Just theory crafting some ideas and was playing around with a Sun Soul Monk/Dragon Blood Sorcerer. Looking at the mechanics it made me wonder if you can use Metamagics on the spells cast using ki points.
As an example could you use Careful Spell when using ki points to cast Burning Hands? Or can you use Distant Spell to increase the range of Radiant Sun Bolt (since it's specifically listed as a ranged spell attack)?
I would rule that you could use it on Burning Hands, yes. As the Metamagic feature does not specify that spells must be Sorcerer spells, or that they must be cast using spellcasting / the spellcasting feature.
However, it does say 'when you cast it'. Burning Hands says you cast it for the Sun Soul Monk, but Radiant Sun Bolt says you make a spell attack, but you are using specifically an attack, and it's classed as a 'special attack option'. I think strictly by the rules as written, you couldn't use metamagic on Radiant Sun Bolt.
It appears to work for burning hands, but metamagic does require that you actually cast a spell so sun bolt is out. It is a spell attack roll, instead of a weapon attack roll, but it is not actually a spell.
Wait where does it say that sun bolt is not an actual spell? It's a special attack that requires a spell attack roll, to my mind specifically requiring a spell attack roll makes it a spell by default (albeit one specific to the Sun Soul monk) unless is something specifically stating the opposite that I don't know about? (which is entirely possible)
It gives you a special attack option you can use when you take the Attack action. As opposed to Burning Hands where it says you cast it. Because metamagic says you need to cast the spell, and you are not casting the special attack, by a strict reading of the rules it would not have metamagic apply to it.
Just theory crafting some ideas and was playing around with a Sun Soul Monk/Dragon Blood Sorcerer. Looking at the mechanics it made me wonder if you can use Metamagics on the spells cast using ki points.
As an example could you use Careful Spell when using ki points to cast Burning Hands? Or can you use Distant Spell to increase the range of Radiant Sun Bolt (since it's specifically listed as a ranged spell attack)?
I would rule that you could use it on Burning Hands, yes. As the Metamagic feature does not specify that spells must be Sorcerer spells, or that they must be cast using spellcasting / the spellcasting feature.
However, it does say 'when you cast it'. Burning Hands says you cast it for the Sun Soul Monk, but Radiant Sun Bolt says you make a spell attack, but you are using specifically an attack, and it's classed as a 'special attack option'. I think strictly by the rules as written, you couldn't use metamagic on Radiant Sun Bolt.
However, an individual DM's mileage may vary. :)
It appears to work for burning hands, but metamagic does require that you actually cast a spell so sun bolt is out. It is a spell attack roll, instead of a weapon attack roll, but it is not actually a spell.
Wait where does it say that sun bolt is not an actual spell? It's a special attack that requires a spell attack roll, to my mind specifically requiring a spell attack roll makes it a spell by default (albeit one specific to the Sun Soul monk) unless is something specifically stating the opposite that I don't know about? (which is entirely possible)
It gives you a special attack option you can use when you take the Attack action. As opposed to Burning Hands where it says you cast it. Because metamagic says you need to cast the spell, and you are not casting the special attack, by a strict reading of the rules it would not have metamagic apply to it.