Level Up (A5E) Monk Buff Suggestion

[Zaukrie]

I think this might speak to the slightly bigger problem that there isn't an archetype for unarmed fighter. This archetype should be under fighter, probably as a fighting style.

I'd be ok with that......but I'd prefer it under the monk, I think.

 

[Undrave]

1) i would go with 11 + prof + dex or wis. That will give you the expected scaling (people keep looking at 16 dex 16 wis monks as the norm, so we want to keep that baseline).

It would probably be more of a nerf than a bonus especially at lower levels and doesn't get all that better.

1st level: AC would most likely be 10+2+3=15 rather than 10+3+3=16 if standard array is used. By 4th level, the increase can be roughly 17 AC while it takes getting to level 5 to equal that. By 12th-level, the regular monk should already be AC 20 while this monk is waiting for level 13. Not until 17th level where the AC is beyond AC 20. It being a maximum AC 21.

Good points. Admittedly I didn't run the math, but I just wish the Monk wasn't so inherently MAD and could have a little leeway in terms of ability scores to make different flavours of Monk easier to build.

 

[Undrave]

I think this might speak to the slightly bigger problem that there isn't an archetype for unarmed fighter. This archetype should be under fighter, probably as a fighting style.

There was one in the Class Variant UA!

Unarmed Fighting
Your unarmed strikes can deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 + your strength modifier. If you strike with two free hands, the d6 becomes a d8. When you successfully start a grapple, you can deal 1d4 bludgeoning damage to the grappled creature. Until the grapple ends, you can also deal this damage to the creature whenever you hit it with a melee attack.

I hope it makes it into a book!

 

[Phoebasss]

I'd be ok with that......but I'd prefer it under the monk, I think.

I think it depends on what we think the monk is. Yes, currently its the only unarmed fighter, but there's a lot of other stuff wrapped up in it that doesn't stick to that fantasy. For example, timeless body. This feature is pretty firmly a "monk in temple meditating to maintain perfect balance" thing, rather than a street brawler type thing. I'd be interested in a "fight dirty" strength unarmed fighter as a fighting style or maybe even an entire "fight dirty" subclass as a complement to battlemaster's cleanly executed maneuvers.

 

[Phoebasss]

There was one in the Class Variant UA!

I hope it makes it into a book!

This is definitely the kind of thing I was thinking of, but maybe expanded into a full subclass. Seems pretty neat as is, if a little consigned to being a grappling build.

 

[Undrave]

This is definitely the kind of thing I was thinking of, but maybe expanded into a full subclass. Seems pretty neat as is, if a little consigned to being a grappling build.

Even without grappling it turns your fists into a Versatile Weapon so that's pretty neat. And, unlike a Monk, you can still wear Chainmail and a Shield if you want. Take the Shield Master Feat and you're one throwable Shield away from Captain America

Combine it with Battlemaster and the Crusher Feat for some shenanigans... I think it'll be fun.

 

[Stalker0]

Even without grappling it turns your fists into a Versatile Weapon so that's pretty neat. And, unlike a Monk, you can still wear Chainmail and a Shield if you want. Take the Shield Master Feat and you're one throwable Shield away from Captain America

Combine it with Battlemaster and the Crusher Feat for some shenanigans... I think it'll be fun.

why are we talking about an unarmed fighter in a thread specifically designed to tweak the monk?

Move along to a new thread please

 

[Undrave]

why are we talking about an unarmed fighter in a thread specifically designed to tweak the monk?

Move along to a new thread please

Because it came up that there's no unarmed fighter outside the Monk? And we were talking about the Monk's own identity.

 

[Phoebasss]

why are we talking about an unarmed fighter in a thread specifically designed to tweak the monk?

Move along to a new thread please

Oh relax, you can see that that was a discussion of monk's identity.

 

[DND_Reborn]

For #2 we could always have it cost ki, but be some sort of defensive state that you could maintain for free on subsequent turn as long as you spend your bonus action?

Sure, I could definitely get behind that idea.

Sort of like spending ki to enter into a "mode": fight, flight, or defense. Once you enter the mode (i.e. Flurry, Step of the Wind, or Patent Defense) you can spend your bonus action to benefit from that mode each round until you change modes (by spending another ki point) or finish a rest or something?

As for #3:

They lose EVERYTHING they get from Martial Arts: Attacking with DEX instead of STR, damage to unarmed attack, and the bonus action punch they get. Then they lose the speed bonus too.

Gotcha! LOL, like I said, we've never done it, but I guess that is probably why? Personally, I don't mind that restriction.

Maybe extra Ki equal to your WIS?

Yep, forgot to mention we do this as well. It helps mitigate the low ki points earlier on, and many groups don't do short rests as often as others so then those extra ki points help a lot.