Hello, as you probably have guessed, I’m looking for advice as to building a Way of Shadows Monk. I am curious as to what the best race for this would be, and how to structure the backstory of my character as to step away from the “Asian monastic tradition “ and move closer to a martial arts wielding assassin. In short I want you to give me any character concepts you have.
Kenku jumps out to me as the most appropriate race, but that's leaning into the monastic tradition. I think a shadow monk would fit perfectly if you want to make a dark elf monk as well, even though they don't have the best stats for it.
When you say building I think feats/ASI's, ASIs are going to be the more optimal choice most of the time, but if you're rolling and rolled well (starting with 18-20 dex) I'd pick up the eldritch invocation feat and get the devil's sight invocation so you can see in your own darkness.
Unfortunately the Eldritch Adept feat requires Pact magic or spell casting feature which shadow monks do not have. So unless you dip warlock or a class that has the spell casting feature this isn’t an option.
Really, if you use Tasha’s option to move racial ASI’s any race can work.
Do you have any direction or theme you are looking to build on?
Unfortunately the Eldritch Adept feat requires Pact magic or spell casting feature which shadow monks do not have. So unless you dip warlock or a class that has the spell casting feature this isn’t an option.
Really, if you use Tasha’s option to move racial ASI’s any race can work.
Do you have any direction or theme you are looking to build on?
I know this used to be a thing but I am able to pick the eldritch adept feat now, might be dnd beyond has fixed it since shadow monks technically have spellcasting abilities.
Hello, as you probably have guessed, I’m looking for advice as to building a Way of Shadows Monk. I am curious as to what the best race for this would be, and how to structure the backstory of my character as to step away from the “Asian monastic tradition “ and move closer to a martial arts wielding assassin. In short I want you to give me any character concepts you have.
Hello, as you probably have guessed, I’m looking for advice as to building a Way of Shadows Monk. I am curious as to what the best race for this would be, and how to structure the backstory of my character as to step away from the “Asian monastic tradition “ and move closer to a martial arts wielding assassin. In short I want you to give me any character concepts you have.
Unfortunately the Eldritch Adept feat requires Pact magic or spell casting feature which shadow monks do not have. So unless you dip warlock or a class that has the spell casting feature this isn’t an option.
Really, if you use Tasha’s option to move racial ASI’s any race can work.
Do you have any direction or theme you are looking to build on?
I know this used to be a thing but I am able to pick the eldritch adept feat now, might be dnd beyond has fixed it since shadow monks technically have spellcasting abilities.
They can cast spells, but it isn't the Spellcasting or Pact Magic feature. Eldritch Adept is different from, say, Spell Sniper for this very reason. You might have the prerequisites turned off.
As for which race makes the best fit, it depends on the setting and what kind of story you want to tell. After all, not every race is available everywhere. It's always good to check with the DM, first. That said, a kenku can work. They tend to gather in flocks in urban areas, so the story of how they went from there to a monastery could be interesting. Or maybe they trained in an inner-city dojo. And with the optional rules in Tasha's, any race with some weapon proficiencies, like dwarf and both high and wood elves, are solid options.
Anyone in the Forgotten Realms who follows the Dark Moon heresy would fit just fine, but you might want proficiency with Religion. A "shadowdancer" would be a good fit for the Entertainer background. Wildemount lifted a lot from the Nentir Vale/Points of Light setting, so maybe look into the Ghostwalkers and the Monastery of the Eternal Void.
Urchin background.. You spent time studying how to live in the shadows until you became part of them.
Foreign agent. You are part of a thieves guild in a foreign land. You are sent to make inroads and connections for expansion in to foreign lands.
You were part of a special operations unit sent to take down magicians who got to powerful. During your first mission you were snatched in to the shadow realm plane of negative energy. You were the only survivor left found in the smoldering crater of the magicians lab.
There are no “best races” any more. Just pick the one you like the most and compliments your characters story. You could make a Goliath Shadow Monk just as easily as a Kobold.
Urchin background.. You spent time studying how to live in the shadows until you became part of them.
Foreign agent. You are part of a thieves guild in a foreign land. You are sent to make inroads and connections for expansion in to foreign lands.
You were part of a special operations unit sent to take down magicians who got to powerful. During your first mission you were snatched in to the shadow realm plane of negative energy. You were the only survivor left found in the smoldering crater of the magicians lab.
There are no “best races” any more. Just pick the one you like the most and compliments your characters story. You could make a Goliath Shadow Monk just as easily as a Kobold.
Oh yeah, I forgot that TCOE, you can make your race be anything.
There are no “best races” any more. Just pick the one you like the most and compliments your characters story. You could make a Goliath Shadow Monk just as easily as a Kobold.
Exact opposite. Races who were using their optimal stats to shine no longer can, so the racial divide between optimal and suboptimal races has widened.
Now, it's also true that races that only sucked due to their stat bonuses are better now, so in many contexts you have more flexibility to choose now without being deeply suboptimal.
Worst races still exist - for example, Goblins make terrible rogues still, and humans are just worse than nonhumans for any given build (which is new, as of TCOE). Best races still exist, like half-elves and tieflings. Some races became a lot better, like Tortles and Locathah. Some didn't change much, like Warforged. It's a very mixed bag.
There are no “best races” any more. Just pick the one you like the most and compliments your characters story. You could make a Goliath Shadow Monk just as easily as a Kobold.
Exact opposite. Races who were using their optimal stats to shine no longer can, so the racial divide between optimal and suboptimal races has widened.
Now, it's also true that races that only sucked due to their stat bonuses are better now, so in many contexts you have more flexibility to choose now without being deeply suboptimal.
Worst races still exist - for example, Goblins make terrible rogues still, and humans are just worse than nonhumans for any given build (which is new, as of TCOE). Best races still exist, like half-elves and tieflings. Some races became a lot better, like Tortles and Locathah. Some didn't change much, like Warforged. It's a very mixed bag.
I smell B.S., and I don't even have a working sense of smell.
The gap has shrunk, not widened. Goblins make fine rogues. They have Darkvision (60 ft.); more speed than dwarves, gnomes, and halflings (even if only by 5 feet); and Nimble Escape gives them a leg up at 1st level. Heck, they're one of the only non-PHB races eligible for Squat Nimbleness. And humans, even basic humans with +1 to everything, are fine. If you roll for stats and get 4+ odd scores, they're pretty dang attractive.
And it's all an optional rule, anyway. You don't have to allow for things like custom lineage or changing ability scores. Starting with a +2 instead of a +3 in your primary stat isn't going to wreck your character.
I kind of like Bugbears for this, too. Darkvision, Long Limbed, Sneaky, and Suprise Attack all mesh pretty well as racial abilities with the Way of Shadow. It's a like taking half a dip into rogue.
Hello, as you probably have guessed, I’m looking for advice as to building a Way of Shadows Monk. I am curious as to what the best race for this would be, and how to structure the backstory of my character as to step away from the “Asian monastic tradition “ and move closer to a martial arts wielding assassin. In short I want you to give me any character concepts you have.
Kenku jumps out to me as the most appropriate race, but that's leaning into the monastic tradition. I think a shadow monk would fit perfectly if you want to make a dark elf monk as well, even though they don't have the best stats for it.
When you say building I think feats/ASI's, ASIs are going to be the more optimal choice most of the time, but if you're rolling and rolled well (starting with 18-20 dex) I'd pick up the eldritch invocation feat and get the devil's sight invocation so you can see in your own darkness.
Thanks
Unfortunately the Eldritch Adept feat requires Pact magic or spell casting feature which shadow monks do not have. So unless you dip warlock or a class that has the spell casting feature this isn’t an option.
Really, if you use Tasha’s option to move racial ASI’s any race can work.
Do you have any direction or theme you are looking to build on?
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
Alright
Huh?
I know this used to be a thing but I am able to pick the eldritch adept feat now, might be dnd beyond has fixed it since shadow monks technically have spellcasting abilities.
Check this out: https://forums.giantitp.com/showsinglepost.php?p=24890247&postcount=831
Oh that's very nice. It hadn't occurred to me to combine Stunning Strike and Brace or Riposte.
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
They can cast spells, but it isn't the Spellcasting or Pact Magic feature. Eldritch Adept is different from, say, Spell Sniper for this very reason. You might have the prerequisites turned off.
As for which race makes the best fit, it depends on the setting and what kind of story you want to tell. After all, not every race is available everywhere. It's always good to check with the DM, first. That said, a kenku can work. They tend to gather in flocks in urban areas, so the story of how they went from there to a monastery could be interesting. Or maybe they trained in an inner-city dojo. And with the optional rules in Tasha's, any race with some weapon proficiencies, like dwarf and both high and wood elves, are solid options.
Anyone in the Forgotten Realms who follows the Dark Moon heresy would fit just fine, but you might want proficiency with Religion. A "shadowdancer" would be a good fit for the Entertainer background. Wildemount lifted a lot from the Nentir Vale/Points of Light setting, so maybe look into the Ghostwalkers and the Monastery of the Eternal Void.
Urchin background.. You spent time studying how to live in the shadows until you became part of them.
Foreign agent. You are part of a thieves guild in a foreign land. You are sent to make inroads and connections for expansion in to foreign lands.
You were part of a special operations unit sent to take down magicians who got to powerful. During your first mission you were snatched in to the shadow realm plane of negative energy. You were the only survivor left found in the smoldering crater of the magicians lab.
There are no “best races” any more. Just pick the one you like the most and compliments your characters story. You could make a Goliath Shadow Monk just as easily as a Kobold.
Oh yeah, I forgot that TCOE, you can make your race be anything.
Exact opposite. Races who were using their optimal stats to shine no longer can, so the racial divide between optimal and suboptimal races has widened.
Now, it's also true that races that only sucked due to their stat bonuses are better now, so in many contexts you have more flexibility to choose now without being deeply suboptimal.
Worst races still exist - for example, Goblins make terrible rogues still, and humans are just worse than nonhumans for any given build (which is new, as of TCOE). Best races still exist, like half-elves and tieflings. Some races became a lot better, like Tortles and Locathah. Some didn't change much, like Warforged. It's a very mixed bag.
I smell B.S., and I don't even have a working sense of smell.
The gap has shrunk, not widened. Goblins make fine rogues. They have Darkvision (60 ft.); more speed than dwarves, gnomes, and halflings (even if only by 5 feet); and Nimble Escape gives them a leg up at 1st level. Heck, they're one of the only non-PHB races eligible for Squat Nimbleness. And humans, even basic humans with +1 to everything, are fine. If you roll for stats and get 4+ odd scores, they're pretty dang attractive.
And it's all an optional rule, anyway. You don't have to allow for things like custom lineage or changing ability scores. Starting with a +2 instead of a +3 in your primary stat isn't going to wreck your character.
Goblins make fine rouges but not the most "Optimal" but they fit the mold well.
V. Humans are still amazing at basically anything as the free feat is just hard to beat.
Basic Humans can make a MAD build work (like Barb/Monk) but now do fall a bit behind further to some of the other races.
Overall its not a huge difference though.
I kind of like Bugbears for this, too. Darkvision, Long Limbed, Sneaky, and Suprise Attack all mesh pretty well as racial abilities with the Way of Shadow. It's a like taking half a dip into rogue.