Mánalfenír Martial Arts style

Hand of the Smith Martial arts Tradition

Much of the inspiration and details is derived from Colombia Games and the Hârn Religion Team (HRT) Archive.

This combat style was created by the Khuzdul (Dwarves) and developed to take advantage of magical enhancement, heavy armor and weapons. Human wizards-smiths of the Jmôrvi school of magic later adopted it. Mánalfenír evolved along a very different path from many other martial arts and is fundamentally different.

Heavy mail and plate armor are integral part of the training; blocking and avoiding attacks are not emphasized. Through conscious control of muscles and body tissues, boosted by Ki or magical Jmôrvi energies, the practitioner allows his skin and muscle to take on the properties of his metal armor, improving his overall protection. The hardened flesh can also be applied to punches, knee strikes, head-buts, and elbow strikes.

This is a highly offensive martial arts style that relying on magic and/or armor for defense. Very specialized moves such as grabbing an opponent’s blades, tripping, throwing and powerful strikes are part of this unusual martial art style.

This martial art is taught only among selected Human Jmôrvi arcanists/smiths and Dwarven Metal Crafters Clans. The practitioner almost always makes and customises his own armor and weapons.

Mánalfenír Monks - D&D 5E Notes

Modifications to Mánalfenír Monks

Weapon Proficiencies - Replace monk weapons with all simple weapons, the warhammer and any metal martial weapon of the monk's choice.

Tool Proficiencies - The character must take an appropriate metal crafting tool Proficiency.

Unarmored Defence - Replace with proficiency in all metal armors. The monk abilities do not function with shields. Shields are for cowards.

Ki - When using a Ki point the monk gains his strength bonus to armor class until the start of his next turn. For saving throws against the monks Ki powers use the strength modifier rather than wisdom.

Unarmored Movement – Increased movement is due to the practitioner making the armor more flexible when moving. However, the Level 9 ability to travel up vertical surfaces and across liquids is not gained.

Monastic Traditions - Way of the Open-hand only.

Deflect Missiles - This feature acts more like withstand missiles. Missiles bounce of the monk's body. Damage is reduced by 1d10 + Strength Bonus + Monk level. The missile can be reflected back.

Tongue of the Sun and Moon – Replace with Tongue of Metal, the ability to cast the Heat Metal Spell using 3 Ki points.

Other Options for Non-Monk Classes

Mánalfenír (Hand of the Smith) Martial Arts Feat

You are trained in the Mánalfenír Martial Arts style, consisting of specialized moves such as blocking and grabbing an opponent’s blades combined with powerful hammer-like punches. Your skin and fists take on the properties of the metal armor you are wearing.

Prerequisite:

You must be either a member of Jmorvi secret wizard’s society or any metal crafting Guild or a Dwarf. You must also have had some degree of magical training (arcane or the Forge Domain) and have proficiency in Smiths Tools.

Benefits:

You gain proficiency in heavy metal armors.

Your punches, head-buts, elbow, and knee strikes do d4 + strength modifier damage.

When attacking, you can make a punch strike as a bonus action.

When armored and not wearing a shield, your skin takes on the properties of the metal you are wearing. Once per long rest, you gain your strength bonus to your armor class for 1 minute.