Lin Kuei (Apath)

Unofficial rules compendium

Lin kuei

Lin Kuei (literally forest demons) are legendary stealth warriors. Usually reclusive, they only emerge at critical times to take on critical missions, or when ordered by their secret masters.

Class Information

This is a martial arts archetype.

Class: Monk.

Class Skills

The lin kuei's class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Disable Device (Dex), Escape Artist (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (history) (Int), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of hand (Dex), Stealth (Dex), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).

Skill Ranks per Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Class Features

This is all the class features of the lin kuei.

Weapon Proficiency

Lin kueis are proficient with the brass knuckles<ref name="APG">From Advanced Player's Guide.</ref>, cestus<ref name="APG"/>, club, dagger, handaxe, javelin, kama, nunchaku, quarterstaff, short sword, shortspear, and shuriken. In addition to this, lin kueis learn one weapon of choice. This can be any basic or martial weapon (including race-specific ones) or the kusarigama<ref name="UC"/>, kutetsu-shoge<ref name="UC"/>, sai, temple sword<ref name="APG"/>, or siangham. Lin kueis are not proficient with any armor or shields. When wearing armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load, an lin kuei loses his AC bonus, as well as his fast movement ability.

Lethal Sneak Attack

As he advances in level, an lin kuei gains extra damage with melee and thrown attacks. If an lin kuei can catch an opponent when she is unable to defend herself effectively, he can strike accurate blows to deal extra damage. The lin kuei’s lethal sneak attacks deal this extra damage anytime his target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), but (unlike regular sneak attack) not when the lin kuei flanks his target. This extra damage is 1d6 at 1st level, and increases by 1d6 every three lin kuei levels thereafter, to a maximum of 7d6 at 19th level. This is precision damage and is not multiplied should the lin kuei score a critical hit with a lethal sneak attack. Ranged attacks made with thrown weapons count as lethal sneak attacks if the target is within 30 feet. Lethal sneak attack does not work with missile weapons or ranged touch-attack spells.

Whenever an lin kuei makes a successful melee attack or ranged attack with a thrown weapon against an opponent that is neither denied its Dexterity bonus to AC nor caught flat-footed, he deals an amount of extra damage equal to her minimum lethal sneak attack damage (1 point at 1st level, 2 points at 3rd level, and so on).

This replaces flurry of blows.

Secret Technique

The lin kueis have a number of secret techniques. An lin kuei is taught one secret technique from the list below at first level, and gain more secret technique at 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter.

This replaces stunning fist, still mind, maneuver training, wholeness of body, and diamond soul. An lin kuei that takes the Stunning Fist feat but does not know the stunning fist technique does not count lin kuei levels as monk levels for the benefits of the feat.

Bonus Feat: An lin kuei can always choose a bonus feat instead of a secret technique, if desired. These are taken from the bonus feat class ability below.

Deceptive Moves (Ex): an lin kuei with this technique can use the Bluff skill to feint as a swift action.

Deceptive Shuriken (Ex): Once per round, as a part of drawing or picking up one or more shuriken, an lin kuei with this technique can make a Sleight of Hand check against a DC of 10 + an opponent's Perception skill bonus to render one opponent flat-footed against his thrown shuriken this round. An opponent with uncanny dodge or who is otherwise immune to being flat-footed is immune to this ability, and repeated uses against the same opponent suffers a -10 penalty. An lin kuei with this ability can also throw Diminutive objects, including small daggers, darts, bolts, arrows and even objects that that are normally harmless (such as playing cards, dice, pebbles, coins) as if they were shuriken. An lin kuei can pick up such objects within reach as a free action that does not trigger an attack of opportunity.

Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): The lin kuei can no longer be flanked. This defense denies a ninja or rogue the ability to sneak attack the lin kuei by flanking her, and denies another lin kuei the full use of lethal attack, unless the attacker has at least four more ninja, rogue, or lin kuei levels than the target does. If a character already has uncanny dodge from another class, the levels from the classes that grant uncanny dodge stack when determining the minimum ninja, rogue, or lin kuei level required to flank the character. The lin kuei must be at least 8th level to select this technique.

Lethal Flanking (Ex): When you flank an opponent in melee, you can use your full damage from lethal sneak attacks against that opponent. Against opponent's improved uncanny dodge, this ability works when sneak attack would work (see improved uncanny dodge). Lin kuei levels stack with the level of any class that provides sneak attack for the purpose of overcoming improved uncanny dodge.

Light Steps (Ex): An lin kuei with this technique gains the ninja’s light steps ability. The lin kuei must be at least 6th level to select this technique.

Maneuver Training (Ex): An lin kuei with this technique gains the monk’s maneuver training ability. The lin kuei must be at least 4th level to select this technique.

Master Tricks: An lin kuei may select a ninja’s master trick as a secret technique. An lin kuei counts his lin kuei level as his ninja level for the purpose of determining any level based effects or prerequisites, but cannot choose a master trick based on ninja class features he does not possess, and cannot learn master tricks based on sneak attack. The lin kuei must be at least 12th level to select this technique.

Ninja Tricks: An lin kuei may select a ninja trick as a secret technique. An lin kuei counts his lin kuei level as his ninja level for the purpose of determining any level based effects or prerequisites, but cannot choose a ninja trick based on ninja class feature he does not possess. Ninja trick based on sneak attack work with lethal sneak attack, but only when the lethal sneak attack inflicts its full dice of damage, not when it only inflicts one point per die.

Poison Use (Ex): The lin kuei is trained in the use of poison and cannot accidentally poison herself when applying poison to a weapon.

Slow Fall (Ex): An lin kuei i with this technique gains the monk’s slow fall ability. The lin kuei must be at least 4th level to select this technique.

Stunning Fist (Ex): This is the same as the monk's stunning fist class ability. See the note under secret technique for Stunning Fist taken as a feat and used without this ability.

Sudden Charge (Ex): This charge is so sudden that it is hard for the eye to follow. The target charged by an lin kuei with this technique is flat-footed until the end of the lin kuei's current turn. An opponent with uncanny dodge or who is otherwise immune to being flat-footed is immune to this ability. An lin kuei may continue to move after attacking in a charge, up to a total movement equal to twice his speed. Any movement after the charge is completed need not be in a straight line. If this movement ends up in cover or concealment, the lin kuei can try to use Stealth to hide at a -10 penalty.

Note that a flat-footed opponent does not get to make attacks of opportunity unless the opponent has the Combat Reflexes feat.

Sudden Step (Su): An lin kuei can slip magically between spaces, as if using the spell dimension door. Using this ability is a move action that consumes 2 points from his ki pool. His caster level for this effect is equal to his lin kuei level. Unlike the spell, he cannot take other creatures with him when he uses this ability, but his turn does not end and any attack he makes after a sudden step until the end of his current turn catches the opponent flat-footed. An opponent with uncanny dodge or who is otherwise immune to being flat-footed is immune to this ability. An lin kuei must be level 12 or higher to take this ability.

Unarmed Strike

At 1st level, an lin kuei gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat. An lin kuei's attacks may be with fist, elbows, knees, and feet. This means that an lin kuei may make unarmed strikes with his hands full. There is no such thing as an off-hand attack for an lin kuei striking unarmed. An lin kuei may thus apply his full Strength bonus on damage rolls for all his unarmed strikes.

An lin kuei'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.

An lin kuei's unarmed strike does 1d6 lethal crushing and cutting damage (1d4 for a small lin kuei). An lin kuei can only do nonlethal damage with unarmed attack by taking the standard -4 attack penalty to do so.

This is a modification of the monk's unarmed strike ability.

Bonus Feats

At 2nd level, 6th level, and every 4 levels thereafter, an lin kuei may select a bonus feat. These feats must be taken from the following list: Bludgeoneer<ref name="UC">From Ultimate Combat.</ref>, Catch Off-Guard, Combat Reflexes, Deflect Arrows, Distance Thrower<ref name="UC"/>, Dodge, Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Nimble Moves<ref name="APG">From Advanced Player's Guide.</ref>, Scorpion Style, Throw Anything.

At 6th level, the following feats are added to the list: Close Quarter's Thrower<ref name="UC"/>, Gorgon's Fist, Greater Feint, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Disarm, Mobility, Rapid Shot, Snatch Arrows.

At 10th level, the following feats are added to the list: Dimensional Assault<ref name="UC"/>, Disengaging Flourish<ref name="UC"/>, False Opening<ref name="UC"/>, Medusa's Wrath, Light Step<ref name="APG"/>, Shoot On The Run, Stunning Fist.

An lin kuei need not have any of the prerequisites normally required for these feats to select them, but some feats have benefits based on the use of other feats, and these rules still apply.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex)

Starting at 3rd level, an lin kuei can react to danger before her senses would normally allow her to do so. She cannot be caught flat-footed, nor does she lose her Dexterity bonus to AC if the attacker is invisible. She still loses her Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized. An lin kuei with this ability can still lose her Dexterity bonus to AC if an opponent successfully uses the feint action against her.

If an lin kuei already possesses uncanny dodge from a different class, she automatically gains improved uncanny dodge instead.

This replaces still mind.

Ki pool

At 4th level, an lin kuei gains a pool of ki points, supernatural energy he can use to accomplish amazing feats. The number of points in an lin kuei's ki pool is equal to 1/2 his lin kuei level + his Wisdom modifier. As long as he has at least 1 point in his ki pool, he can make a ki strike.

• At 4th level, ki strike allows his unarmed attacks to be treated as magic weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
• At 7th level, his unarmed attacks are also treated as cold iron and silver for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
• At 10th level, whenever an lin kuei makes a ki strike, his unarmed strikes are also treated as aligned (chaotic, evil, good, or lawful) according to the lin kuei’s alignment. A neutral lin kuei cannot use this ability.
• At 16th level, his unarmed attacks are treated as adamantine weapons for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction and bypassing hardness.

By spending 1 point from his ki pool, an lin kuei can do one of the following:

• Make one additional attack at his highest attack bonus when making a full attack, or
• Increase his speed by 20 feet for 1 round, or
• Reroll a failed Bluff, Sleight of Hand, or Stealth check. The lin kuei must take the second result, even if it is worse. A single check can only be rerolled once by means of this ability.

Each of these powers is activated as a swift action. The ki pool is replenished each morning after 8 hours of rest or meditation; these hours do not need to be consecutive.

This is the a modification of the monk's ki pool ability.

Purity of Body (Ex)

At 13th level, an lin kuei gains immunity to all diseases, including supernatural and magical diseases. This is the same as the monk ability of the same name.

Table: Lin kuei

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Lethal Strikes	AC Bonus	Fast Movement
1st	+0	+2	+2	+2	Lethal sneak attack, secret technique, unarmed strike	+1d6	+0	+0 ft.
2nd	+1	+3	+3	+3	Bonus feat, evasion	+1d6	+0	+0 ft.
3rd	+2	+3	+3	+3	Fast movement, uncanny dodge	+2d6	+0	+10 ft.
4th	+3	+4	+4	+4	Ki pool (magic), secret technique	+2d6	+1	+10 ft.
5th	+3	+4	+4	+4	High jump	+2d6	+1	+10 ft.
6th	+4	+5	+5	+5	Bonus feat	+3d6	+1	+20 ft.
7th	+5	+5	+5	+5	Improved uncanny dodge, ki pool (cold iron/silver)	+3d6	+1	+20 ft.
8th	+6/+1	+6	+6	+6	Secret technique	+3d6	+2	+20 ft.
9th	+6/+1	+6	+6	+6	Improved evasion	+4d6	+2	+30 ft.
10th	+7/+2	+7	+7	+7	Bonus feat, Ki pool (aligned)	+4d6	+2	+30 ft.
11th	+8/+3	+7	+7	+7	Diamond body	+4d6	+2	+30 ft.
12th	+9/+4	+8	+8	+8	Secret technique	+5d6	+3	+40 ft.
13th	+9/+4	+8	+8	+8	Purity of body	+5d6	+3	+40 ft.
14th	+10/+5	+9	+9	+9	Bonus feat	+5d6	+3	+40 ft.
15th	+11/+6/+1	+9	+9	+9	Quivering palm	+6d6	+3	+50 ft.
16th	+12/+7/+2	+10	+10	+10	Ki pool (adamantine), secret technique	+6d6	+4	+50 ft.
17th	+12/+7/+2	+10	+10	+10	Timeless body, tounge of the sun and moon	+6d6	+4	+50 ft.
18th	+13/+8/+3	+11	+11	+11	Bonus feat	+7d6	+4	+60 ft.
19th	+14/+9/+4	+11	+11	+11	Empty body	+7d6	+4	+60 ft.
20th	+15/+10/+5	+12	+12	+12	Perfect self, secret technique	+7d6	+5	+60 ft.

Footnotes

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Summary of Changed Class Abilities

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

• Weapon proficiencies
• Bonus Feats
• Flurry of Blows
• Stunning Fist (Including class benefits of feat)
• Unarmed Strike
• Maneuver Training (3)
• Still Mind (3)
• Wholeness of Body (7)
• Abundant Step (12)
• Diamond Soul (13)

See Also

• Ur-Warrior - Old version