Talk:Way of the Earth (5e Subclass)

Aanx (talk) 16:41, 16 August 2021 (MDT)

This subclass is definitely unbalanced and the text is probably poorly written, but I'd like to hear your opinion on that. What should I change and correct to fix it?

SwankyPants (talk) 14:05, 19 October 2021 (MDT)

I was pretty deep in editing the page when you posted this, so oops I guess. Most of the kinks should be worked out now. I changed up a few things, but mostly for ease of use, I think.

As for balance? As far as monk subclasses go, it's okay. Not any more egregious than Astral Self.

Aanx (talk) 02:14, 20 October 2021 (MDT)

SwankyPants, thanks for your edit, I really appreciate it. Especially the speed... Lol, I was stunned.

When you made the change I was still making some small changes and by the time I loaded the page I didn't understand why all the graphics I made were gone. Then I noticed that there were some changes in the text. However, I noticed that you removed the body as a heavy weapon... Maybe it's for the best.

I was thinking of modifying the extra 2 damage with:

• Your unarmed attacks deal an extra damage equal to your proficiency bonus.

or

• Your unarmed attacks deal an extra damage equal to your Wisdom modifier.

It's exaggerated?

SwankyPants (talk) 06:03, 20 October 2021 (MDT)

Yeah, the heavy property only cripples Small creatures, and forcing one of your subclass features to do that at a certain level sounds like you're trying to make them multiclass.

As for damage, yeah, Wisdom modifier might work better than a flat 2.

SwankyPants (talk) 07:52, 20 October 2021 (MDT)

Another quick thing, subclasses use tildas instead of a proper title for their features 99% of the time. As for the categories, stop putting the subclass name beside the monk category, it doesn't do anything and just kinda makes it look sloppy.

Aanx (talk) 12:44, 20 October 2021 (MDT)

Thanks for the great help.

Aanx (talk) 02:58, 21 October 2021 (MDT)

I have to acknowledge that Heavy metal is better than the barbarian's rage and this in itself is not good. So I have to find a way to make this ability more balanced.

If I make heavy metal to lasts until the end of the next turn, and not 1 minute, I was thinking of reloading the skill with a short rest, and the number of times it can be used equal to the proficiency bonus + the wisdom modifier.

I thought I'd change the activation of the ability to a reaction, but that would go against being One with the Earth and Deflect Missiles and the bonus action contrasts the flurry of blow plus earth martial arts and normal bonus attack. I find it unfortunate to use a power that lasts a turn wasting a bonus action. Finding a balance between skills is not easy.

Aanx (talk) 01:49, 22 October 2021 (MDT)

I think the most logical solution is to use it as a reaction. I imagine the monk transforming (heavy metal) as a defense reaction to an enemy attack so as to absorb the damage with his body and then taking revenge with brutal force during his turn.

This would also avoid combining with the power of one with the earth. Heavy metal is useful when you get a lot of attacks but its use is limited, while One with the earth is a free reduction but for a single attack.

Heavy Metal

At 6th level, you can make yourself hard as metal, causing your blows to become devastating. As a reaction, you can gain the following until the end of your next turn.

• Your melee attacks deal an extra damage equal to your Wisdom modifier.
• You have advantage on Strength checks and saving throws.
• You become resistant to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.

You can do this an amount of times equal to your Proficiency bonus, regaining all uses after finishing a short rest.

One with the Earth

Starting at 11th level, you become capable of transferring the energy of just about any blow.
When you are hit by an attack of any kind, you may use Deflect Missiles. When used in this way, it only has a reach of 5 feet if it was not a ranged attack.

Additionally, you gain tremorsense out to 25 feet.

SwankyPants (talk) 07:29, 22 October 2021 (MDT)

While it's an odd way to use a reaction, I've seen weirder things. It should work.

MarshDASavage (talk) 07:44, 22 October 2021 (MDT)

If you're changing this to be a reaction, you might want more defensive features. Advantage on Strength checks and saving throws for one turn will very rarely come up. It's useful for a longer period of time, but it's not helpful if you only get it for a single turn. It made sense for a feature similar to Barbarian's Rage, but not for a defensive feature you activate as a reaction. My suggestion would be to keep it as a bonus action, but nerf it a little- maybe change damage resistance to damage reduction, and drop the advantage on Strength checks of saving throws in exchange for a +1 bonus to AC or something like that. Or, if you really want it to be a reaction, add an AC bonus instead of the damage increase or the advantage on Strength checks and saving throws.

Aanx (talk) 13:17, 22 October 2021 (MDT)

The owlbear monk at 6th level, uses ki and a bonus action to transform while receiving similar powers. I could copy the system, but being stingy by nature I changed the ability to one reaction and limited use equal to the proficiency bonus (regained with a short rest). While weird, I find it fun as an option to be a response to an attack and I don't think it's a broken ability as it's limited to one turn.

I changed the text to make it more understandable. (notify me if there are errors)

Heavy Metal
At 6th level, you can make yourself hard as metal, improving your resistance to attacks and causing your blows to become devastating.
In this form your body is heavy and your movement is limited to the base speed of your race.
When you are hit you can, as a reaction gain the following until the end of your next turn.