Wardens of Heroes Gate

The Way of the Blackthorn

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The Way of the Blackthorn

Monks of the Way of the Blackthorn train relentlessly with wooden weapons, to the point that the monk is able to infuse their Ki into the wood, giving it magical-like properties. The monk has developed an affinity for wooden weapons – bo staffs, bows, short staffs, escrima sticks, etc, and refuses to use steel, iron or any other metal-based weapon because they are unable to connect their Ki to metal. Attempting to use any metal-based weapon is an awkward experience and results in -1 to attack and damage rolls.

When you choose this tradition at 3rd level, your special martial arts training leads you to master the use of ki-infused wooden weapons. You gain the following features and benefits:

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Bastón Weapons (Level 3)

These weapons can be any simple or martial weapon as long as there is no metal. You gain proficiency in dealing damage with these weapons. Add your current Proficiency Bonus to your damage roll. (If you are using a weapon with any metal in it, subtract current Proficiency Bonus)

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Aggression Tactics (Level 3)

You can use Intimidate skill in combat to weaken an opponent’s resolve. If you do not already have it, you gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill and Intimidation checks outside of combat have Advantage. As a bonus action you can spend 1Ki and Intimidate the target (by performing some daunting martial arts movement or a battle cry etc) – they must save on DC saving throw against your Intimidation skill (8 +Prof +Chr). On fail the target becomes “shaken”. A shaken character takes a penalty on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws equal to your Intimidation Skill bonus. If multiple smaller targets are within 10 feet of you, you may Intimidate multiple creatures as per table below. You can use this feature only once on each of your turns.  Size Matters: If opponent is larger than you, they gain advantage on their DC check. Is smaller, disadvantage. On fail, the larger are only Shaken for 1 round instead of 3 while the smaller is shaken for 1 min.

Size vs Size Table

Tiny     (Imp, Sprite).  Small     (Giant Rat, Goblin), Medium (Orc, Human)
Large     (Hippogriff, Ogre),  Huge     (Fire Giant, Treant)

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Knuckle Buster (Level 3)

After a successful Attack roll, a bonus action and 1 Ki Point can be used to target the hands of a melee weapon/ranged opponent. Target must DC save (8+prof+dex) else be disadvantaged on melee/ranged attacks for 1 min. The successful Knuckle Buster attack causes opponent to not be able to hold onto their weapon sufficiently. Only applies to weapon wielding opponents, melee attacks such as Claw, Bite, Kick etc are not affected.

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Cosh Brutalis (Brutal Blow) (Level 6)

After a successful Attack roll, with a ranged or melee wooden weapon, you can use a bonus action to cause the weapon to deal extra damage to the target – equal to your Martial Arts die roll. You can spend Ki points to use additional Martial Arts die (1 Ki per die). You can use this feature only once on each of your turns.

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Copse Skin (Level 6)

As a bonus action, you can transform your physical body into the texture and likeness of the Blackthorn bark. Cost is 2 Ki points. AC receives +1 bonus and you have resistance to physical damage types (bludgeoning, force, piercing, slashing) but you are vulnerable fire type damage while the effect lasts. This effect lasts for 1 hour.

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Vitalized Weapon Master (Level 11)

You gain the ability to further augment your Baston weapons energetically with your ki. As a bonus action, you can spend 1 Ki point to grant one wooden weapon you can touch a +2 bonus to attack roll. This bonus lasts for 24 hours. Weapon cannot contain any metal. This feature will stack on a magic weapon that already has a bonus to attack and damage rolls. (A +2 magic weapon will temporarily become +4)

Vitalized Weapon Attack Bonus Table

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Improvised Baston (Level 11)

As a bonus action, you can spend 1 Ki points to cause any wooden object (which is longer than your forearm such as a table leg, tree branch, etc) to become infused with Ki, taking on the properties of a Baston weapon. The object must be touched to infuse Ki into it. This effect is permanent as long as the object stays within 5 feet of the monk who infused it.

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Copse Skin AC (Level 17)

Your Copse Skin feat now also increases your AC by +4.

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FeatName (Level 17)

Feat Description