Way of Long Scars

Monks of the Way of Scars mark themselves with rows of long cuts along their limbs, torso and face in order to channel their pain into ferocious attacks. These monks welcome pain as a gift, and frequently hand it out in turn.

Channel Pain

Starting at 3rd level, you can channel your pain into powerful attacks. You have a number of pain points equal to 1 + half your monk level, and your hit point maximum is reduced by the amount of pain points you have at any given moment. These pain points can be used in place of ki points for abilities, as well as for a few unique abilities as well. You regain all expended pain points when you finish a long rest.

When you take damage other than psychic damage, you can use your reaction to regain a number of spent pain points up to the damage divided by 4. If you do so, however, your hit point maximum is decreased by 1 for every pain point regained. You hit point maximum returns to its normal value when  you finish a short or long rest.

Pain-Fueled Attacks

Also at 3rd level, when you hit a target with an attack, you can enhance the attack with your pain, expending 1 pain point and choosing one of the following options.

• The target takes an additional 1d4 damage of one type of damage that the attack deals (your choice).
• The target is blinded/deafened (your choice) for 1 minute or until they regain hit points.
• The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be stunned until the end of its next turn and take 1d6 necrotic damage.
• You gain advantage on damage rolls against the target until the end of your next turn

Additionally, just before you roll a d20, you may expend a number of pain points and add 2 × the total number to the result. If this makes the result 20 or higher, it couns as an automatic success/critical hit.

Pain Tolerance

Starting at 6th level, when you take damage, you may use your reaction to spend 1 pain point and gain temporary hit points equal to half the damage taken.

Agonized Lash

Starting at 11th level, if you have 3 or more pain points at the start of your turn, you may take an additional reaction that round. You may only use this reaction to attack (e.g making an opportunity attack or an attack with a set weapon).

Muscle Memory

Starting at 17th level, your muscle memory takes control. When your hit points are reduced to 0 you are not knocked unconscious, but you must still make death saving throws and suffer all the normal effects of taking damage while at 0 hit points. At the beginning of each of your turns whilst in this state you can spend 1 pain point or 2 ki points to remain in this state. If you do not spend a pain point at the start of your turn whilst at 0 hit points you suffer all the normal effects of being reduced to 0 hit points. The following effects also apply while you are on 0 hit points but not unconscious:

• You cannot speak.
• You cannot cast or concentrate on spells.
• You have advantage on death saving throws.
• Critical hits against you in this state count as one failed death saving throw instead of 2.
• You cannot use Channel Pain to regain pain points.