These days I was thinking of a monk with two shields as weapons and with the feats:
Tavern Brawler: Accustomed to rough-and-tumble fighting using whatever weapons happen to be at hand, you gain the following benefits: • Increase your Strength or Constitution score by 1, to a maximum of 20. • You are proficient with improvised weapons and unarmed strikes. • Your unarmed strike uses a d4 for damage. • When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike or an improvised weapon on your turn, you can use a bonus action to attempt to grapple the target.
Shield Master:You use shields not just for protection but also for offense. You gain the following benefits while you are wielding a shield: • If you take the Attack action on your turn, you can use a bonus action to try to shove a creature within 5 feet of you with your shield. • If you aren’t incapacitated, you can add your shield’s AC bonus to any Dexterity saving throw you make against a spell or other harmful effect that targets only you. • If you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you can use your reaction to take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, interposing your shield between yourself and the source of the effect.
Taking 1 or 2 barbarian levels to get the defensive bonus on CON and use shields.
hahahaha .... Now I don't know, but is the shield bonus cumulative? The idea started from this concept and also for an aesthetic choice.
You don't need a free hand because the shield and the fist would do the same damage and for the Flurry of Blows attack you don't have to have your hands free to attack, kick, head, elbows, knees, you can attack with these!
But you will also only ever be doing 1d4 damage, and can't use Unarmored Defense, but I expect that's why you talked about barbarian levels, though if you're doing that why would you need to be a monk?
hahahaha .... Now I don't know, but is the shield bonus cumulative? The idea started from this concept and also for an aesthetic choice.
You don't need a free hand because the shield and the fist would do the same damage and for the Flurry of Blows attack you don't have to have your hands free to attack, kick, head, elbows, knees, you can attack with these!
The bonus is not cumulative. Right in the description of Shields it says "You can benefit from only one shield at a time."
And that's fine and all, but there's other reasons that having a hand free can be useful. Interacting with objects, grappling. Tavern Brawler lets you grapple after attacking with an improvised weapon, but that uses up your bonus action which you might want to save.
And you say the shield does the same damage as the fist... But it only would until level 5. Technically less, because you have to use Strength, which is pretty useless for a monk. After that, your Martial Arts die increases form a 1d4 to a 1d6. Just because you become proficient with improvised weapons doesn't mean those improvised weapons suddenly become simple weapons, which is required for you to use your Martial Arts.
In fact, Martial Arts isn't even usable while you have a shield equipped. You'll be stuck at 1d4+Strength damage forever.
Does damage increase with monk levels or does it have to be a monk weapon to receive the bonus?
I can turn it into a monk's weapon with the Kansei's ability?
Damage with your Unarmed Strikes and Monk Weapons increases as you level up. It has to be an Unarmed Strike or Monk Weapon. Monk Weapons are Shortswords and any simple melee weapon you are proficient with.
Kensei Weapons states the following: Choose two types of weapons to be your kensei weapons: one melee weapon and one ranged weapon. Each of these weapons can be any simple or martial weapon that lacks the heavy and special properties. The longbow is also a valid choice. You gain proficiency with these weapons if you don’t already have it. Weapons of the chosen types are monk weapons for you.
Shields are "Shields." Simple as that. If you look at an item, you will see what its Item Type is. A Shield's item type is "Shield." A Shortsword is a "Martial Melee Weapon," a Dagger is a "Simple Melee Weapon." Shields are not simple weapons or martial weapons, and thus can't be chosen.
It has to be a monk weapon, and kensei weapons can only be martial weapons.
For a moment I thought I had found a new way to use the monk ... I imagined a monk with studded shields attacking the enemies .... too bad ... the Rules got the better ...
This is DnD, anything is possible, you're just gonna have to work with your DM. Use a couple of clubs and say that they're shields, problem solved. You unfortunately can't get the +2 AC (monks just aren't supposed to, it would be broken because they get plenty of AC through unarmored defense,) but the flavor can still be there.
Thanks for the advice ... but my goal is to find a way to bend the rules to make the monk a more interesting class. For example, I have another strange idea with the monk way of the shadow. Can you imagine a mega obese monk teleporting over the enemy ... you say he would receive damage bonuses if he uses gravity and his weight against the enemy? (it would be interesting to combine the skill with a magic carpet or a friendly flying animal, to take advantage of their shadow) ...
There really aren't any concrete rules for making that work, but again, talk to your DM. The core of DnD is creativity, of which you clearly have plenty.
Thanks for the advice ... but my goal is to find a way to bend the rules to make the monk a more interesting class. For example, I have another strange idea with the monk way of the shadow. Can you imagine a mega obese monk teleporting over the enemy ... you say he would receive damage bonuses if he uses gravity and his weight against the enemy? (it would be interesting to combine the skill with a magic carpet or a friendly flying animal, to take advantage of their shadow) ...
Why would you need to make the monk more "interesting"? They're already a top-tier class (Four Elements included) and they don't really need any "improvement". And your obese shadow monk already gets a bonus, it's the advantage he gets for his attack after teleporting. And any fall damage he causes on himself and the enemy he lands on.
True, the monk itself is already interesting, I do not doubt it ... And if I want to make it more interesting, it's my business ...
but to be honest, I find that all non-magical classes are a bit monotonous ... The actions are too mechanical and not very varied. You can always interpret an attack in different ways, but the attack will always remain a simple attack. For that I created a monk subclass with different fighting techniques, such as the battle master.
But I must also say that this subclass for me is a way of finding a solution to the monk's shortcomings and giving him an image of a true martial arts fighter. Where every attack have special thing like a spell. I'm not saying we should go back to 4e (that was too messed up) but a small choice of 3 - 4 moves can help and enhance the interaction of the player and his character in the role. This does not apply only to the monk but for all classes that have only one standard way of attack.
These days I was thinking of a monk with two shields as weapons and with the feats:
Tavern Brawler: Accustomed to rough-and-tumble fighting using whatever weapons happen to be at hand, you gain the following benefits:
• Increase your Strength or Constitution score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
• You are proficient with improvised weapons and unarmed strikes.
• Your unarmed strike uses a d4 for damage.• When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike or an improvised weapon on your turn, you can use a bonus action to attempt to grapple the target.
Shield Master: You use shields not just for protection but also for offense. You gain the following benefits while you are wielding a shield:
• If you take the Attack action on your turn, you can use a bonus action to try to shove a creature within 5 feet of you with your shield.
• If you aren’t incapacitated, you can add your shield’s AC bonus to any Dexterity saving throw you make against a spell or other harmful effect that targets only you.
• If you are subjected to an effect that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you can use your reaction to take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, interposing your shield between yourself and the source of the effect.Taking 1 or 2 barbarian levels to get the defensive bonus on CON and use shields.
What's the point of using two shields? One could accomplish the same, and still leave a hand free.
hahahaha .... Now I don't know, but is the shield bonus cumulative? The idea started from this concept and also for an aesthetic choice.
You don't need a free hand because the shield and the fist would do the same damage and for the Flurry of Blows attack you don't have to have your hands free to attack, kick, head, elbows, knees, you can attack with these!
But you will also only ever be doing 1d4 damage, and can't use Unarmored Defense, but I expect that's why you talked about barbarian levels, though if you're doing that why would you need to be a monk?
The bonus is not cumulative. Right in the description of Shields it says "You can benefit from only one shield at a time."
And that's fine and all, but there's other reasons that having a hand free can be useful. Interacting with objects, grappling. Tavern Brawler lets you grapple after attacking with an improvised weapon, but that uses up your bonus action which you might want to save.
And you say the shield does the same damage as the fist... But it only would until level 5. Technically less, because you have to use Strength, which is pretty useless for a monk. After that, your Martial Arts die increases form a 1d4 to a 1d6. Just because you become proficient with improvised weapons doesn't mean those improvised weapons suddenly become simple weapons, which is required for you to use your Martial Arts.
In fact, Martial Arts isn't even usable while you have a shield equipped. You'll be stuck at 1d4+Strength damage forever.
Does damage increase with monk levels or does it have to be a monk weapon to receive the bonus?
I can turn it into a monk's weapon with the Kansei's ability?
It has to be a monk weapon, and kensei weapons can only be martial weapons.
Damage with your Unarmed Strikes and Monk Weapons increases as you level up. It has to be an Unarmed Strike or Monk Weapon. Monk Weapons are Shortswords and any simple melee weapon you are proficient with.
Kensei Weapons states the following: Choose two types of weapons to be your kensei weapons: one melee weapon and one ranged weapon. Each of these weapons can be any simple or martial weapon that lacks the heavy and special properties. The longbow is also a valid choice. You gain proficiency with these weapons if you don’t already have it. Weapons of the chosen types are monk weapons for you.
Shields are "Shields." Simple as that. If you look at an item, you will see what its Item Type is. A Shield's item type is "Shield." A Shortsword is a "Martial Melee Weapon," a Dagger is a "Simple Melee Weapon." Shields are not simple weapons or martial weapons, and thus can't be chosen.
Kensei weapons can be martial or simple weapons.
For a moment I thought I had found a new way to use the monk ... I imagined a monk with studded shields attacking the enemies .... too bad ... the Rules got the better ...
Thanks for the clarifications
This is DnD, anything is possible, you're just gonna have to work with your DM. Use a couple of clubs and say that they're shields, problem solved. You unfortunately can't get the +2 AC (monks just aren't supposed to, it would be broken because they get plenty of AC through unarmored defense,) but the flavor can still be there.
Thanks for the advice ... but my goal is to find a way to bend the rules to make the monk a more interesting class. For example, I have another strange idea with the monk way of the shadow. Can you imagine a mega obese monk teleporting over the enemy ... you say he would receive damage bonuses if he uses gravity and his weight against the enemy? (it would be interesting to combine the skill with a magic carpet or a friendly flying animal, to take advantage of their shadow) ...
There really aren't any concrete rules for making that work, but again, talk to your DM. The core of DnD is creativity, of which you clearly have plenty.
Why would you need to make the monk more "interesting"? They're already a top-tier class (Four Elements included) and they don't really need any "improvement". And your obese shadow monk already gets a bonus, it's the advantage he gets for his attack after teleporting. And any fall damage he causes on himself and the enemy he lands on.
True, the monk itself is already interesting, I do not doubt it ... And if I want to make it more interesting, it's my business ...
but to be honest, I find that all non-magical classes are a bit monotonous ... The actions are too mechanical and not very varied. You can always interpret an attack in different ways, but the attack will always remain a simple attack. For that I created a monk subclass with different fighting techniques, such as the battle master.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/subclasses/516164-way-of-the-murim (This subclass is still under review, if you have the time to read it and leave me some advice or criticism I would be very happy.)
But I must also say that this subclass for me is a way of finding a solution to the monk's shortcomings and giving him an image of a true martial arts fighter. Where every attack have special thing like a spell. I'm not saying we should go back to 4e (that was too messed up) but a small choice of 3 - 4 moves can help and enhance the interaction of the player and his character in the role. This does not apply only to the monk but for all classes that have only one standard way of attack.
Monk shortcomings. Lol... ;)