Coming Back to DDO, got some Monk question

[SiderealExalt]

Quite a long long time ago. I stopped playing DDO, in part to wait for an eventual update that would give Monks a prestige enhancement. So now that it's here. Before I go re downloading and make a Ninja Spy Dark monk. What are some basic things I should know?

[Kriogen]

Do NOT create a squishy (low CON) character. The rest is personal opinion.

[SiderealExalt]

Heh I remember that from when I first perused the forums. And many thanks to all the random people nice enough to post advice, monk guides,etc.

Right now I am thinking either dark Human monk or Halfling. But with the changes brought by Update 5. It seems that the stat juggling of monks has gotten even more intense. That right now is what worries me as far as making a ninja spy monk.

I can make 32 pt builds btw. Should have mentioned in the first post.

I also know right now that while I keep seeing that Crane is recommended for Ki generation. I am still leaning towards Monkey.

[Crinos]

I recommend you read the following

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=242643

and

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=214991

Both excellent guides.

You don't need to read the whole thread in either case, just the main post.

That should give you a solid foundation.

I should add though that these guides don't really cover the new prestige enhancements yet, or the changes to the DCs of stunning fist, but a bit of additional light reading should see you well informed on those areas as well.

[SiderealExalt]

Most of the basics about Monks I remember. Mostly I am wondering if Update 5 took any old Monk build guidelines and turned them on their head.

[Jasam01]

Aye.

Changed Advice

Stunning fist. It's VERY good now (reliable, endgame stun) with +10 stunning handwards working (TO the point theres been a few people trying out WIS builds). ALSO related, is that it will have a better DC then Stunnign blow unless your STR is 22 points or higher then your WIS, while having a lower cooldown, due to the half level bonus.
GTWF - With the change to TWF, ToD e.t.c will strike twice. And up to 3 times with double strike.

NEW advice.

Light PrE - Expensive and useless. Is aparently getting a rewrite in U7
New Ki Weapons - Inferor to wraps still, just like kamas. Ninja Spy means you can use short swords where you would of been using those anyway for more damage though.
Ninja Spy - The 25% Displacement ability, and 1/3D6 sneak stack, very good PrE. No reason not to take it.
Void Strikes - The void - dark - void can charm effectivly at high end content. Void IV can Insta-Kill mobs that are normaly vorpal immune. Generaly too expensive for darks to get IV, Lights however might well have sapre AP.

On the builds....
Basicaly, Builds should now include Ninja Spy and preqs. & Stunning fist.

I think thats a quick (somewhat simplifyed) summery of all the big changes,

[Crinos]

Also, if you build a strength based monk there is a good argument for being in Fire stance now when hasted. Previously wind stance was the out and out winner in all situations.

[Jasam01]

Ah yes. The theory being that 10% double strike being inferior to the past 10% insight, Fire Stances Ki generation allows for more freedom in animal path/equip(And is more True with added ki consumption from trying to use ToD, stunning fist and ninja spy displacement).

In other words the same arguments that were made before, but now theres a few new ki drains, and wind isn't as good.

I also forgot one. Move Silently is often recomended as a skill a bit more now, since shadow fade gives invisability, and move silently makes it more useful.

Also, on halflings, recently (if you ask me) 16 STR builds are somwhat unattractive (With WIS no longer being a dump stat), so I would expect more finese halflings as opposed to STR halflings. (Or perhaps STR halflings that start with 14 STR).