D&D 5E Do monks get enough Ki?

[trentonjoe]

Our groups 3rd level monk isn't complaining about not enough KI points.

The Warlock's have noticed the 2 spell slot restriction but the monk hasn't voiced one word yet.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

At low levels, 1 encounter per rest seems appropriate, at most 2.
At that level most classes don´t have a lot of resources to go through. Usually 2 daily uses or 1/encounter use of an ability.
When the classes reach level 3, they have plenty of resources for the day. A Monk not using a single point of ki can hold up quite well. When he has access to stunning fists at level 5, thank god he has not too much ki...

 

[Stalker0]

Personally I think the problem is that most we monks as closer to fighters and not to rogues. Because if you see monks as "pop in, throw punches, pop out", their ki can last a bit. They do need a few more ki. But I think monk players just burn through it too fast.

Problem is though that the pop in and out style requires ki, else you take OAS.

The rogues defenses require no resources, where the monks does...so the monk can burn through ki very quickly if trying to keep up

 

[Minigiant]

Problem is though that the pop in and out style requires ki, else you take OAS.

The rogues defenses require no resources, where the monks does...so the monk can burn through ki very quickly if trying to keep up

Its not so bad. From level 1-4, the monk can stroll up and punch out anything he has to fight 1v1. A monk can beat up goblins and kobolds fine. Before level 5, a monk rely only needs KI for solo threats and novaing elites like ogres and apprentice mages. And low level PCs can't go long anyway and need a short rest every 2-3 fights anyway.

Now if you DM throws tons of solos you may be in trouble with you ki at low levels. But if a monk ally uses ki to Flurry, Dodge, or Disengage a goblin, I will give their player a glower.

 

[Daneric]

Its not so bad. From level 1-4, the monk can stroll up and punch out anything he has to fight 1v1. A monk can beat up goblins and kobolds fine. Before level 5, a monk rely only needs KI for solo threats and novaing elites like ogres and apprentice mages. And low level PCs can't go long anyway and need a short rest every 2-3 fights anyway.

Now if you DM throws tons of solos you may be in trouble with you ki at low levels. But if a monk ally uses ki to Flurry, Dodge, or Disengage a goblin, I will give their player a glower.

I agree with this. Just played my first monk session this weekend, and I found the level 1 monk perfectly capable of knocking the crap out of kobolds and the like. At level 1, monks can, for example, melee with a quarterstaff and then attack again with unarmed strike. If you've got any kind of dex bonus at all, which you should because you're playing a monk, you're going to rip through those kobolds.

Regarding the OP, our group didn't level up until rest (aka the end of the session) so I can't speak towards ki. But even the third level path abilities seem pretty solid to me.

 

[Mort]

I agree with this. Just played my first monk session this weekend, and I found the level 1 monk perfectly capable of knocking the crap out of kobolds and the like. At level 1, monks can, for example, melee with a quarterstaff and then attack again with unarmed strike. If you've got any kind of dex bonus at all, which you should because you're playing a monk, you're going to rip through those kobolds.

Regarding the OP, our group didn't level up until rest (aka the end of the session) so I can't speak towards ki. But even the third level path abilities seem pretty solid to me.

I'll certainly agree that the abilities are solid - no question there.

The question is does the monk have enough ki at low level to keep up the good abilities for any length of time.

The monk in my group is 3rd level and he runs out of ki fast. Without the ki his effectiveness plummets.

We have a battlemaster fighter in the group as well. When he runs out of dice (which currently he has more than the monk has ki, though that will swing in the monks favor quickly) he is still quite effective - he certainly has had no complaints, while the monk player has had plenty (and he's not the complaining type).

 

[Minigiant]

I'll certainly agree that the abilities are solid - no question there.

The question is does the monk have enough ki at low level to keep up the good abilities for any length of time.

The monk in my group is 3rd level and he runs out of ki fast. Without the ki his effectiveness plummets.

We have a battlemaster fighter in the group as well. When he runs out of dice (which currently he has more than the monk has ki, though that will swing in the monks favor quickly) he is still quite effective - he certainly has had no complaints, while the monk player has had plenty (and he's not the complaining type).

But much like I said before.
Who is the monk spending Ki to fight?

If the party is fighting multiple enemies who are low CR, a monk should not have to spend ki fighting them. A level 1 monk with decent Dex can easily off goblins, kobolds, and commoners. As the monk levels, shortsword+fist takes out most "minions".

If you fight some "elites" (a tough guy and some mooks or a pair of tough guys), you might use some ki. Or you can tackle the mooks and save ki.

Now if you are facing a solo monster or a legendary one, then you probably will need to spend ki. But should have enough to last until your next rest it used wisely.

"The Key to Ki" to one spend it on stuff who deserve it. A rogue doesn't tank the ogre nor the dragon. They first clear out the minions they tag team the the party warrior. Same with the monk. Weapon+Fist is good enough from level 1-4. 3 unarmed attacks is good enough for minor threats when you get it at level 5. Avoid the damage race.

 

[KarinsDad]

I wonder if this is a role issue. The monk does not appear to be a tank PC like a Fighter or Paladin or even some Clerics. He appears to have a "pick off the mooks" type of role. Even using Flurry, that seems more designed to drop 2 or 3 mooks instead of just taking down the big bad (although it could easily damage the big bad). And it seems like the Monks start really holding their own at higher levels.

This might be a player expectation thing.

 

[Minigiant]

I wonder if this is a role issue. The monk does not appear to be a tank PC like a Fighter or Paladin or even some Clerics. He appears to have a "pick off the mooks" type of role. Even using Flurry, that seems more designed to drop 2 or 3 mooks instead of just taking down the big bad (although it could easily damage the big bad). And it seems like the Monks start really holding their own at higher levels.

This might be a player expectation thing.

Which is weird as monks were always poor tanks.

Now I can see confusion as monks were damage dealer strikers in 3e and 4e (but they stunk at it in 3e). But unlike rogues, monks have to manage their resources and play more like melee warlocks.

 

[Tormyr]

We have a human monk and a halfling rogue/monk. They started at level 1 and we are now level 6. They have never complained about not enough ki. We rest as the story allows us. Sometimes while traveling, we only have 1 encounter per long rest. Sometimes we have 4 or more encounters before a short rest. They view their ki as a special resource to use once in a while.