Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
The Monk has always been an outlier inDungeons & Dragons , as a class that is not root in the work of Tolkien or other traditional western fancy genre conventions . A core class in the current 5th version ofD&D , the Monk has Monastic Traditions presented in thePlayer ’s Handbook , and supplements likeTasha ’s Cauldron of Everythingprovide additional choice . group looking to create unexampled Monk subclass can take care beyond traditional illusion for inspiration , with warlike arts movie theater and more contemporary media provide ample ideas .
The earliest rendition of the Monk inD&Dwas as an offshoot of the Cleric class . First editionDungeons & Dragonsmade the Monk a core class , based on Asian martial humanities traditions as interpreted through a fantasy lens . Second variation initially returned the Monk to a Kit for the Cleric grade before later re - introducing it as a base year in supplemental book of account , and some Monk abilities were after incorporate into the Psionics scheme . Since third editionD&D , the Monk has remained a base class , andthe Monk ’s 5th editionMonastic Traditions provide some versatility , but not nearly enough to encompass the archetype ’s potential drop .
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ThePlayer ’s Handbook’sWay of the Four Elements Monk is in part a nod to real world soldierlike artwork traditions and Hong Kong action at law picture , but most closely aligns with the abilities exhibit inAvatar : The Last Airbender . A similar approach for a novel Monksubclass inD&Dcould produce the fashion of the Celestial Breath , rooted in both real - world breathing space control practices and ascetic conditioning , as well as fiction , such as the breath - found martial art Hamon from theJoJo ’s Bizarre Adventuremanga .
An former subclass power might cede a Monk the same force as the Necklace of Adaptation , the ability to breathe in any environment and advantage on saving throws against harmful gases and vapors , a useful item that is often overlooked due to its Attunement necessity . This newD&Dsubclass could offer Monks ki - based hint weapon system blast , the ability to imbue other company members with Monk - like benefits by synchronizing their respiration , and the ability to stymy an foe ’s hint , foreclose spellcasting .
Fiction & Real-World Martial Arts Inspire D&D Monks
While the Fighter ’s Eldritch Knight and the Rogue ’s Arcane Trickster both offer these martial classes admission to spellcasting , D&DMonks have no such equivalent . A subclass like the Way of the Mystic Flow could gibe that recession , taking a dissimilar approach to a warrior interacting with the spell scheme . This Monk could gain training in the Arcana skill and the ability to expend Dispel Magic and Counterspell as Ki powers , provide defence againstenemyD&Dspellcasters . They might also gain use of the effects of a Ring of Spell Storing as an innate power , another various magic item usually limited by attunement , potentially scaling to contain more than the five spirit level worth of spells the ring can contain . This newD&Dsubclass could provide the Monk the power to straight off reload their stored tour with a spell that they anticipate or turn back , determine by Ki point .
last , while the Kensei Monk fromXanathar ’s scout to Everythingallows for soldierly weapon - using Monk characters , a MonkD&Dsubclass based on Iaido , as well as fiction based around the tradition of quick - draw swordsmanship , could provide a typical and useful character . A Way of the Piercing Mind Monk might have Expertise with the Insight skill , and proficiency with a single one - handed martial artillery .
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The focus on meditate an opposer to know their weakness could be represented as an option to make an Insight checkopposed by an enemy ’s Charisma saving throwto gain reward on attacks against that enemy for one minute , as an Action , and at higher level as a Bonus Action . This Monk could make headway the ability to eviscerate and sheathe their signature weapon without using their Free Action target fundamental interaction . strike an opponent that has not acted yet in fighting , or who is stupid , perhaps by the sensational Strike power , could impart bonus impairment , similar to a Rogue .
There are numerous inspirations to pull out from when design impost Monk subclasses inD&D. From classic films like theFive Deadly Venoms , to legion soldierlike arts anime , any of these could make excellent Monastic Traditions , but histrion andDungeon Masters should carefully considergame balance , as with any homebrewDungeons & Dragonscreations .
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