Way of the Guardian - Monk Subclass (D&D 5E)

I built this subclass to scratch a personal itch of mine. I've always wanted more build variety in D&D 5E. A major way to mix things up for myself has been trying to create characters who have strange stat distributions for their class. A strength rogue or monk always seemed like something that would be a really fun diversion from the typical builds of those classes. So, I built this class for myself!

The Way of the Guardian fundamentally changes the monk by allowing them to use armor and shields alongside their monk abilities. In fact, the use of the shield is a fundamental feature of this subclass that creates gameplay that I think is very different from any other martial class. You are encouraged to use your shield offensively and defensively. You must also consider when the ideal time is to toss away your shield towards an aggressive or supportive end.

If you have any questions, please comment or message me directly. I would also love to hear about your experience if you play my class in a game!

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Thank you to The British Library and The Portal to Texas History for providing their artwork for publicly available use.