Hello, I don't know really where to post this. so, I figured I'd come to the class and the people who know it. I recently started playing a monk. We've been playing this campaign for a while. However this was my first session with this character. (I won't get into it) As things go. The party and I engaged a large enemy. The first two rounds I lock down the target with stunning strike. This is where my problem/question comes in. After doing so, the DM threatened that if I kept using stunning strike. The enemies we face this campaign would be much stronger and immune to being stunned. So he threatened if I use the ability he would make it irrelevant and much harder on everyone else at the table. (I stopped using stunning strike. And now I'm afraid if I ever use it again it'll make life harder for everyone else) I don't know what I should do.
He's punishing you for using a basic, low-level class feature that all monks get. Would he punish a fighter for using Action Surge? This isn't a Monk problem, but a DM problem. If you have a conversation about it and he won't see reason, I'd try to find another group.
Talk to your DM. Stunning Strike is a basic class feature and he's just telling you that you can't use it. If that doesn't work, just find another group. This is a DM problem, not a monk problem.
As others have said, talk to the DM. It’s a primary class feature and it uses Ki so it is a limited resource. First you have to hit, then have the Ki to spend, and they have to fail their saving throw.
If you are hitting and making it stick that reliably then either your stats are higher than normal, you’ve been lucky with the dice, the enemies have really poor saves or AC or both. It’s a good ability but not a guarantee.
I’m not saying your DM is bad, but maybe the encounters are too weak or just those particular ones. But you should be able to use your class features without the DM screwing over everyone.
I have to jump on the bandwagon here. This is a DM issue and not the class issue or that you did anything wrong.
From what your describing it's an issue actually on a couple different levels.
Not only in his unfair punishment of you for actually playing your class and using a core monk feature that you have obtained entirely through fairness.
But there seems to be some issue at ThriKreen stated either with how powerful he allowed you to be and not compensated for it, poor enemy design/choosing to represent his BBEG's and encounter structure, or some other underlying issue going on that needs to be addressed either between you and the DM or the DM on his side of the table and how he is choosing to run things.
But threatening to screw over not only you but the whole table for what you've done is not a good sign for things at the table.
I'm curious to know what level you and your party are? Did you roll for stats or use point buy/standard array? What were you fighting? Is the DM new or have they been playing a long time? Did they do this in other parts of your campaign so far (before you started playing the Monk)?
Hello, I don't know really where to post this. so, I figured I'd come to the class and the people who know it. I recently started playing a monk. We've been playing this campaign for a while. However this was my first session with this character. (I won't get into it) As things go. The party and I engaged a large enemy. The first two rounds I lock down the target with stunning strike. This is where my problem/question comes in. After doing so, the DM threatened that if I kept using stunning strike. The enemies we face this campaign would be much stronger and immune to being stunned. So he threatened if I use the ability he would make it irrelevant and much harder on everyone else at the table. (I stopped using stunning strike. And now I'm afraid if I ever use it again it'll make life harder for everyone else) I don't know what I should do.
While I agree with everyone else, I'll add that Stunning Strike is far and away not the strongest single class ability in the game (as an example, the paladin Aura of Protection is better). Pointing this out to your GM might help in some way. For example, he might let you replace it with another class ability of the same class level or less, in which case you can grab really good stuff like wild shape (obviously it'll need to be based on your monk level, not druid level).
Stunning strike only works for one round. Plus as someone else has noted it requires successfully hitting, spending a Ki point, and your opponent failing a saving throw. In my experience playing a monk it works about 1/3 of the time, which isn’t over powering. As a general rule the monk is weaker than most of the other classes and your DM is trying to make your monk even weaker than the rules call for, which is ridiculous!
You need to talk to your DM. If your DM is the type who “has” to win against the PCs or who “needs” to have everything go the way he planned I agree with the people who suggested leaving that campaign.
Hello, I don't know really where to post this. so, I figured I'd come to the class and the people who know it. I recently started playing a monk. We've been playing this campaign for a while. However this was my first session with this character. (I won't get into it) As things go. The party and I engaged a large enemy. The first two rounds I lock down the target with stunning strike. This is where my problem/question comes in. After doing so, the DM threatened that if I kept using stunning strike. The enemies we face this campaign would be much stronger and immune to being stunned. So he threatened if I use the ability he would make it irrelevant and much harder on everyone else at the table. (I stopped using stunning strike. And now I'm afraid if I ever use it again it'll make life harder for everyone else) I don't know what I should do.
While I agree with everyone else, I'll add that Stunning Strike is far and away not the strongest single class ability in the game (as an example, the paladin Aura of Protection is better). Pointing this out to your GM might help in some way. For example, he might let you replace it with another class ability of the same class level or less, in which case you can grab really good stuff like wild shape (obviously it'll need to be based on your monk level, not druid level).
Aura of protection is not better. It's just different and it serves a different purpose and it has it's own strengths and flaws.
Aura of protection is not better. It's just different and it serves a different purpose and it has it's own strengths and flaws.
+5 to all saves on just the paladin would be fantastic, and it's a buffing aura. +5 to all saves on the paladin, the other frontliner next to the paladin, and the healer and ranged attacker behind the paladin is top notch, no notes, would take every time. The only reason an L17 paladin's +16 to Charisma saves isn't obnoxious is that almost nothing inflicts a Charisma save.
Aura of protection is not better. It's just different and it serves a different purpose and it has it's own strengths and flaws.
+5 to all saves on just the paladin would be fantastic, and it's a buffing aura. +5 to all saves on the paladin, the other frontliner next to the paladin, and the healer and ranged attacker behind the paladin is top notch, no notes, would take every time. The only reason an L17 paladin's +16 to Charisma saves isn't obnoxious is that almost nothing inflicts a Charisma save.
That assumes a whole lot, Primarily that half of those characters would be within 10 feet of you. Which plenty of times they will not. It also assumes you've already maxed out your Chrisma which is not usually done for at least 2 ASI's so minimum level 8. Sometimes higher if they decide to spend one or more on strength. There's also the fact that it only functions on saves. So there is a whole lot that it doesn't actually affect at all such as skill rolls or to hit rolls. and the list just kind of goes on from there. It's good for what it is but it's far from all powerful and it's entirely defensive. just like Stunning Strike is good for what it is which is a form of battlefield control but it's far from all powerful.
Another question for the OP. Does the DM not allow Hold Person?
1. It’s a much stronger condition (Paralyzed)
2. Only requires a saving throw (WIS which tends to be weaker than CON)
Stunning strike 1. requires a Hit
2. requires a saving throw
3. and is weaker than Hold Person.
yes, you probably have more Ki than a caster has spell slots for Hold Person but SS is not so powerful that the DM needs to restrict it
The larger amount of ki is often balanced out by the fact that Hold Person potentially works multiple rounds. While it's unlikely to last it's full duration each additional round is effectively another Ki point worth of Stunning Strike. (Edit) And it's a a free action on top of that so it's caster can literally do nothing and it still has the chance to continue on over more rounds unlike Stunning Strike.
Talking to him and pointing out he's upset because of a few bad rolls on saves (which made it work) on a session. Point out that he should let it roll, and you both know, at some point, you're going to have a night where all the enemies make their save and it is rendered useless for that session. He's whining because the Dice Gods favored your Monk that night. Trust me, you will soon enough have a night the dice HATE you and every enemy seems to roll 18's on their saves. If the DM isn't ready for that and willing to admit this is going to swing from appearing OP to seeming laughable, ALL on the rolls that come up.
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Talk to your Players.Talk to your DM. If more people used this advice, there would be 24.74% fewer threads on Tactics, Rules and DM discussions.
Party of 5, level 10, roll stats (I ended up with a maxed out Wis), fighting - haven't figured that out yet / it look like a fiend body dripping flesh / body cot on fire / did acid damage when attacked with melee / necrotic damage healed it / got away by travel through the shadow plane. DM from what I've heard has played and ran games for a long time (D&D 3.5 to 5th and pathfinder). He took control of the PC I played for the first half of this campaign, old PC is now BBG.
I would like to say thank you to everyone that has replied to this....... Thank You........ I'm going to talk with my DM about it. Y'all are great! Really amazing, thank you.
Another thing for your DM. There are a few threads that talk about pro's and cons of Stunning Strike. Some of them mixed into other threads like the Kensei thread that's fairly recently active unfortunately. But he can always come and ask for such things here and at least some of us will tell him the flaws that stunning Strike has. That aren't always apparent or even talked about in things like Monk Guides. Stunning Strike is often treated as some kind of ultimate move for Monks that can do anything in such places or through their reach through people that just follow their thinking.
There are actually times and reasons for monks not to use Stunning strike realistically despite the fact that some will tell you guys that it can or even should be used basically all the time. It may be core to monks and useful, but it's also situational, much like most things when it comes to monks.
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Hello, I don't know really where to post this. so, I figured I'd come to the class and the people who know it. I recently started playing a monk. We've been playing this campaign for a while. However this was my first session with this character. (I won't get into it) As things go. The party and I engaged a large enemy. The first two rounds I lock down the target with stunning strike. This is where my problem/question comes in. After doing so, the DM threatened that if I kept using stunning strike. The enemies we face this campaign would be much stronger and immune to being stunned. So he threatened if I use the ability he would make it irrelevant and much harder on everyone else at the table. (I stopped using stunning strike. And now I'm afraid if I ever use it again it'll make life harder for everyone else) I don't know what I should do.
He's punishing you for using a basic, low-level class feature that all monks get. Would he punish a fighter for using Action Surge? This isn't a Monk problem, but a DM problem. If you have a conversation about it and he won't see reason, I'd try to find another group.
Talk to your DM. Stunning Strike is a basic class feature and he's just telling you that you can't use it. If that doesn't work, just find another group. This is a DM problem, not a monk problem.
I have a weird sense of humor.
I also make maps.(That's a link)
You have a shitty DM that needs to stop being so.
As others have said, talk to the DM. It’s a primary class feature and it uses Ki so it is a limited resource. First you have to hit, then have the Ki to spend, and they have to fail their saving throw.
If you are hitting and making it stick that reliably then either your stats are higher than normal, you’ve been lucky with the dice, the enemies have really poor saves or AC or both. It’s a good ability but not a guarantee.
I’m not saying your DM is bad, but maybe the encounters are too weak or just those particular ones. But you should be able to use your class features without the DM screwing over everyone.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
I have to jump on the bandwagon here. This is a DM issue and not the class issue or that you did anything wrong.
From what your describing it's an issue actually on a couple different levels.
Not only in his unfair punishment of you for actually playing your class and using a core monk feature that you have obtained entirely through fairness.
But there seems to be some issue at ThriKreen stated either with how powerful he allowed you to be and not compensated for it, poor enemy design/choosing to represent his BBEG's and encounter structure, or some other underlying issue going on that needs to be addressed either between you and the DM or the DM on his side of the table and how he is choosing to run things.
But threatening to screw over not only you but the whole table for what you've done is not a good sign for things at the table.
I'm curious to know what level you and your party are? Did you roll for stats or use point buy/standard array? What were you fighting? Is the DM new or have they been playing a long time? Did they do this in other parts of your campaign so far (before you started playing the Monk)?
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
While I agree with everyone else, I'll add that Stunning Strike is far and away not the strongest single class ability in the game (as an example, the paladin Aura of Protection is better). Pointing this out to your GM might help in some way. For example, he might let you replace it with another class ability of the same class level or less, in which case you can grab really good stuff like wild shape (obviously it'll need to be based on your monk level, not druid level).
Stunning strike only works for one round. Plus as someone else has noted it requires successfully hitting, spending a Ki point, and your opponent failing a saving throw. In my experience playing a monk it works about 1/3 of the time, which isn’t over powering. As a general rule the monk is weaker than most of the other classes and your DM is trying to make your monk even weaker than the rules call for, which is ridiculous!
You need to talk to your DM. If your DM is the type who “has” to win against the PCs or who “needs” to have everything go the way he planned I agree with the people who suggested leaving that campaign.
Professional computer geek
Aura of protection is not better. It's just different and it serves a different purpose and it has it's own strengths and flaws.
+5 to all saves on just the paladin would be fantastic, and it's a buffing aura. +5 to all saves on the paladin, the other frontliner next to the paladin, and the healer and ranged attacker behind the paladin is top notch, no notes, would take every time. The only reason an L17 paladin's +16 to Charisma saves isn't obnoxious is that almost nothing inflicts a Charisma save.
That assumes a whole lot, Primarily that half of those characters would be within 10 feet of you. Which plenty of times they will not. It also assumes you've already maxed out your Chrisma which is not usually done for at least 2 ASI's so minimum level 8. Sometimes higher if they decide to spend one or more on strength. There's also the fact that it only functions on saves. So there is a whole lot that it doesn't actually affect at all such as skill rolls or to hit rolls. and the list just kind of goes on from there. It's good for what it is but it's far from all powerful and it's entirely defensive. just like Stunning Strike is good for what it is which is a form of battlefield control but it's far from all powerful.
Another question for the OP. Does the DM not allow Hold Person?
1. It’s a much stronger condition (Paralyzed)
2. Only requires a saving throw (WIS which tends to be weaker than CON)
Stunning strike
1. requires a Hit
2. requires a saving throw
3. and is weaker than Hold Person.
yes, you probably have more Ki than a caster has spell slots for Hold Person but SS is not so powerful that the DM needs to restrict it
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
The larger amount of ki is often balanced out by the fact that Hold Person potentially works multiple rounds. While it's unlikely to last it's full duration each additional round is effectively another Ki point worth of Stunning Strike. (Edit) And it's a a free action on top of that so it's caster can literally do nothing and it still has the chance to continue on over more rounds unlike Stunning Strike.
Talking to him and pointing out he's upset because of a few bad rolls on saves (which made it work) on a session. Point out that he should let it roll, and you both know, at some point, you're going to have a night where all the enemies make their save and it is rendered useless for that session. He's whining because the Dice Gods favored your Monk that night. Trust me, you will soon enough have a night the dice HATE you and every enemy seems to roll 18's on their saves. If the DM isn't ready for that and willing to admit this is going to swing from appearing OP to seeming laughable, ALL on the rolls that come up.
Talk to your Players. Talk to your DM. If more people used this advice, there would be 24.74% fewer threads on Tactics, Rules and DM discussions.
Party of 5, level 10, roll stats (I ended up with a maxed out Wis), fighting - haven't figured that out yet / it look like a fiend body dripping flesh / body cot on fire / did acid damage when attacked with melee / necrotic damage healed it / got away by travel through the shadow plane. DM from what I've heard has played and ran games for a long time (D&D 3.5 to 5th and pathfinder). He took control of the PC I played for the first half of this campaign, old PC is now BBG.
I would like to say thank you to everyone that has replied to this....... Thank You........ I'm going to talk with my DM about it. Y'all are great! Really amazing, thank you.
Another thing for your DM. There are a few threads that talk about pro's and cons of Stunning Strike. Some of them mixed into other threads like the Kensei thread that's fairly recently active unfortunately. But he can always come and ask for such things here and at least some of us will tell him the flaws that stunning Strike has. That aren't always apparent or even talked about in things like Monk Guides. Stunning Strike is often treated as some kind of ultimate move for Monks that can do anything in such places or through their reach through people that just follow their thinking.
There are actually times and reasons for monks not to use Stunning strike realistically despite the fact that some will tell you guys that it can or even should be used basically all the time. It may be core to monks and useful, but it's also situational, much like most things when it comes to monks.