"Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad."

Some are wise and others are smart, but your Path to Enlightenment has led you to seeking both wisdom and knowledge. You spent much of your childhood studying scholarly texts, learning ancient philosophies, and mastering the martial arts needed to protect all you’ve come to know and love.

Now, you’ve taken it upon yourself to pass on what you’ve learned -- and guard against those who wish to hinder the spread of information and understanding.

(A much more defensive subclass that relies on added reactions for increased survivability, but mainly focuses on the gathering and recollection of information. You're squishy, but clever use of your reactions can increase your survivability by making you a bit harder to hit. Based on Silvanarix’s “Way of the Librarian” and Matt Mercer’s “Way of the Cobalt Soul.” Definitely open to suggestions!)

v1.1 - Fixed World Encyclopedia trait to allow for drop-down menu. Added language scaling factor at 11th and 17th levels. Also fixed character sheet snippets and actions.

v1.2 - Balancing changes made to Oldest Trick in the Book and Bookmarked for Later. Added clarification for number of uses per round. Removed knock back effect from OTB to account for Stunning Strike possibility. Added ki point cost to BL to use Flurry of Blows as reaction, but lowered ki point cost for paralyzation effect.

v1.3 - Added clarification of DC bonus for Bookmarked for Later. Created "Paralyzing Strike" subcategory under BL, changing prerequisite and ki point cost.

v1.4 - Initial Lv. 20 playtest revealed further problems with Lv. 11 and Lv. 17 skills in terms of added survivability. Ki point management becomes more significant than ever, and bosses almost always saved against DC 19 Stunning Strike (not counting legendary resistances) when used in conjunction with Oldest Trick in the Book, so "one use per round" limitation was removed to better work in conjunction with Textbook Technique and Speed Reading (Stunning Strike + added reaction essentially increases cost to 2 ki points per use). Many high-level bosses were immune to paralysis, so Paralyzing Strike was removed altogether (Lv. 17 skill was subsequently renamed from "Bookmarked for Later" to "Between the Lines." Stunning Strike + added reaction when using BTL already costs ~3-4 ki points and CON saving throw). BTL was modified to give opportunity to make additional strikes rather than increase save DC.

(Recommended Backgrounds: Sage, Archaeologist, Cloistered Scholar, Hermit, Haunted One, etc.)

 

Textbook Technique

Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, when holding up to one book in your hand, you can use a reaction to add your Intelligence modifier to your AC, possibly causing the attack to miss.

While a book is in your possession and being wielded in this way, the book is treated as a mystical shield, and it cannot be destroyed by any normal means (ex. Burned by fire, soaked in water, etc).

Additionally, you cannot hold another weapon while holding a book. All attacks made while holding a book are considered unarmed strikes and continue to scale with your monk table normally.

World Encyclopedia

Knowing that not all knowledge is equally split between all languages, you’ve spent many hours learning a plethora of languages in order to read texts from other cultures. Starting when you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you learn one new language of your choice.

You learn one additional language at level 11 and another at level 17.

In addition, your time spent studying has augmented your ability to recall information. Whenever you make an Intelligence check involving Arcana, History, Nature or Religion, you can spend 1 ki point to gain advantage on the roll.

Careful Analysis

Starting at 6th level, studying your opponent’s movements allow you to accurately predict attacks. You may now take Patient Defense as a bonus action without expending a ki point.

In addition, your many hours spent studying has honed your ability to quickly and accurately gather information. Whenever you make an Intelligence check (Investigation) or a Wisdom check involving Perception or Insight, you may expend 1 ki point to gain advantage on the roll.

Speed Reading

Starting at 6th level, your physical prowess has successfully meshed with your mental agility. You can take a number of additional reactions each round equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1), at the cost of 1 ki point per reaction beyond the first. You can only use one reaction per trigger.

World Encyclopedia Lv. 11

You learn 1 additional language at 3rd level, 11th level, and 17th level.

Oldest Trick in the Book

Starting at 11th level, your ability to quickly study an opponent allows you to take advantage of their failure. If an opponent misses you with any type of attack involving an attack roll, you can immediately make a single melee attack as a reaction if you are within range.

World Encyclopedia Lv. 17

You learn 1 additional language at 3rd level, 11th level, and 17th level.

Between the Lines

Starting at 17th level, you've mastered the ability to quickly counter attack, which can possibly cause opponents to be completely dumbfounded. If an opponent hits you with any type of attack involving an attack roll, you can immediately expend 1 ki point to use Flurry of Blows as a reaction if you are within range. You can use this only once per round.

You can expend an additional number of ki points to make additional strikes (+1 ki point = +1 strike). The max number of ki points you can spend using this trait is equal to your Intelligence modifier.