The Way of the Astral Self option for monk has been one of my favorite UA's to come out recently, and I've been theory crafting around it for a potential future NPC or whole monastery. What I'm curious, as both a player and a DM, what are some interesting, flavourful, and really cool to RP race ideas for this monk subclass?
For me a slightly different take would be playing a Duergar as they are supposed to be psionic to one to degree or another. I could imagine that there could be a monastery somewhere that practice that and it would likely have a brutal training regime... Monastery of the Awakened Fist maybe
(Yes I know stat wise it's not an optimal or even good choice but fluff wise it's perfect)
The interesting thing about Astral Self is it allows you to prioritize WIS, even over DEX. So any race with a WIS boost can become a viable monk... it actually would pair well with Firbolg, since that's one of few races that gets a +2 to WIS.
Although it might also pair well with Aarakocra. They get bonuses to both WIS and DEX, and can't really wear armor anyway, so it pairs well with Unarmored Defense. Plus with their flight and the increased range offered by the astral arms, an Aarakocra can basically hover out of range raining down astral attacks. Plus it's a race that doesn't get darkvision, so they can benefit from the additional sight options offered by the astral Visage.
The interesting thing about Astral Self is it allows you to prioritize WIS, even over DEX. So any race with a WIS boost can become a viable monk... it actually would pair well with Firbolg, since that's one of few races that gets a +2 to WIS.
Although it might also pair well with Aarakocra. They get bonuses to both WIS and DEX, and can't really wear armor anyway, so it pairs well with Unarmored Defense. Plus with their flight and the increased range offered by the astral arms, an Aarakocra can basically hover out of range raining down astral attacks. Plus it's a race that doesn't get darkvision, so they can benefit from the additional sight options offered by the astral Visage.
A Hill Dwarf makes for a great match to this subclass, with their Constitution & Wisdom bonuses.
And since dwarves are very tradition-minded...perhaps their "astral" implements manifest as dwarven fists & armor...and when they reach the subclass capstone, their astral implements becomes a full-set of dwarven heavy-armor...albeit one that is ghostly & weightless.
For a similar concept, you can have a kobold monk (they tend to be the best pairing with the kobold race), and maybe their Astral Arms manifest as long dragon claws...representing the kobolds yearning to be more like their dragon ancestors.
The "Astral Self" ability to see in magical darkness is VERY useful for a kobold as well...especially if a member of the party can cast the "Darkness" spell.
This mitigates the kobolds "Sunlight Sensitivity" in situations they'd often find themselves in daylight...and grants advantage when they aren't using "Pack Tactics".
This applies to goblins, as well...their "Astral Arms" being more like, say, a bugbears arms with reach capability...sneaky goblins.
While we're at it...grungs!
Grungs can't speak the Common language...but with the "Astral Visage", suddenly the grung can communicate with the party!
It'd be super interesting to hear what the strange, grung hermit has to say after all that time adventuring.
I do really like the flavoring options you get with the astral self. In my current campaign one of the players is a black-tiger Tabaxi, and her astral arms take the form of giant tiger claws...
I think that, for a lot of players, it makes sense for the arms to be aspirational, as Tony mentions. Not just a bigger version of their own arms, but the arms of what they wish they could be. It's a bit of a tangent, but it kind of reminds me of Captain Marvel or, uh... Shazam, as I guess he's just called now. I don't remember when, but at one point they established that Billy's "Captain Marvel" form is actually what he believes his father would have looked like if he had been there for him.
Also, I am only just now realizing that Grungs, by default, do not speak Common. Is there anything stated that they're incapable of speaking common, or are they just the only race that doesn't start with it without gaining common through a background, class, or feat?
Mine is a Kalashtar with the astral self being reflavored as the quori spirit manifesting itself. I think it's a great way to play up the dual nature of the race and the other racial abilities also line up very well with the flavor of the subclass.
The young halfling stands, arms crossed in front of their chest, a smirk on their face while spectral arms pummel the foes around them.
YES.
That was the sort of fighting style that first crossed my mind when they were describing the Astral Arms...your monk could be completely motionless while their "arms" did the fighting.
It would be the mark of a true adversary if they actually drove the warrior monk into ACTUALLY fighting with their own body, I feel.
wow, these are some really interesting choices, i was planning on just using a human, with the astral self being represented as a masked demon, because not only does the base human traits offer an easy foundation to work off of, with playing around the astral self in mind, it's just a nice overall choice certainly brings up the possibility of a lizardman monk clad in a spectral draconic visage
Mine is a Kalashtar with the astral self being reflavored as the quori spirit manifesting itself. I think it's a great way to play up the dual nature of the race and the other racial abilities also line up very well with the flavor of the subclass.
YEEEEESSSSSS!!! I feel like the Way of the Astral Self for the Monk and the Path of the Wild Soul for the Barbarian were both made specifically with kalashtar in mind (the Wild Soul is the Wilder that the Races of Eberron book talks about)!! The same goes for the recently released subclasses for Fighter (Psychic Warrior), Rogue (Soulknife), and Wizard (Psion). Those subclasses are all names of classes and types of fighter kalashtar usually take in their communities. These are really exciting updates!! I hope they make it into the official game!
An assamir (I know I can’t spell) could have the deva be their astral self
I had the same thought. I went with a protector Aasimar, because I thought the spiritual wings manifesting themselves worked really well as just another extension of the deva manifesting itself. Especially since Monk astral features are a bonus action and Wings are an action, so at 11th level, you can just invoke your entire Deva in one turn. It even works with other features, like the deva warning the monk of incoming attacks, giving them Evasion, or the Wings/Astral legs being how the monk can run across water and vertical surfaces. Ki is holy energy instead of spiritual energy. Another good Aasimar monk build is Scourge Aasimar Sun Soul Monk, because it has a lot of thematic synergy. The monk is a monk because they're trying to restrain their burning energy, and with sun soul, they learn to let it out in ways that don't harm them. It's also great that subclass and subrace features for these builds come online at the same time, so your new abilities fit right in. This is why customizing ASIs is great, because you can get a +2 to DEX instead of CHA, and make builds like this where they originally had a worthless +2, but great synergy otherwise.
I am firmly of tbe belief that no race is more or less interesting than the other, it all comes down to player/DM creativity: which is why I'll say the human is a perfectly valid choice.
Way of the Astral Self is a tradition that proposes that the physical body is not the true form of a monk, that the spirit is both malleable and the true expression of the individual. Using that philosophy, you can have a human monk who has trained not their body, but their spirit to transcend mortal limitations. When they look at themselves and others they do not see the vessel of meat, blood and matter, they look at their soul.
Free from the trappings of prejudices and material desire, this is a monk that truly walks the path of Enlightenment.
I actually play a halfling Astral Self, and yes, sitting my tiny butt down while my massive arms beat the living daylights out of my enemies is quite satisfying :)
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Life is very busy unfortunately, gone from most Pbp's indefinitely. If you'd like to contact me, I am on Discord at GreatAxeblade#7595, always happy to chat :)
Loxodon of course.... As a loxodon you get natural armor based on con... So you get to focus entirely on wisdom and con. Imagine this serene elephant man quietly meditating while 2 floating arms beat his enemies to death.
Loxodon of course.... As a loxodon you get natural armor based on con... So you get to focus entirely on wisdom and con. Imagine this serene elephant man quietly meditating while 2 floating arms beat him his enemies to death.
Well, your playing a monk, so you also need to focus on DEX, right?
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Life is very busy unfortunately, gone from most Pbp's indefinitely. If you'd like to contact me, I am on Discord at GreatAxeblade#7595, always happy to chat :)
Loxodon of course.... As a loxodon you get natural armor based on con... So you get to focus entirely on wisdom and con. Imagine this serene elephant man quietly meditating while 2 floating arms beat him his enemies to death.
Well, your playing a monk, so you also need to focus on DEX, right?
I don't see why you would? It'll mostly be your deflect missile ability that suffers... But aside from that you should be fine.
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Hey everyone!
The Way of the Astral Self option for monk has been one of my favorite UA's to come out recently, and I've been theory crafting around it for a potential future NPC or whole monastery. What I'm curious, as both a player and a DM, what are some interesting, flavourful, and really cool to RP race ideas for this monk subclass?
For me a slightly different take would be playing a Duergar as they are supposed to be psionic to one to degree or another. I could imagine that there could be a monastery somewhere that practice that and it would likely have a brutal training regime... Monastery of the Awakened Fist maybe
(Yes I know stat wise it's not an optimal or even good choice but fluff wise it's perfect)
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The interesting thing about Astral Self is it allows you to prioritize WIS, even over DEX. So any race with a WIS boost can become a viable monk... it actually would pair well with Firbolg, since that's one of few races that gets a +2 to WIS.
Although it might also pair well with Aarakocra. They get bonuses to both WIS and DEX, and can't really wear armor anyway, so it pairs well with Unarmored Defense. Plus with their flight and the increased range offered by the astral arms, an Aarakocra can basically hover out of range raining down astral attacks. Plus it's a race that doesn't get darkvision, so they can benefit from the additional sight options offered by the astral Visage.
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Githzerai fit thematically and mechanically.
Bugbear could be cool as well.
Lizardfolk would also be awesome, as a shamanistic-astral lizard warrior.
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A Hill Dwarf makes for a great match to this subclass, with their Constitution & Wisdom bonuses.
And since dwarves are very tradition-minded...perhaps their "astral" implements manifest as dwarven fists & armor...and when they reach the subclass capstone, their astral implements becomes a full-set of dwarven heavy-armor...albeit one that is ghostly & weightless.
For a similar concept, you can have a kobold monk (they tend to be the best pairing with the kobold race), and maybe their Astral Arms manifest as long dragon claws...representing the kobolds yearning to be more like their dragon ancestors.
The "Astral Self" ability to see in magical darkness is VERY useful for a kobold as well...especially if a member of the party can cast the "Darkness" spell.
This mitigates the kobolds "Sunlight Sensitivity" in situations they'd often find themselves in daylight...and grants advantage when they aren't using "Pack Tactics".
This applies to goblins, as well...their "Astral Arms" being more like, say, a bugbears arms with reach capability...sneaky goblins.
While we're at it...grungs!
Grungs can't speak the Common language...but with the "Astral Visage", suddenly the grung can communicate with the party!
It'd be super interesting to hear what the strange, grung hermit has to say after all that time adventuring.
I do really like the flavoring options you get with the astral self. In my current campaign one of the players is a black-tiger Tabaxi, and her astral arms take the form of giant tiger claws...
I think that, for a lot of players, it makes sense for the arms to be aspirational, as Tony mentions. Not just a bigger version of their own arms, but the arms of what they wish they could be. It's a bit of a tangent, but it kind of reminds me of Captain Marvel or, uh... Shazam, as I guess he's just called now. I don't remember when, but at one point they established that Billy's "Captain Marvel" form is actually what he believes his father would have looked like if he had been there for him.
Also, I am only just now realizing that Grungs, by default, do not speak Common. Is there anything stated that they're incapable of speaking common, or are they just the only race that doesn't start with it without gaining common through a background, class, or feat?
Watch Crits for Breakfast, an adults-only RP-Heavy Roll20 Livestream at twitch.tv/afterdisbooty
And now you too can play with the amazing art and assets we use in Roll20 for our campaign at Hazel's Emporium
Mine is a Kalashtar with the astral self being reflavored as the quori spirit manifesting itself. I think it's a great way to play up the dual nature of the race and the other racial abilities also line up very well with the flavor of the subclass.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
An assamir (I know I can’t spell) could have the deva be their astral self
The young halfling stands, arms crossed in front of their chest, a smirk on their face while spectral arms pummel the foes around them.
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YES.
That was the sort of fighting style that first crossed my mind when they were describing the Astral Arms...your monk could be completely motionless while their "arms" did the fighting.
It would be the mark of a true adversary if they actually drove the warrior monk into ACTUALLY fighting with their own body, I feel.
wow, these are some really interesting choices, i was planning on just using a human, with the astral self being represented as a masked demon, because not only does the base human traits offer an easy foundation to work off of, with playing around the astral self in mind, it's just a nice overall choice
certainly brings up the possibility of a lizardman monk clad in a spectral draconic visage
YEEEEESSSSSS!!! I feel like the Way of the Astral Self for the Monk and the Path of the Wild Soul for the Barbarian were both made specifically with kalashtar in mind (the Wild Soul is the Wilder that the Races of Eberron book talks about)!! The same goes for the recently released subclasses for Fighter (Psychic Warrior), Rogue (Soulknife), and Wizard (Psion). Those subclasses are all names of classes and types of fighter kalashtar usually take in their communities. These are really exciting updates!! I hope they make it into the official game!
I had the same thought. I went with a protector Aasimar, because I thought the spiritual wings manifesting themselves worked really well as just another extension of the deva manifesting itself. Especially since Monk astral features are a bonus action and Wings are an action, so at 11th level, you can just invoke your entire Deva in one turn. It even works with other features, like the deva warning the monk of incoming attacks, giving them Evasion, or the Wings/Astral legs being how the monk can run across water and vertical surfaces. Ki is holy energy instead of spiritual energy. Another good Aasimar monk build is Scourge Aasimar Sun Soul Monk, because it has a lot of thematic synergy. The monk is a monk because they're trying to restrain their burning energy, and with sun soul, they learn to let it out in ways that don't harm them. It's also great that subclass and subrace features for these builds come online at the same time, so your new abilities fit right in. This is why customizing ASIs is great, because you can get a +2 to DEX instead of CHA, and make builds like this where they originally had a worthless +2, but great synergy otherwise.
I am firmly of tbe belief that no race is more or less interesting than the other, it all comes down to player/DM creativity: which is why I'll say the human is a perfectly valid choice.
Way of the Astral Self is a tradition that proposes that the physical body is not the true form of a monk, that the spirit is both malleable and the true expression of the individual. Using that philosophy, you can have a human monk who has trained not their body, but their spirit to transcend mortal limitations. When they look at themselves and others they do not see the vessel of meat, blood and matter, they look at their soul.
Free from the trappings of prejudices and material desire, this is a monk that truly walks the path of Enlightenment.
Not my idea but saw someone suggest Shifter. The Astral self being your animalistic side as a full lycanthrope or actual beast.
Plus if you take Wildhunt plus your Astral form in combat suddenly grappling has advantage
I actually play a halfling Astral Self, and yes, sitting my tiny butt down while my massive arms beat the living daylights out of my enemies is quite satisfying :)
Life is very busy unfortunately, gone from most Pbp's indefinitely.
If you'd like to contact me, I am on Discord at GreatAxeblade#7595, always happy to chat :)
Homebrew races: ~Otterfolk! Play as a otter!~ Playable Dryad! (Literally just the monster sheet ported to player race)
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Loxodon of course.... As a loxodon you get natural armor based on con... So you get to focus entirely on wisdom and con. Imagine this serene elephant man quietly meditating while 2 floating arms beat his enemies to death.
Well, your playing a monk, so you also need to focus on DEX, right?
Life is very busy unfortunately, gone from most Pbp's indefinitely.
If you'd like to contact me, I am on Discord at GreatAxeblade#7595, always happy to chat :)
Homebrew races: ~Otterfolk! Play as a otter!~ Playable Dryad! (Literally just the monster sheet ported to player race)
Sauce Archpriest!- Join the Supreme Court of Sauces! Join the Cult of Cults! EXTENDED SIGNATURE Tooltips
I don't see why you would? It'll mostly be your deflect missile ability that suffers... But aside from that you should be fine.