KNightSeiber, not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but if you dip into rogue, keep in mind that your katana (longsword) is not a finesse or light weapon, so you won't get sneak attack damage. (Just something to keep in mind)
Rarely. I have a Level 9 Lizardfolk Kensei, and with Agile Parry, I have an AC of 19 (that is without any magic, 10+3 natural,+ 4 Dex, +2 agile parry). But more importantly, I have a raging lizardfolk Ancestral Guardian Barbarian fighting next to me, so there is rarely a need to because they already have disadvantage to hit me due to Ancestral Protectors. So I don't even have Parry up much, and just do lots of flurries.
And I'm focused on my Con, than Wis, so with 66 health at level 9, I have only dirtnapped once. But I don't do many stuns either with only a DC 13. But targets die fast so it works.
This is a case of very intentional pairing and a good example of building with what is around you.
I just made lizardfolk kensei. Though the tool proficiency choose, i feel neither go with the lizardfolk race if u think about it. I’m asking my do if i can get different choices of tools instead, which is technically allow via dmg: dms workshop character option.
I just made a 5th level character after the death of my last pc. Lizardfolk fighter 1 monk4(kensei). Scores were: Str10 Dex 18 con14 int10 wis 19 chr 10, this wa after racial bonuses. Started the base of it with fighter, took 2 weapon fighting(dual wielding). Then 4 levels monk, choose battleaxe and longbow as kensei weapons. Then for ability score improvement took dual wielding feat. So that makes it a 19 Ac(unarmored defense). Probably planning to go more levels in fighter after. Folk hero background for the proficiencies with smiths tools as artisans tool. Only wish i could choose a different tool proficiency instead of what’s given for the kensei tradition just because calligraphers tools and painters supplies don’t sound like something a lizardfolk would ever use. “ A kensei sees a in much the same way cal ligrapher or regards a pen or brush Whatever the weapon , the kensei views a tool used to the beauty and precision of the martial arts.” To keep to something like this, maybe woodcarvers tools could be a substitute. I asked my Dm about it.
I just made a 5th level character after the death of my last pc. Lizardfolk fighter 1 monk4(kensei). Scores were: Str10 Dex 18 con14 int10 wis 19 chr 10, this wa after racial bonuses. Started the base of it with fighter, took 2 weapon fighting(dual wielding). Then 4 levels monk, choose battleaxe and longbow as kensei weapons. Then for ability score improvement took dual wielding feat. So that makes it a 19 Ac(unarmored defense). Probably planning to go more levels in fighter after. Folk hero background for the proficiencies with smiths tools as artisans tool. Only wish i could choose a different tool proficiency instead of what’s given for the kensei tradition just because calligraphers tools and painters supplies don’t sound like something a lizardfolk would ever use. “ A kensei sees a in much the same way cal ligrapher or regards a pen or brush Whatever the weapon , the kensei views a tool used to the beauty and precision of the martial arts.” To keep to something like this, maybe woodcarvers tools could be a substitute. I asked my Dm about it.
I took painting, but with my background as a merchant I took it as "trying to fit in." Actually helped later in the campaign as a group were hiring artists. So I posed as a rare "Famous" lizardfolk artist, with our Bard acting as an agent.
The campaign ended recently; Capped out at as a Level 20 Kensei, along with his eggbrother a level 20 Ancestral Barbarian. We were never the lizards that the enemy were looking for.
I think a lot of how you build/play a monk is down to party composition and needs of the moment. I played a kensai for a while and I appreciated the greater flexibility that access to bows and the ability to buff ranged attacks gave me. In situations where we were fighting a large monster I'd plink away and let the paladin tank. When we fought larger groups of enemies I'd charge the caster and take them out as fast as possible. If you know for whatever reason your DM prefers one encounter type over another you can build to focus on that, but the difficulty with a lot of feats is to utilize them you're giving up reactions and bonus actions which are already required to power a lot of the monk's abilities to begin with.
when i play kensai monk i almost allways try to get a rope of entagle ment and use it as a whip and take whip as my kensai weapon but not all dms allow this but you can allways ask i really enjoy doing that i tend to get 2 of those ropes just in case of, having them fixed to my belt use them and then take out the blowgun with poisened darts and bring just use the blowgun its just funny when you do that for the first time while you are hanging mid air because of the other rope is attached to a tree while yelling "what do you think good suprise"
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KNightSeiber, not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but if you dip into rogue, keep in mind that your katana (longsword) is not a finesse or light weapon, so you won't get sneak attack damage. (Just something to keep in mind)
I just made lizardfolk kensei. Though the tool proficiency choose, i feel neither go with the lizardfolk race if u think about it. I’m asking my do if i can get different choices of tools instead, which is technically allow via dmg: dms workshop character option.
I just made a 5th level character after the death of my last pc. Lizardfolk fighter 1 monk4(kensei). Scores were: Str10 Dex 18 con14 int10 wis 19 chr 10, this wa after racial bonuses. Started the base of it with fighter, took 2 weapon fighting(dual wielding). Then 4 levels monk, choose battleaxe and longbow as kensei weapons. Then for ability score improvement took dual wielding feat. So that makes it a 19 Ac(unarmored defense). Probably planning to go more levels in fighter after. Folk hero background for the proficiencies with smiths tools as artisans tool. Only wish i could choose a different tool proficiency instead of what’s given for the kensei tradition just because calligraphers tools and painters supplies don’t sound like something a lizardfolk would ever use. “ A kensei sees a in much the same way cal ligrapher or regards a pen or brush Whatever the weapon , the kensei views a tool used to the beauty and precision of the martial arts.” To keep to something like this, maybe woodcarvers tools could be a substitute. I asked my Dm about it.
I took painting, but with my background as a merchant I took it as "trying to fit in." Actually helped later in the campaign as a group were hiring artists. So I posed as a rare "Famous" lizardfolk artist, with our Bard acting as an agent.
The campaign ended recently; Capped out at as a Level 20 Kensei, along with his eggbrother a level 20 Ancestral Barbarian. We were never the lizards that the enemy were looking for.
Ever.
I think a lot of how you build/play a monk is down to party composition and needs of the moment. I played a kensai for a while and I appreciated the greater flexibility that access to bows and the ability to buff ranged attacks gave me. In situations where we were fighting a large monster I'd plink away and let the paladin tank. When we fought larger groups of enemies I'd charge the caster and take them out as fast as possible. If you know for whatever reason your DM prefers one encounter type over another you can build to focus on that, but the difficulty with a lot of feats is to utilize them you're giving up reactions and bonus actions which are already required to power a lot of the monk's abilities to begin with.
when i play kensai monk i almost allways try to get a rope of entagle ment and use it as a whip and take whip as my kensai weapon but not all dms allow this but you can allways ask i really enjoy doing that i tend to get 2 of those ropes just in case of, having them fixed to my belt use them and then take out the blowgun with poisened darts and bring just use the blowgun its just funny when you do that for the first time while you are hanging mid air because of the other rope is attached to a tree while yelling "what do you think good suprise"