With the help of AtlaStar and Wolfbat we created a New Monk subclass that has the Ability to use shadows that is much truer to a "ninja Like" monk, no teleporting about in shadows, but actually having the ability to use the shadows to his or her advantage, creating and manipulating them to their will, and creating something with substance from the shadows
The Link above is the final version of the monk sub class and is shared with the community I hope you enjoy the Build, you may have seen it in the Homebrew section. while we were working on it.
First of all, No i don't have too many abilities, and yes I will show that this is more ninja like than the shadow monk traditionally found in the compendium.
considering the fact that at third level with this build you merely have a communication method, dark vision and darkness. Comparitively the compendiums version of events - Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you can use your ki to duplicate the effects of certain spells. As an action, you can spend 2 ki points to cast darkness, darkvision, pass without trace, or silence, without providing material components. Additionally, you gain the minor illusion cantrip if you don’t already know it. You find that at 3rd level you have a lot less in terms of ability here as at third level with the Path of the souls Shadow rather than +10 to everyones stealth rolls the player only has a Bonus action Hide through the use of a Ki Point. till level 6
At level 6 the Books version offers you the ability to "Teleport" with shadow step which if i am honest in my opinion is a load of bull. In this new homebrewed version. "you can use a bonus action to hide. When you attempt to hide in an area obscured by dim light or darkness, you may do so even if a creature is able to see you. While hidden, leaving an area obscured in this way doesn't reveal your position until the end of your turn." this stops the problematic issue of being able to shadow hop as a tabaxi monk and moving nearly 180 feet accross the board. you are limited still by your natural movement speeds. Thus bringing far better balance to the monk subclass. created here.
then at 6th level with my build you acquire the following At 6th level, your dedication to the nature of shadow has allowed you to give them physical form. When you make a melee attack on your turn, your flurry of blows grants you 3 attacks, instead of two, as the coalesced shadows strike at your target in tandem with your attacks. If this attack is made while in darkness, it doesn't require you to spend ki points. In addition, when you use the stunning strike ability, you may choose to instead inflict the blindness condition until the end of your next turn as the nearby shadows infuse with your ki, forcing its way into the targets eyes.
This is exactly the same number of hits that any other monk can actually make, it is merely Fluff you could say as to how it happens and what happens when you use it. the only difference here though is a choice between inflicting the blindness condition or the stun condition.
Level 11 with the Compendiums Shadow monk path grants you invisibility at the cost of an action. with the Homebrew version you are manipulating shadows instead and there is no invisibility. instead of that you can turn shadow into DIfficult terrain and bend it to your will to cause damage. which costs you 2 Ki Points. or you can choose to protect your friends with your ability to manipulate shadows for a single critical hit and at a cost of 3 Ki Points - after which that first critical strike hits the shadow armour breaks off from all others protected.
At level 17 in the compendiums way of shadows you can exploit a creature’s momentary distraction when it is hit by an attack. Whenever a creature within 5 feet of you is hit by an attack made by a creature other than you, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against that creature. Hey why not free shot at target - considering your already doing untold amounts of damage anyway lets give you some more. In my version however At 17th level, you’ve mastered the essence of shadow to become it’s master. As an action you can spend 2 ki points to summon a shadow warrior to assist you in combat. This shadow warrior shares your ability scores, proficiency bonus, base movement speed, and has hit points equal to 3 monk hit die
So in conclusion.
First of all - No there is not too many abilities. in fact one of the abilities here is actually a development at a higher level of an ability you already have. and secondly, there are actually less abilities considering you don't have several spells that the compendium has, instead you only have what naturally you would have adjusted yourself to when training in the shadows for so long.
and the movements of this monk subclass are more natural and thus more stealth based and Ninja Like as you don't have The supernatural Teleporting and turning invisible as an action.
you have an ability that literally controls shadows. how is that less bull than teleporting between shadows? Your change is also saying you can hide even if something can see you. How is that pulled off without invoking some weird magicy BS?
Also 3 flurry strikes is more than the other subclasses so I don't get what your saying. Also making it have an option to not need Ki is very broken.
As the other poster said Stunned > Blindness so I'm not sure that ability will get used much since your sacrificing a stunned for it. Maybe make it like Open palm and when you strike with just a flurry you impose disadvantage on the target because it feels like the shadow is moving with you?
Monks already have an ability that turns themselves invisible btw.
Your level 6 Penumbral Strikes is still incredibly OP. Drunken Master is the only subclass that gives the option of more than 2 unarmed attacks via Flurry of Blows, with built in restrictions on usage, and that is at level 17. You're giving this subclass more Flurry attacks than the other subclasses, and the ability to do it for free, at level 6. That doesn't pass the sniff test.
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You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
This is a Homebrewed monk subclass that is available for all to use.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/subclasses/162625-the-path-of-the-souls-shadow
With the help of AtlaStar and Wolfbat we created a New Monk subclass that has the Ability to use shadows that is much truer to a "ninja Like" monk, no teleporting about in shadows, but actually having the ability to use the shadows to his or her advantage, creating and manipulating them to their will, and creating something with substance from the shadows
The Link above is the final version of the monk sub class and is shared with the community I hope you enjoy the Build, you may have seen it in the Homebrew section. while we were working on it.
I've already posted my response to this on the subclass page but here's the short version.
CUT DOWN ON ABILITIES! YOU HAVE WAY TOO MANY! WHAT DOES THIS CLASS WANT TO BE?!
It doesn't really feel 'ninja like'. I don't see going this over shadow thats already balanced in the game.
@kingofMist, @Gavorn
First of all, No i don't have too many abilities, and yes I will show that this is more ninja like than the shadow monk traditionally found in the compendium.
considering the fact that at third level with this build you merely have a communication method, dark vision and darkness.
Comparitively the compendiums version of events - Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you can use your ki to duplicate the effects of certain spells. As an action, you can spend 2 ki points to cast darkness, darkvision, pass without trace, or silence, without providing material components. Additionally, you gain the minor illusion cantrip if you don’t already know it.
You find that at 3rd level you have a lot less in terms of ability here as at third level with the Path of the souls Shadow rather than +10 to everyones stealth rolls the player only has a Bonus action Hide through the use of a Ki Point. till level 6
At level 6 the Books version offers you the ability to "Teleport" with shadow step which if i am honest in my opinion is a load of bull.
In this new homebrewed version. "you can use a bonus action to hide. When you attempt to hide in an area obscured by dim light or darkness, you may do so even if a creature is able to see you. While hidden, leaving an area obscured in this way doesn't reveal your position until the end of your turn." this stops the problematic issue of being able to shadow hop as a tabaxi monk and moving nearly 180 feet accross the board. you are limited still by your natural movement speeds. Thus bringing far better balance to the monk subclass. created here.
then at 6th level with my build you acquire the following
At 6th level, your dedication to the nature of shadow has allowed you to give them physical form. When you make a melee attack on your turn, your flurry of blows grants you 3 attacks, instead of two, as the coalesced shadows strike at your target in tandem with your attacks. If this attack is made while in darkness, it doesn't require you to spend ki points. In addition, when you use the stunning strike ability, you may choose to instead inflict the blindness condition until the end of your next turn as the nearby shadows infuse with your ki, forcing its way into the targets eyes.
This is exactly the same number of hits that any other monk can actually make, it is merely Fluff you could say as to how it happens and what happens when you use it. the only difference here though is a choice between inflicting the blindness condition or the stun condition.
Level 11 with the Compendiums Shadow monk path grants you invisibility at the cost of an action.
with the Homebrew version you are manipulating shadows instead and there is no invisibility. instead of that you can turn shadow into DIfficult terrain and bend it to your will to cause damage. which costs you 2 Ki Points. or you can choose to protect your friends with your ability to manipulate shadows for a single critical hit and at a cost of 3 Ki Points - after which that first critical strike hits the shadow armour breaks off from all others protected.
At level 17 in the compendiums way of shadows you can exploit a creature’s momentary distraction when it is hit by an attack. Whenever a creature within 5 feet of you is hit by an attack made by a creature other than you, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack against that creature. Hey why not free shot at target - considering your already doing untold amounts of damage anyway lets give you some more.
In my version however At 17th level, you’ve mastered the essence of shadow to become it’s master. As an action you can spend 2 ki points to summon a shadow warrior to assist you in combat. This shadow warrior shares your ability scores, proficiency bonus, base movement speed, and has hit points equal to 3 monk hit die
So in conclusion.
First of all - No there is not too many abilities. in fact one of the abilities here is actually a development at a higher level of an ability you already have. and secondly, there are actually less abilities considering you don't have several spells that the compendium has, instead you only have what naturally you would have adjusted yourself to when training in the shadows for so long.
and the movements of this monk subclass are more natural and thus more stealth based and Ninja Like as you don't have The supernatural Teleporting and turning invisible as an action.
you don't need to get hostile man.
you have an ability that literally controls shadows. how is that less bull than teleporting between shadows? Your change is also saying you can hide even if something can see you. How is that pulled off without invoking some weird magicy BS?
Also 3 flurry strikes is more than the other subclasses so I don't get what your saying. Also making it have an option to not need Ki is very broken.
As the other poster said Stunned > Blindness so I'm not sure that ability will get used much since your sacrificing a stunned for it. Maybe make it like Open palm and when you strike with just a flurry you impose disadvantage on the target because it feels like the shadow is moving with you?
Monks already have an ability that turns themselves invisible btw.
THis has been updated to V1.4
https://www.dndbeyond.com/subclasses/181624-the-path-of-the-souls-shadow
which changes Level 11 abilities - so it is now a choice you have to make.
Your level 6 Penumbral Strikes is still incredibly OP. Drunken Master is the only subclass that gives the option of more than 2 unarmed attacks via Flurry of Blows, with built in restrictions on usage, and that is at level 17. You're giving this subclass more Flurry attacks than the other subclasses, and the ability to do it for free, at level 6. That doesn't pass the sniff test.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
will look at that soon enough and re-word it