D&D 5E Buffing monks: with simple changes.

[Horwath]

I am thinking about buffing monks for next campaign:


But I want to keep it simple and not trying to introduce any new mechanics/abilities for the class.

Just working with adding little for current abilities/features:


1. increase hit die to d10. d8 feels a little low for melee class with low armor.

2. martial arts damage die increase from 1d4->1d10 to 1d6->1d12.

3. wis mod(if positive) to ki pool.

4. extra skill proficiency at 1st level.

5. AC calculation. AC is calculated as 10 + two modifiers from STR, DEX, CON or WIS.
This would give more room for diverse types of monks and still keep their starting AC at 15/16.


Would all 5 changes be too much or monk is so bad that it might need more than these 5 simple fixes?

 

[NotAYakk]

I'd dip 1 level into it.

Doesn't do anything of importance after level 1. Which is most of when the monk has problems.

For example, Barbarian 5/Monk 1 could use Str+Con to calculate AC, and get a bonus action headbutt. OTOH, the Barb really wants a heavy weapon, so maybe no headbutt.

 

[Bill Zebub]

The only thing I would change about Monk is to modify subclasses so that subclass abilities powered by Ki get one (or more?) free uses, with additional uses costing Ki. (Which is in line with changes we are seeing from WotC.) The major flaw of monk (and sorcerer) is that so many subclass abilities share a resource pool with base class abilities.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I am thinking about buffing monks for next campaign:


But I want to keep it simple and not trying to introduce any new mechanics/abilities for the class.

Just working with adding little for current abilities/features:


1. increase hit die to d10. d8 feels a little low for melee class with low armor.

2. martial arts damage die increase from 1d4->1d10 to 1d6->1d12.

3. wis mod(if positive) to ki pool.

4. extra skill proficiency at 1st level.

5. AC calculation. AC is calculated as 10 + two modifiers from STR, DEX, CON or WIS.
This would give more room for diverse types of monks and still keep their starting AC at 15/16.


Would all 5 changes be too much or monk is so bad that it might need more than these 5 simple fixes?

- I personnaly give them 1d12 HD myself. Fits more with the idea of peak physical mastery.

- I would not give them more ki point, but instead give them the feature that grant ki points when you roll initiative and have none remaining way sooner (say level 10ish), give them a real capstone instead.

- I give them 1d6 fist at 1st level, with a bump to 1d8 and 1d10 later (fighter's now have a figthing style that does that)

- I give them light/medium/shield proficiency, like the barb to avoid pigeonholing them into one style only.

- Extra skills is always welcome, since both Athletic and Accrobatic are nearly must haves.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

One thing I think might help monks, fit their themes, and not be front-loaded is to give them extra ASIs. Rogues get one ASI more than is standard and fighters get two. I think monks should have that too, though I'm not sure if it should be just one or should it be two. They're pretty MAD so that would help there and it would fit 'the perfect body and perfect mind' theme.

 

[Horwath]

One thing I think might help monks, fit their themes, and not be front-loaded is to give them extra ASIs. Rogues get one ASI more than is standard and fighters get two. I think monks should have that too, though I'm not sure if it should be just one or should it be two. They're pretty MAD so that would help there and it would fit 'the perfect body and perfect mind' theme.

Yeah.

6th and 10th levels are good candidates for ASI's

except way of the mercy and way of shadows, 6th level subclass abilities are bad.
And base abilities for 6th and 10th levels are not any better.

 

[ECMO3]

I am thinking about buffing monks for next campaign:


But I want to keep it simple and not trying to introduce any new mechanics/abilities for the class.

Just working with adding little for current abilities/features:


1. increase hit die to d10. d8 feels a little low for melee class with low armor.

2. martial arts damage die increase from 1d4->1d10 to 1d6->1d12.

3. wis mod(if positive) to ki pool.

4. extra skill proficiency at 1st level.

5. AC calculation. AC is calculated as 10 + two modifiers from STR, DEX, CON or WIS.
This would give more room for diverse types of monks and still keep their starting AC at 15/16.


Would all 5 changes be too much or monk is so bad that it might need more than these 5 simple fixes?

That is mostly OK IMO. I would be against Con for AC.

I would also be against getting both an extra proficiency and a d10. It should be either-or. If they are a "melee class" centered around the combat pillar they should not have any more proficiencies, since they already get an extra tool and that seems more thematically accurate. If they are a "skill class" they should not get a d10 IMO.

As an aside, IMO Monks I see played do not use bonus action-dodge enough. If they use that ability more (cost 1 ki) their hps and AC are usually not a problem. The issue I see is Monks, especially at low level, will attack with that 1d4 unarmed strike when their enemy is doing 20 DPR.

 

[Horwath]

That is mostly OK IMO. I would be against Con for AC.

I would also be against getting both an extra proficiency and a d10. It should be either-or. If they are a "melee class" centered around the combat pillar they should not have any more proficiencies, since they already get an extra tool and that seems more thematically accurate. If they are a "skill class" they should not get a d10 IMO.

As an aside, IMO Monks I see played do not use bonus action-dodge enough. If they use that ability more (cost 1 ki) their hps and AC are usually not a problem. The issue I see is Monks, especially at low level, will attack with that 1d4 unarmed strike when their enemy is doing 20 DPR.

If they are use ki for dodge, they are not using it for attacks. And it's not like ki grows on trees for monks.

as for skills, rangers with d10 get light-medium-shields and get 3 skills, barbarians with d12 get also light-medium-shields plus additional unarmed option and get 3rd skill at 3rd level in Tasha's.

Monks get only unarmed option and only 2 skills.

 

[Chaosmancer]

I am thinking about buffing monks for next campaign:


But I want to keep it simple and not trying to introduce any new mechanics/abilities for the class.

Just working with adding little for current abilities/features:


1. increase hit die to d10. d8 feels a little low for melee class with low armor.

2. martial arts damage die increase from 1d4->1d10 to 1d6->1d12.

3. wis mod(if positive) to ki pool.

4. extra skill proficiency at 1st level.

5. AC calculation. AC is calculated as 10 + two modifiers from STR, DEX, CON or WIS.
This would give more room for diverse types of monks and still keep their starting AC at 15/16.


Would all 5 changes be too much or monk is so bad that it might need more than these 5 simple fixes?

I think the Extra skill is fun, and the wis mod ki pool is good. I don't mind the AC calculation, but it isn't something I'm really concerned about

However, I don't see what this does for the monk at 11th level, which is when they actually start having serious problems mechanically. A low level monk, while ki starved (hence the wis mod) is still really really good. I might look at the scale going from 1d4 to 1d12, but the d4 doesn't seem bad to me usually (unless I remember the fighting style)

The Extra ASI's make a LOT of sense.


In the end, I think these are all fine, but they don't address the area I think is really more problematic.

 

[ECMO3]

If they are use ki for dodge, they are not using it for attacks.

That is kind of the point. They use it for attacks for very little payoff instead of using it for dodge (or disengage) which generally are better options.

as for skills, rangers with d10 get light-medium-shields and get 3 skills, barbarians with d12 get also light-medium-shields plus additional unarmed option and get 3rd skill at 3rd level in Tasha's.

Monks get a tool to balance the skill Rangers get at 1st and Barbarians get at 3rd and are generally better in melee than Rangers (subclasses not withstanding) and more versatile than Barbarians.

I think Monks are ok as is. I don't really see a need for any of these plus ups, but I find giving them a d10 and another skill on top of their already above average starting proficiencies to be more than they should get. There are other ways to make a Monk into a skill monkey (Half Elf, hexblood, multiple feats).