Path of Spirit Cleric (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

Clerics are naturally inclined to be martial arts practitioners of the Path of Spirit, but despite the similar talent required merging these paths takes a great deal of effort.

Class Abilities

The path of spirit cleric has all the cleric's class abilities, except as noted.

Skills

4 skill points per level. Class skills: Acrobatics, Climb, Craft, Diplomacy, Escape Artist, Heal, Knowledge (Religion), Perform, Profession, Spellcraft, Spot,and Swim.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

Path of spirit clerics are proficient with quarterstaff, and siangham. They have no proficiency with armor or shields. If eastern weapons are used in the campaign they are also proficient with the bo and hanbo. Path of spirit clerics are also proficient with the favored weapon of their patron, if they have a patron.

AC Bonus (Ex)

When unarmored, unencumbered, and unarmed or wielding either a monk weapon or the favored weapon of their patron, the path of spirit cleric adds her Wisdom bonus (if any) to her AC. In addition, a path of spirit cleric gains a +1 bonus to AC at 5th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every five path of spirit cleric levels thereafter (+2 at 10th, +3 at 15th, and +4 at 20th level).

These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the path of spirit cleric is flat-footed. She loses these bonuses when she is immobilized or helpless, when she wears any armor, when she carries a shield, or when she carries a medium or heavy load.

Unarmed Fighting (Ex)

A path of spirit cleric gains Improved Unarmed Combat as a bonus feat at first level and inflicts 1d6 damage with an unarmed attack (1d4 for a Small character). A path of spirit cleric's attacks may be with fist, elbows, knees, and feet. This means that a path of spirit cleric may make unarmed strikes with his hands full. There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a path of spirit cleric striking unarmed. A path of spirit cleric may thus apply his full Strength bonus on damage rolls for all his unarmed strikes.

Usually a path of spirit cleric's unarmed strikes deal lethal damage, but he can choose to deal nonlethal damage instead with no penalty on his attack roll. He has the same choice to deal lethal or nonlethal damage while grappling.

A path of spirit cleric's unarmed strike is treated as both a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons.

The damage of the path of spirit cleric increases with base attack bonus; when base attack bonus reaches +4, unarmed damage becomes 1d8 (1d6 if Small). At base attack +8 unarmed damage becomes 1d10 (1d8 if Small), and at +12 it becomes 2d6 (1d8 if Small).

Channeling Touch (Su)

You can release energy by channeling the power of your faith by touch. This energy can be used to cause or heal damage, depending on the type of energy channeled and the creatures targeted.

A good path of spirit cleric channels positive energy and can choose to deal damage to undead or to heal living creatures. An evil path of spirit cleric channels negative energy and can choose to deal damage or to heal undead creatures. A path of spirit cleric neutral with respect to good and evil who has a good or evil patron channels energy as if she shared her patron’s alignment. A neutral path of spirit cleric of a neutral patron must choose whether she channels positive or negative energy. Once this choice is made, it cannot be reversed unless you change alignment.

Unlike the cleric’s channel energy ability this only affects a single touched target, but there is no saving throw.

Channeling touch requires a melee touch attack against an unwilling target. The amount of damage dealt or healed is equal to 1d6 points of damage plus 1d6 points of damage for every two path of spirit cleric levels beyond 1st (2d6 at 3rd, 3d6 at 5th, and so on). Creatures healed by channel energy cannot exceed their maximum hit point total—all excess healing is lost. A path of spirit cleric may channel energy a number of times per day equal to her class level + Charisma modifier. This is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. A path of spirit cleric can affect herself with this power.

A path of spirit cleric must be able to present her divine focus to use this ability, and can use the ability with channeling feats, but only affect a single target hit by the channeling touch is affected. Channeling feat abilities that allow saving throws have a saving throw DC of 10 + ½ your cleric level + your Charisma modifier.

This replaces the channel energy ability.

Summary of Changed Class Abilities

These abilities of the original class are lost or modified in this archetype:

• Class Skills
• Weapon and Armor Proficiency
• Channel Energy