looking into making a character and I would like to add a few things from some anime I have seen. I want a monk that is able to view peoples soul.
This concept is something I pulled from the Anime Dorroro. The main character and a passing monk both have the ability to view the creatures sould (Human/nonHuman/ect). I was wondered if it would be required for my monk to be totally blind. Kind of a "I can see the world normally, but I can see the aura you emenate based on your personality." I also want to have it set so that this makes it easier for me to detect if someone is lying (Buff to the insight check). I feel like this trait would be a feat but have yet to find it so I'm wondered if this ability actually exists at all or if it is dedicated to specific classes/races.
Does such an ability exist in D&D at the moment or is there a way to make this work with the use of other feats/races/class combinations?
You’d probably have to home brew something to see souls, however there are a couple ways (outside of having a high Wisdom score) to buff your insight check. Well really one way, get expertise (double your proficiency bonus) in insight, but there are a few ways to go about that:
If you are a Human, Half-Elf or Half-Orc you can take the Prodigy feat.
A 1 level dip into Rogue
A 3 level dip into Bard.
As a DM I would be cool with you role playing your high insight as an ability to see souls, however it would always be tied to the roll of the dice. Are you looking for any game mechanics besides an insight buff with the ability to see souls?
Level 1 paladin's divine sense can detect the location of fiends, celestials, and undead withing 60 feet.
Level 3 ranger's primeval awareness can use a spell slot to detect the presence (not location, distance, direction, or number) of aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead within a mile (6 miles if in favored terrain).
Rogues get blindsense at level 14 (bit if a deep multiclass). The level 3 inquisitive feature and level 9 mastermind feature sort of go along with understanding a creature's nature.
You can always ask your DM for a feat that works similar to a sprite's heart sight (I would make the feat also boost WIS by 1, and give heart sight a range of at least 15 feet instead of touch). If homebrew is not allowed, 3 levels of warlock for pact of the chain can get you a sprite familiar.
My idea is to have a monk of some sort that isn't able to see the world as things but as entities. A lot of the monk traditions and concepts tend to involve the concept of being able to channel the ki within themselves and being one with reality ect. The "Being One with the Here and Now as things are" concept. My aim is to have a monk that spent his life training in the art of balance, then something happens that causes him to go into the world to try and bring balance and piece to those that cant see the world through the same eyes. Most back stories tend to fall along the lines of "My parents died in an alley, so now I take up weapons to fight back the darkness, giving the people the hero they need." I'm hoping that I can build my character so that it his training and unique traits (Like being able to see the good and evil in people and creatures) that causes him to go on his journey rather then a tragic turn of events that causes him to leave home in search of retribution or revenge.
Being able to view ones soul for what it really is seems like a good way to decide this and would be a good driving factor for my characters growth. This can also be an ability that I am still learning with which is why he is on his journey.
The monk I currently have for my campaign is lvl 3 with stats of Str 14(+2), Dex 16(+3), Con 13(+1), Int 9(-1), Wis 15(+2), Cha 11(+0) and is of the way of the open hand. As i'm currently playing him, he tends to stand back a lot and observe the world. As a result of this the feat I originally planned to take was the Observant feat. This would let me put one point into Int or Wis (Which I planned to put into Int to negate the -1 modifier). I would also get +5 to Perception and Investigation as well as the trait of "Quick to notice details of your environment" and I gain the ability to read lips. That last bit just plays into him constantly sitting back and observing. I get that this doesn't really match the "Viewing the Soul" concept that I originally had, but it is what I found that was going to work at the time. Next lvl up I was planning on putting a point into Wis which would up the modifier from +2 -> +3 but if there is a feat that would accomplish the "Viewing the Soul" I almost assume just take that.
Nothing serious happened in his backstory, he just decided to go on a pilgrimage to find himself. I left my backstory vague because its my first campaign and I wanted to let the DM have an extra character to weave into the story however he decided to do so. As a result of this, there is no information about the temple I came from. Trying to build the backstory for my character as I go and cross check it with the DM to make sure it is ok. I kind of expect us to have one of the Heart to Heart sessions where all of the characters learn a bit about each other soon, so i'm making sure all my ducks are in a row.
Would be kind of disappointing if my character didn't have anything interesting during that session. From what I know of the other characters via talking with the other players out of game, that session would be something along the line of.
Bard, Tiefling "Yea, my daddy is a demon lord in the 9 hells, burnt my mom, I'm kinda on the run now."
Rogue, Merman(Can't remember the species) "My dad is a mafia boss. He sold weapons to the demons and humans during the last great war."
Cleric, Halfing "I was raised as a priest, but it seems like most of my other classmates have found themselves in a lot of corruption. I think I have a target on my back now."
Thief, Fae "I was in the death games from the last city, I'm basically an assassin for hire and there is also a bit of a bounty on my head."
Monk, Human, Me "I just decided to leave home and go view the world."
A couple quick notes on the observant feat, “Quick to notice details of your environment” is just the description. If you think that’s a trait of your character you can role play that with or without the feat. However, if you don’t have the feat you don’t have the game mechanics (bulleted statements) that reinforce it when the rules come into effect. The other thing is that the observant feet doesn’t grant you + 5 to investigation and perception checks, it gives you +5 to your PASSIVE investigation and perception scores. Not necessarily a bad thing, but a different thing, and something to talk to your DM about since different DMs use passive scores to different degrees. It’s not a bad feat, but maybe not exactly what you think it is, in the end if you think it fits your character it’s a simple solution that certainly offers benefits.
On the other hand your DM seems to be open to home brew, assuming that’s the case, what would you like to see out of a “Soul Seeing” feat?
(roughly balanced around the existing Drow High Magic feat) This uses existing spells to kind of simulate what you’ve described. Unfortunately detect evil and good doesn’t detect evil or good in creatures, it detects certain types of creatures.
A feat that grants you the ability to determine the intentions and veracity of a creature:
Increase your Wisdom score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
As an action you can attempt to determine the motives of a creature. The target must make a Charisma saving throw, the save DC is 8 + your WIS modifier + proficiency bonus. On a failed save the DM reveals one of the following about a statement the target has made: True and well intentioned, true neutral, true but ill intentioned, false but well intentioned, false neutral, false and ill intentioned.
Or go all in with something like:
You have come to see the the world as it truly is, at the cost of your sight.
you gain truesight out to a distance of 15’. Beyond 15’ you treat bright light as dim light and dim light as darkness and can only see in shades of gray. Beyond 30’ you are effectively blinded. However you can see into the Ethereal Plane as far as normal sight would allow.
You have advantage on any skill check that relies on hearing.
I just made this up on the fly, it will definitely need some balancing.
As far as back story goes it may be interesting to explore how you felt as you began to discover your abilities and started to sense that some of your fellow monks were not as pure intentioned as you’d been taught. Not evil, but the little white lies and petty politics, altruism with secret hopes of reward. Did you see your reflection is a still pond and find the flaws in your soul? Were you confused, uncertain of yourself, peers and mentors? Did you strike out in an effort to test your new abilities and prove to yourself whether they were real or just hallucinations...
looking into making a character and I would like to add a few things from some anime I have seen. I want a monk that is able to view peoples soul.
This concept is something I pulled from the Anime Dorroro. The main character and a passing monk both have the ability to view the creatures sould (Human/nonHuman/ect). I was wondered if it would be required for my monk to be totally blind. Kind of a "I can see the world normally, but I can see the aura you emenate based on your personality." I also want to have it set so that this makes it easier for me to detect if someone is lying (Buff to the insight check). I feel like this trait would be a feat but have yet to find it so I'm wondered if this ability actually exists at all or if it is dedicated to specific classes/races.
Does such an ability exist in D&D at the moment or is there a way to make this work with the use of other feats/races/class combinations?
You’d probably have to home brew something to see souls, however there are a couple ways (outside of having a high Wisdom score) to buff your insight check. Well really one way, get expertise (double your proficiency bonus) in insight, but there are a few ways to go about that:
If you are a Human, Half-Elf or Half-Orc you can take the Prodigy feat.
A 1 level dip into Rogue
A 3 level dip into Bard.
As a DM I would be cool with you role playing your high insight as an ability to see souls, however it would always be tied to the roll of the dice. Are you looking for any game mechanics besides an insight buff with the ability to see souls?
Level 1 paladin's divine sense can detect the location of fiends, celestials, and undead withing 60 feet.
Level 3 ranger's primeval awareness can use a spell slot to detect the presence (not location, distance, direction, or number) of aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead within a mile (6 miles if in favored terrain).
Rogues get blindsense at level 14 (bit if a deep multiclass). The level 3 inquisitive feature and level 9 mastermind feature sort of go along with understanding a creature's nature.
You can always ask your DM for a feat that works similar to a sprite's heart sight (I would make the feat also boost WIS by 1, and give heart sight a range of at least 15 feet instead of touch). If homebrew is not allowed, 3 levels of warlock for pact of the chain can get you a sprite familiar.
@Acme.
My idea is to have a monk of some sort that isn't able to see the world as things but as entities. A lot of the monk traditions and concepts tend to involve the concept of being able to channel the ki within themselves and being one with reality ect. The "Being One with the Here and Now as things are" concept. My aim is to have a monk that spent his life training in the art of balance, then something happens that causes him to go into the world to try and bring balance and piece to those that cant see the world through the same eyes. Most back stories tend to fall along the lines of "My parents died in an alley, so now I take up weapons to fight back the darkness, giving the people the hero they need." I'm hoping that I can build my character so that it his training and unique traits (Like being able to see the good and evil in people and creatures) that causes him to go on his journey rather then a tragic turn of events that causes him to leave home in search of retribution or revenge.
Being able to view ones soul for what it really is seems like a good way to decide this and would be a good driving factor for my characters growth. This can also be an ability that I am still learning with which is why he is on his journey.
The monk I currently have for my campaign is lvl 3 with stats of Str 14(+2), Dex 16(+3), Con 13(+1), Int 9(-1), Wis 15(+2), Cha 11(+0) and is of the way of the open hand. As i'm currently playing him, he tends to stand back a lot and observe the world. As a result of this the feat I originally planned to take was the Observant feat. This would let me put one point into Int or Wis (Which I planned to put into Int to negate the -1 modifier). I would also get +5 to Perception and Investigation as well as the trait of "Quick to notice details of your environment" and I gain the ability to read lips. That last bit just plays into him constantly sitting back and observing. I get that this doesn't really match the "Viewing the Soul" concept that I originally had, but it is what I found that was going to work at the time. Next lvl up I was planning on putting a point into Wis which would up the modifier from +2 -> +3 but if there is a feat that would accomplish the "Viewing the Soul" I almost assume just take that.
Nothing serious happened in his backstory, he just decided to go on a pilgrimage to find himself. I left my backstory vague because its my first campaign and I wanted to let the DM have an extra character to weave into the story however he decided to do so. As a result of this, there is no information about the temple I came from. Trying to build the backstory for my character as I go and cross check it with the DM to make sure it is ok. I kind of expect us to have one of the Heart to Heart sessions where all of the characters learn a bit about each other soon, so i'm making sure all my ducks are in a row.
Would be kind of disappointing if my character didn't have anything interesting during that session. From what I know of the other characters via talking with the other players out of game, that session would be something along the line of.
Bard, Tiefling "Yea, my daddy is a demon lord in the 9 hells, burnt my mom, I'm kinda on the run now."
Rogue, Merman(Can't remember the species) "My dad is a mafia boss. He sold weapons to the demons and humans during the last great war."
Cleric, Halfing "I was raised as a priest, but it seems like most of my other classmates have found themselves in a lot of corruption. I think I have a target on my back now."
Thief, Fae "I was in the death games from the last city, I'm basically an assassin for hire and there is also a bit of a bounty on my head."
Monk, Human, Me "I just decided to leave home and go view the world."
Party "Aaaaand."
Me "Thats pretty much it."
A couple quick notes on the observant feat, “Quick to notice details of your environment” is just the description. If you think that’s a trait of your character you can role play that with or without the feat. However, if you don’t have the feat you don’t have the game mechanics (bulleted statements) that reinforce it when the rules come into effect. The other thing is that the observant feet doesn’t grant you + 5 to investigation and perception checks, it gives you +5 to your PASSIVE investigation and perception scores. Not necessarily a bad thing, but a different thing, and something to talk to your DM about since different DMs use passive scores to different degrees. It’s not a bad feat, but maybe not exactly what you think it is, in the end if you think it fits your character it’s a simple solution that certainly offers benefits.
On the other hand your DM seems to be open to home brew, assuming that’s the case, what would you like to see out of a “Soul Seeing” feat?
(roughly balanced around the existing Drow High Magic feat) This uses existing spells to kind of simulate what you’ve described. Unfortunately detect evil and good doesn’t detect evil or good in creatures, it detects certain types of creatures.
A feat that grants you the ability to determine the intentions and veracity of a creature:
Or go all in with something like:
You have come to see the the world as it truly is, at the cost of your sight.
I just made this up on the fly, it will definitely need some balancing.
As far as back story goes it may be interesting to explore how you felt as you began to discover your abilities and started to sense that some of your fellow monks were not as pure intentioned as you’d been taught. Not evil, but the little white lies and petty politics, altruism with secret hopes of reward. Did you see your reflection is a still pond and find the flaws in your soul? Were you confused, uncertain of yourself, peers and mentors? Did you strike out in an effort to test your new abilities and prove to yourself whether they were real or just hallucinations...