The One D&D Playtest 8 Monk IS AMAZING!

[@feywanderer89]

Just so yall know, they added a simple +1,+2,+3 magical item for unarmed strikes in the book of many things. They are called the Wraps of Unarmed Prowess. They do not require attunement either.

[@DnDDeepDive]

Yay!

[@MapleSyrup666]

Didn't Insignia of Claws from Tiranny of Dragons doing the same already?

[@010WhatMy]

@@MapleSyrup666it’s only a +1 and hard core dms don’t like to add the item to their game because of lore implications

[@feywanderer89]

@@MapleSyrup666 Insignia of Claws is very specific to that book, and it doesnt improve. There is now a +2 and +3 version. More things to give monks is definitely better. Also some dms wont give that out because of the flavor and its only every been in that one adventure. So being in a more setting agnostic book is better.

[@DnDDeepDive]

@@MapleSyrup666 but stops at +1

[@BryTheOld]

Damage mitigation is a quintessential Monk/Fantasy Martial arts feature. I'm thrilled they went that route over improving AC.

[@willow7610]

With the level 20 you can eventually have both

[@blakereid5785]

Exactly. Their defense is focus. Overwhelming or distracting them is the perfect weakness.

[@Axel-zc6xj]

Sohei: Am I a joke to you?

[@beartygerevillaugh9418]

Isn’t the dmg mitigation only once per turn since it it’s a reaction? So multiple mobs or things with multi attack would still smite you?

[@Legaleagle0200]

@@beartygerevillaugh9418why would t you in a tougher spot use patient defense? That’s not once per turn damage mitigation

[@PsyrenXY]

I'm crying real tears. It only took a decade for us to get a halfway decent monk

[@planswalker]

You mean 23 years, ever since 3rd edition teased us

[@coriandercastor9453]

@@planswalker Yeah, who cares about 1e monk from '78? It's a core class, but, so what?

[@planswalker]

@@coriandercastor9453 oh, thank you for educating me. I started playing the third edition and I did not know how far back the monk class went. Rather than make assumptions about whether the month class existed before third, and whether or not it was viable before my time, or taking the time to do research for an esoteric question that I didn't care all that much about of when Monk first started sucking, I just used KZbin comments to vent about my own frustrations for my experience. Glad to know that monks existed back then and still sucked even back then

[@PsyrenXY]

@@planswalker I hear 4e monk wasn't terrible

[@planswalker]

@@PsyrenXY I have heard very little about 4e as skimming through The players handbook showed me nothing that ever held my interest, and nothing over it's lifespan as the latest edition ever changed my mind. If so, I'm glad to hear that for 4th edition monk fans, the few souls that exist. Doesn't change the fact that I waited 21 years for Monk to actually be decent in an edition that I play

[@Reoh0z]

Deflect Attack is the thing Drunken Monk has always been missing to complete the comedic fight skit.

[@beanjo]

finally i can live out my rush hour jackie chan fantasies!

[@beartygerevillaugh9418]

But it’s not for every attack against you is it. Just once per turn right? Since it’s a reaction?

[@akmi1931]

Once per round, not turn.

[@Lumpyrox1412]

The stunning strike is probably like an assault on their pressure points. When done right their body shuts down. But if they are able to resist you enough, they instead take damage to their nerve system.

[@gregsdumbid]

Came here just to say this exactly. They break the stun instantly doing themselves damage.

[@iiayoob]

Thought the same thing. Thematically it represents them being able to wrench their body into action despite the physical strain

[@toryniemann5124]

This is how I think about it too. Not perfect but I can make it make sense.

[@aryst0krat]

Glad someone said it! Immediately where my mind went.

[@chrisjordan6432]

oops I just posted "brachial stun" and then started scrolling the comments. lol having drilled it, yes that's exactly what it feels like. hit the nerve? reset button. miss the nerve? just frigging HURTS!

[@tylllllllluuuuuurrrr]

This is the first time in all of dnd History that the monk is right. It feels good.

[@EdBurke37]

It felt right in 4e.

[@ad9aggie]

It was good in AD&D.

[@joeleek9976]

​@@ad9aggie Grand Master of Flowers!

[@daracaex]

@@EdBurke37Thank you! More recognition for the 4e Full Discipline Monk! It was hecking cool.

[@christianemerson4622]

The Monk is NOT right. It's BETTER than it was, but it's FAR from actually being good.

[@jordanprice6457]

I’ve been refreshing all day to see if we would get Colby’s reaction to the new monk!!! Super excited!

[@Tusitala1967]

Me too!!

[@momqabt]

The moment I knew about it, same here brother🤜🤛🫶

[@SimonClarkstone]

50:10 Step of the Wind at Level 10 seems to let you reach through jail-cell bars and pull someone through them to escape, which is cool and isn't broken for level 10, but I don't know if it's intended. It certainly lets you carry people at high speed, along walls and across water.

[@Quinnknights]

Thing is just because the movement speed could be 0, would being restrained not negate that. It's their movement cost, but you'd still need to physically move. ( if it's made explicit that this is a more magical, teleport-ish ability then that's fine, i've no issue with it by that level, but i can see it causing table arguments )

[@samkrerowicz4269]

35:28 Thematically, it makes a lot of sense to me that stunning strike only does damage on a successful save because it means that the enemy making the saving throw was able to redirect the energy the monk struck them with so that instead of that energy affecting their nerves, it now affects the rest of their body, thus doing damage to their muscles and organs instead of their nervous system.

[@theblindbuildergrandminuti5648]

Yes, this is what I envisioned! The energy doesn’t dissipate so it does more contracted damage in a local area!

[@zarekodynski9077]

It’s awesome to see you guys be excited and have fun about your favorite class!

[@Lulu_Kazoo]

Amazing stuff! I immediately had an image when it came to the damage from a failed stunning strike that I thought I'd share to help with the class fantasy. I picture a stunning strike as an almost shockwave targeting a creature's mind, stunning and discombobulating them if they fail the save. On the other side, if they succeed the saving throw it seems like they shook off that shockwave and absorbing it through their body, dealing that force damage. I don't know, I really enjoy the image, almost as much as I enjoy monk being good. Fantastic video Colby and Chris!

[@benjaminfunk168]

I like that image. My thought was similar. They managed to tough up their body enough that the stunning force is absorbed by the muscles rather than reaching the nerves.

[@theblindbuildergrandminuti5648]

That is exactly how I thought of it too!

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Thank you

[@MrSeals1000]

Yeah exactly! Their muscles are locking up because of the stun, and they forcibly flex their way out of it. Being dealt damage by the recoil of overcoming your attempt to stun them

[@Zr0din]

So I still need a support class to reliably land a Stunning Strike? Portent, or some bard thing or something like that... OK so how does this read? After I have a successful landed hit, I can add another Martial Arts die to the damage? How about if I crit? Can I declare this AFTER I confirm a crit? Like Paladins? Will it double (or double the dice) with the crit? All-- if you don't stun. Think about that, if you are a Shadow Monk (Pop darkness or at night) and attacking in the dark with advantage three times a round, that's 6 rolls, so how likely is your crit chance on 6 dice? 5% x 6 = 30%, so once every 3 rounds you can anticipate a crit? Someone check my math on that. Open hand (or Just hand) needs Crit on 19 for one of those dead levels.

[@plebiain]

A rare video where Treantmonk talks both about monks AND Treants!

[@brettmajeske3525]

Chris is the Gandalf of optimization.

[@ninjasquirrels]

32:00 the reason for this change is because of thematics…consider this; To stun someone/something the monk will disrupt the flow of Ki inside them. It’s in the middle of combat, bodies are moving this way and that, trying not to be hit etc. The monk misses the exact Ki point(s) by so much…fractions of an inch or whatever. This causes damage but not the effect the monk was aiming for, thematically and mechanically. Makes sense to me. 🤷‍♂️

[@okayhellohihowyadoin]

My favorite D&D-tubers cross over again!

[@Sangtrone]

I've been championing Deflect to work on melee attacks in comment sections and the last monk survey. It fits the fiction so well and gives a nice survivability buff that monks need. So glad they went with it. I'm also not minding that it does essentially crit damage too.

[@ChoseeComprende]

That stunning strike theme should be easy. Two words: Acupuncture needle. If its placed where it should ... the way it should ... it ease your muscles and you dont even feel it. BUT! And i really dont wish you to experience it ... when someone push it too deep, or miss the spot and hit the nerve in the wrong way ... believe me, you WILL feel it! :D

[@elementzero3379]

I love when you guys team up. You aren't alone in learning how to "think D&D" from Chris. Many of us have learned, and continue to learn, from Chris. For me, it stretches all the way back to his 3e era forum guides.

[@emperortime4380]

It does my heart good to see D&D put out a monk Colby and Chris can be excited about.

[@targetdreamer257]

The thing is about deflect attack you can just reduce the incoming damage, no need for a Ki point. That is an always on thing. Yes it uses your reaction but then it lets you survive longer so you can throw more fist. I can't tell you how many times I am like "If I can just survive one more turn I will kill this dude." Being able to send the attack back is optimal but not always needed.

[@MaMastoast]

Reduce damage every turn for free is huge imo, big buff now that it works in melee.. makes monks incredibly effective at tanking singular enemies

[@SwordFighterDoggo]

​@@MaMastoastyeah, but most enemies don't do one attack

[@marcusjones6098]

I know nothing about balancing, but I think it would be cool if Deflect Attack returned to being an attack roll instead of a Dex save, and you could use stunning strike on it. It would also be interesting if the monk at later levels received an additional reaction. I don't know if any other classes have that, but I feel like it would tie in thematically with the Monk basically always being "on." You don't attack and then take a bunch of down time like other martial classes as you wait your turn. You're *constantly* attacking. Since the monk is kinda the most up-in-your-face class, I think it would make sense that they would always impose more of a threat than normal to creatures within their attack range.

[@Adolrak]

Hunters mark on initiative would be amazing. I think rangers would stand out more if hunters mark was their thing. Like it scaled in damage, it affected your abilities/attacks/spells and your subclass did things with it. But at the very least it should just auto apply to a target when you start combat

[@AnaseSkyrider]

In PF2e, the Hunt Prey ability also applies to any creature you are Tracking. This is your approximation to Hunter's Mark.

[@vortigern7021]

Hunters mark should work like favoured foe.

[@40Found]

Notably in the playtest you can choose to fail a save, so there's no reason to hope something makes the save for damage because it can just choose to fail and take no damage.

[@THEPELADOMASTER]

Sure but realistically, the creature wouldn't know what happens if they haven't been hit by the attack before, so they would have no incentive to fail on purpose.

[@ferencfeher2647]

Honestly if the creature wants to fail the save and lose its turn to stun, I am super ok with that trade.

[@MisterCynic18]

​​@@THEPELADOMASTERrealistically they would have an idea of how their bodies respond to injury, like how you can tell trying to push through a muscle cramp will probably hurt more than just staying still.

[@THEPELADOMASTER]

@@MisterCynic18 realistically, you haven't seen the attack before, so you don't know if falling the save will straight up kill you. Characters and monsters have no concept of HP and saving throws. To them, there's this flashy dude doing something to them. Will they risk taking the full blow instead of trying to react and resist it? It could kill them. They don't know what will happen.

[@MisterCynic18]

@@THEPELADOMASTER Have you gotten a muscle cramp before? You know what it feels like right? You don't know all the things that can cause it, but when you get one you know what's going to happen if you try to ignore it. Similarly, you've never been hit by a monk's magic ki tomfoolery before, but when it hits you you will quickly recognize the feeling of what it's doing to you.

[@TJPavey]

I think it’s best to not try to make sense of hit points. It doesn’t mean “damage” as it’s an abstraction that figures in fatigue, wear and tear, etc. The best combatant in the world would still die due to a long sword to the neck in one shot. So for stunning strike I think Colby’s thought about the defender moving and taking it differently makes sense. Maybe a successful hit is like knocking the wind out of the defender while a save means a broken rib. The first immobilizes the guy while the later makes them less able to get out of the way and requires actual healing to make better.

[@atingley0913]

This thumbnail is perfect! Had me so hyped to see what you both have to say!

[@alexpratt8533]

This is fantastic. Monk is finally keeping up with fighter and Barbarian. However, this now puts the Rogue in a rather precarious situation. Between the monk buffs and the fact that they gave a better version of evasion to the college of dance bard a whole level earlier than rogues get it, I’m worried the rogue will be the new monk without some buffs to help it keep pace.

[@eldoriath1]

I was thinking some extra sneak attack dices a level 5/11 would fit nicely in the whole extra attack gains.

[@marcocastellanosdupuy1470]

Amazing video, really excited about this new monk! The way I look at the Stunning Strike damage, it’s exactly the same as the Warrior of Mercy’s Hand of Harm (once per turn, decide after you hit, uses a Ki point, martial arts die + Wis) and we know Treantmonk uses Hand of Harm every turn in his Mercy Monk build, so this is effectively like having another use of Hand of Harm every turn. And if the enemy fails the save it’s even worse because I would always Stun on my first attack, meaning at level 5 they are taking another 3 attacks (extra attack plus flurry of blows) at advantage AND losing their next turn! If I were the DM, I would much rather my monster take the 1d8+3 damage (at level 5) than be stunned.

[@minikawildflower]

Only time I don't smash click on a Treantmonk video because I gotta watch part 1 first! You two are my favorite D&D analyzyers so the collabs are even better!

[@alexanderwizardjar9540]

Once again the speed and quality of informative content that this duo presents us with is unparalleled! Not to mention, I'm pretty sure you are the two content creators out there more invested in the monk than any others. Your happiness while talking about this UA would have made me smile if i wasn't already giddy from the monk and Barbarian changes myself!

[@matthewjames5224]

On stunning strike I feel like it should do the extra force damage regardless as you've put effort into a powerful blow Then if they fail their save they are stunned, if they make their save they are off balance or dazed like in bg3

[@thunderwearcloud]

Don't let the new monk distract you from the fact that the new conjure fey summons the *awesome* presence of a Medium Fey spirit in an unoccupied space you can see within range.

[@chiepah2]

"AMAZING!" is exactly the sentiment I was thinking.

[@cultivatedjerk5574]

You two are my content creator dream team! You and Chris are both pros ❤

[@UncleBBQ]

Before I even watch this video, it's so great to see such a humble and genuine smile on both of your faces about the supposed Monk fix. Can't wait to get through the video to hear about it from my two favourite DnD youtubers.

[@ram3n_goblin]

I like your stuff too Colby ❤ Thanks for the double phantom rogue shoutout.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Here's the guy!

[@ericward1151]

Honestly, as a monk player I love the changes. Just the changes to chi resource allocation made me happy. If they had stopped at making the step of the wind dash not use chi was enough for me. Everything else is welcome and beyond anything I had expected.

[@beastslayer8729]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think the monk might actually be... viable.

[@dzikdziki2983]

Always has been

[@gabrielcross1062]

The thing is everything got stronger so we'll see. This is definitely a bigger power jump than fighter had though. By far

[@verdurite]

​@@dzikdziki2983 cap

[@MisterCynic18]

​@@dzikdziki2983 ...if you roll stats and let them go past 20

[@ad9aggie]

Stunning Strike - when you hit you're going to do the damage from the hit before the stun, right? Hit, do damage, failed save, stunned. Hit, do damage, made save, more damage. That's the way I read the sequence. Keep on keepin' on, guys!

[@brianricketts8242]

i wish they would have a mechanism in which the monk could "spend", that is reduce some of its speed to do monk things, such as patient defense., ie reduce your speed bu 20 feet for a round to get the dodge action, instead of using a Key point

[@Azazel226]

These two are the embodiment of "When the Wizard and the Sorcerer chat".

[@DnDDeepDive]

😂

[@RaineYiVTube]

Oh my god near the start of your discord server I dumped a bunch of memes and the rogue vs monk bonus action dash was a part of it. I feel so validated with them changing that now!

[@bakuiel1901]

So great yo see Colby and Chris together again, and Monks yay!

[@mattdodson1272]

So excited to see these changes!! And much deserved vindication for you Chris!

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Celebration time!

[@BlazeMakesGames]

It really is about time that Monks finally got some good stuff for themselves. The new Martial Arts abilities are so much more fun, and I love that they get upgraded to even better versions of themselves later on. Not to mention the synergy with the subclass ability that lets you always use Step of the Wind alongside any other Bonus Action, it's just so much more fun and it finally feels like monks can actually do monk things without shooting themselves in the foot! I almost wanna put together some theorycrafting videos with the new barbarian and monk as well since I think they have some cool multiclass potentials too!

[@georgeadams1347]

I’m sooooo glad you guys decided to do this analysis together. Two of my favorite D&D KZbinrs!

[@carlswan8005]

Figured you would be pretty happy! I've brought the new spells into all of my campaigns immediately

[@Tusitala1967]

Chris -- Thematically with stunning strike you can imagine that the monk releases Ki to overwhelm the enemy's nervous system. If the effect doesn't work the energy dissipates in the body... violently. They used a lot of ideas I already implemented in my home game: Stunning Strike causes extra damage on a successful save, upgrade base Ki features at 10th level (11th in my game), and level 20 stat & max stat boosts. Adding on... I believe several creatures from the Far Realm have force resistance or immunity.

[@MaMastoast]

I can see that explanation when leaning into Asian mysticism, but I don't think the fantasy of pressure points and such are super appropriate to the class now that is has mostly been disconnected from the shao Lin inspiration

[@Tusitala1967]

@@MaMastoast More Western then? Ya put a big ole wallopin' on that cuss, giving it all ya got. Ya may not ring his bell, but he'll know he done got hit, by gumption!

[@Tusitala1967]

@@MaMastoast My game has European style monks descended from a knightly order that was stripped of wealth, the right to bear arms, and the power to mete justice. Their prayers and life force, honed by a harsh existence of training and hardship, allow them to feel ambient magical energy within the world and filter it through body and soul. They call this energy Vril and they can use it to accomplish seemingly impossible feats of speed, strength, and coordination.

[@TheOriginalE]

36:50 To me, it invokes the feeling of having a stomach bug and needing to throw up. The Monk punches the enemy in their 'throw up' Chakra, then if they make the save, sure, they muscled through that reflex, but it's physically painful, whereas they can sense what a relief it would be to purge their insides. Slipping into that stunned stillness is such sweet relief..... until the next attack comes in and they can't dodge it.

[@boomkruncher325zzshred5]

I think the reason why the new Stunning Strike does the damage when the target succeeds their Constitution Saving Throw is actually similar to how the Stunning Palm stance worked in 4th Edition. It's a similar deal: you go into a stance that makes your Monk character immune to stun, then you make an attack that either stuns if it hits, or deals damage if it misses. It was one of their best Powers to pick up. I think the idea is that the force of the Stunning Strike is so powerful that if a person's constitution can't resist it, they're just shite outta luck until their body recovers eventually. If their constitution IS strong enough, it's still a really powerful blow that ripples through their body, not enough to stun them but strong enough to do some serious damage. Kinda like how grass that's really weak kinda waves in a thunderstorm and doesn't get ripped out of the ground, and a wall that's very rigid and strong can buckle and fall down due to the high winds impacting the wall; if your constitution fails you, you bend with the force of the blow, but then you're stuck in this "bent" state until your body can "right" itself. If your constitution protects you, because you are resisting this powerful blow your body is no longer in sync with the blow and the dissonance deals Force damage.

[@TheDuckMaster12]

Fighters and Barbarians are fearsome opponents. Monks are frustrating opponents. This captures it so well🎉

[@nathanhirsh3727]

My theme on the stunning strike is the extra force damage doesnt happen because you hit the pressure point perfectly, putting all the force into the stun. Failing is sort of closer to missing the bullseye, but in this case thats just like punching them.

[@Reoh0z]

Their Ki was being redirected which would result in them being stunned, but through sheer force of will they painfully redirect that flow back through the recently disrupted pathway before it had time to recover.

[@MaMastoast]

Ki isn't a thing anymore though

[@carlswan8005]

And yet a monk build beat the gauntlet more easily than any other build.

[@nikcantsnipe]

Let's go! Two of my favorite d&d KZbinrs talking about the monk. It's always a blast to have you both on. They did the monk justice. Now how you guys feel about the new conjure spells and improvement to healing word & cure wounds is a different question.

[@insertname5371]

Im glad this came out since it informed me that i do not have notifications on for this channel i guess i just know roughly when they drop but i only realized this was out because i got the treantmonk notification.

[@ryanscanlon2151]

Barbarian with a monk dip is gonna be so freaking cool lol deflect while raging is gonna be awesome, I know the damage reduction comes before resistance but still. And all those barbarian brutal strike options with your fists are gonna be wild

[@NFBR-87]

This means that even LEVEL 18: SUPERIOR DEFENSE feature would not synergize with DEFLECT ATTACKS/ENERGY features. This would be a real pity and would make SUPERIOR DEFENSE not very interesting as an 18th level feature.

[@MumboJ]

Regarding the fluff aspect, I think Stunning Strike is meant to represent hitting a pressure point to forcibly contract the target's muscles. The funny thing about pressure points, is that hitting just NEXT to a pressure point is really f%&king painful, far more painful than the intended contraction. Have you ever had a bad massage? It hurts just thinking about. Acupuncture is a dream compared to that.

[@gothicshark]

Discovered you from BG3, been a player since AD&D in the late 80s. Been DMing since 2010 (4th edition). I started noticed KZbin D&D streamers during the OGL stuff, some I still follow, others not so much. You are one of my favorites, you have such a restful and interesting voice. I can just relax and enjoy your show. Dungeon Dudes are awesome and so happy that you guys are friends, so bonus, but I like that you're a "spell blade player" (old term for gish). And yeah this UA drop has some fun stuff I hope sticks. Edit: The only monsters I'm that have any Resistance or immunity to force are constructs. Where as Bludgeoning, piercing, and Poison are like the most resisted or immuned damage types.

[@targetdreamer257]

That "In addition, forgoing food and drink doesn’t give you levels of Exhaustion." is a HUGE thing in my play group. We need to keep track if we ate and drank that day. Plus we also keep track of encumbrance so that would lower the carry weight of things we need to take along. Plus think of if you end up playing a survival style game.

[@burgernthemomrailer]

Goodberry

[@targetdreamer257]

@@burgernthemomrailer very true. But there are many games/modules where no one plays a Druid or Ranger, at least in my play group anyway. There are other times when no one plays a Cleric. In fact in my play group in at least one game where Goodberry or Create Food and Water was nerfed to fit the DM’s survival style of play. We found ourselves in unfamiliar territory with no civilization anywhere so we couldn’t buy stuff like mistletoe for Goodberry. I get it several DM’s just hand wave needing food, water, how much stuff players can carry, or even needing shelter to regain HP and spell. My play doesn’t.

[@burgernthemomrailer]

@@targetdreamer257 Rewarded background: Magic Initiate, take Druid, Goodberry. Your choice of cantrips. If the DM is willing to nerf a spell that exists for the sole purpose of solving this problem, what makes you think they won’t nerf a class feature that exists for the sole purpose of solving this problem?

[@logancrowther1346]

I can't wait to build a rogue/monk grappler now that dex grappling is an option. Grapple, drop them to the ground and start with the sneak attacks. Has some strong Kali Eskrima energy.

[@chrisg8989]

Another Colby and Chris Collaboration Video? Yes, please! 😊

[@fuegoazul7180]

I'm so glad you guys didn't go into it blind. There have been very few times that creators on here have gone into a video blind and get it right. They tend to completely misunderstand or miss how an ability works then they claim it's weak because they don't understand it on the spot. Taking your time makes for a better video.

[@ben9136]

I think the "on initiative" triggered effects if they are used wider would need to be "if you aren't surprised/ ambushed"

[@TrothSolace]

I wanted to comment to TreantMonk's thematic question on Stunning Strike ( 35:47 ). My thought on this is the idea of pressure points: you are attempting to strike a specific location on the body to force the opponent's nervous system to freeze and lock up their body. They have to make a Constitution save to force their body to continue fighting - through sheer force of will. The exertion of effort to force your body through the stun causes you to lose vitality or "hit points" (however you table flavors the esoteric idea that is "HP"). Really glad it is no longer a suck if they save for the players now.

[@TheArchmike]

So with stunning strike something like the shockwave of ki/force that would have been focused and contained within the chakra to stun them instead runs wild through their body causing the damage.

[@aakmenos1517]

My two favorite D&D creators in one video! ❤

[@Phoenix_Colie]

Yo I cant believe you got the Antagonist from Puss and Boots to collab with you on this! Crazy how far you've come man, big love!

[@momqabt]

Finally. I can Finally recommend playing the (test version of the) monk to me and one of my players! I love these changes!❤ give this designer a promotion! And a vacation! And a bonus!

[@EpicRandomness555]

Oh, for the Stunning Strike damage thing, imagine like if the creature makes their saving throw, instead of stunning it disrupts their body a bit and hurts them instead of stuns them.

[@leslierobinson8724]

Super excited for this, as well as part 2. Its finally happening!

[@Alassandros]

Replacing magical strikes with force damage circumvents Barbarian Rage resistance, which sucks for Barba. Big nerf to them.

[@craigauty8874]

Hey guys check out the Barbarian section too, specifically: "Rage Damage. When you make an attack with a weapon using Strngth or an Unarmed Strike and deal damage to the target, you gain a bonus to the damage that increases as you gain levels as a Barbarian, as shown in the Rage Damage column of the Barbarian table." The separation of attack with a weapon using Strength OR an unarmed strike reads to me that the Unarmed Strike doesn't need to use Strength. Making a Barbarian dip pretty good for a Monk that gets up to 5 attacks per round.

[@Baes_Theorem]

It's so great seeing my two favorite optimizers share my love for Monk 😭

[@4rtifex]

The phantom steed disappears if it takes any damage, the spell ends says so in the description. so the creature doesn't "die"

[@Adurnis]

Force damage seems to be the new "magical damage" and they've taken out "magical bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing" damage.

[@harleyquinnigan7808]

I mean this as the highest praise. I want to play a monk now 😳

[@KorhalKk]

The Stunning Strike damage can be imagined with physics, the function of the skill is to dish a physical blow that rocks and shakes the target, one of those blows that almost turn off your lights and your whole body absorbs the damage and you get really shaken, but sometimes the strike doesn't hit the point you wished and the strike then becomes a punch on the arm or another non-vital point and it just hurts but doesn't faze you really. They could maintain the damage with force damage when the target fails, and if the target succedes, it becomes the weapon natural damage.

[@amingusamongus]

Such a fun reaction video! I love all the meaningful tactical decisions to be made each round - which awesome thing am I going to do with my bonus action, and then do I want to do the vanilla version or spend a Ki point to make it even more awsomer. With stunning strike, I can do the mental gymnastics to justify damage on a failed save, but agree that it’s still a little off narratively. I might try something like if they fail they’re stunned til the end of your next turn, if they save they can’t take reactions til the end of your next turn.

[@AoAD]

Aside from the weirdness of the Improved Disciplines being at level 10 (instead of 11 to be in line with the other power bumps of other classes), this feature is great!

[@cwesley2005]

Does anyone else play owlin monk? Getting the 10 extra feet of flying speed is sweet and you are naturally stealthy

[@xaveir7787]

i like Chris so much more after seeing his face.

[@karatekoala4270]

16:50 Honestly, as someone that has played 4 monks from 1 to at least 12, the damage die increase is awesome. Even Chris's very own fix for the monk did something similar. But before it was like negotiating a prisoner exchange, for a DM to agree to a starting D6. Crossbows do at least a d6 and optimizers rant about CBE. Most cantrips start at d6 and everyone shits on vicious mockery cause it does a d4. After 5 years of hating martial art die progression I can't let y'all talk down on the buff like it's nothing!

[@lennart_glimpsel]

you two are so amazingly wholesome together. just watching you two talk about D&D makes my day.

[@chainclaw07]

37:00 yeah, mechanically it's about giving you something for your efforts even if the condition doesn't go through. Imagine you're targeting their solar plexus so they get stunned/winded but instead he gets hurt really bad by your strike, compared to him getting stunned.

[@matedervarics9827]

I was so keen to have both of your opinions on the new monk (i am quite hyped up), and here you are, doing a duet episode! Awesome!

[@heykak]

36:50 The way I interpret it is that by resisting the effect, they have to strain and take the damage that way. Sort of like how being drunk can reduce the chance of dying in a car crash, as you just kinda flop over the car.

[@graethynne]

Re: resisting non-magical damage. It's worth noting that it appears that Monsters having resistance to non-magic weapon damage is phasing out in the 2024 update.

[@Ramschat]

That stunning strike is amazing if they fail the save, or amazing if they succeed xD Getting essentially a full extra unarmed strike's worth of damage for 1 point is more efficient than even flurry of blows (which is 1 point to make 2 attacks with your bonus action instead of 1 attack for a bonus action. And that 1 extra attack can miss!)

[@MrSeals1000]

It's got the efficiency of the mercy monks hands of harm, but now for All monks.

[@christianmagnan7243]

Hey Colby! Like you, I absolutely LOVE monks. I’m so happy to see these changes and you collaborating with treantmonk is so entertaining and enjoyable! Hope to see more of this in the future. But to be honest, the real reason for this post is to ensure that the cleaving green flame blade / phantom rogue stays high up on your to do list 😈 Also… consider the revenant blade feat… how cool thematically is a rogue using a double scimitar with one end being green flame and the other is booming blade???! Randall would have a blast with this one… love you!!

[@amicubskitteh347]

Colby going to have to start planning around Spell Storing Item now for Spirit Shroud instead of 5 level Multiclass out of monk.

[@SnarkyRogue]

I knew these two were going to have a field day when I saw the changes lol

[@celsiusnebula]

force deals 99.831% damage on average, magical bludgeoning deals 99.873%. so magical bludgeoning is very very slightly better but they're basically identical

[@Billsbury]

These two really know their stuff 💪

[@bananabanana484]

Fun Fact! A level 1 monk can get the unarmed fighting style, and make 1 d8 attack every turn while dodging. I love this

[@andrewnorth1471]

Grest vs D4 damage, but, with DND 1, the damage at 1st goes to D6.

[@AnaseSkyrider]

Do you not need the fighting style feature anymore? Even after they removed the class group designations?

[@andrewnorth1471]

You would still need it to get the D8, but as the Dice is now D6, there is less of a need too

[@linkatronic]

Loved these collabs and it's so great to see you and Treant nerd out over monk buffs!

[@carldanescd]

Thank you very much. At last, this was a long time coming.

[@davidc9005]

Love these collaborative efforts. Love you both. You both are legendary!

[@Cxdfc]

36:00 to simplify I’d say: On fail: Stunned and take [Your WIS mod X2] force damage On Success: take [your WIS mod] force damage as you glance the pressure point

[@DSpiritwolf]

Feel like the new step of the wind and stunning strike changes make Monks able to actually do what they were sort of intended to do now. That being, focusing on mages. Now you can dash + disengage through a mob of enemies and slap their mage in the back potentially stunning them or doing extra damage. I really like these changes overall.

[@zeedar412]

The way I imagine narratively the stunning strike issue of only dealing damage on a successful save: You are trying to tie up the flowing energies inside the their body. If they fail the save, the energy gets blocked, and they are stunned. If they succeed, you have still caused a strong turbulence in their energy, and that damages them.

[@botsv]

Thank you for being so prompt. Had to do some chores before I watched. Looking at the monk that can actually work in an MMA setting.