D&D 5E The Blind Monk

[Guest 6801328]

The monk would also be immune to all spells that require looking at the caster? That is very powerful.

Yup.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Now I think about it, that mechanic makes for a perfectly service subclass on its own, without the blindness, blindsight, and enhanced senses aspect. I might rename Serenity to “battle meditation” or something and use it straight-up.

I've played with a lot of different subclass ideas based on bonus reactions.

For example: The Bravura

 

[atanakar]

That's inconvenient, but Blindsight is unaffected.

Heightened Senses wouldn't work, of course. Edit: and really just Sound of Snowfall at that.

You have to define Blindsight in terms of D&D mechanics. This is a new type of «vision». How does it work? Sonar like bats?

 

[Guest 6801328]

You have to define Blindsight in terms of D&D mechanics. This is a new type of «vision». How does it work? Sonar like bats?

Huh? Why? Blindsight is a 5e thing.

Straight from the SRD:

Blindsight: A creature with blindsight can perceive its surroundings without relying on sight, within a specific radius. Creatures without eyes, such as oozes, and creatures with echolocation or heightened senses, such as bats and true dragons, have this sense.

But I will agree it raises all sorts of issues that many DMs may not have considered. Such as the aforementioned immunity to any ability that requires the character to look at something. Here's the wording for Umber Hulk:

Confusing Gaze. When a creature starts its turn within 30 feet of the umber hulk and is able to see the umber hulk's eyes...

And it took a Sage Advice for JC to clarify that ranged attacks from outside the radius of Blindsight do have advantage.

 

[Charlaquin]

You have to define Blindsight in terms of D&D mechanics. This is a new type of «vision». How does it work? Sonar like bats?

The rules already define Blindsight.

 

[atanakar]

The rules already define Blindsight.

Doh! completely forgot about that.

 

[NotAYakk]

Add some riders to the senses?

Snowfall: While not deafened, you have advantage on dex saving throws.
Sunlight: You have advantage on saves vs poison and disease, and have resistance to poison damage.
Darkness: You can feel attacks before they hit; you do not grant advantage to attackers you cannot see.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Add some riders to the senses?

Snowfall: While not deafened, you have advantage on dex saving throws.
Sunlight: You have advantage on saves vs poison and disease, and have resistance to poison damage.
Darkness: You can feel attacks before they hit; you do not grant advantage to attackers you cannot see.

I did think about something like that. Ultimately I think that the bonuses to ability checks are by themselves pretty powerful (although perhaps requiring some creativity to use to their full effect). Just not necessarily in combat.

 

[Guest 6801328]

I hate* to necro my own thread, but thinking about the thread about "classes with drawbacks" I've been thinking about this subclass, and I solved at least one problem with it: instead of becoming blind at level 3, you only get the benefits of your special abilities when you've been unable to see for a least a minute. Wearing a blindfold counts. Of course, for adventurers, you can't really anticipate when you'll need your abilities, so it's often wise to simply go around blindfolded all/most of the time.

The fluff can describe how some disciples blind themselves in a ritual.

*Blatant lie.