Way of the Astral Bear - Warbear Lycanthrope

Still a Work In Progress.

This is a rebalance of the Way of the Astral Self subclass for the Monk Class for added flare with a Werebear Lycanthrope.

In its normal form, the low level class features feel inconsequential.

Astral Arms give close to no combat improvement and no use outside of combat unless the DM rules otherwise.
Astral Visage gives some some interesting out of combat features but is very situation in combat.
Only at level 11 does the sub-class start to feel as if it is giving you a real bonus day-to-day, but then still falls behind other sub-class options.

The aim of this is to make each feature a bit more powerful at lower levels, while clarifying specific traits that have normally been up to the Dungeons Masters discretion. 

Everything that has been changed can be found under the "Rebalance Additions" header.

Arms of the Astral Bear

3rd-level Way of the Astral Bear feature

Your mastery of your ki allows you to summon a portion of your astral bear. As a bonus action, you can spend 1 ki point to summon the arms of your astral self. When you do so, each creature of your choice that you can see within 10 feet of you must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take force damage equal to two rolls of your Martial Arts die.

For 10 minutes, these spectral arms hover near your shoulders or surround your arms (your choice). They take the form of the arms of a giant bear, and they vanish early if you are incapacitated or die. While the spectral arms are present, you gain the following benefits:

• You can use your Wisdom modifier in place of your Strength modifier when making Strength checks and Strength saving throws.
• You can use the spectral arms to make unarmed strikes.
• When you make an unarmed strike with the arms on your turn, your reach for it is 5 feet greater than normal.

The unarmed strikes you make with the arms can use your Wisdom modifier in place of your Strength or Dexterity modifier for the attack and damage rolls, and their damage type is force.

Rebalance Additions:

• You can calculate your lifting weight in the same way as normal, but using your Wisdom instead of your Strength.
• The arms can be used to execute any monk abilities in the same way to standard unarmed attacks, such as Stunning Strike.
• The arms can be used to do other action options such as grapple and shove, at the increased range.
• You have a +1 to the damage of your unarmed attacks with the arms.

Bear Hug. You can use your astral arms to try and grapple someone. While grappling the enemy your astral arms can't be used to attack, but you can still attack with your actual arms. This acts as a normal grapple action, but you can use your Wisdom modifier instead of your strength.

 

Visage of the Astral Bear

6th-level Way of the Astral Self feature

You can summon the visage of your astral self. As a bonus action, or as part of the bonus action you take to activate Arms of the Astral Self, you can spend 1 ki point to summon this visage for 10 minutes. It vanishes early if you are incapacitated or die.

The spectral visage covers your face like a helmet or mask. It takes the form of a head of a bear.

While the spectral visage is present, you gain the following benefits.

Astral Sight. You can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 120 feet.

Wisdom of the Spirit. You have advantage on Wisdom (Insight) and Charisma (Intimidation) checks.

Word of the Spirit. When you speak, you can direct your words to a creature of your choice that you can see within 60 feet of you, making it so only that creature can hear you. Alternatively, you can amplify your voice so that all creatures within 600 feet can hear you.

Rebalance Additions:

Astral Roar. Once per turn, as an action, you can spend 2 Ki points to use Word of the Spirit to project your voice screaming in the face of your foe. Any enemies in a 10 foot radius of you must succeed a Wisdom Saving throw or become Feared for one turn.

Maybe add a bite attack instead of roar? Grapple with arms then Bite?

Body of the Astral Bear

11th-level Way of the Astral Bear feature

When you have both your astral arms and visage summoned, you can cause the body of your astral bear to appear (no action required). This spectral body covers your physical form like a suit of armor, connecting with the arms and visage. You determine its appearance.

While the spectral body is present, you gain the following benefits.

Deflect Energy. When you take acid, cold, fire, force, lightning, or thunder damage, you can use your reaction to deflect it. When you do so, the damage you take is reduced by 1d10 + your Wisdom modifier (minimum reduction of 1).

Empowered Arms. Once on each of your turns when you hit a target with the Arms of the Astral Self, you can deal extra damage to the target equal to your standard Martial Arts die.

Rebalance Additions:

Astral Defence. You gain +1 to your Armor Class.

Astral Charge. Once on each of your turns, you can spend 3 Ki points to unleash your astral energy charging forward a up to a distance equal to that of your remaining movement. all remaining movement is consumed regardless of if it is used.

You must have and use at least 10ft of movement.

During this your astral arms are spread wide hitting everyone in your path and to 5ft on either side of you dealing damage equal too two rolls of your Martial Arts die +1 for every 10 ft of movement used.

Anyone in your direct path (the center 5ft) who is of a one size larger than you or smaller than you must make a Dexterity saving throw to avoid being knocked Prone

Awakened Astral Bear

17th-level Way of the Astral Bear feature

Your connection to your astral self is complete, allowing you to unleash its full potential. As a bonus action, you can spend 5 ki points to summon the arms, visage, and body of your astral self and awaken it for 10 minutes. This awakening ends early if you are incapacitated or die.

While your astral self is awakened, you gain the following benefits.

Armor of the Spirit Bear. You gain a +2 bonus to Armor Class, instead of the +1 from the body.

Astral Barrage. Whenever you use the Extra Attack feature to attack twice, you can instead attack three times if all the attacks are made with your astral arms.