[RPG] Homebrewed Character Evaluation: Blind Monk

The rules provide no guidance, therefore it is your job as DM to make a ruling.

The obvious upper limit is that it has no effect and you can move at your full movement rate and the obvious lower limit is that it is totally debilitating and you can't move at all.

Did I say no guidance? Well, there is a little bit - crawling, swimming and climbing cost 2 for 1 as does difficult terrain and, of course, if these combine (e.g. crawling in difficult terrain) you are down to 4 for 1.

In making your ruling, ask yourself these questions:

• Is being blind more, less or the same disability as, say, crawling?
• Can a blinded creature take the Dash action?
• Does the creature need to make a check or saving throw to remain upright and unbludgeoned by tripping or walking into things. If so, what DC will you set (varying by the obstacles; perhaps DC10 for a flagged passage, DC25 for a natural cave)? Dexterity is the obvious stat; a Dexterity save or a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check? What are the consequences of failing; no progress, fall prone, damage?

In making your decision try to come to a consensus with your players about what seems reasonable but remember you make the final call. Whatever you decide, stick with it for consistency (unless it is obviously failing).

With respect to the suggestion spell itself:

The suggestion must be worded in such a manner as to make the course of action sound reasonable. Asking the creature to stab itself, throw itself onto a spear, immolate itself, or do some other obviously harmful act ends the spell.

Walking into the dark might be an "obviously harmful act".

Yes & No

Generally Freewalker seems weaker than the PHB classes, but the 15th level powers are simply broken.

• It has spell progression similar to a Paladin or Ranger, implying it should be compared to those classes.
• It has no listed class features besides Spellcasting and the four School abilities. No Attribute Increases, no class defining abilities, nothing. It also has an AC of 10 + DEX, unlike the Monk or Barbarian. That's absurdly weak.
• What abilities the class does have are inconsistent with PHB class abilities (i.e. per day instead of per rest, static bonuses instead of Advantage, etc.), though most are of a similar power to PHB abilities.
• The overpowered abilities are Master Caster and Death Blow.
• Master Caster is crazy powerful, and will only become stronger as new Abjuration, Divination, and Transmutation spells are published. With the restrictions in place, this one looks fairly reasonable, but play testing will show that it is actually very strong.
• Death Blow is better than a Vorpal weapon or a Slaying weapon. Death Blow guarantees that one combatant is out of the fight. It's campaign destroyingly powerful - imagine your players' response if an NPC used that ability on them. Or consider what it means for the big bad if a player uses this ability - hit for 3 damage, and the final boss fight is over.
• If Death Blow were to be modeled on Vorpal, Arrow of Slaying, or similar abilities then it would be a cool signature ability. As presented, it is a campaign destroying joke.

Good luck. I hope this feedback helps you design a more satisfactory iteration.