Monk Way-Granted Abilities to Cast Spells Are Weakened By Ruling

In a recent blog entry and second installment of my "Official 5E Rulings by Tweet", one of the rulings clarified by WotC employee/rules guru Jeremy Crawford concerned monks following the Way of the Open Hand. When I read these rulings, I don't verify and tend to treat them as gospel. However, I will probably verify as best as I can in the future because there's a problem with Crawford's ruling...


You can read said ruling by either scrolling down on this blog or clicking here and then clicking on the relevant link.


Okay? Read it?


Crawford references spell casting rules specifically how spell DC's are determined and that if no spell-casting modifier is given it is zero.


Therefore, Open Hand monks don't receive any bonus to their trip and push abilities, correct?


Not quite.


See, when I originally read the tweet, upon reading the spell-casting section my mind conjured the Way of Four Elements monk. They cast spells. Hence, why I said they were pretty much hosed.


Monks following the Way of the Open Hand do not cast spells. If you read the language, their abilities that mimic spells omit the phrase "cast the spell".


Heck, virtually every Way ability that mimics spells employ language implying such - except when they state 'cast spells'.


So what are the Open Hand DCs? Well, if you turn a page or two within Player's Handbook where Ki abilities are mentioned there is section detailing how a DC is calculated. So most monk abilities using Ki would use Ki Save DC.


Note: I said most. I think Crawford's saying the Ki Save DC calculation doesn't apply to when monks use their ki or a Way ability to cast spells. Alas, the poor monk doesn't receive an ability bonus to the save DCs they impose in such a case.


Based on my Adventurers League mind-set, no ability bonus added to a Save DC is HUGE. However, a zero spell-casting modifier for monk Way abilities granting spell-casting isn't weak within the scope of a home campaign. While monks can't use their Ki Save DC, the spell-casting granted by the tradition is powered by spending Ki points. Unlike spell slots, all Ki points refresh after a short rest. If the players can control the pace, they can take a substantial number of short rests. The monk spending Ki to cast spells could conceivably cast a spell more than any spell-caster spending spell slots can.


So the ruling stating that monks don't have a spell-casting modifier is a game balancing issue. Unfortunately, the original question regarding Way of the Open Hand monks trip or push effects isn't addressed. Unless of course, the Ki Save DC table doesn't apply to them as well. In which case why include the calculation and section?


However, I do stand by original quip. Way of the Four Elements are nerfed within the confines of a module such as an Adventurers League mod. Their spell-casting DCs simply aren't up to par with equivalent level characters.


Happy Gaming!


Next time.