Ascetic improvements

[Random_White_Guy]

Please grant the ascetic the ability to use lesser missle storm 1/day at an appropriate level

And Fireball or Scint Sphere 2/day at appropriate level.

Additional suggestions welcomed.

[Paha]

Not sure if you're serious, or joking here.

In the first case: What would possibly be the basis for these kind abilities on ascetic?

In case of the latter: Why make the post?

[Stranger]

As amazing as your suggestion is, my only thought on ascetic is making ascetic-only stances more widely known and straightforward to earn.

The exact stats aren't as important as the general concepts. And I've played more than one ascetic who never learned a single one of them, let alone ascended the tiers. They are a cool, distinctive feature made almost explicitly for ascetic monks to utilize, but are rarely seen among the already rare monk who achieves any sort of prominence. I don't know why.

[Kinslayer988]

Searing ray IMO unlimited uses

Edit: This is not needed.

[Pentaxius]

A lot of policy back and fourth when it comes to Ascetic stances. It used to be your started with one that fitted your theme. Then it became "EIG"

So I suppose that some balance issues became a concern. The Ascetic stance are not created equal. Some of them are utterly terrible and not worth using ever (e.g the "Stealth one") while others are incredibly good. I'm not sure why. Most of the players I know that played Ascetic have tried to have their "custom" stances re-balanced in endless back and forth with DMs. That's pretty annoying on both sides. Easier just to move on and call it EIG.

[Kinslayer988]

That these stances are hidden makes it a bit difficult to write suggestions. Perhaps having two tiers of aesthetic stances might help. A low tier one at start and high tier EIG?

[Random_White_Guy]

Paha: The idea of Ki based attacks exist in more than DBZ (thanks Stranger for good laugh link). Manipulating energy and using it in different forms would make the PRC have more adaptability and versatile solution to situations. There was some chat in IRC about what can or can't be implemented to change the playstyle of ascetic and people were talking about the hit-and-run aspect compared to tank default monks, so the idea of some ranged Ki powers came up.

As to some of the other points:

- The "Mysterious mystery" aspect of the Stances is something that I agree with Kin/Stranger. You basically have to either hope a DM reveals the nature of stances to you (Never happens in my experience) or a literal blind dice roll gamble in what you are hopefully building for can somehow cater to what already exists in the mechanics.

- The found IG stances (which I understand have some balancing matters due to the fact it is blanket monk use not "ascetic use") are woefully useless for the most part on the Ascetic. I understand why it makes sense for a monk able to chug potions to be able to trade -2 AB for +2 AC on a discovered stance in a smaller form of expertise or some of the other perks given by the stances that are produced in the game world. For an Ascetic though to go from 8 or less max AB to -2 for the ability to be raised from 14 to 16 AC in the grand scheme of EFU is just straight up jokeshow.

- As it stands the Non-App RSD seems to have pound for pound more worth and benefit than the Ascetic.

- Whenever PCs are spoken to about what can be done to balance the Ascetic people are quick to site the high-end benefits and perks but that is a very late end benefit to aid in survival and things like PvP until Level 8 which limits the ability to get involved in other aspects of EFU early on with even a remote chance of success.

- I've never heard of an ascetic getting more than one "ascetic stance" in their play through which basically slates you into being a one trick pony with some "found" stances which are way worse than your ascetic stance and never gets used.

- Tiers do exist, Kinslayer, but they are again something shrouded in the not-told-of-universe. Yet it isn't told which stances have tiers, what the capabilities are with those tiers, if there's any means or way to acquire the next tier (Beyond a DM saying "hey, new tier here you go"), and other very subjective aspects.

[Random_White_Guy]

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy Ascetic. It's one of my favorite aspects of EFU's custom systems and both I have played have been immensely fun. Even as a weaker class I enjoy how it has more of a legitimately monastic feel to it than "I DRINK ALL THE POTIONS AND PUNCH THINGS". It just feels more fluid and easier to do monastic RP, perform flavorful monk feats, and similar given the inherent benefits given to the "PRC".

At the end of the day though EFU is ruled by magic. And when you're facing off with NPCs that have more AB than your AC or PCs who can swat their AC up beyond what you and the benefits of your stances can be easily countered by even Circle I magical use and more there's some balancing that needs to be called into question I think.

I suppose I just don't see why this is something that requires an application compared to any other perk.

I'd almost go so far as to say allow a "Meditation" system similar to the alchemy/herbalism research system where you can learn more about the existence of what styles exist in the IG world so you can at least try to talk with a DM about pursuing it.

Or even Quests such as the Ritual Guardian Reliquary, quests such as the old "find the three books" wizard quest, Ascetic "Masters" like the bounty hunter law enforcement quest, or other methods to learn and unlock and grow.