Monk build Advice/criticism desired.

[Alaunus]

My purpose for this build was an all around generally useful monk depending on the make-up of the group I find myself in. Not an expert or even very experienced character builder by any means, so would appreciate any tips/pointers/advice or criticism those more knowledgeable can offer. I am currently lvl 12 and finding intimidate not hitting as often, thinking of reincarnating and taking diplomacy instead as my ac is not holding up to higher level content the way it was at lower levels. Thanks in advance for the help.



Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.32
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Cyntao Anvilfist
Level 20 Lawful Good Dwarf Male
(20 Monk)
Hit Points: 304
Spell Points: 0
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 14
Reflex: 17
Will: 17

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(32 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 12 12
Dexterity 16 21
Constitution 12 14
Intelligence 10 10
Wisdom 16 20
Charisma 10 10

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 18

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 3 28
Bluff 0 0
Concentration 5 38
Diplomacy 0 0
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle 0 4
Heal 3 5
Hide 3 5
Intimidate 2 11.5
Jump 4 4
Listen 3 5
Move Silently 3 5
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform n/a n/a
Repair 0 0
Search 0 2
Spot 7 28
Swim 1 1
Tumble 4 6
Use Magic Device n/a n/a

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense I
Enhancement: Monk Concentration I


Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics I
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Fist
Enhancement: Lifting the Veil
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I


Level 4 (Monk)
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense II
Enhancement: The Receptive Earth


Level 5 (Monk)
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey II
Enhancement: Restoring the Balance


Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Weapon Finesse
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons
Enhancement: Difficulty at the Beginning
Enhancement: Adept of Wind
Enhancement: Adept of Rain


Level 7 (Monk)
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II


Level 8 (Monk)


Level 9 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Rise of the Phoenix
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom II


Level 10 (Monk)
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey III


Level 11 (Monk)
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense III
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I


Level 12 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons
Enhancement: Master of Thunder


Level 13 (Monk)
Enhancement: Master of Sea
Enhancement: Monk Concentration II


Level 14 (Monk)
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III


Level 15 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II


Level 16 (Monk)
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey IV


Level 17 (Monk)
Enhancement: Racial Toughness IV


Level 18 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Storms


Level 19 (Monk)
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Oceans


Level 20 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Serenity
Enhancement: Monk Concentration III

[IgorHackNSlasher]

Str and Conb ar a bit low for my liking. I would drop the points in Cha and put them in str and con as cha skills are not that mportant to a monk, especially since you are not taking UMD. Intimidate is not really useful either since almost all fighters and barbs are going to have a higher intimidate, you are better served with diplo or stealth skills(hide & move silently).

[jsaving]

Concentration, balance, jump, and spot are your key skills if you aren't interested in stealth mode or UMD. While intimidate can be useful, you can't get it high enough to matter and would be better-served putting those points elsewhere. I suggest dropping your INT to 8 and putting points in conc/balance/jump until you get jump to 10, at which point you'd switch to conc/balance/spot. Dropping intimidate would also allow you to safely reduce your CHA to 6, freeing up a total of 6 points (including the 2 from INT) that could be used to boost your STR and CON.

If you want to keep your build as-is rather than making these changes, you might consider a different race, as you don't generally want to throw points in CHA while largely ignoring CON as a dwarf. Drow might be a better choice for what you currently have in mind, or maybe halfling given the 16 DEX.

[Impatiens]

I'd use those points in Intim in UMD instead. Though, honestly, if you want a monk with a higher charisma to make any charisma skills like intim, umd, diplomacy, etc more useful I'd go with a race other than dwarf so you aren't using as many points to boost charisma to 10 and can use those points elsewhere. Also the last .5 you have in intim will do nothing for you, keep your skills at whole numbers.

Currently you don't have enough strength to even take power attack and you can't even get tier 3 let alone tier 4 of mountain stance with the con you have which give you the best ki strikes.

[Alaunus]

After reading your advice (thank you very much), I came up with and implemented this. Already the difference is noticeable and your advice is greatly appreciated.


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.32
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Cyntao 2 Anvilfist
Level 20 Lawful Good Dwarf Male
(20 Monk)
Hit Points: 342
Spell Points: 0
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 17
Reflex: 18
Will: 17

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(32 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 14 16
Dexterity 16 23
Constitution 16 20
Intelligence 8 10
Wisdom 16 20
Charisma 6 8

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 3 29
Bluff -2 -1
Concentration 7 41
Diplomacy -2 -1
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle -2 3
Heal 3 5
Hide 3 6
Intimidate -2 -1
Jump 6 11
Listen 3 5
Move Silently 3 6
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform n/a n/a
Repair -1 0
Search -1 2
Spot 7 24
Swim 2 3
Tumble n/a n/a
Use Magic Device n/a n/a

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense I
Enhancement: Monk Concentration I


Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics I
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light
Feat: (Selected) Quick Draw
Enhancement: Lifting the Veil
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I


Level 4 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense II
Enhancement: The Receptive Earth


Level 5 (Monk)
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey II
Enhancement: Restoring the Balance


Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Weapon Finesse
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Bludgeoning Weapons
Enhancement: Difficulty at the Beginning
Enhancement: Adept of Wind
Enhancement: Adept of Rock


Level 7 (Monk)
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II


Level 8 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX


Level 9 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Rise of the Phoenix
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom II


Level 10 (Monk)
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey III


Level 11 (Monk)
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense III
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I


Level 12 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons
Enhancement: Master of Thunder


Level 13 (Monk)
Enhancement: Master of Stone
Enhancement: Monk Concentration II


Level 14 (Monk)
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III


Level 15 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II


Level 16 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey IV


Level 17 (Monk)
Enhancement: Racial Toughness IV


Level 18 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Storms


Level 19 (Monk)
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Mountains


Level 20 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX
Enhancement: Monk Serenity
Enhancement: Monk Concentration III

[unbongwah]

Probably a little late to say this if you've already LRed yourself, but: I don't think Dodge, Quick Draw, or Weapon Focus are worth it; I would take Power Attack a lot sooner and add Stunning Fist (which was on your original build but not on your second).

[Alaunus]

Well feats can always be changed, the feedback is appreciated.