D&D 5E The Blind Monk

[Guest 6801328]

First draft. Feedback sought.

One major problem/weakness is that ranged attacks from beyond the Blindsight radius have advantage. This is partly compensated for by Deflect Missiles plus a bonus reaction (at 6th level), but of course that has no effect on ranged spell attacks. That flaw probably (depending on what foes the DM throws at the party) leaves this subclass weaker overall compared to the other monk subclasses, so this would be a choice for a player who is drawn to the non-combat advantages, and the roleplaying.

(Updated 5/25/20)

Way of the Four Senses

A monk who follows the Way of the Four Senses has lost...or perhaps sacrificed...their sight, but is compensated with heightened awareness in their other senses.

Some of the abilities of this subclass require that the monk is unable to see. The monk can simply shut their eyes, but doing so requires concentration. Each time damage is taken the monk must make a Wisdom saving throw, with a DC equal to the greater of 10 or half the damage taken, and on a failure the monk reflexively opens their eyes. If a blindfold or similar device is used no check is required.

Some adherents of this path choose to make the ultimate sacrifice and give up their sight permanently. This could take the form of an elaborate ritual, it might be done suddenly in a burst of zeal, or even happen in an apparently supernatural event. Some monks have even woken up blind after a revelatory dream. Monks of the Four Senses who are blind gain some additional benefits.

Blindsight
When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you sacrifice your sight and gain Blindsight, with a radius equal to, and increasing with, your Unarmored Movement bonus. Blind monks add an additional 5’ to this radius.

Keen Senses
Also at 3rd level, your remaining senses begin to become more acute. After you have been unable to see for one minute you enter a state of heightened awareness, allowing you to notice things that are undetectable to others. You have advantage on ability checks that depend primarily on your heightened senses, and have a +5 bonus to passive Perception or Investigation checks that use those senses.

Choose one of the following options. You may choose another option at level 6 and again at level 11.

• Sound of Snowfall (Hearing): you might hear the faintest footfall, detect the quickening of a person’s heartbeat, or recognize a voice you once heard long ago.
• Scent of Sunlight (Smell and Taste): you might detect poison in a drink, track quarry by scent, or smell fear in another person.
• Texture of Darkness (Touch): you might feel residual heat on a door handle, find the faint seams of a secret door, or read writing by the texture of the ink.

Reflexive Action
Starting at 6th level, when you cannot see you may take two reactions between each of your turns. You may still only take one reaction per turn, however..

Thought into Action
Starting at 11th level, when you cannot see you add your Wisdom modifier to Initiative rolls (minimum 1), and you cannot be surprised. Blind monks may spend a point of Ki to re-roll their Initiative, but must use the new roll.

Serenity
At 17th level you are able to enter a state of heightened focus, and the passage of time itself seems to slow down for you. At the start of your turn, or when taking a reaction you may spend a point of Ki to enter Serenity. The state lasts until the start of your next turn, or it ends if you can see or are Incapacitated. Serenity grants the following benefits:

• All attack rolls made against you have disadvantage, and you have advantage on Dexterity saving throws.
• Your movement does not provoke opportunity attacks.
• You may take one reaction per turn.

After Serenity ends you may not use this ability again until you have taken a short rest.

 

[NotAYakk]

Well, add the ability to deflect spells. Because awesome.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Well, add the ability to deflect spells. Because awesome.

It would be awesome, and I thought of it, but it felt like an awkward thematic fit for this particular concept. I don't see a path whereby having heightened hearing/smell/touch/taste would give somebody the ability to deflect spells.

Now, the Jedi subclass, on the other hand....

 

[Guest 6801328]

Which of course I wrote a long time ago, on a forum far, far away:

Way of the Force

 

[Charlaquin]

This is awesome! Always-on blindsight is pretty strong, but being blind beyond the radius is a pretty hefty drawback, and making the radius equal to the monk’s bonus speed is brilliant. Heightened senses is thematic and cool. Reflexive action is interesting, but I think the wording could do with a bit of tightening-up. Sixth Sense is awesome, but I might change the name. “Way of the 4 senses“ granting a 6th sense seems a bit incongruous.

If you don’t mind a suggestion, I think the design could be made a bit more cohesive by making the Serenity state the backbone of the subclass. For example:

Spoiler

Heightened Senses
When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you sacrifice your sight to gain additional acuity with your remaining senses. You are permanently blinded, but you have advantage on ability checks that depend primarily on your other senses, and have a +5 bonus to passive Perception or Investigation checks that use those senses. In addition, choose one of the following options. You may choose another option at level 6 and again at level 11.

Sound of Snowfall (Hearing): you can hear the faintest footfall, detect the quickening of a person’s heartbeat, and recognize any voice you have heard before.
Scent of Sunlight (Smell and Taste): you can detect poison in food and drink with only a small taste, track quarry by scent, and smell fear in other creatures.
Texture of Darkness (Touch): you can feel residual heat on objects another creature recently touched, find the faint seams of a secret doors by touching them, and read writing by the texture of the ink.

Serenity
Also at 3rd level, you can use a bonus action to enter a state of heightened focus called Serenity. While in this state, you gain Blindsight to a radius equal to your Unarmored Movement bonus, and you can spend a Ki point to take the Dodge or Disengage action as a reaction. This state lasts for 1 minute, or until you fall unconscious.

Serene Reflexes
Starting at 6th level, when you enter the Serenity state or start your turn in it, you can spend a Ki point to gain an additional reaction (you do not regain this raction at the start of your turn).

Serene Awareness
Starting at 11th level, you add your Wisdom modifier to your Initiative rolls and can’t be surprised. Additionally, you can use your reaction to enter the Serenity state when you roll Initiative.

Unbound Serenity
Starting at 17th level, whenever you use your reaction while you are in the Serenity state, you can spend a Ki point to regain it immediately.

Just a thought.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Ooh...interesting suggestions, @Charlequin. Thanks! I'll ponder those and make some edits.

 

[atanakar]

What happens if a wizard casts Silence, Deafness on the monk?

 

[Charlaquin]

Ooh...interesting suggestions, @Charlequin. Thanks! I'll ponder those and make some edits.

Now I think about it, that mechanic makes for a perfectly serviceable subclass on its own, without the blindness, blindsight, and enhanced senses aspect. I might rename Serenity to “battle meditation” or something and use it straight-up.

 

[Guest 6801328]

What happens if a wizard casts Silence, Deafness on the monk?

That's inconvenient, but Blindsight is unaffected.

Heightened Senses wouldn't work, of course. Edit: and really just Sound of Snowfall at that.

 

[atanakar]

That's inconvenient, but Blindsight is unaffected.

The monk would also be immune to all spells that require looking at the caster? That is very powerful.