Master of Mind Prestige Class

Dungeons & Dragons Prestige Class (v.21-Aug-2002)


[Warning! This prestige class is overpowered. The combination of unarmed combat progression, bonus feats, and nearly full psion powers has proved a bit too powerful in play. Use at your own risk.]

When physical and spiritual discipline is wedded to innate mental talent, the results can be surprising. The Golden Alliance fosters such studies in its most advanced members, and the master of mind is the result. The master of mind is an elite monk-psion class combining advancing abilities in unarmed combat with psionic abilities. It is a flexible prestige class, with several bonus feat opportunities, rather than a list of specific prescribed powers. This allows each master of mind character to follow his or her own path to perfection. It is sponsored by the training centers and gymnasiums of the Golden Alliance, and is open only to the Alliance’s Kraanicher members.

The Golden Alliance

The Golden Alliance is a benevolent group dedicated to enlightenment and perfection. Monastic and psionic training for self-improvement is at the center of its philosophy. The Golden Alliance is restricted to Kraanicher membership, and was originally founded by the Mietrsohn family in LY 2064 by Mietr and Alexandre Johannesohn with help from the Pine Bluff Abbott, Father Ulrich. The order includes training in psionics, martial arts, athletics, philosophy, and business principles. Psions and monks are common among the membership, while the more martial path of the psychic warrior and mindwalker knight (at higher levels) is also supported.

Schools are informal, and operate as private gymnasiums, often attached to members’ homes or estates. While the gymnasiums are open to anyone with refined manners and a bit of money to pay the upkeep fees, the true membership is restricted to Kraanichers who are not members of the Brotherhood of Thought.

In fact, the Golden Alliance was formed as a counter to both the Church of Pure Flame and the Brotherhood of Thought. While fervently upholding the idea of the superiority of the Kraanicher race, and agreeing with the need to continually strive for perfection, the Golden Alliance rejects the spiritually dead foundations of both "mainstream" Kraanicher organizations. The discovery of devils in the shadows of the Brotherhood strengthened the resolve of the Alliance members and increased their credibility with other Kraanichers.

The members of the Golden Alliance follow a traditional Kraanicher philosophy that seeks the accumulation of perfections. In light of the low value placed on material wealth, it may appear strange that nearly all members of the Golden Alliance are wealthy merchants and landowners. The order believes that perfect efficiency in amassing wealth is necessary to leave as much time as possible for more enlightening pursuits. Many members appoint highly skilled and very well paid experts to manage their enterprises in routine matters, according to their instructions.

Members of the Alliance have had their share of successes, but prefer to keep them quiet and respectable. For example, Lizelle Kagaard, the Lebensbrüke Minister of Finance, is the daughter of Orvis Kagaard, a very respected leader of the Alliance. Orvis is not only a very wealthy merchant on the Council in Voyreem, but is also an accomplished telepath and monk. Lizelle's general lack of discipline led her on a different path than her siblings, but no less successful, due to luck and her acquaintance with Lady DuKott.

Excess wealth is disposable. Donations from the Golden Alliance support a number of charities and schools around Northeastern Lebensbrüke. The order also supports self-defense training, disciplined training of regular troops, and a fund of low-interest loans for businesses. Race is not an issue for any of these activities. The Golden Alliance has also supported the cause of half-elves by providing training, employment, and funding for racially integrated schools.

Masters of Mind

The master of mind is an elite character, already having mastered some very difficult techniques before treading the path of the class. The master of mind excels in unarmed combat and infiltration using a combination of martial skills, extraordinary physical abilities, and psychic powers. Monks are most likely to follow the path of the master of mind, but high level rogues may also gain the knowledge needed to qualify for this class.

Class Features

  • Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Master of minds gain no additional proficiency with weapons, armor, or shields beyond that already learned from previous classes.
  • Psionic Ability: A master of mind manifests psionic powers. At each level, the character discovers powers as indicated on the table (this matches the first ten levels of the psion progression). The character can choose powers from any discipline. The master of mind must have an ability score of 10 + the power’s level to discover a power in the discipline that matches the ability.
  • Power Points: The master of mind gains power points as shown on the table. Like a psion, the character must choose a primary discipline, and gains bonus power points for a high ability in this discipline. The character can manifest a number of powers based upon available power points. Power points gained as a master of mind are combined with power points from other psionic classes (if any), but class levels are tracked separately for manifester level.
  • 0-level Powers: The master of mind can manifest a number of 0-level talents without psionic point cost equal to his master of mind level + 2.
  • Psionic Combat Modes: At 1st level, the master of mind learns two of the ten psionic combat modes. She learns an additional combat at each odd class level, at the rate shown on the table.
  • Student of Perfection: Continuing study into the nature of movement, nature, and the unity of mind, body, and spirit allow the master of mind to progress in the monk’s physical disciplines. The character gains the base and unarmed attack bonuses, unarmed damage, AC bonus, and unarmored speed as if he was a monk whose level equaled his master of mind level + his monk level. If he had no previous monk levels, then he functions as a monk equal only to his level as a master of mind. The master of mind may use the flurry of blows maneuver freely, but gains no additional stunning attacks beyond what he previously possessed. This is an extraordinary ability.
  • Bonus Feat: Instead of a set list of class abilities, master of minds gain bonus feats from the general and psionic lists at each even class level. This allows each person following the path to choose a different individual path.

Class Skills

Skill Points at each level: 4 + Int modifier.

Skill list: Autohypnosis (Wis), Concentration (Con), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Knowledge (local) (Int), Knowledge (nobility and royalty) (Int), Knowledge (psionics) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Psicraft (Int), Search (Int), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex).

 

Master of Mind (Hit Die: d6)

 

Level

Attack Bonus

Fort. Save

Ref. Save

Will Save

Special

Power Points

Powers Discovered

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

0th

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

1

+0

+2

+2

+2

Student of perfection, two psionic combat modes

2

2+d

d

-

-

-

-

2

+1

+3

+3

+3

Bonus feat

3

2+d

1+d

-

-

-

-

3

+2

+3

+3

+3

Psionic combat mode

4

2+d

2+d

-

-

-

-

4

+3

+4

+4

+4

Bonus feat

7

3+d

2+d

d

-

-

-

5

+3

+4

+4

+4

Psionic combat mode

10

3+d

2+d

1+d

-

-

-

6

+4

+5

+5

+5

Bonus feat

15

4+d

2+d

1+d

d

-

-

7

+5

+5

+5

+5

Psionic combat mode

20

4+d

3+d

2+d

1+d

-

-

8

+6

+6

+6

+2

Bonus feat

27

5+d

3+d

2+d

1+d

d

-

9

+6

+6

+6

+6

Psionic combat mode

34

5+d

3+d

2+d

2+d

1+d

-

10

+7

+7

+7

+7

Bonus feat

43

6+d

3+d

2+d

2+d

1+d

d


Last updated 21-Aug-2002
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