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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ClockworkNinja" data-source="post: 6814267" data-attributes="member: 6801651">I like the overall idea of the monk class but everything about how 5e did the monk just irritates me more the more I examine, think about, and play with it. A few of my gripes and proposed solution: -Mechanics The densely written legalese of the martial arts feature confounds me to this day. Its like they took a rule from another RPG that had no relation to the 5e ruleset and pasted into the monk class. This separate rule has overlap with several existing rules (off-hand attacks, finesse property) but does not mesh with the rest of the system at all. I DM encounters and have had to repeatedly explain the Byzantine rule differences between "Monk weapons" and "Weapons monks are proficient with." Other core Monk features also tend to be extremely limited and narrow in how they work with little to no room for improvisation or interpretation. Its like playing a spellcaster, but without the ability to choose your spells. -Theme & characterizationThere are several character tropes that fall under the definition of "monk", from the bare-knuckled brawling of real-world hand-to-hand fighters to the cinematic wire-fu of wulin movies, to the spectacular powers of Avatar: the last airbender. The existing monk subclasses make an attempt at replicating these ideals but are too diluted to really accomplish it: for example, the way of open hand offers no bonus to things like improvised weapons or grappling, and even a level 20 Elemental master can only learn 5 not!spells (counting the cantrip) and guzzles ki to use them. -The solutionMy main proposal for a rebuilt monk is to choose a subclass at level 1. The core class would be a basic skeleton, with each subclass specializing in a different field:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Monk" core -Basic class chassis, gives unarmed attacks, unarmored defense, bonus to athletics and acrobatics. Subclasses:</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Brawler -Extra bonuses for fighting unarmed. Improvised weapon proficiency. Bonuses to grappling, shoving, and other physical control. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Ninja -Stealth bonus. focus on nova damage, perhaps copied from the Rouge (assassin). </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Sohei -Martial weapon proficiency. Movement bonuses. High-level hains flight or flight-like abilities. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Shugenja -1/2 or 1/3 Spellcaster. Not "features that work just like spells"- actual spells. Probably borrows spells from the Druid in the way that the EK borrows from the wizard. </li> </ul>I am (slowly) writing this up with an eye toward publishing on the DM guild, and would appreciate everyone's reactions to my idea.</blockquote>

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