D&D 5E The Mystic Monk: Psionics and Ki and Short Rests

[Xeviat]

I’m on a bit of aMystic kick right now. Psionics are one of my favorite things. I likethat the rebranding of Psionics to “Mysticism” fits in more witha fantasy world. And like how 4^th Edition linked the Monkand the Psion, I think Ki and Psionics should be one and the same.Ki. Simple as that.


If the Mystic usedKi as their ability and recovered it on a short rest, they’d bedifferentiated from the spellcasters far more. It would help themstand out (I think the sorcerer should do this too, but that’s adifferent story). But how many Ki points would they have? Simple;divide their current Psi Points limit by 3 and then smooth out theprogression:



[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]Level[/TD]
[TD]Current[/TD]
[TD]1/3rd[/TD]
[TD]Ki Points[/TD]
[TD]Daily[/TD]
[TD]Difference[/TD]
[TD]Percent[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]1.33[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]+50%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]+100%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]4.66[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]+29%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]5.66[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]24[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]+41%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]27[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]30[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]+11%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]32[/TD]
[TD]10.66[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]36[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]+13%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]38[/TD]
[TD]12.66[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]42[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]+11%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]44[/TD]
[TD]14.66[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]48[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]+9%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]57[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]54[/TD]
[TD]-3[/TD]
[TD]-5%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]64[/TD]
[TD]21.33[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]60[/TD]
[TD]-4[/TD]
[TD]-6%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]64+9[/TD]
[TD]24.33[/TD]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]66[/TD]
[TD]-7[/TD]
[TD]-10%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]64+9[/TD]
[TD]24.33[/TD]
[TD]24[/TD]
[TD]72[/TD]
[TD]-1[/TD]
[TD]-1%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]64+18[/TD]
[TD]27.33[/TD]
[TD]26[/TD]
[TD]78[/TD]
[TD]-4[/TD]
[TD]-5%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]64+18[/TD]
[TD]27.33[/TD]
[TD]28[/TD]
[TD]84[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]2%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]64+33[/TD]
[TD]32.33[/TD]
[TD]30[/TD]
[TD]90[/TD]
[TD]-7[/TD]
[TD]-7%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]64+33[/TD]
[TD]32.33[/TD]
[TD]32[/TD]
[TD]96[/TD]
[TD]-1[/TD]
[TD]-1%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]64+44[/TD]
[TD]36[/TD]
[TD]34[/TD]
[TD]102[/TD]
[TD]-6[/TD]
[TD]-6%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]71+44[/TD]
[TD]38.33[/TD]
[TD]36[/TD]
[TD]108[/TD]
[TD]-7[/TD]
[TD]-6%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]71+44[/TD]
[TD]38.33[/TD]
[TD]38[/TD]
[TD]114[/TD]
[TD]-1[/TD]
[TD]-1%[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]71+44[/TD]
[TD]38.33[/TD]
[TD]40[/TD]
[TD]120[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]+4%[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Level x2 Ki pointsfor the Mystic allows us to treat the Monk as a ½ Mystic, like thePaladin is a ½ Cleric and the Ranger is a ½ Druid (and it reallymakes me want a ½ caster version of the Bard and Warlock … butthat’s just my love of symmetrical design).


And yes, I realizemy scale gives an average increase over PP of 11%, with some highincreases in the first 4 levels. But remember, the Cleric has ChannelDivinity, the Sorcerer has Sorcery Points, and the Wizard and LandDruid have Arcane/Natural Recovery. The Mystic needs a little oomphin the beginning (especially considering Consumptive Power isn’tnearly as good as Arcane Recovery). These points also compare fairlywell against the Warlock (if you converted the Warlock to SpellPoints). Remember, even if the Mystic has more Ki than a Wizard wouldhave SP, they’re likely going to have more left-over points whenthey start a short rest than a Wizard would, so it would probablyeven out. Also, one might want to change Mystic Healing to temp HP,so as not to mess up out of combat healing. Unless you want to acceptfull healing on short rests and throw harder fights at your players.


So, if the Mysticuses Ki, then the Monk can be redesigned as a ½ caster Mystic alongthe same design as the Paladin and Ranger. But what does that looklike?


Well, which Monkabilities track with disciplines? What has a Ki cost?


At level 1, Flurryof Blows is bonus action and 1 ki for +1 unarmed attack (they canalways use a bonus action for 1 attack, so it’s only +1 attackgain).


At level 1, PatientDefense is bonus action and 1 ki for Dodge.


At level 1, Step ofthe Wind is bonus action and 1 ki for Dash and double jump distance.


At level 3, DeflectMissiles is reaction for reducing ranged weapon damage by1d10+Dex+monk level; if damage is reduced to 0, pay 1 ki to throw theattack as a monk weapon.


At level 5, StunningStrike is no action and 1 ki to force a Con save or be stunned untilthe end of your next turn. I’ve always thought this was too cheapof an ability when compared to similar. Hold Person is an action anda 2^nd level spell (3 ki), but it can last multiple rounds.The Mystic’s Daze from Psychic Disruption is 3 pp and an action for1 round of incapacitated, so weaker than Hold Person.


At level 14, DiamondSoul has 1 ki to reroll a save.


At level 18, EmptyBody has 4 ki to become invisbile and gain resistance to all butforce damage, and 8 ki to cast astral projection on yourself with nomaterial component cost.


With some smoothingout, that could be the Monk Discipline. Some of these point costscould be changed.


Then, the Ways(subclass) would grant an extra Discipline. Not all of thedisciplines have multiple effects that cost Ki, though. Way of theopen hand has Quivering Palm. Way of Shadow has the Shadow Artsspells. Way of the Four Elements is entirely point costs.


What are yourthoughts?

 

[Eltab]

You have made my AL Monk (who thinks ki is somehow related to psionics, and worships Auppenser) feel justified in his opinions.

 

[mellored]

I agree ki and psionics should be the same. And should be short rest.

I don't have a problem mystics being full casters though.

 

[cbwjm]

I've mentioned it elsewhere that I've updated the 4 elements monk to use mystic disciplines specifically the air, earth and wood, fire, water, and ice disciplines. Each time the monk gains access to a new sub-class level they select a different discipline meaning they can have 4 of the 5 disciplines. They spend ki points on the discipline powers with a psi point limit of 7 at, I think, level 17. I've yet to trial it, maybe later this year when my group starts up again.

 

[Xeviat]

I agree ki and psionics should be the same. And should be short rest.

I don't have a problem mystics being full casters though.

I wasn't saying mystics shouldn't be full casters. I was saying that the monk is the half-caster Mystic.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Xeviat]

I've mentioned it elsewhere that I've updated the 4 elements monk to use mystic disciplines specifically the air, earth and wood, fire, water, and ice disciplines. Each time the monk gains access to a new sub-class level they select a different discipline meaning they can have 4 of the 5 disciplines. They spend ki points on the discipline powers with a psi point limit of 7 at, I think, level 17. I've yet to trial it, maybe later this year when my group starts up again.

Since these are just extra options with their ki points (minus the focus abilities), I worry that they aren't that great compared to the other disciplines. At least the elemental monk needs to be able to use those as a bonus action.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk