Hey guys, I'm relatively new to playing monks and am going to play a one shot in the near future where I just want to have as much silly fun as possible. Backstory revolves around a reclusive Tabaxi Monk that has dreams of becoming a luchador one day, much to the disapproval of his peers. This is the main catalyst why he sets out on his adventures in order to gain fame and recognition.
My idea was to make a Tabaxi monk to stack the move bonuses and essentially cause damage by throwing enemies into the air (or dropping them from high places). Right now my idea was to use Way of the Astral Self to swap STR checks with WIS checks and potentially use my extra pair of arms to either grab multiple enemies or just grab enemies from out of range.
I'm just not entirely sure if this build would work and what other characteristics to focus on. If Way of the Astral Self doesn't work out for this I am completely open to suggestions.
This is a new sub-class for me so not too sure about rules, but... looking at what is written, it doesn't specify or state that you can "grapple" a enemy with the extra pair of arms. Grapple Rules do state that you need "a free hand" in order to grapple so I guess that would count. Should be able to but I'd double check with the DM first just to make sure.
I'd personally go with a strength build over wisdom however. Astral Arms can use either Strength or Wisdom; but your physical arms can only use Strength. Meaning that it would probably be more beneficial to plan to include your physical arms in this.
--> Attempt to Grapple (<requires at least one free hand (...you would "technically" have 4)) --> Strength Athletics Check (Str or Wis modifier instead with the Astral Arms) --> Success --> Target is Grappled --> Move at Half Speed with Target (unless 1 size smaller than you)--> Use Tabaxi Double Speed Movement Feature to overcome Half-speed penalty --> Get to Destination --> Toss (<probably another strength check / Wisdom Check) / Release (<requires no action to do so)Target.
If you want to be able to grapple 4 people at once, I'd say look into going for a Strength Build rather than Wisdom as the Astral Arms allow you to choose from either Strength or Wisdom and your normal physical punches can benefit from the Strength score as well.
Feats to Include:
Definitely go for the Grappler (for advantage on attacks on grappled targets)
Mobile Feat for obvious reasons.
And certainly Athlete as you get to climb at normal speed and jump (potentially with grappled target) <DM might require another athletics check maybe. Also you can add +1 to Str.
Not sure what level you are going with on your one-shot but at level 20, you can have 20 in Str. and a even spread for the rest of the stats including 16 in Dex.
I'd also say go with the "Gladiator Background" for Performance and optional "intimidation" skills. You also get disguise kit for painting up your face for the true Luchador Experience.
Overall (and after looking into it way too much lol) I'd say a strength build would be your best bet for something like this (even with Tabaxi monk) with alternate Races being any that would have the "Powerful Build" racial feature <as that helps with your carrying enemies and stuff when you grapple them.
This subclass is new to me also so forgive me if I misspeak. RAW it looks like that as long as the spectral arms are present, You can use your Wisdom modifier in place of your Strength modifier when making Strength checks and Strength saving throws. Doesn’t matter which set of arms you use for the grapple check (which feels slightly odd) so a Wisdom build could work but I agree with Seiys that a STR build is probably the way to go for what you want to do. Seiys made great points; and also Wisdom doesn’t increase your carrying capacity. Normally you can only move at 1/2 speed when grappling anyways. But grappling say 4 different opponents with all your arms you might exceed your Push, Drag, or Lift capacity (or 30 times your Strength score). If you are trying to move more than that amount of weight I don’t know what happens but I assume you just can’t move it. If your strength is say 10 that’s only 300 lbs of opponent you could move while grappling.
Check out my Disabled & Dragons Youtube Channel for 5e Monster and Player Tactics. Helping the Disabled Community and Players and DM’s (both new and experienced) get into D&D. Plus there is a talking Dragon named Quill.
I had completely forgotten to take carrying capacity into account, I'll have to think that one over indeed. Aside from that, the one shot will start at lvl 3 so unfortunately the best abilities will still be out of reach for a little while. (not sure how generous the DM will be with XP yet)
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Hey guys, I'm relatively new to playing monks and am going to play a one shot in the near future where I just want to have as much silly fun as possible.
Backstory revolves around a reclusive Tabaxi Monk that has dreams of becoming a luchador one day, much to the disapproval of his peers. This is the main catalyst why he sets out on his adventures in order to gain fame and recognition.
My idea was to make a Tabaxi monk to stack the move bonuses and essentially cause damage by throwing enemies into the air (or dropping them from high places).
Right now my idea was to use Way of the Astral Self to swap STR checks with WIS checks and potentially use my extra pair of arms to either grab multiple enemies or just grab enemies from out of range.
I'm just not entirely sure if this build would work and what other characteristics to focus on.
If Way of the Astral Self doesn't work out for this I am completely open to suggestions.
This is a new sub-class for me so not too sure about rules, but... looking at what is written, it doesn't specify or state that you can "grapple" a enemy with the extra pair of arms. Grapple Rules do state that you need "a free hand" in order to grapple so I guess that would count. Should be able to but I'd double check with the DM first just to make sure.
I'd personally go with a strength build over wisdom however. Astral Arms can use either Strength or Wisdom; but your physical arms can only use Strength. Meaning that it would probably be more beneficial to plan to include your physical arms in this.
--> Attempt to Grapple (<requires at least one free hand (...you would "technically" have 4)) --> Strength Athletics Check (Str or Wis modifier instead with the Astral Arms) --> Success --> Target is Grappled --> Move at Half Speed with Target (unless 1 size smaller than you)--> Use Tabaxi Double Speed Movement Feature to overcome Half-speed penalty --> Get to Destination --> Toss (<probably another strength check / Wisdom Check) / Release (<requires no action to do so)Target.
If you want to be able to grapple 4 people at once, I'd say look into going for a Strength Build rather than Wisdom as the Astral Arms allow you to choose from either Strength or Wisdom and your normal physical punches can benefit from the Strength score as well.
Feats to Include:
Definitely go for the Grappler (for advantage on attacks on grappled targets)
Mobile Feat for obvious reasons.
And certainly Athlete as you get to climb at normal speed and jump (potentially with grappled target) <DM might require another athletics check maybe. Also you can add +1 to Str.
Not sure what level you are going with on your one-shot but at level 20, you can have 20 in Str. and a even spread for the rest of the stats including 16 in Dex.
I'd also say go with the "Gladiator Background" for Performance and optional "intimidation" skills. You also get disguise kit for painting up your face for the true Luchador Experience.
Overall (and after looking into it way too much lol) I'd say a strength build would be your best bet for something like this (even with Tabaxi monk) with alternate Races being any that would have the "Powerful Build" racial feature <as that helps with your carrying enemies and stuff when you grapple them.
Hope this helps and have fun with it.
This subclass is new to me also so forgive me if I misspeak. RAW it looks like that as long as the spectral arms are present, You can use your Wisdom modifier in place of your Strength modifier when making Strength checks and Strength saving throws. Doesn’t matter which set of arms you use for the grapple check (which feels slightly odd) so a Wisdom build could work but I agree with Seiys that a STR build is probably the way to go for what you want to do. Seiys made great points; and also Wisdom doesn’t increase your carrying capacity. Normally you can only move at 1/2 speed when grappling anyways. But grappling say 4 different opponents with all your arms you might exceed your Push, Drag, or Lift capacity (or 30 times your Strength score). If you are trying to move more than that amount of weight I don’t know what happens but I assume you just can’t move it. If your strength is say 10 that’s only 300 lbs of opponent you could move while grappling.
Check out my Disabled & Dragons Youtube Channel for 5e Monster and Player Tactics. Helping the Disabled Community and Players and DM’s (both new and experienced) get into D&D. Plus there is a talking Dragon named Quill.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPmyTI0tZ6nM-bzY0IG3ww
I had completely forgotten to take carrying capacity into account, I'll have to think that one over indeed.
Aside from that, the one shot will start at lvl 3 so unfortunately the best abilities will still be out of reach for a little while. (not sure how generous the DM will be with XP yet)