Monastic Tradition: Immovable Monk

[faria]

I posted this a while back and fixed it based on feedback and getting some inspiration from the Kensei tradition. Immovable Rods are essentially clubs, which are monk weapons, so why not incorporate them into Kung Fu? I created a new Monastic Tradition based on that idea. Here's what I got:

Monastic Tradition: Immovable Monk

Level 3: Path of the Immovable
Upon choosing this monastic tradition at level 3, you gain the following benefits:

• You may activate or deactivate any Immovable Rod using an Action or Bonus Action.
• You gain proficiency in Acrobatics.
• You learn the ability Summon Immovable. Using it costs 1 ki.
  Summon Immovable Rod
  action
  You bring your hands together in a secret series of gestures taught to you by your master. As you pull them apart, you produce an Immovable Rod between them. The rod disappears after 24 hours, or instantly if you and your rod are more than 120ft from each other, whichever comes first. The rod gains the same stats as a club. It is made of metal, 2ft long, and counts as a monk weapon. If this ability is used while you already have a summoned Immovable Rod, the old one disappears and a new one appears in your hands.

Level 6: One with the Rod
The bond between you and your rod has grown stronger, giving you the following benefits:

• You can choose whether others may activate or deactivate your summoned Immovable Rod at will.
• You can activate and deactivate your summoned Immovable Rod from anywhere within its 120ft radius around you without having to touch it.
• Your attacks and damaging abilities with your summoned Immovable Rod count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.
• You learn the ability Rod Catapault. The cost to use it is 2 ki.
  Rod Catapult
  action
  Your summoned Immovable Rod flies in a straight line up to 90 feet in a direction you choose before falling to the ground, stopping early if it impacts against a solid surface. If the rod would strike a creature, that creature must make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the rod strikes the target and stops moving. When the rod strikes something, what it strikes takes 3d8 bludgeoning damage. You may spend additional ki, up to half your monk level rounded up, to increase its damage by 1d8 for each ki spent this way.

Level 11: Rod Control
Through tireless training, you have gained precision and control with your rod. You gain the following benefits:

• As a bonus action, you can expend up to 3 ki points to grant your summoned Immovable Rod a bonus to attack and damage rolls while you wield it. The bonus equals the number of ki points you spent. This bonus lasts for 1 minute.
• You learn the ability Rod Telekinesis. The cost to use it is 3 ki.
  Rod Telekinesis
  action
  You gesture for your summoned Immovable Rod to fly to a position you choose up to 60ft away from you. The rod moves quickly to the destination in a straight line from its previous position. If the rod is blocked by a creature or object, it hits the creature or object, dealing no damage, and falls to the ground. If the rod is being held by a creature, the creature must make a Strength save, contested by your Wisdom. If the creature fails the save, the rod flies from its hand toward the intended destination. If the creature makes the save, the rod does not move.

Level 17: Third Arm
You have mastered the Immovable Rod. It has become an extension of your physical form, allowing you use it as if it were a third arm. You gain the following benefits:

• You may activate or deactivate your summoned Immovable Rod using an Action, Bonus Action, or Free action.
• You gain double proficiency in Acrobatics.
• You can use your summoned Immovable Rod as you would a shield, quickly activating and deactivating it to block incoming attacks. While your summoned Immovable Rod is in your possession and not currently activated, you gain +2 AC.
• Moving your summoned Immovable Rod with Rod Telekinesis can now be done with an Action or Bonus Action.
• You have learned how to transport yourself using Rod Telekinesis. While your summoned Immovable Rod is in your possession and not currently activated, Rod Telekinesis now grants you the ability to accompany your rod as it flies to its destination.

 

[jaelis]

Pretty cool, if a bit specialized

A few comments:
- As written, you have introduced new spells that anyone could in principle learn. I can't think of a way to learn a spell that isn't on any class's spell list, but I would hesitate to say it is impossible. (Edit: bard secrets, for instance.) Seems like it would be safer if you just make the special monk abilities.

- The level 11 ability lets you activate the rod as a reaction, but I think reactions always require a trigger, so I'm not sure how that would work. You could instead allow it as the free object manipulation action that everyone gets. A similar issue comes up at level 17 with the telekinesis control.

Overall though, I think it's all a bit more complicated than it needs to be. Not sure what to suggest though.

 

[faria]

You're right about the spells; didn't think about that. I'll convert them into abilities instead.

I'll just remove the ability to trigger it during Reactions, including the level 6 ability that gives disadvantage to prone attempts. I'll also remove the Improved Slow Fall. Less abilities = less complicated.