Talk:Way of the Ki Thief (5e Subclass)

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Greetings any and all readers, I hope you found this archetype to your liking. To those of you who give the Ki Thief a try, I would enjoy it if you described your experience with it and your group's reaction to it. Thank you in advance,

Zero1323 (talk) 09:52, 5 December 2015 (MST) = Zero1323

Hi. This archetype looks really cool, but one suggestion: Monks already have a feature that stops them aging, so maybe you could substitute the 11th level feature for something else, like a self heal or access to some dark magic spells via ki points. This is just a suggestion, so if you had that feature specifically in mind, don't feel like you should change it. I really like the rest of the class though.


Hello, I'm glad you like the archetype. To start, this was my First attempt at D&D homebrew. The level 11 feature is created to stack with a normal monks aging change and give them effective immortality as they will no longer die of old age. What the archetype really lacks is a non-combat feature that adds to role play.

As for a healing power one could reasonably replace the 11th level feature with a lay on hands type ability with each ki spent healing 1 or 2 (maybe 3) hp.

If you added it as a 17th level ability, then 3 or 4 (maybe 5 max) hp per ki spent.


The real apprension with a ki based heal is how powerful ki stealing and easy to abuse it was (chickens as ki batteries) now a days I think I might limit ki steal to a number of uses equal to WIS per long rest.

If you are using any ruleing such as a creature only has ki points equal to their CR or any other rulings or comments, I would love to hear them as well as stories of your experience with the archetype. Thanks. --Zero1323 (talk) 19:13, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

I haven't created a character using this yet, but I'll be sure to playtest it when I can. Great idea about the wisdom score.


Hello, fellow wikian! The idea is very nice and all, but here are some comments I would like to share with you:

  • Ki Thief. This must be the "bread-and-butter" feature for this archetype, right? It's a nice idea to have a way to give a self-sustaining feature, but I'm afraid the current version is very prone to be abused. When you say "target", not "creature", a determined rules lawyer can twist it so he/she can replenish all ki by just mindlessly punching on a wall.
Fluff-wise, I'd like to ask you a question: The name is "Ki Thief", so it implies that the monk steals the mystic power from the target by punching it in the face. Does constructs and undeads, like skeletons and golems, count as "having a mystic power (which a monk can utilize)?" Maybe limiting the target as a humanoid, a beast, or other creatures that you find fit.
  • Ki Channel. Bard's Bardic Inspiration feature, but with ki. Nice utility, powerful. Maybe a bit too powerful, perhaps, but I think this is fair as it is now.
  • Fatal Strike. WotOP archetype is open, by the way. I think using spent ki as a basis for a save DC is not a really good idea, because a) monks already have ki save DC, which is pretty much standard and b) spent ki already affects damage, and it would be overly crippling if it affects the save DC as well.
Using X was nice, but here are some wordings that can be used and from SRD (paladin's Divine Smite feature, to be precise): [...] You can spend any number of ki points to start [...] the DC equals your proficiency bonus plus your Wisdom modifier plus the number of ki you spent. [...] If it succeeds, it takes 2d10 necrotic damage for every ki point you spent.
  • Ki Impair. Lore bard's Cutting Word feature, I see. This monk is a speciallized buffer/debuffer, isn't it? Again with the Ki Channel feature above, I think this is a fair feature.
  • Stolen Life. Yesss, AngelsAndAarakocra had a point here, I too agree with his (or her?) comments.

In short: Clever idea, actually wonderfully implemented, but maybe a bit more of wording can complete this archetype. A support-style monk is a nice idea, reminds me of Zenyatta from Overwatch. (And reminds me to stop playing Blizzards games, I can't concentrate on my real life. :/) Oh, and if you're stuck with more features, I can suggest three options:

  • You regain ki and/or gain (temporary) hit point upon reducing a creature to 0 hit point (with unarmed strikes and/or monk weapon attacks?)
  • You regain (4?) ki as a bonus action. You must finish a long rest before you can do so again.
  • You regain hit point or gain temporary hit point upon hitting a creature (limited to some degrees, perhaps?) with an unarmed strike and/or monk weapon attacks.

--WeirdoWhoever (talk) 07:42, 11 April 2017 (UTC)

most of this looks good, I also do agree with the previous comments, my one issue is fatal strike. So you say itś based off quivering palm this is quivering palm At ¨17th level, you gain the ability to set up lethal vibrations in someone’s body. When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike, you can spend 3 ki points to start these imperceptible vibrations, which last for a number of days equal to your monk level. The vibrations are harmless unless you use your action to end them. To do so, you and the target must be on the same plane of existence. When you use this action, the creature must make a Constitution saving throw. If it fails, it is reduced to 0 hit points. If it succeeds, it takes 10d10 necrotic damage. You can have only one creature under the effect of this feature at a time. You can choose to end the vibrations harmlessly without using an action.¨ So with fatal strike you gain this feature 11 lvls early, you can also up the damage output, because it is 2*X(# of ki points) so if you use all your 6 ki points you can deal 12D10 necrotic damage at 6th level the hp for 6th challenge is between 11-13D12+around 40. That is too much damage.--207.163.37.50 22:04, 25 May 2017 (UTC)


Hello I like this class but I'm using it as the enemy of one player in my group I also think changing the immortality to a heal instead