Monk advice. Continue or not

[rpv6752]

I currently have a monk who is level 5 with 2 ranks in. Not sure if what I created is still a viable character.
It's a 32 pt build and this is what I have for stats right now

Str 17
Dex 16
Con 16
Int 8
Wis 15
Chr 8

I really don't know what direction I want to go in. With these stats what is my best option. Unfortunatly I can't remember what feats I took and what I have done with enhancements. I do think I went with the two weapon feats.

I do enjoy playing this class but I want to do it right. Any advice or assistance with directions would be appreciated.

Thanks

[AaronB]

You need a bump to base dex to get improved and greater twf. You can get that either with a tome, or by putting one of your level-up bonuses into it (at 8th lvl, probably). Other than that the starting stats look about right.

Skills are important, too. You can't fix those unless you do a reincarnation. Hopefully you have concentration; that's the most important. After that balance is useful, spot is helpful, jump is handy (though not necessary), and if you want to make a real investment in it use magic device is good. Some people also like hide/move silently, but probably not with 8 starting Int.

Enhancements are easy to fix even if you've messed them up. Feats can also be fixed. You want the TWF line, at least one toughness, power attack. Dodge if you want Ninja Spy (which is really nice), stunning fist is also really handy. Improved critical: bludgeoning is also good.

[FuzzyDuck81]

without info on the feat & skill choices its hard to say, but the base stat distribution is fine

[Jamma]

Those are a more stats than you could have at level 5 on a 32 point build. Please repost without any stat altering items, enhancements or spells on. Please also provide your race.

If you don't feel like that, you look like a generic monk strength build, presumably human. Continue to put your level up stats in to strength, don't waste a feat on weapon finesse. Thats about it.

Read up on Eurytos' post on how to build a monk http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=242643

Standard feats:

TWF at level 1
Stunning Fist at level 6
ITWF at level 9
IC:bludgeon at level 12
GTWF at level 15

Other feats: Power Attack, Dodge (especially if dark path, prerequisite feat for Ninja Spy, a worthwhile prestige enhancement for monks), WF:bludgeon (a lot of monks skip this), remainder multiple toughness feats.

Skill points should go in to concentration, balance, jump, spot, in that order of importance.

Thats it. Monks are the 'simplest' of all the classes as far as builds are concerned.

[rpv6752]

Thanks for the advice. As for my stats.... I do have a +1 dex trinket on. I might have something from enhancements. I'll post what i've taken so far for feats, skills and enhancements.

Yup I'm human.

[rpv6752]

So I looked over what I've done so far with my monk. Here is what I have:

STR 17
DEX 15(16) With Dex trinket
CON 15(16) With Con necklace
Int 8
Wis 14(15) WIS Monk 1
Chr 8

Enhancements (I have 6 points that I need to spend and I'm thinking maybe about respecting)
Human Improved Recovery 1
Human Versatility 1
Monk Wisdom 1
Racial Toughness 1
Fists of Light

Balance, Con, Spot, Tumble

Skills(Can I change to Fist of Darkness and THF)
Dodge
Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light
Stunning Fist
Toughness
Two Handed Fighting
Two Weapon Fighting

[Jamma]

So I looked over what I've done so far with my monk. Here is what I have:

STR 17
DEX 15(16) With Dex trinket
CON 15(16) With Con necklace
Int 8
Wis 14(15) WIS Monk 1
Chr 8

Enhancements (I have 6 points that I need to spend and I'm thinking maybe about respecting)
Human Improved Recovery 1
Human Versatility 1
Monk Wisdom 1
Racial Toughness 1
Fists of Light

Balance, Con, Spot, Tumble

Skills(Can I change to Fist of Darkness and THF)
Dodge
Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light
Stunning Fist
Toughness
Two Handed Fighting
Two Weapon Fighting

Looks fine, except you need to swap out the THF feat. Utterly worthless on a monk. I'd swap it for Power Attack. The only THF weapon a monk can use and remain centered is a quarterstaff, arguably the worst melee weapon in the game (unless you're an acrobat rogue).

With a starting dex of 15, you'll need to get two more dex stat points in there from levelup stat increases or tomes for GTWF (mandatory for monks that don't suck) and another dex point if you wish to get Grandmaster air stance (used to be mandatory, now grandmaster fire stance can rival it).

Because enhancements are so easy to change, it never hurts to experiment with them. Early on you may want to put some points in to Monk Concentration, and you should have started your animal path by now. At level 6 you can get your Adept levels of the different stances, but you have to have spent 18 AP's before that point.

[rpv6752]

Thanks Jamma

[Therigar]

Two words -- Turbine Store.

Spend the money/turbine points and get a +2 DEX tome. Eat it at L7. IMO you should go for the +2 tome of supreme ability that raises every stat +2.

TWF is the way to go for most monks.

BUT....

Ingore all of what I said earlier and rethink a bit. A THF quarterstaff focused build isn't entirely gimped.

OK, it is.... I was trying to find something positive.

BTW, never, never, spend your stat increases from L4, 8, etc. on fixing a character. Reroll instead.

A monk should be one of two things. First, they should be STR based ignoring AC and focused on maximized DPS. Second, they should be DEX based giving only minimal thought to damage and focused on ultimate survivability.

There isn't really anything in between (in spite of opinions to the contrary). Stat increases at level ups should support whichever of the two build goals you choose.