D&D General Rebuilding a new monk (+)

[Bill Zebub]

1. Subclass abilities that don't compete with base class abilities for Ki
2. Less emphasis on colorful but rarely used abilities at higher levels
3. Damage that scales a bit better at higher levels
4. Some kind of unique "thing" other than Stunning Strike that really plays differently than other classes

There are lots of ways to achieve these things (more Ki, faster scaling martial arts dice, special abilities, bonus feats from a prescribed list, etc.). But those would be my design goals.

For the unique thing, my vote has always been for one or more bonus reactions.

 

[kapars]

I’ve put a lot of thought to this topic and a few months ago I’d have wanted this or the other mechanical improvement. I think it is more important however that the class has a core identity. To me that should be the power of self - body and mind, amplifying the innate. The are classes for telling the stories of how one deals with external sources of power (Divine, Arcane, Pacts) but I’d like if the Monk could be about unlocking your inherent potential. For better or worse you are your own Patron.

 

[CreamCloud0]

Something I forgot to mention earlier is that I think the monk could really borrow something from the style of warlock’s eldritch invocation but martial flavoured, unarmed attack is the monks eldritch blast equivalent which has a bunch of specific ‘invocations’ that modify it, other invocations include a whole array of martial goodies like manoeuvres or skills or similar

 

[Stormonu]

If it could be pulled off, I'd like to see the inverse of the current ki system. Instead of starting with a pool ki, you build it up as the fight goes on. The more things you do, to more power you get, building up to that "nine finger exploding heart" technique, rather than opening the combat with it.

 

[James Gasik]

I think a potential issue, Stormonu, with a "back loaded" class is that there is a lot of variance in how long combats last. And I can see this creating more difficulties in discussing the power of the Monk class.

I mean, I like the idea in theory, but in practice, I wonder if it would end up being like the Warlock problem, where the power of a Warlock is tied to how many rests you have in a day- if you find yourself in a group that is either very good at dealing with encounters (or a DM who prefers short encounters), would the Monk struggle for relevance?

 

[Leatherhead]

If I was going to overhaul monks, I would start with a new resource mechanic: Combos. Simply put, you generate Ki by hitting things, then use a bonus action to unleash a special attack. With mitigating factors such as start of encounter allowances and/or focusing as an action to generate a bunch of Ki all at once when they need it, I think that would go a long way to making a much more fun class.

Then I would address the MADness. Allowing them to wear armor, using WIS to attack, and other such mechanics can be experimented with.

 

[Deekin]

Honestly, what should be done and what people are open to being done are different things.


I think the idea situation would be the monk eating up all the Supernatural Martial combat archetypes, so you have the everyman fighter, and Book of 9 Swords Mystic Adept/Monk.

 

[Yaarel]

Honestly, what should be done and what people are open to being done are different things.


I think the idea situation would be the monk eating up all the Supernatural Martial combat archetypes, so you have the everyman fighter, and Book of 9 Swords Mystic Adept/Monk.

I am along these lines for a consolidation.

For me, a salient distinction is between:
• heavy infantry, heavy armor and heavy weapons, Knight.
• light infantry, light armor and mobility, Skirmisher.

So supernatural martial types include:
• Knight: Paladin, Eldritch Knight
• Skirmisher: Monk, Ranger, animalistic Barbarian

Unlike a Dex Rogue, a Skirmisher features Strength for athletic mobility.

 

[Mind of tempest]

I'm about to go out so I do not have time to post what I want to post but this is what I have been waiting for.
It's why I am here.

 

[Raduin711]

I am a little iffy on the boxer/brawler archetype. While it seems like it should fit with the monk class, It seems like the monk wants to "pop the top off" of what a normal human can achieve physically, while a Boxer/Brawler wants to be down to earth. a "low magic" monk without the arrow catching. And the more fantastic abilities we put in the Monk, the harder that Boxer/Brawler archetype is to fit.

I would probably say it would be easier to make an unarmed subclass in Barbarian instead for the boxer/brawler. Rage makes a pretty decent substitute for all of the fancy "ki" tricks that don't fit with a brawler. You just need to teach the barbarian how to punch.