...
Ok, that got me thinking. Maybe, in order to give it some flexibility, let the player pick the weapon type, so there can be actual shaping. Still keep the off-hand property, 1d6 damage, and +3 prof, but just change the weapon type. I might suggest picking a weapon type at creation, simply because I'm not sure how potentially broken the ability to have a light blade/hammer/mace/axe/etc on the fly would be. Thoughts?
If you're gonna let them throw it does that mean they can use their monk disciplines at a range?
What about this instead?
Soul Knife [General] Requirement: Must be able to use Ki-focuses Benefits: Select one weapon with which you are proficient, as a minor action you may create a weapon of that kind out of metal energy. This weapon has the enchantment of your current Ki-focus, and fades away one round after you let go of it.
Um ok, you've got a shortsword, that has no special abilities, and deals less damage. Why would anyone ever take this path?
As of right now, to the best of my knowledge, only a full monk can get unarmed combat. So why would any member of that class ever take this option? You can't throw it, charge it up, shape it into anything else, or any of the cool things a 3.5 sk did.
So give it the light thrown property and call it a day.
Actually, that seems like a good plan. Light thrown it is.
+3, 1d6, off-hand, light thrown, light blade vs. +3, 1d8, off-hand, unarmed? Both, mind you, are always usable when you have a free hand. Until we see PH3, it's hard to say that trading the Unarmed group (with no feat support) for the Light Blade group (some good feat support) isn't worth the damage-die drop. Adding light thrown makes it definitely worth the trade off, I think.
However, "light thrown" doesn't do more than give him a workable ranged basic attack (though really, all the weapon damage die does is give the monk a better basic attack anyways, unless he multiclasses). It does make him an even better option for multiclassing Rogue than he already would be with the "Mind Blade" feature above.
"Shaping" it is simple, as all that is is decorative fluff. Dwarven monk soulknife? The mind blade looks like a hammer, etc.
...
Ok, that got me thinking. Maybe, in order to give it some flexibility, let the player pick the weapon type, so there can be actual shaping. Still keep the off-hand property, 1d6 damage, and +3 prof, but just change the weapon type. I might suggest picking a weapon type at creation, simply because I'm not sure how potentially broken the ability to have a light blade/hammer/mace/axe/etc on the fly would be. Thoughts?
I think limiting the weapon to a specific weapon type works okay - it's akin to the Rogue weapon restrictions. More of a thematic thing than anything else (it's the soulknife, after all ). Feats that change the weapon group, along with adding a minor benefit, seem appropriate.
Axing Mind (dumb name, I know) Prerequisites: Monk, Mind Blade class feature Benefit: As a free action, you can change the shape of your mind blade in an axe-like blade of pure energy. While in this shape, your mind blade belongs to the axe group instead of the light-blade group. It has the off-hand property and a +2 proficiency bonus, and it deals 1d10 damage. You can change your mind blade back into its original shape.
or
Crushing Will Prerequisites: Monk, Mind Blade class feature Benefit: As a free action, you can change the shape of your mind blade in a heavy block of pure energy. While in this shape, your mind blade belongs to the hammer group instead of the light-blade group. It has the brutal 1 and off-hand properties and a +2 proficiency bonus, and it deals 1d8 damage. You can change your mind blade back into its original shape.
actually shaping it should be a feat, as it was in 3.5 and Soulknife itself should not be a feat. I think perhaps the Soulknife's bonus should be that they can use their powers at short range AND melee. This would be their defacto type build and make them the "ranged" Monk. Just an idea. Also attacking with the mind blade would be a "power" itself (Such as Int vs AC, or Dex vs AC). I think this could work but their needs to be more to the build then...just the mind blade. Make a complete full on build of the Mind Blade Monk and then it will be easier to judge.
yes he could change it to a short sword, longsword, or bastard sword (which had to be wielded 2handed unless he had the feat. To me this really isn't as awesome as one would expect. I say make it a 2nd level utility power that works something like this.
Longsword Weapon has some sort of bonus for using the longsword sense it is a power. Its a minor action and at-will Utility power.
Bastard Sword Minor action and you are considered proficient with the weapon (1 handed wield) and its an at-will Utility power.
That is the best I can think of in my oppion, however I think the Soulknife should really work like a psychic barbarian the more I think about it (Instead of Rage they have Presence or something to that effect). Just my oppinion.
). Feats that change the weapon group, along with adding a minor benefit, seem appropriate.