Halfandhalf
2021-02-01, 10:31 PM
So, one of the best things about warlock imho is customizability. You get a patron, then a pact boon, some spells, cantrips, and incantations, making for a ton of options.
I think a martial version of this would work really well for the monk class. Making oneÂ’s own unique branch of fighting a la classic king fu movies should be a goal for the monk class (imho of course) and I think a similar design to the warlock could be used to allow for a unique fighting style. Want to make drunken monkey? How about the toad style from kung fu hustle? Or 5 elements style, wing chun, ninjutsu? I think allowing for a mix and match amongst different techniques could be a great way to make monks really interesting.
Just kicking around ideas here; when I homebrewed a 3e monk way back when I had different “domains” the monk could select, like a 3e cleric. So, I had punches, kicks, vital strikes, locks, weapons, along with things like stealth (enhanced shurikens and rogue abilities, poisons), elemental ki use, body hardening, mobility etc. the monk could pick a couple of domains and get some minor fluff along with minor combat bonuses.
For 5e I think it would be cool to have monks be like a martial warlock. So, at first level you might select a primary “method” or “philosophy”. This would be the offensive backbone of your fighting style. Maybe it’s weapons. Or maybe it’s kicks, punches, grapples, pushes/repositioning techniques etc.
Pact boons could correspond to some enhancement to your basic style. So the monk could add drunken techniques, or stealth abilities, maybe an exotic weapon, extra mobility, or flexibility, or learns how to attack with strikes aimed at the vital organs. Maybe animal techniques could fit here.
Incantations could be “special techniques” which enhance and interact with the chosen offensive or enhancement techniques. These could be powerful but limited to burning Ki points, or less powerful but always active.
Finally, just as warlocks have limited spell slots per day we could keep Ki points as a limited resource for monks. They could be used as now or to power spell like abilities.
If there is any interest at all I may post more. Arguably the current model works well enough, but I think to really capture the essence of the wuxia fighters of cinema (and literature even) that a more customizable chassis could be of benefit; since warlocks have I believe the most customizability I think it would make a good place to start for a monk home brew.
I think some “domains” I used in my 3e homebrew for monks were punches, kicks, weapons, pushes, vital strikes, stealth, yin, yang, metal, wood, fire, water, earth, meditation techniques, mobility, body hardening, drunken, flexibility (like dhalsim from street fighter lol) and maybe some others.
If you read this, thanks!
I think a martial version of this would work really well for the monk class. Making oneÂ’s own unique branch of fighting a la classic king fu movies should be a goal for the monk class (imho of course) and I think a similar design to the warlock could be used to allow for a unique fighting style. Want to make drunken monkey? How about the toad style from kung fu hustle? Or 5 elements style, wing chun, ninjutsu? I think allowing for a mix and match amongst different techniques could be a great way to make monks really interesting.
Just kicking around ideas here; when I homebrewed a 3e monk way back when I had different “domains” the monk could select, like a 3e cleric. So, I had punches, kicks, vital strikes, locks, weapons, along with things like stealth (enhanced shurikens and rogue abilities, poisons), elemental ki use, body hardening, mobility etc. the monk could pick a couple of domains and get some minor fluff along with minor combat bonuses.
For 5e I think it would be cool to have monks be like a martial warlock. So, at first level you might select a primary “method” or “philosophy”. This would be the offensive backbone of your fighting style. Maybe it’s weapons. Or maybe it’s kicks, punches, grapples, pushes/repositioning techniques etc.
Pact boons could correspond to some enhancement to your basic style. So the monk could add drunken techniques, or stealth abilities, maybe an exotic weapon, extra mobility, or flexibility, or learns how to attack with strikes aimed at the vital organs. Maybe animal techniques could fit here.
Incantations could be “special techniques” which enhance and interact with the chosen offensive or enhancement techniques. These could be powerful but limited to burning Ki points, or less powerful but always active.
Finally, just as warlocks have limited spell slots per day we could keep Ki points as a limited resource for monks. They could be used as now or to power spell like abilities.
If there is any interest at all I may post more. Arguably the current model works well enough, but I think to really capture the essence of the wuxia fighters of cinema (and literature even) that a more customizable chassis could be of benefit; since warlocks have I believe the most customizability I think it would make a good place to start for a monk home brew.
I think some “domains” I used in my 3e homebrew for monks were punches, kicks, weapons, pushes, vital strikes, stealth, yin, yang, metal, wood, fire, water, earth, meditation techniques, mobility, body hardening, drunken, flexibility (like dhalsim from street fighter lol) and maybe some others.
If you read this, thanks!