Monk to level 5/6 -> Bard to Level 3 or 6 depending on whether or not you want the second College ability -> Monk the rest of the way) and make him a professional wrestler.
For Monk, you almost HAVE to go Way of the Open Hand: 1) Open Hand Technique: Imagine one of the good guy wrestlers (Hogan, Stone Cold, The Rock) running down to the ring to save someone. With a single punch they are able to knock an opponent down (Dex saving throw or be knocked prone) or quickly throw them out of the ring (Str saving throw or be pushed up to 15 feet). 2) Wholeness of body completes the entire story of the miraculous kick out before the 3 count, Hogan "Hulking Out" after taking countless blows, or Undertaker doing his sit up as if rising from the dead. The dramatic resurgence of health when you thought they were done is almost a staple to the professional wrestling genre. 3) Quivering Palm is CLEARLY your finishing move, if you only go 3 levels of Bard (Otherwise, or until level 20, Stunning Strike holds that).
Bard, you could take either College to sell the professional wrestler-style play.
Lore Bard - I imagine Cutting Words 1 of 2 ways: 1) When Hogan would "Hulk Out" causing the enemy's blows to glance off him as he stood there taking it (reducing the enemy's attack or damage rolls). 2) Whenever someone outside of the ring would distract another wrestler, giving his opponent just enough time to get out of the way of an attack.
Valor Bard - Combat Inspiration: Much like the second part of the Lore Bard, I imagine this as a tag team, one wrestler helps their partner by either distracting (AC bonus) or helping them set up a move/distract the ref while their partner did a low blow (damage bonus).
Spellcasting: Cantrips - Clearly Vicious Mockery is an absolute must-have. True Strike (Prestidigitation if higher than 3rd level bard) 1st: Heroism, Bane, Cure Wounds 2nd: Blindness/Deafness, Enhance Ability, Hold Person
If 6th level: Lore - Crusader's Mantle, Aura of Vitality/Fly/Vampiric Touch (depending on group makeup), and any Bard spell depending on group makeup) Valor - Any 3 Bard spells based on group makeup
Race: 1) Obviously Human works for anything and a Half-Elf can do almost as well as humans in anything they want. 2) Goliath would be good for an all around bruiser who can grapple with the best of them. Half-Orcs would be good because of their Relentless Endurance and Menacing traits (remember you CAN use Dex in place of Str, but you don't HAVE to). Of course, you'll have to have Str, Dex, Wis, and Cha to make this combo work, which is next to impossible with point buy/stat array) 3) But there's something about a high-flying Lightfoot-Halfling luchador-style wrestler that makes me so unbelievably giddy that I have to personally recommend Halfling.
Background: Entertainer (to make up for the lack of Performance in the Monk skill set).
Stats (Using Array w/ Halfling racial traits): 1) If you want to grapple: 13 Str, 15 Dex (17 w/ racial), 10 Con, 8 Int, 14 Wis, 12 Cha (13 w/ racial) - Grappler feat at 4th level; Athlete (+1 Dex) and/or Tavern Brawler at 4 Bard and/or 8 Monk) 2) If you want to just attack: 10 Str, 15 Dex (17 w/racial), 12 Con, 8 Int, 14 Wis, 13 Cha (14 w/racial) - Either +2 Dex or Athlete feat (+1 Dex) at 4th level
“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
Genius. I love it. Especially going Lore Bard for Cutting Words. Classic trash talk.
What about a level in Barbarian for Rage? Thematically appropriate and advantage on Strength checks - stacks very well with the Grappler feat.
I don't usually like the idea of dipping one level into a class, especially since it just prolongs the levels until you get more useful abilities/upgrades.
Now, that being said, I could see Barbarian for maybe 2 levels (or 4 if you want to go for the feat /ability score improvement). While you're really hampering your unarmed damage, the raging and the Danger Sense + Evasion combo might more than make up for that.
“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
I have no where enough experience in 5e to have a great opinion but since I was a big WWE fan in the 80's I had to check this out. Wouldn't a Fighter Battlemaster be just as good? Or I guess it could be another wrestler (personality) type...if you look at some of the feats and especially maneuvers, it would be a good choice for a Professional Wrestler. I feel most of the maneuvers scream Wrestler. Your idea makes for a good showman which is big in WWE.
This is an awesome breakdown of how to create a professional wrestler-themed Monk/Bard multiclass! The synergy between Open Hand Monk and either Lore or Valor Bard works perfectly for the storytelling elements of wrestling, from dramatic comebacks to taunts and distractions. The race recommendations, spell choices, and skill selections really round out the character concept. The Lightfoot Halfling luchador idea is especially fun—it brings to mind the high-flying, charismatic style of Rey Mysterio. Great job on crafting such a flavorful and mechanically sound build!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Monk to level 5/6 -> Bard to Level 3 or 6 depending on whether or not you want the second College ability -> Monk the rest of the way) and make him a professional wrestler.
For Monk, you almost HAVE to go Way of the Open Hand:
1) Open Hand Technique: Imagine one of the good guy wrestlers (Hogan, Stone Cold, The Rock) running down to the ring to save someone. With a single punch they are able to knock an opponent down (Dex saving throw or be knocked prone) or quickly throw them out of the ring (Str saving throw or be pushed up to 15 feet).
2) Wholeness of body completes the entire story of the miraculous kick out before the 3 count, Hogan "Hulking Out" after taking countless blows, or Undertaker doing his sit up as if rising from the dead. The dramatic resurgence of health when you thought they were done is almost a staple to the professional wrestling genre.
3) Quivering Palm is CLEARLY your finishing move, if you only go 3 levels of Bard (Otherwise, or until level 20, Stunning Strike holds that).
Bard, you could take either College to sell the professional wrestler-style play.
Lore Bard - I imagine Cutting Words 1 of 2 ways:
1) When Hogan would "Hulk Out" causing the enemy's blows to glance off him as he stood there taking it (reducing the enemy's attack or damage rolls).
2) Whenever someone outside of the ring would distract another wrestler, giving his opponent just enough time to get out of the way of an attack.
Valor Bard - Combat Inspiration: Much like the second part of the Lore Bard, I imagine this as a tag team, one wrestler helps their partner by either distracting (AC bonus) or helping them set up a move/distract the ref while their partner did a low blow (damage bonus).
Spellcasting:
Cantrips - Clearly Vicious Mockery is an absolute must-have. True Strike (Prestidigitation if higher than 3rd level bard)
1st: Heroism, Bane, Cure Wounds
2nd: Blindness/Deafness, Enhance Ability, Hold Person
If 6th level:
Lore - Crusader's Mantle, Aura of Vitality/Fly/Vampiric Touch (depending on group makeup), and any Bard spell depending on group makeup)
Valor - Any 3 Bard spells based on group makeup
Race:
1) Obviously Human works for anything and a Half-Elf can do almost as well as humans in anything they want.
2) Goliath would be good for an all around bruiser who can grapple with the best of them. Half-Orcs would be good because of their Relentless Endurance and Menacing traits (remember you CAN use Dex in place of Str, but you don't HAVE to). Of course, you'll have to have Str, Dex, Wis, and Cha to make this combo work, which is next to impossible with point buy/stat array)
3) But there's something about a high-flying Lightfoot-Halfling luchador-style wrestler that makes me so unbelievably giddy that I have to personally recommend Halfling.
Background:
Entertainer (to make up for the lack of Performance in the Monk skill set).
Stats (Using Array w/ Halfling racial traits):
1) If you want to grapple: 13 Str, 15 Dex (17 w/ racial), 10 Con, 8 Int, 14 Wis, 12 Cha (13 w/ racial) - Grappler feat at 4th level; Athlete (+1 Dex) and/or Tavern Brawler at 4 Bard and/or 8 Monk)
2) If you want to just attack: 10 Str, 15 Dex (17 w/racial), 12 Con, 8 Int, 14 Wis, 13 Cha (14 w/racial) - Either +2 Dex or Athlete feat (+1 Dex) at 4th level
Skills:
Monk: Athletics, Insight
Background: Acrobatics, Performance
Bard: Perception
Click Here to Download my Lancer Class w/ Dragoon and Legionnaire Archetypes via DM's Guild - Pay What You Want
Click Here to Download the Mind Flayer: Thoon Hulk converted from 4e via DM's Guild
“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
Monk+Bard+Entertainer background=Pro Wrestler?
Genius. I love it. Especially going Lore Bard for Cutting Words. Classic trash talk.
What about a level in Barbarian for Rage? Thematically appropriate and advantage on Strength checks - stacks very well with the Grappler feat.
Site Rules & Guidelines - Please feel free to message a moderator if you have any concerns.
My homebrew: [Subclasses] [Races] [Feats] [Discussion Thread]
Click Here to Download my Lancer Class w/ Dragoon and Legionnaire Archetypes via DM's Guild - Pay What You Want
Click Here to Download the Mind Flayer: Thoon Hulk converted from 4e via DM's Guild
“It is a better world. A place where we are responsible for our actions, where we can be kind to one another because we want to and because it is the right thing to do instead of being frightened into behaving by the threat of divine punishment.” ― Oramis, Eldest by Christopher Paolini.
I have no where enough experience in 5e to have a great opinion but since I was a big WWE fan in the 80's I had to check this out. Wouldn't a Fighter Battlemaster be just as good? Or I guess it could be another wrestler (personality) type...if you look at some of the feats and especially maneuvers, it would be a good choice for a Professional Wrestler. I feel most of the maneuvers scream Wrestler. Your idea makes for a good showman which is big in WWE.