Aikido Master

“The purpose of this art is not to be killed, not to be struck, not to be kicked, and we will not strike, will not kick, and will not kill. It is completely for self-defense. We can handle opponents expediently, utilizing their own power, through their own aggression. So even woman and children can use it. However, it is taught only to respectable people. It’s misuse would be frightening …”

Takeda Sokaku

Originally Posted by Akutsukai of the Wizards Community forums.

On this Thread

Aikido is the art of fighting, that does not focus on fighting. One who masters the art of aikido is completely trained to avoid attacks, Dodge opponents and disarm their weapons; an aikido master focuses on a style that prevents both the master and his opponent from real harm. But aikido isn’t just a martial arts style, it has a strong phylosophy behind it, and a monk in training will spend an equal amount of time training his skills, as he will meditating and learning about proper etiquete and spirituality. Aikido students are in search of budo, a spiritual awareness, much like the bushido of a samurai. It also holds calligraphy, flower arranging, and the tea ceremony in high regards, since it focuses the spirit. Highly trained aikido masters eventually become aikido sensei, the highest rank in this martial arts school. Most aikido masters are trained by a sensei, in a school that specializes in this martial arts style, but some are trained by the few aikido masters travelling through the land.

Hit Die: d8.

Requirements

To qualify to become an aikido master, a character must fulfil all the following criteria.

Alignment: Lawful good or lawful neutral.
Skills: Concentration 7 ranks, Diplomacy 7 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 7 ranks.
Feats: Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Disarm, Improved Trip.
Special: Wholeness of body class feature.

Class Skills

The aikido master’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dexterity), Climb (Strength), Concentration (Constitution), Craft (calligraphy) (Intelligence), Craft (flower arranging) (Intelligence), Diplomacy (Charisma), Escape Artist (Dexterity), Heal (Wisdom), Jump (Strength), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Intelligence), Listen (Wisdom), Perform (tea ceremony) (Charisma), Sense Motive (Wisdom), Spot (Wisdom), and Tumble (Dexterity).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Intelligence modifier.

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the aikido master prestige class.

Weapon and Armour Proficiency: The aikido master gains no proficiency in armour or weapons. Aikido masters suffer the same penalties for wearing armour that Monks do. The aikido master can’t use any of his special class features if he isn’t fighting unarmed, and isn’t carrying a medium or heavy load.

Monk Abilities: An aikido master has the unarmed damage, AC bonus, flurry of blows penalty, and speed of a Monk with as many levels as her aikido master levels plus her Monk levels. This does not give the aikido master any special abilities or features (such as improved evasion) since she does not level in the Monk class.

Bonus Feat: At 1st level, and every two levels thereafter, an aikido master receives a bonus feat. These feats are Defensive Strike, Defensive Throw, Grappling Block, Great Throw, and Prone Attack. The aikido master does not need the prerequisite feats or ability scores in order to gain these feats. If the aikido master already has one of these feats at the time she gains it as a bonus feat, she may choose to take another feat from the selected feat list: Blind-Fight, Improved Grapple, Improved Initiative, Iron Will, lightning reflexes, Mobility, and Superior Expertise. The aikido master does need the prerequisite feats or ability scores in order to take these feats (so if she can’t take any of these feats, she loses the bonus feat).

Aikido Strike (Ex): An aikido master of 2nd level or higher, gains more insight in the teachings of aikido. The aikido master deals only non-lethal damage while fighting unarmed, but deals an extra 1d6 points of non-lethal damage with every successful attack. He may choose to deal lethal damage instead, but loses the extra 1d6 points of damage if he does. This ability is similar in effect to the merciful ability that can be placed upon a weapon (see Magic Items, in the Dungeon Master’s Guide).

Lightning Defence (Ex): The aikido master of at least 2nd level, can choose to fight defensively at any time. This gives the aikido master the ability to fight defensively even when it is not her turn (giving the aikido master a +2 Dodge bonus to AC, and ·4 penalty to all attacks that round, when she would be attacked). Activating this ability is a free action, but the aikido master can only use the fight defensively action once in a round, and only when not denied Dexterity bonus to AC. In addition to this effect the aikido master can use the Defensive Strike feat when she’s fighting defensively, rather than using the total defence action.

Aikido Art of Fighting (Ex): Upon reaching 4th level, the aikido master learns some of the secrets of the aikido martial arts style. This gives him a number of special abilities. First, whenever the aikido master attempts a disarm or trip attack against an opponent of one size category larger than himself, the opponent does not gain the usual +4 bonus on rolls because of his larger size. Secondly, the aikido master no longer suffers the usual ·4 penalty with disarm attempts for using an unarmed strike to disarm an opponent.

Aikibuken Trip (Ex): At 6th level, the aikido master can use the Strength of an opponent against him. Since he no longer needs to use his Strength when trying to redirect an opponent’s attack (or even the slightest movement of the opponent), the aikido master may choose to use either his Dexterity or Strength score (whichever is higher), when making a trip attack. This ability doesn’t work if his opponent is immobilized (paralysed, sleeping).

Spiritual Focus (Su): The aikdo master of 8th level or higher no longer needs to practice his physical training in Aikido, he performs those techniques without a moment’s thought. Instead, the aikido master uses, and trains, his spiritual abilities. Through meditation and training in the focus of his spirit, the aikido master learns to use his Wisdom in combat. From now on, the aikido master applies half his Wisdom modifier to all disarm and trip attacks (this includes the Strength or Dexterity check with an trip attack).

Aikido Martial Arts Mastery (Ex): When an aikido master reaches 10th level, his training in aikido is complete. He knows the secrets searched by lower level aikido masters and other Monks, and he gains the status of aikido sensei (leader and teacher of aikido martial arts style, also known as Uchi Deshi). In addition to this effect the aikido master gains the bonus granted from the aikido martial arts mastery, if she didn’t already had that mastery.

Shorinji Ryu Kempo (Su): His training and search in Budo is complete. The aikido master of 10th level knows to use his Ki for defence. He can Dodge blows in fluid motions, almost effortless. From now on, the aikido master applies half his Wisdom bonus (if any) to AC, this stacks with the Monk‘s ability to apply his Wisdom bonus to AC (so a 10th level aikido master applies 1.5 times Wisdom bonus to AC).

Ex-Aikido Masters: An aikido master who violates her code of conduct, or no longer meets the required alignment, loses all class abilities (except her Monk abilities), and can no longer gain levels in this prestige class. He retains all bonus feats if he meets the prerequisites, otherwise they are lost.

The Aikido Master
Level	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Special
1st	+0	+2	+2	+2	Monk abilities, Defensive Strike
2nd	+1	+3	+3	+3	Aikido strike, lightning defense
3rd	+2	+3	+3	+3	Defensive Throw
4th	+3	+4	+4	+4	Aikido art of fighting
5th	+3	+4	+4	+4	Grappling Block
6th	+4	+5	+5	+5	Aikibuken trip
7th	+5	+5	+5	+5	Great Throw
8th	+6	+6	+6	+6	Spiritual Focus
9th	+6	+6	+6	+6	Prone Attack
10th	+7	+7	+7	+7	Aikido martial art mastery, Shorinji ryu kempo

Code of Conduct: An aikido master must follow certain rules in life in order to maintain the purity of their souls and body, and continue their advancement towards enlightenment. They are forbidden to commit murder or theft, or attack anyone in any way possible with the intention of doing harm (thus an aikido master will always try to throw his opponents to the ground or disarm them, making sure neither him or his opponents are harmed). An aikido master is expected to avoid causing violence, though circumstances can make that impossible. Gluttony, drunkenness, and other low ways of living, are vices to be avoided, and holy places must be treated with respect. The aikido master may not use weapons in combat, except from special Aikibuken weapons, like the Jo staff. The aikido master must honour her teachers and sensei, as well as other people who deserve their respect (such as Shintao Monks, other aikido masters, and other spiritual and pure people).

Aikido Martial Arts Mastery:

Prerequisites: Improved Unarmed Strike, Blind-Fight, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Improved Disarm, Improved Trip, Defensive Throw, Great Throw, Defensive Strike, Grappling Block, Prone Attack, 15 or more ranks in Concentration and Tumble

Benefits: Through your intense training in this martial arts style you’ve found budo, and your spirit is at peace. This spiritual awareness gives you a great improvement to your defensive fighting style. You can react to danger before your senses would normally allow you to even be aware of it. You retain your Dexterity bonus to AC regardless of being flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker, similar to the effect of uncanny Dodge or defensive awareness.