Halfling Monk Dex based VS Str based

[MiLoHe]

As title says...I give you this input...discuss :P
PS: im talking about balanced builds ..es: 16-14-16-8-14-8...or:14-16-15-10-14-8..and so on...

[cforce]

WIS based. Unbalancing Strike + Halfling SA Enhancements + Ninja Spy!

[SINIBYTE]

As title says...I give you this input...discuss :P
PS: im talking about balanced builds ..es: 16-14-16-8-14-8...or:14-16-15-10-14-8..and so on...

I went DEX, AP spent to bump DEX is nice too, with finesse I almost never miss even with PA.

[MiLoHe]

I went DEX, AP spent to bump DEX is nice too, with finesse I almost never miss even with PA.

An important point imo is to create a monk with high enough ac (70+) with good dps...

[Sylvenon]

An important point imo is to create a monk with high enough ac (70+) with good dps...

...then there is nothing to discuss. This has to be a Dex build. A Str build cannot achieve this kind of AC. Good job answering you own question.

[Desteria]

Str based, darkpath, nijaspy, DPS moster Hafling... guil/cunning is the bomb, and size +1 to hit makes up for the str penalty.

[Hydro]

Str based, darkpath, nijaspy, DPS moster Hafling... guil/cunning is the bomb, and size +1 to hit makes up for the str penalty.

I vote yes ^

[edaciousx]

STR Based with ATROCIOUS DPS.

[oweieie]

The difference between STR-based and DEX-based damage-wise is relatively small. An 8 pt STR difference ends up being a 5% or less DPS difference (at 20 geared). The picture gets even less clear when you factor in void 4s erasing stuff all over the place and it's hard to figure how much STR effects your DPS when you're 1-shotting 5000 HP epic mobs.

[Xyzima]

You can get a resonable AC with str based monks(into the 60's that my monk can get to) non buffed. But thats a pain in the ass to get items. Dex is easier to get ac, and ends up being higher with same gear of course

One of the most valid points in Str vs Dex is. While both Str, and Dex, can recieve boosts to their damage via rage/madstone/ect. Only one of them gives a bonus to their attack as well.

[Hydro]

You can get a resonable AC with str based monks(into the 60's that my monk can get to) non buffed. But thats a pain in the ass to get items. Dex is easier to get ac, and ends up being higher with same gear of course

One of the most valid points in Str vs Dex is. While both Str, and Dex, can recieve boosts to their damage via rage/madstone/ect. Only one of them gives a bonus to their attack as well.

60 is not a viable AC, STR will generally have a better to hit then Dex with minimal amount of gear.

STR = To Hit, To Damage, (+1 Feat from no Weapon Finesse)

If that isnt enough for you to see the benefits of STR, I could then go into the benefits of STR + Fire Stance...

[Mobeius]

60 is not a viable AC, STR will generally have a better to hit then Dex with minimal amount of gear.

STR = To Hit, To Damage, (+1 Feat from no Weapon Finesse)

If that isnt enough for you to see the benefits of STR, I could then go into the benefits of STR + Fire Stance...

Well got in a arguement about this before, in which they ( a few posters) got on my rear about halfling dex monk being the best DPS and best choice all around. Which I disagree, I think WF Str monks are the best choice overall and in the end game.

[Hydro]

Well got in a arguement about this before, in which they ( a few posters) got on my rear about halfling dex monk being the best DPS and best choice all around. Which I disagree, I think WF Str monks are the best choice overall and in the end game.

Personally I think Halfling STR monks are the best choice with WF an extremely close second.

If you want to tank though and are willing to get the gear the WF will come ahead.

[Mobeius]

Personally I think Halfling STR monks are the best choice with WF an extremely close second.

If you want to tank though and are willing to get the gear the WF will come ahead.

Well the abilities of a WF inately seem to just work much better in epic/raid content for monks. I could go dark but my WF monk is still light, I still think in more than DPS. He started as aa Human Monk and TR'ed to WF. I have made lots of observations, and while I am not parsing or numbers crunching, I seen what works better than others through MY observations. Hence, why I went WF this time.

[Hydro]

Well the abilities of a WF inately seem to just work much better in epic/raid content for monks. I could go dark but my WF monk is still light, I still think in more than DPS. He started as aa Human Monk and TR'ed to WF. I have made lots of observations, and while I am not parsing or numbers crunching, I seen what works better than others through MY observations. Hence, why I went WF this time.

I love my WF also, but I have seen some amazing STR halfling monks who have made me jealous for that extra +8 to hit on those Orange named epic mobs with 64 AC.

They are both amazing monk races.

[Hokonoso]

best dps for a hafling is str based (start with around 14 then pump it with lvls) if you put anymore than 14 at start however you will gimp yourself. all monks need a balance starting stats but for now for tanking (non SA dmg) the humans and wf do more dps but for dps'ing halflings win cause of the extra SA damage, but all will change when half-orc come out, that +4 str will make them win at everything/life.

[Bacab]

best dps for a hafling is str based (start with around 14 then pump it with lvls) if you put anymore than 14 at start however you will gimp yourself. all monks need a balance starting stats but for now for tanking (non SA dmg) the humans and wf do more dps but for dps'ing halflings win cause of the extra SA damage, but all will change when half-orc come out, that +4 str will make them win at everything/life.

Not to de-rail...has it been said that Half Orc gets +4 STR?

I am guessing a +2 at creation and then an additional +2 through AP's?

[Fafnir]

WF will still have immunities as an advantage.

[Odin's_Hugin]

An important point imo is to create a monk with high enough ac (70+) with good dps...

Coud anyone explain me how to get an AC of 70+? So far, I have a Dragontouched with Heightened Awareness (insight+4), am lv18, have 34 dex, 28 wis, +2 natural armor bonus, +5 protection, and even with guild buffs and Combat Expertise, I only get 62 ac.

Ideas?

[Thanimal]

Coud anyone explain me how to get an AC of 70+? So far, I have a Dragontouched with Heightened Awareness (insight+4), am lv18, have 34 dex, 28 wis, +2 natural armor bonus, +5 protection, and even with guild buffs and Combat Expertise, I only get 62 ac.

Ideas?

Stand near a Paladin and ask a Bard to put an AC song on you. Voila -- 71. And there's also 2 from Recitation, 3 more from a full Barkskin, 2 from Chaosgarde, 3 from a Chattering Ring, 4 from a Shield clickie, and almost certainly more stuff I'm forgetting. 85 so far...

Really any Monk build should be able to hit 80s in ideal situations. 90+ possible for the more defensively oriented.

[Odin's_Hugin]

Stand near a Paladin and ask a Bard to put an AC song on you. Voila -- 71. And there's also 2 from Recitation, 3 more from a full Barkskin, 2 from Chaosgarde, 3 from a Chattering Ring, 4 from a Shield clickie, and almost certainly more stuff I'm forgetting. 85 so far...

Really any Monk build should be able to hit 80s in ideal situations. 90+ possible for the more defensively oriented.

I did some calculations and, as a Halfling build, I could do this:

10 base
40 dex (+15 ac)
32 wis (+11 ac)
Dragontouched armor (+6 AC armor)
Alchemical Armor Ritual (+1 AC alchemical)
Heightened Awarenesss 4 (+4 insight ac)
Barskin potion (+3 ac)
chaosgarde (+2 AC, dodge)
Monk Centered bonus (+5 AC)
Protection (+5 AC, deflection)
Blessing of the Three dragons (+1 AC, guild)
Combat Expertise (+5 AC bonus, feat)
Dodge Feat (+1 AC, dodge)
GH armor (3x Shield clicky, +4 AC, shield, 3x de 1 minuto)
*Race (+1 ac, halfling)
*Chattering Ring (+3 AC dodge)

= 77 AC, with no other classes buffs.

+ Greensteel with permanent blur.
+ 25% Ninja Spy
= 45% auto-miss, solo.


At a raid or an epic quest, with some other people around (1 ranger, 1 bard, 1 cleric/fvs, 1 paladin e 1 mage):

+2 de barskin completa (ranger)
+2 recitation (clérigo ou fvs)
+4 Inspire Heroics (bard)
+5 aura (paladin)
+ Displacement

= 90 AC and 75% miss chance.


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However my question is: Is 90 ac of any use on epic content? I heard fighters and rogues can get into 110-120 AC.

I heard also that people with 100 AC still get hit very often on epic.

[Fafnir]

I think you want a mathematical answer.

But here is two questions:
1. are there times when AC is better than HPs?
2. what epic content are you talking about?

Re 1, this mostly seems to be Suulu TOD tanking. And for that, a WF with lots of hps and whatever AC is good so that the caster can reconstruct you while the cleric/FVS work on the Horoth tank and rest of the raid. Isn't always the case and a high AC toon (like the above; or a ranger or intim pal) is good because they don't get hit much.

Re 2, epic content for any group rather than raid is mostly about auto crit situations and CC. Go with a caster with mass hold, or with barbs with SB or monks with SF, and you're golden. You aren't generally standing up to melee damage. That applies to the easier epics clearly and the desert epics is either the same or about tactics and positioning (e.g wiz king)

Re 2 for raids, you don't need AC for VON6 and for DQ2, you don't need it either. If you could achieve huge STR with enough HPs you can melee the DQ but if you're a low HPs and low STR AC toon then you'll at best be kiting the archers - and for that your AC isn't relevant as it's about moving around.

In terms of the mathematics, no I don't think that AC really cuts it for Epics in the way that you want.

[DethTrip]

Strength all the way. Max str WF fire/earth stance with DR gear and of course 500 punch. Have a TR at lvl10 built this way and I'm lovin it. 18str/15dex/18con stats to start with on TR. Remember that monk DR stacks and you will have clerics to heal you. Yes, clerics, because you can have well over 100% light healing amp on a WF monk.