D&D 5E (2024) Tinkering with the Monk

[Flobby]

Just tinkering around with a monk rework, and was thinking of increasing HD to 1d10. I know it's probably not too much of a boost, but I was thinking I should remove one of their many powers that reduce damage or recover hp, or at least make it less powerful? Any suggestions...? Right now I'm just considering removing heightened focus's patient defense upgrade....

 

[Clint_L]

The 2024 monk is very strong indeed; I think your tweak won't change much, though. The patient defence upgrade isn't until level 10, which most campaigns don't reach, and even then the PD upgrade is worth, at that level, 11 temp HP on average whereas your buff to the HP die adds 10 permanent HP so...kind of a wash. A mild buff to defence at lower levels and mild nerf at higher levels, I guess, though I imagine level 10+ monks will be doing flurry of blows for three extra attacks most of the time.

My current monk is level 7, and with tough as the starting feat and 14 con they are sitting at 66 HP, with deflect attack basically negating one hit per turn, a solid AC (18, thanks to a ring of protection), evasion, patient defence, and hand of healing...they're pretty durable, with high offence and stupidly good mobility. I do think they are a bit much.

 

[Mort]

The 2024 monk is very strong indeed; I think your tweak won't change much, though. The patient defence upgrade isn't until level 10, which most campaigns don't reach, and even then the PD upgrade is worth, at that level, 11 temp HP on average whereas your buff to the HP die adds 10 permanent HP so...kind of a wash. A mild buff to defence at lower levels and mild nerf at higher levels, I guess, though I imagine level 10+ monks will be doing flurry of blows for three extra attacks most of the time.

My current monk is level 7, and with tough as the starting feat and 14 con they are sitting at 66 HP, with deflect attack basically negating one hit per turn, a solid AC (18, thanks to a ring of protection), evasion, patient defence, and hand of healing...they're pretty durable, with high offence and stupidly good mobility. I do think they are a bit much.

I'd like to see a 2024 monk in play. No one in any of my groups (I have 1 regular and 2 on-off ones) has taken one. Trauma from 2014?

But considering the boost I have seen to sorcerers, barbarians and fighters? Plus paladins are still extremely strong despite the divine smite nerf (though I think that's balanced by the free use and some other add ons).

 

[mellored]

In my brief experience with lower level 2024 monk's.

I suggest reducing deflect attack a tad. Like 1d10-> 1d6.

 

[Flobby]

In my brief experience with lower level 2024 monk's.

I suggest reducing deflect attack a tad. Like 1d10-> 1d6.

That sounds like a simple solution. Thanks!

 

[Retros_x]

Trauma from 2014?

The 2014 class was already my favorite class and it only got stronger. Its a typical white room balance discussion, class and built strenght are often strongely dependent on the adventure, setting, the DM etc.

Some of my favorite player moments came from playing a drunken master 2014 monk and they would not be possible with other classes. Stunning a flying dragon out of air, chasing a fleeing carriage on foot and ramming an "immovable rod" in the wheels, going full jackie chan a lot of times.

Plus the flexibility of the monk is underrated. You can jump to ranged attackers or spell casters and punish them, you can tank a chokepoint for a short while with patient defense, you can basically fly around the battlefield and helping out with whatever is needed.

But yes if the adventure only has fights in bland square rooms the monk can underperform compared to other classes. It strengths are situational - but a good adventure has a lot of different situations and I felt never useless at worst and at best was often MVP because I could jump in and save the day with some crazy monk stuff.

 

[Mind of tempest]

the problems of the monk is far more deep rooted than tinkering will fix

 

[Sulicius]

the problems of the monk is far more deep rooted than tinkering will fix

Really? They seem to be in a solid spot now. What makes you say that?

 

[Mind of tempest]

Really? They seem to be in a solid spot now. What makes you say that?

it works but the foundation is not well built, we know what it is replicating far more these days

 

[Mort]

it works but the foundation is not well built, we know what it is replicating far more these days

Can you elaborate?

I've found the current (2024) monk base class to be will built.

Especially, one of my biggest issues, the over reliance on ki to fuel all aspects of it, this leading to overly rapid resource depletion - seems to be significantly better. Now, I haven't seen the new monk in actual play, so will need to see that for a try assessment, but it certainly looks good.