Difference between revisions of "Way of the Four Elements (5A)"

From Action
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (→‎Disciple of the Elements: Discipline max cost)
 
(15 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{5A}}
 
{{5A}}
 +
This is a [[Monk (5A)|Monk]] monastic tradition for [[5A]].
 +
 
''You follow a monastic tradition that teaches you to harness the elements. When you focus your ki, you can align yourself with the forces of creation and bend the four elements to your will, using them as an extension of your body. Some members of this tradition dedicate themselves to a single element, but others weave the elements together.
 
''You follow a monastic tradition that teaches you to harness the elements. When you focus your ki, you can align yourself with the forces of creation and bend the four elements to your will, using them as an extension of your body. Some members of this tradition dedicate themselves to a single element, but others weave the elements together.
  
 
''Many monks of this tradition tattoo their bodies with representations of their ki powers, commonly imagined as coiling dragons, but also as phoenixes, fish, plants, mountains, and cresting waves.
 
''Many monks of this tradition tattoo their bodies with representations of their ki powers, commonly imagined as coiling dragons, but also as phoenixes, fish, plants, mountains, and cresting waves.
 +
 +
'' '''Greyhawk:''' ''
 +
''Popular in the Celestial Empire, Nippon, and Wrang, only a few exceptional individuals exist in the Flanaess.
  
 
Source: Player's Handbook
 
Source: Player's Handbook
Line 10: Line 15:
 
At 3rd level, you get a pool of points that can only be used to power your elemental disciplines.  
 
At 3rd level, you get a pool of points that can only be used to power your elemental disciplines.  
 
This pool has a number of essence points equal to your monk level.  
 
This pool has a number of essence points equal to your monk level.  
Your recover all spent points when you finish a long rest.
+
Your recover all spent points when you finish a long or short rest.
  
 
=== Disciple of the Elements ===
 
=== Disciple of the Elements ===
When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you learn magical [[Elemental Disciplines (5A)|elemental disciplines]] that harness the power of the four elements. A discipline requires you to spend ki points each time you use it.
+
When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you learn magical [[Elemental Disciplines (5A)|elemental disciplines]] that harness the power of the four elements. A discipline requires you to spend <span style="background-color:yellow">Essence</span> points each time you use it.
  
 
You know the Elemental Attunement discipline and one other elemental discipline of your choice. You learn one additional elemental discipline of your choice at 5th, 9th, 15th, and 17th level.
 
You know the Elemental Attunement discipline and one other elemental discipline of your choice. You learn one additional elemental discipline of your choice at 5th, 9th, 15th, and 17th level.
Line 22: Line 27:
 
Some elemental disciplines allow you to cast spells. See chapter 10 for the general rules of spellcasting. To cast one of these spells, you use its casting time and other rules, but you don't need to provide material components for it.
 
Some elemental disciplines allow you to cast spells. See chapter 10 for the general rules of spellcasting. To cast one of these spells, you use its casting time and other rules, but you don't need to provide material components for it.
  
Once you reach 5th level in this class, you can spend additional ki points to increase the level of an elemental discipline spell that you cast, provided that the spell has an enhanced effect at a higher level, as Burning Hands does. The spell's level increases by 1 for each additional ki point you spend. For example, if you are a 5th-level monk and use Sweeping Cinder Strike to cast Burning Hands, you can spend 2 ki points to cast it as a 2nd-level spell (the discipline's base cost of 1 ki point plus 1 for the additional spell level).
+
Once you reach 5th level in this class, you can spend additional <span style="background-color:yellow">Essence</span> points to increase the level of an elemental discipline spell that you cast, provided that the spell has an enhanced effect at a higher level, as Burning Hands does. The spell's level increases by 1 for each additional <span style="background-color:yellow">Essence</span> point you spend. For example, if you are a 5th-level monk and use Sweeping Cinder Strike to cast Burning Hands, you can spend 2 <span style="background-color:yellow">Essence</span> points to cast it as a 2nd-level spell (the discipline's base cost of 1 <span style="background-color:yellow">Essence</span> point plus 1 for the additional spell level).
  
The maximum number of ki points you can spend to cast a spell in this way (including its base ki point cost and any additional ki points you spend to increase its level) is determined by your monk level, as shown in the Spells and Ki Points table.
+
The maximum number of <span style="background-color:yellow">Essence</span> points you can spend to cast a spell in this way (including its base <span style="background-color:yellow">Essence</span> point cost and any additional <span style="background-color:yellow">Essence</span> points you spend to increase its level) is determined by your monk level, as shown in the Spells and <span style="background-color:yellow">Essence</span> Points table.
  
 
{| class="wikitable"  
 
{| class="wikitable"  
|+ Spells and Ki Points
+
|+ <span style="background-color:yellow">Elemental Disciplines and Maximum Essence</span> Points
|valign="bottom"| '''Monk Levels ||valign="bottom"| '''Maximum Ki Points for a <span style="background-color:yellow">Discipline
+
|valign="bottom"| '''Monk Levels ||valign="bottom"| '''Maximum <span style="background-color:yellow">Essence</span> Points for <span style="background-color:yellow">any Discipline
 
|-
 
|-
|valign="top"| 3rd-4th ||valign="top" align="center" | <span style="background-color:yellow">1
+
|valign="top"| 3rd-4th ||valign="top" align="center" | 1
 
|-
 
|-
|valign="top"| 5th-8th ||valign="top" align="center" | <span style="background-color:yellow">2
+
|valign="top"| 5th-8th ||valign="top" align="center" | 2
 
|-
 
|-
|valign="top"| 9th-12th ||valign="top" align="center" | <span style="background-color:yellow">3
+
|valign="top"| 9th-12th ||valign="top" align="center" | 3
 
|-
 
|-
|valign="top"| 13th-16th ||valign="top" align="center" | <span style="background-color:yellow">4
+
|valign="top"| 13th-16th ||valign="top" align="center" | 4
 
|-
 
|-
|valign="top"| 17th-20th ||valign="top" align="center" | <span style="background-color:yellow">5
+
|valign="top"| 17th-20th ||valign="top" align="center" | 5
 
|}
 
|}
  
<span style="background-color:yellow">When rolling damage for one of these disciplines, you can replace each die with your martial arts die.
+
=== <span style="background-color:yellow">Elemental Studies ===
 +
As you advance in level you learn more of the lower-level disciplines and increase your essence.
 +
Unlike Disciple of the Elements, Elemental Studies do not allow you to replace a previous discipline choice.
  
=== <span style="background-color:yellow">Basic Studies ===
+
'''Basic Studies
 
At level 6 you learn an elemental discipline available at level 3.
 
At level 6 you learn an elemental discipline available at level 3.
Studies from this level and up do not allow you to replace a previous discipline choice.
+
You also add 5 points to your Essence pool.
  
=== <span style="background-color:yellow">Intermediary Studies ===
+
'''Intermediary Studies
 
At level 11 you learn an elemental discipline available at level 3 and another available at level 5 for a total of two new disciplines.
 
At level 11 you learn an elemental discipline available at level 3 and another available at level 5 for a total of two new disciplines.
 +
You add another 5 points to your Essence pool.
  
=== <span style="background-color:yellow">Advanced Studies ===
+
'''Advanced Studies  
 
At level 17 you learn an elemental discipline available at level 3, another available at level 5, and finally one available at level 9 for a total of three new disciplines.
 
At level 17 you learn an elemental discipline available at level 3, another available at level 5, and finally one available at level 9 for a total of three new disciplines.
 +
You add another 10 points to your Essence pool.
  
 
== <span style="background-color:yellow">Way of the One Element ==
 
== <span style="background-color:yellow">Way of the One Element ==
Line 57: Line 66:
 
If you take this variant, you can only use [[Elemental_Disciplines_(5A)|Elemental Disciplines]] that match your chosen element.
 
If you take this variant, you can only use [[Elemental_Disciplines_(5A)|Elemental Disciplines]] that match your chosen element.
  
=== <span style="background-color:yellow">Elemental Essence Pool ===
+
=== <span style="background-color:yellow">Elemental Essence ===
As a disciple of the Way of One Element, you gain a larger essence pool.
+
A monk of the one element gains an additional 3 points of Essence pool from each of the Elemental Studies at level 6, 11, and 17.
This replaces the [[#Essence Pool |Essence Pool ]]ability of the Way of the Four Elements, above.
 
 
 
At 3rd level, you get a pool of points that can only be used to power your elemental disciplines.
 
This pool has a number of essence points equal to twice your monk level.
 
Your recover all spent points when you finish a long rest.
 
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
Line 69: Line 73:
  
 
== Designer's Notes ==
 
== Designer's Notes ==
The essence pool ability, combined with the improved ki recovery of the base monk class, will allow these monks to actually use their elemental disciplines.
+
The essence pool ability will allow these monks to actually use their elemental disciplines.
 
Reducing all spell ki costs by one also helps, but the main reason for this is to make it attractive to actually continue using lower-level powers.
 
Reducing all spell ki costs by one also helps, but the main reason for this is to make it attractive to actually continue using lower-level powers.
  

Latest revision as of 12:13, 20 January 2022

5A5A logo
Starfox's 5th Edition Fan Page

This is a Monk monastic tradition for 5A.

You follow a monastic tradition that teaches you to harness the elements. When you focus your ki, you can align yourself with the forces of creation and bend the four elements to your will, using them as an extension of your body. Some members of this tradition dedicate themselves to a single element, but others weave the elements together.

Many monks of this tradition tattoo their bodies with representations of their ki powers, commonly imagined as coiling dragons, but also as phoenixes, fish, plants, mountains, and cresting waves.

Greyhawk: Popular in the Celestial Empire, Nippon, and Wrang, only a few exceptional individuals exist in the Flanaess.

Source: Player's Handbook

Subclass Abilities

Essence Pool

At 3rd level, you get a pool of points that can only be used to power your elemental disciplines. This pool has a number of essence points equal to your monk level. Your recover all spent points when you finish a long or short rest.

Disciple of the Elements

When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, you learn magical elemental disciplines that harness the power of the four elements. A discipline requires you to spend Essence points each time you use it.

You know the Elemental Attunement discipline and one other elemental discipline of your choice. You learn one additional elemental discipline of your choice at 5th, 9th, 15th, and 17th level.

Whenever you learn a new elemental discipline, you can also replace one elemental discipline that you already know with a different discipline.

Casting Elemental Spells. Some elemental disciplines allow you to cast spells. See chapter 10 for the general rules of spellcasting. To cast one of these spells, you use its casting time and other rules, but you don't need to provide material components for it.

Once you reach 5th level in this class, you can spend additional Essence points to increase the level of an elemental discipline spell that you cast, provided that the spell has an enhanced effect at a higher level, as Burning Hands does. The spell's level increases by 1 for each additional Essence point you spend. For example, if you are a 5th-level monk and use Sweeping Cinder Strike to cast Burning Hands, you can spend 2 Essence points to cast it as a 2nd-level spell (the discipline's base cost of 1 Essence point plus 1 for the additional spell level).

The maximum number of Essence points you can spend to cast a spell in this way (including its base Essence point cost and any additional Essence points you spend to increase its level) is determined by your monk level, as shown in the Spells and Essence Points table.

Elemental Disciplines and Maximum Essence Points
Monk Levels Maximum Essence Points for any Discipline
3rd-4th 1
5th-8th 2
9th-12th 3
13th-16th 4
17th-20th 5

Elemental Studies

As you advance in level you learn more of the lower-level disciplines and increase your essence. Unlike Disciple of the Elements, Elemental Studies do not allow you to replace a previous discipline choice.

Basic Studies At level 6 you learn an elemental discipline available at level 3. You also add 5 points to your Essence pool.

Intermediary Studies At level 11 you learn an elemental discipline available at level 3 and another available at level 5 for a total of two new disciplines. You add another 5 points to your Essence pool.

Advanced Studies At level 17 you learn an elemental discipline available at level 3, another available at level 5, and finally one available at level 9 for a total of three new disciplines. You add another 10 points to your Essence pool.

Way of the One Element

A variant of this monastic tradition masters only one element: Air, Earth, Fire, or Water. If you take this variant, you can only use Elemental Disciplines that match your chosen element.

Elemental Essence

A monk of the one element gains an additional 3 points of Essence pool from each of the Elemental Studies at level 6, 11, and 17.

See Also

Designer's Notes

The essence pool ability will allow these monks to actually use their elemental disciplines. Reducing all spell ki costs by one also helps, but the main reason for this is to make it attractive to actually continue using lower-level powers.

The original mixed the levels at which you could spend more ki and when you gained disciplines. I followed the half caster spell progression throughout, which means there is now a new tier of level 4 spells gained at level 13 (same as paladins and rangers).

The extra studies are there just to widen the repertoire of utility powers. Studies originally had the limitation that they could not be replaced, but since the number of replacement disciplines is so limited, I didn't feel this was an issue.

With so many disciplines, even if you choose only one element, you still have a lot of choices.