One of my players came to me with an idea of a home-brewed monk "way". I keep looking at this and something about it really bothers me. His build allows you to spend ki points to attack on reactions (similar to lvl 17 shadow monk) at a really low level and spend ki points to do this multiple times per round. (giving him 2-3 reactions per round). I think this really overpowers his class but he's making a lot of good points why it may not. What's everyone's thoughts? Does giving yourself an extra reaction break the mechanics if you can attack?.
Lvl 3: Evasive Striking - When an enemy within 5ft. misses you with an Attack Action, you can spend 1 Ki point as a reaction to make an attack with a Monk/Unarmed weapon against the attacking creature. The first use of this per round does not expend your reaction for the round. (This is like the Fighter's "Riposte" maneuver, but instead of adding damage to it [via superiority die] you get more uses, which is more in-line with Monk playstyle)
Lvl 6:Strike Deflection - When you take the Dodge action, you can spend 1 Ki point to increase your AC by ½ your proficiency bonus for the duration of Guard. (OP thinks this should be static)
Lvl 11: Tuned Reflexes - Once per round, when you would make a Reaction, you can instead spend a Ki point to retain your use of a Reaction.
Lvl 17: Hardened Soul - You can spend 2 Ki points to cast the “Shield of Faith” spell on yourself or an Ally within 5 ft without a Material and Verbal Components. You cannot perform this again until you take a long rest. *NOTE* - I’m bouncing back and forth between 1 and 2 Ki points. Sun Soul gets Burning Hands as a bonus action (unlimited # of uses) for 2 Ki points, but I’m limiting this one to once per long rest. I think I should keep it at 2 Ki points and allow re-casting (because it’s a concentration spell)
Not gonna lie, a first level spell as a capstone for a subclass is disappointing. That could honestly be a 6th level thing. Should even.
Anyway. At most it gives him three reactions in a round to redirect attack actions within five feet. Its not that overpowered, especially as it constantly costs Ki and doesn't do anything more then hit someone who missed him. He can be ignored by enemies or hit with non attack action stuff like spells and other special abilities.
The fact that it costs ki limits its power. It's basically like spending a point on fury of blows, except he can do it multiple times in a round (and then once Ki is spent not for the rest of the encounter). For level 6, I feel like a static +2 (like the level 3 Kensei bonus) might be good. Half your proficiency bonus is only +1 until you hit level 9. He also has to take the dodge action AND spend ki, so even a +3 wouldn't be outrageous as he's trading potentially 5 attacks (given the level 3 ability).
i agree with KageAcuma that shield of faith once a day as a level 17 ability is a little...weak. It's still a concentration spell so it can be broken and, well, there goes your once daily ability. Open hand monk, in comparison, gains to ability to insta-kill someone. So, I might want to buff the level 17 ability a little
Lvl 17: Hardened Soul - You can spend 2 Ki points to cast the “Shield” spell on yourself or an Ally within 5 ft without a Material and Verbal Components. You cannot perform this again until you take a long rest. For you, it has a duration of x minutes, and you can cast it as a bonus action
I feel that that makes it more inline with a level 17 ability. the shield spell ads a +5 to AC which at higher levels will be much more useful, and the additions mean that it can be cast for a longer duration and on an ally if they need it.
as this is a reactionary subclass you could leave shields casting time as 1 reaction if you wished.
but I feel it definitely needs a boost to its duration to at least 1minute.
One of my players came to me with an idea of a home-brewed monk "way". I keep looking at this and something about it really bothers me. His build allows you to spend ki points to attack on reactions (similar to lvl 17 shadow monk) at a really low level and spend ki points to do this multiple times per round. (giving him 2-3 reactions per round). I think this really overpowers his class but he's making a lot of good points why it may not. What's everyone's thoughts? Does giving yourself an extra reaction break the mechanics if you can attack?.
Lvl 3: Evasive Striking - When an enemy within 5ft. misses you with an Attack Action, you can spend 1 Ki point as a reaction to make an attack with a Monk/Unarmed weapon against the attacking creature. The first use of this per round does not expend your reaction for the round.
(This is like the Fighter's "Riposte" maneuver, but instead of adding damage to it [via superiority die] you get more uses, which is more in-line with Monk playstyle)
Lvl 6:Strike Deflection - When you take the Dodge action, you can spend 1 Ki point to increase your AC by ½ your proficiency bonus for the duration of Guard. (OP thinks this should be static)
Lvl 11: Tuned Reflexes - Once per round, when you would make a Reaction, you can instead spend a Ki point to retain your use of a Reaction.
Lvl 17: Hardened Soul - You can spend 2 Ki points to cast the “Shield of Faith” spell on yourself or an Ally within 5 ft without a Material and Verbal Components. You cannot perform this again until you take a long rest.
*NOTE* - I’m bouncing back and forth between 1 and 2 Ki points. Sun Soul gets Burning Hands as a bonus action (unlimited # of uses) for 2 Ki points, but I’m limiting this one to once per long rest. I think I should keep it at 2 Ki points and allow re-casting (because it’s a concentration spell)
Not gonna lie, a first level spell as a capstone for a subclass is disappointing. That could honestly be a 6th level thing. Should even.
Anyway. At most it gives him three reactions in a round to redirect attack actions within five feet. Its not that overpowered, especially as it constantly costs Ki and doesn't do anything more then hit someone who missed him. He can be ignored by enemies or hit with non attack action stuff like spells and other special abilities.
The fact that it costs ki limits its power. It's basically like spending a point on fury of blows, except he can do it multiple times in a round (and then once Ki is spent not for the rest of the encounter). For level 6, I feel like a static +2 (like the level 3 Kensei bonus) might be good. Half your proficiency bonus is only +1 until you hit level 9. He also has to take the dodge action AND spend ki, so even a +3 wouldn't be outrageous as he's trading potentially 5 attacks (given the level 3 ability).
i agree with KageAcuma that shield of faith once a day as a level 17 ability is a little...weak. It's still a concentration spell so it can be broken and, well, there goes your once daily ability. Open hand monk, in comparison, gains to ability to insta-kill someone. So, I might want to buff the level 17 ability a little
I'd say maybe change the Hardened Soul to say,
Lvl 17: Hardened Soul - You can spend 2 Ki points to cast the “Shield” spell on yourself or an Ally within 5 ft without a Material and Verbal Components. You cannot perform this again until you take a long rest. For you, it has a duration of x minutes, and you can cast it as a bonus action
I feel that that makes it more inline with a level 17 ability. the shield spell ads a +5 to AC which at higher levels will be much more useful, and the additions mean that it can be cast for a longer duration and on an ally if they need it.
as this is a reactionary subclass you could leave shields casting time as 1 reaction if you wished.
but I feel it definitely needs a boost to its duration to at least 1minute.
That's a lot of ki getting spent tbh.
Have you guys looked at the drunken monk? It's very similar to a point.
Aaaaand and I realized this is an old thread...