Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
UA Monks Introduces the Kensai and Tranquility Traditions
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="phantomK9" data-source="post: 7705038" data-attributes="member: 6790724"><p>Ok, it took a minute to really get through these. Like the concepts but Kensei especially is very fiddly with the language.</p><p></p><p></p><p>So interesting. I'm thinking that the three martial weapons are "kensei" weapons is odd language leading one to believe that maybe they aren't also <em>Monk</em> weapons. Strange wording. Although a Kensei is still a Monk and so maybe a Kensei weapon is just technically a subset of Monk weapons just for the Kensei. Also, the phrase "is considered a kensei weapon for you if you're proficient with it" leads me to believe that maybe that if you multiclass as Fighter or take the Weapon Training Feat, the list of weapons that are now Kensei weapons for you can really increase and thus isn't strickly limited to just the three weapons that you get proficiency with at 3rd level. Honestly in just two sentences there is a lot to unpack.</p><p></p><p></p><p>So allowing you to choose the Martial Arts damage die seems to back up the idea that a Kensei weapon is still also a Monk weapon. But the Kensei gets the addition benefit of being able to choose Strength or Dex to hit. Since the rule of what consitutes a Monk weapon does rely on the Finesse property (at least I don't think it does) then this shouldn't be too problematic. But it would be the rare Monk who has a high Strength and Dex because Dex is used for so many things and gives the Monk a high AC....</p><p></p><p></p><p>So, per PHB Monk, a Monk can make more attacks per round than usual as long as weilding a Monk weapon or is unarmed. If one believes that Kensei weapons are mearly a subset of Monk weapons, then the Kensei could concievably, drop in the middle of a crowd, make multiple attacks against each of them using one of the standard Monk weapon/unarmed attacks. Then after all the standard attacks are done, go ahead and spend the bonus action to do an additional 1d4 to everyone that was hit at part of the standard attack. Am I reading that right? I think so. The "Attack action" actually includes all that attacks that you are allowed to take, you take ONE Attack action and get multiple distinct attack die roles as part of it. So kind of like a whirlwind ability after the fact.</p><p></p><p></p><p>So if I'm understanding this correctly, you could make your normal attacks using your kensei weapon and then spend your ki to make a bonus unarmed attack action, you could then gain the benefit of the +2 AC. This is another one that seems really weirdly worded.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Sure. Makes perfect sense. So not all monk weapons or unarmed strikes get this, just your kensei weapons.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Not sure if I like this one or not. While it doesn't seem too powerful for a 6th level ability, it also really doesn't seem all that useful either. Especially since you only get one per rest. You basically give up your bonus action (which is at a premium considering all the other stuff that takes bonus actions) to get a +3 to attack. Some games that would be huge, some games not so much. I think I'd like it better if it also gave the bonus to damage. Or allowed you to spend Ki for bonus damage dice (making it very similar to a smite) *shrug*</p><p></p><p></p><p>So at 11th level you can spend up to 3 Ki (which are a precious resource judging by how our group's Monk needs them) to give any weapon you touch (and then subsequently wield) a bonus to attack and damage rolls equal the number you spend. So going for broke you spend 3 Ki and get +3 attack and +3 damage for 1 minute (10 rounds). Ok, that actually sounds pretty good. Not sure if it is overpowered for 11th level, but I think I like it. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Seems like a good ability. Hard to judge if is it powered right. Once per turn reroll of a miss for free. Not bad.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Maybe its just me but I feel like the Kensei should have the Fighting Spirit ability that was given to the Samurai on the Fighter UA. Maybe that would be too much.....</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="phantomK9, post: 7705038, member: 6790724"] Ok, it took a minute to really get through these. Like the concepts but Kensei especially is very fiddly with the language. So interesting. I'm thinking that the three martial weapons are "kensei" weapons is odd language leading one to believe that maybe they aren't also [i]Monk[/i] weapons. Strange wording. Although a Kensei is still a Monk and so maybe a Kensei weapon is just technically a subset of Monk weapons just for the Kensei. Also, the phrase "is considered a kensei weapon for you if you're proficient with it" leads me to believe that maybe that if you multiclass as Fighter or take the Weapon Training Feat, the list of weapons that are now Kensei weapons for you can really increase and thus isn't strickly limited to just the three weapons that you get proficiency with at 3rd level. Honestly in just two sentences there is a lot to unpack. So allowing you to choose the Martial Arts damage die seems to back up the idea that a Kensei weapon is still also a Monk weapon. But the Kensei gets the addition benefit of being able to choose Strength or Dex to hit. Since the rule of what consitutes a Monk weapon does rely on the Finesse property (at least I don't think it does) then this shouldn't be too problematic. But it would be the rare Monk who has a high Strength and Dex because Dex is used for so many things and gives the Monk a high AC.... So, per PHB Monk, a Monk can make more attacks per round than usual as long as weilding a Monk weapon or is unarmed. If one believes that Kensei weapons are mearly a subset of Monk weapons, then the Kensei could concievably, drop in the middle of a crowd, make multiple attacks against each of them using one of the standard Monk weapon/unarmed attacks. Then after all the standard attacks are done, go ahead and spend the bonus action to do an additional 1d4 to everyone that was hit at part of the standard attack. Am I reading that right? I think so. The "Attack action" actually includes all that attacks that you are allowed to take, you take ONE Attack action and get multiple distinct attack die roles as part of it. So kind of like a whirlwind ability after the fact. So if I'm understanding this correctly, you could make your normal attacks using your kensei weapon and then spend your ki to make a bonus unarmed attack action, you could then gain the benefit of the +2 AC. This is another one that seems really weirdly worded. Sure. Makes perfect sense. So not all monk weapons or unarmed strikes get this, just your kensei weapons. Not sure if I like this one or not. While it doesn't seem too powerful for a 6th level ability, it also really doesn't seem all that useful either. Especially since you only get one per rest. You basically give up your bonus action (which is at a premium considering all the other stuff that takes bonus actions) to get a +3 to attack. Some games that would be huge, some games not so much. I think I'd like it better if it also gave the bonus to damage. Or allowed you to spend Ki for bonus damage dice (making it very similar to a smite) *shrug* So at 11th level you can spend up to 3 Ki (which are a precious resource judging by how our group's Monk needs them) to give any weapon you touch (and then subsequently wield) a bonus to attack and damage rolls equal the number you spend. So going for broke you spend 3 Ki and get +3 attack and +3 damage for 1 minute (10 rounds). Ok, that actually sounds pretty good. Not sure if it is overpowered for 11th level, but I think I like it. Seems like a good ability. Hard to judge if is it powered right. Once per turn reroll of a miss for free. Not bad. Maybe its just me but I feel like the Kensei should have the Fighting Spirit ability that was given to the Samurai on the Fighter UA. Maybe that would be too much..... [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
UA Monks Introduces the Kensai and Tranquility Traditions
Top