Sacrosanct
Legend
Since we've been on a monk thing the past couple weeks....
We all (or almost all) agree that the 4e monk is lacking. I think this is due to it being in the core PHB, so it wasn't designed with the benefit of having experience of 5e or a lot of playtesting behind it to catch that it was lacking. Much the same as the ranger BM. Unlike the BM, we haven't seen a revised version of it.
But I'd like to give my thoughts. If I were to create a Wot4E monk now, this is how I'd do it, with the caveat that we'd try to keep it as close to the original as possible.
Current:
At 3rd level, you get one essential cantrip, and one elemental feature. Gain an additional feature at 6th, 11th, and 17th level. By spending additional ki, you can upcast some of these features.
It appears that 1st and 2nd level spells cost 2 ki, 3rd level 4 ki, etc. I'm going to keep this template going forward.
New:
At 3rd level choose an element specialty: fire, lightning/thunder, water/acid, or earth/force. You also get elemental attunement and can learn 1 elemental discipline. Rather than a defined list, choose any spell off of any list that has a primary element of of your specialty that is level 1 or 2. Spend 2 ki points to use this ability. Also learn one cantrip that has one of the above elements of your specialty.
At 6th level, use a reaction when the target of an elemental attack that is also your specialty, gain resistance to that attack, and gain 1 ki point for every three levels of monk you have (rounded down). You can use this ability a number of times per long rest equal to your WIS modifier. Gain an additional discipline of your specialty of level 3 or less.
At 11th level, choose another specialty, to now have 2 specialties, and choose a cantrip from any spell list that falls under that new specialty, and a new discipline of level 4 or less that falls under your specialty.
At level 17, gain all four specialties, and two additional cantrips of the two new specialties, as well as an additional discipline of level 5 or less.
Upcasting remains. Gain an additional feature and replace discipline at 6th, 11th, and 17th level remains
Thoughts? Would this fix it? Be too much? Too little? I wanted a ki regenerating mechanic in there somewhere.
We all (or almost all) agree that the 4e monk is lacking. I think this is due to it being in the core PHB, so it wasn't designed with the benefit of having experience of 5e or a lot of playtesting behind it to catch that it was lacking. Much the same as the ranger BM. Unlike the BM, we haven't seen a revised version of it.
But I'd like to give my thoughts. If I were to create a Wot4E monk now, this is how I'd do it, with the caveat that we'd try to keep it as close to the original as possible.
Current:
At 3rd level, you get one essential cantrip, and one elemental feature. Gain an additional feature at 6th, 11th, and 17th level. By spending additional ki, you can upcast some of these features.
It appears that 1st and 2nd level spells cost 2 ki, 3rd level 4 ki, etc. I'm going to keep this template going forward.
New:
At 3rd level choose an element specialty: fire, lightning/thunder, water/acid, or earth/force. You also get elemental attunement and can learn 1 elemental discipline. Rather than a defined list, choose any spell off of any list that has a primary element of of your specialty that is level 1 or 2. Spend 2 ki points to use this ability. Also learn one cantrip that has one of the above elements of your specialty.
At 6th level, use a reaction when the target of an elemental attack that is also your specialty, gain resistance to that attack, and gain 1 ki point for every three levels of monk you have (rounded down). You can use this ability a number of times per long rest equal to your WIS modifier. Gain an additional discipline of your specialty of level 3 or less.
At 11th level, choose another specialty, to now have 2 specialties, and choose a cantrip from any spell list that falls under that new specialty, and a new discipline of level 4 or less that falls under your specialty.
At level 17, gain all four specialties, and two additional cantrips of the two new specialties, as well as an additional discipline of level 5 or less.
Upcasting remains. Gain an additional feature and replace discipline at 6th, 11th, and 17th level remains
Thoughts? Would this fix it? Be too much? Too little? I wanted a ki regenerating mechanic in there somewhere.