WF Monk - take CE and Stunning Fist?

[bohemianbeast]

Hey folks,

So I started up a WF monk, now at lvl 4.

Str 14
Dex 16 (+1 for lvl 4)
Con 16
Int 8
Wis 14
Cha 6


Using these stats, I WON'T be able to get CE at all (unless I play long enough to get one of these hypothetical +5 tomes).

I have 32 pt builds, but no access to tomes.

How viable is a WF monk (this is non-negotiable, as I really like WF) at end-game without CE? And, how well will Stunning Fist work on a WF monk at end-game, with a Wind Stance based monk?

[Kaboth]

IMO

If you can get your hands on a +2 Int tome, I would plan for a 12 Int (13 for CE and 14 for the extra skill points).

going from a 8 Int to a 14 Int is a matter over 60 skill points. Think about that.

[Absolute-Omniscience]

I reckon that build will work without CE. I would suggest not taking 1 level in dex though, it's not that hard to find a +1 tome.

[InfidelofHaLL]

IMO

If you can get your hands on a +2 Int tome, I would plan for a 12 Int (13 for CE and 14 for the extra skill points).

going from a 8 Int to a 14 Int is a matter over 60 skill points. Think about that.

kabby u have to play to give advice!!! :P

[Delacroix21]

Hey folks,

So I started up a WF monk, now at lvl 4.

Str 14
Dex 16 (+1 for lvl 4)
Con 16
Int 8
Wis 14
Cha 6


Using these stats, I WON'T be able to get CE at all (unless I play long enough to get one of these hypothetical +5 tomes).

I have 32 pt builds, but no access to tomes.

How viable is a WF monk (this is non-negotiable, as I really like WF) at end-game without CE? And, how well will Stunning Fist work on a WF monk at end-game, with a Wind Stance based monk?


CE is a vital component in any AC built character, and you will only be able to achieve the "magic AC" number of 72 with allot of other buffs. Why not drop 2 points out of Wisdom and put them into Int. You can then use 2 of your level up points on wisdom (returning it to 14) and with +4 tomes on the horizon still be set for rank 4 waterstance.


As for Stunning Fist usefulness, I can say that (at endgame) it is useLESS. The DC (even with my 28 wis) is only 27, which is nothing against the high HP mobs you actually want to stun. Now when the level cap is 20 and weigted handwraps increase the DC, a 39 DC looks good!:D My advice? Try and grab some "elemental burst" of weighted 5% wraps, there amazing!

[Absolute-Omniscience]

CE is a vital component in any AC built character, and you will only be able to achieve the "magic AC" number of 72 with allot of other buffs. Why not drop 2 points out of Wisdom and put them into Int. You can then use 2 of your level up points on wisdom (returning it to 14) and with +4 tomes on the horizon still be set for rank 4 waterstance.
Lowering wisdom by 2 would lower the dps mode ac by 1, the dc of monk abilities by 1 and will save by one.
And the only difference would be +2 more ac in AC mode.
Defensive fighting = +2 ac
Combat expertise = +5 ac
2+1(wisdom) = 3 in defensive mode
5 = 5 in defensive mode.

I would not suggest dropping wisdom only to have 2 more ac in def mode.

[Monkey_Archer]

I guess i would ask, why are you building a monk?

monks are usually not as high dps as other melee builds so they need to make it up somewhere.... some have superior ac, others have high ki strike dc, some have both...

are you going dex or str based?

if dex based and want high ac... i would drop str by 1 or 2 points and drop con by 2 to get CE

if str based, drop con by 2-3 and/or drop dex by 1 and look for a +2 dex tome

if looking for a high ki dc... dont be WF :)

if looking for a pure balanced monk (all 4 tier 4 stances) dont bother trying to fit in CE

[bohemianbeast]

The purpose was to have a DPS monk (as much as a WF monk can be about DPS), but not have completely worthless AC.

So I thought about combining Windstance and Weapon Finesse (putting lvl-up points into Dex), and making up for a shortage in dmg with Power Attack (and maybe a WF PA enhancement or two). I'll likely be Imp. Critical: Bludgeon, for unarmed.

I have 16 Con because I like having HP, even in Windstance, and because it only costs 6 build points as a WF. I have 14 Wis because I'd feel like an embarrassment of a monk with only 12 Wis. I know it's harder as a WF to get Wis, but I don't like the idea of "giving up" on a (vital) stat just because it's harder to get.

(And the lvl-up points go into Dex because of the Weapon Finesse stated earlier)

And thanks for the support, Absolute-Omniscience. I realize that with the +1 mod to Wisdom, I should only have 2 less AC without CE (providing I'm willing to use Defensive Fighting).

[Arkat]

Here's GREAT WF Monk build! It does VERY well at endgame (Shroud, VoD, Hound, Shavarath on Lamannia server, etc.

You won't be disappointed! :)

http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=2158255&postcount=2

[bohemianbeast]

Hey Arkat,

I've looked at the build.

If it works well, I'm glad. But if I were to splash lvl-up points, I'd be putting one into STR and WIS. That would at least put me in line for all 4 tiers of all styles.

Also note that at the beginning of this thread that I have no access to tomes (besides the +2 at 1750 favour if I ever get there).

Your build info is also a bit innacurate. It states weapon finesse at lvl 1, which you can't get as a lvl 1 monk because of the BAB requirement of +1 (which only shows on the character sheet because of Flurry of Blows).

I may decide to use a lvl-up point on STR or WIS later, when +3 tomes are viable. But for now, DEX for AC and to-hit seems pretty key.

[Arkat]

Your build info is also a bit innacurate. It states weapon finesse at lvl 1, which you can't get as a lvl 1 monk because of the BAB requirement of +1 (which only shows on the character sheet because of Flurry of Blows).


Yah, I wrote that up a while ago after piecing it together from some not-so-perfect notes and a somwhat fuzzy memory.

One day I'll figure out what it should be. LoL!

As far as Str goes, yah, tht's fine if you want to be a Strength-based (26 Str or better) monk but for the semi-decent AC, you're gonna have to go Dex and Wis.

Just so you know though, a 22 Str, the right Greensteel Kamas, the TWF line of feats, and theAir Stance pretty much means you'll have no trouble keeping agro against a monster like Sally in VoD.

Also, I wouldn't advise going Tier IV for all Elemental lines, that's way too many APs to spend on them. Just my suggestion though. :)

[Monkey_Archer]

Arkat definatly has a good monk build there, although i really dont quite understand why you need so much con/hp

I play a str based elf monk my self, with good dps/ac and has CE.... a bit squishier of course... :D

for comparison:
str:16 (26) +1tome +3 level
dex:17 (30) +2 tome, windstance
con:12 (18) +2 tome, windstance
int:11
wis:13 (26) +2tome, +1 level, +1 exeptional DT armor
cha:8

although i wish i went 15 dex, 15 wisdom instead....

a

[Kaboth]

kabby u have to play to give advice!!! :P

Well I been playing for almost 2 months now, focusing on my monk primarily and then some beta stuff. I been working on his DT Armor, Greensteel Cloak and doing other raids to try get other items. LOL, I been lucky on some raids and got some nice items I could use but wasnt what I was looking for. Other side thing is trying to favor up.

[Arkat]

Arkat definatly has a good monk build there, although i really dont quite understand why you need so much con/hp

High Con gives me LOTS of HP so that I can do things like stay in the Part 4 Shroud Blades and not die because of lag. High Con makes my Fort save really good so that I fear no Beholder's Disintegrate ray. (I don't fear their other rays either because of Deathblock and Warforged immunities)

I am so not-squishy!

[Ssmooth]

I've got a dwarf monk with similar starting stats and have a 60 base ac with no CE. Not sure if this is possible with a WF, but on a squishy, it's possible. 26str, 28 dex, 22 con(wind stance), 28 wis.

[Fennario]

As for Stunning Fist usefulness, I can say that (at endgame) it is useLESS.

We must be playing different games. :)

I find that my fist stuns quite a bit at endgame. 32 wisdom on my monk though. I guess it depends on the build.

[Aeneas]

It sorta seems to me like WF and monk combination have the luxury of not needing to wear a few items that other classes do, such as poison, disease, silver flame amulet etc. Why not take those empty slots and fill them with shroud greensteels items that proc damage? Slap on a docent of defiance and let them beat you up while you healing curse the mob and fight back. I'm sure somebody is trying this already, would somebody who has leveled this build and tried it out let us know how it is working out? I know there are some WF barbarians out there already running this route, the monk seems like a likely next target for the porcupine build.

[Murderface]

this will be a paid for with a high price for the f2p guys first they have to buy wf then buy monk,,,wonder how much that costs?