Developed in the hidden groves of the great temple, the deforming fist style combines terrible psionic powers with martial arts. This devastating style of combat allows the stylist to physical deform his opponent with his strikes, maiming the target for life. The opponent’s bones flow like water under the master’s touch. His organs scream as psychokinetic power slashes though their delicate tissues. Even armour does not protect from the stylist’s attacks, as he drives psychokinetic power deep into his foe’s physical form.

The deforming fist style passes from a single master to a selected student. Although a master of the style might teach superficial martial arts to many students, he reveals his secrets only to those most worthy of his training. The style demands absolute focus, attention to detail and obscene dedication. It also requires that the master possess complete indifference to the life and pain of others. Thus the master of the style searches not only for psionic and martial skill, but also for someone with the proper callousness in their hearts to wield these awesome powers.

Acquiring this prestige class requires the character to join a monastic order where a deforming fist master practices his arts. The character must then demonstrate his devotion to the temple and impress the master. If found worthy, the deforming fist master takes the character on as a ‘indoor’ student. Mastering the style takes years of dedicated training, punctuated occasionally by real world learning exercises.

If the character could achieve the 10th rank of this style, the former student and master face off for one final lesson. These duels to the death are horrible to behold, as well as potentially deadly to any spectators. At the end only one of the two remains as the reigning master of that particular line of the style. He bears the scars of his training and trial for the rest of his life.

Hit Die: d8

Requirements

To qualify to become a deforming fist stylist a character must fulfil all of the following criteria.
Alignment: Any neutral or evil.
Base Attack Bonus: +4 or higher.
Base Power Points/Day: 5+ (not including bonus power points).
Feats: Improved Unarmed Strike, Psionic Fist.

Class Skills

The deforming fist stylist’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (psionics) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Swim (Str) and Tumble (Dex). See the SRD for skill descriptions.
Skill points at each level: 4 + Int modifier

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the distorting fist stylist prestige class.

Weapon and Armour Proficiency: A deforming fist stylist is proficient with all simple weapons. A deforming fist stylist is not proficient with any type of armour or with shields. Note that armour check penalties for armour heavier than leather apply to the skills Balance, Climb, Escape Artist, Hide, Jump, Move Silently, Sleight of Hand and Tumble. Also, Swim checks suffer a –1 penalty for every 5 pounds of armour and equipment carried.

Psionic Manifestation Level: A deforming fist stylist continues to develop his psionic powers, but at a slower rate than he would if he approached his training in a more traditional manner. Thus when the character gains an even numbered deforming fist stylist level (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th) he gains psionic powers and power points as if he gained a level in a psionic class he belonged to before he added this prestige class. He does not gain any additional benefits a character of that class would normally receive, only the new powers and power points.

If the character had more than one psionic class before he became a deforming fist stylist the player must decide which class to assign each level of deforming fist stylist for the purpose of determining psionic power points and psionic powers.

Gout Strike (Su): When the deforming fist stylist has 5+ power points in his power pool his unarmed attacks inflict wracking pains deep in the target’s joints and bones. The target must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + half death shadow level + Con modifier) or take 1 point of temporary ability damage to his Dexterity per strike. This damage cannot exceed your positive Con modifier on any given target.

Monk Attacks: If the deforming fist stylist had any levels of the monk class he may apply his deforming fist stylist base attack bonus to his monk levels for determining the character’s flurry of blows attack bonuses.

Bend Bones (Su): At 3rd level, the deforming fist stylist’s unarmed attacks cause the target’s bones to bend. So long as the stylist has 9+ power points in his power pool he automatically threatens a critical hit on any grapple check. Furthermore escaping from his grip becomes especially difficult; add +4 to the stylist’s grapple check to determine if the target escapes. Bones can be bent as much as one inch per round. They return to their original configuration at a rate of one inch per day.

Brutalise (Su): At 5th level, the deforming fist stylist gains the ability to create a momentary loop of psychokinetic energy between his hands. If he has more than 9+ power points in his power pool and he successfully hits with two unarmed attacks in the same round against the same opponent, his target must make Fortitude save (DC 10 + half death shadow level + Con modifier) or take an additional 3d6 damage and be stunned for 1d4 rounds. If the target succeeds he still takes the 3d6 damage but avoids the stun effect.

Unseen Fist (Su): At 7th level, the deforming fist stylist’s reach with his unarmed attacks increases by 5 feet, so long as he has 11+ power points in his power pool. He may attack characters in adjacent squares normally.

Shattering Blow (Su): At 9th level, the deforming fist stylist may do critical damage to constructs and undead creatures so long as he has 9+ power points in his power pool. Additionally, he ignores their damage resistance. Finally, his attacks against objects ignore the object’s hardness when determining damage done.

Death Fist (Su): At 10th level, when the deforming fist master has 15+ power points in reserve, he may automatically inflict a critical hit when he threatens a critical with an unarmed attack. Every successful critical strike will drain one power point.

The Deforming Fist Stylist