Longsword splash monk, need advices

[Choopak]

Hey guys

I'm looking for a good DPS monk splash using longsword. The goal is to get WWS feat and remain in stance to boost STR and attack speed.
I saw 2 that i like so far, but i'm open to suggestions
1) cleric12/ monk6/ figther2 splash, aura battle cleric
2) figther 12/ monk 8, kensai II
While no.1 is easier to level, no.2 hit harder... I read that a pure monk 20 is BAD with longsword only (even if the attack speed will be nuts), so splash seem to be the way
Anyway looking for some expert opinions here.
Thanks

[DrNuegebauer]

If you want the good DPS option: use handwraps.

I've done option 1 and will TR him to something different.

It's a great char for soloing - but the 2xlongswords are puny DPS compared to the handwraps.

[hiimbob203]

since ur thinkin just a splash for the ki i would recommend tempest iii 18 ranger/2 monk since the tempest bonuses would work for ls and u could spice up ur damage a little bit with the extra strikes also u wouldnt have to take the twf feats which would free up ur monk feats a bit
(sorry for the text lingo doin this from my phone)
edit: didnt notice the first time that u mentioned str and speed bonuses those are from different stances so u would have to switch between wind for speed and fire for str

[aggravated]

18ftr/2monk centered kensi with long swords.

im lvling one now. the dps is pretty good. i cant imagine hw's being more dps but im no mathematician either. i say play whats fun and what can get the job done. gl and enjoy what ever build u go with

[Choopak]

Thanks for replies guys, keep it up!

First i would like to figth with sword, HW range sucks and try to find a decent one... or make a GS!
Second, i don't hate the ranger idea... tempest monk look promissing, heard a lot on rogue / monk and pally/ monk.
Tempest is fast, lots of double strikes, Rogue add sneak attacks (could take ninja spy PrC) and pally make you better at healing and you end up with ridiculous saves...

Any builds, link? i looked on forums, but most are pure, or WF... would like to try Half-orc

[Purgatory]

The only reason to be centered is to use ki. So why do you need ki? that what you should be asking yourself, If your not using ki for anything why do you need to be centered?

[elujin]

no reason to be centered with only 2 monk levels no reason at all i think14/ 6 (max12/8) monk is the sweet spot i got a 14/6 paldin /monk healing amp build but i gimpt (trying to do it with a 28 build was madness )him on stats but he is still a great surviver / suport build hi will be nice once i tr him in to a 34 build

[Tumarek]

I am playing a monk 7 fighter 7 and ranger 6 (just at 15 now) and she works great There is also the solar phoenix build, i think pala 12 monk7 and rogue? 1. Max healing amp and use curse. Both use longswords.

[gurgar78]

I currently have a fig9/monk7 Kensai/Ninja Spy that does pretty nice damage.

I also have a ran6/mon6 Tempest/Ninja Spy that does pretty nice damage.

I think I like the Kensai better thus far, which is why she has more levels. The damage bonuses to longswords combined with the extra ki generation are pretty nice.

I originally planned on going fig12/mon8, but I think I am going to revise that to fig12/mon7/rog1 for a little extra sneak attack damage. The only thing 8 monk gets you is a damage die increase on your fists and better slow fall and I guess you lose 1 BAB with centered weapons also. Hmm...

But you gain 1d6+3 sneak attack damage and I could boost a few skills which have been sadly lacking with my 8 int, non-human, mostly fighter character. =P This is taking the rogue level as an afterthought. If I had it to do over again, I would take the level of rogue first.

What would you use ki for? Base monk class gets every stance at creation now and APs are only used for greater stances. So, at the least you could use ki to get some additional damage on every swing. Additionally, a couple of the finishers are nice and don't require a high wisdom or monk level, for instance Karmic Strike (Fire-Dark-Fire, so requires 3 monk levels) and Trembling Earth (Earth-Earth-Earth). So even if you only have 2 monk levels, you can find a use for ki.

For my own kensai/ninja spy, with 6-8 monk levels, you get the 2nd level of stances/strikes as well as the alternate element strikes like Fist of Iron. Both Fists of Iron and the Earth*3 finisher work to increase the crit multiplier on your longswords. I've been doing a lot of Earth/FoI/Earth/Finisher combos lately. With the increased crit range of longswords, as compared to handwraps, it results in some nice crit numbers. Plus the damage isn't inhibited by resistances, so I find that to be a better use of ki than elemental strikes.

[Darkrok]

I honestly can't see going longswords for a monk except in one case - the Phoenix-flavored builds. Until they fix handwraps to double/triple-smite weapons will be the way to go for paladin-heavy builds and the various flavors of the Phoenix builds are a very good mix of the various abilities of the classes involved (primarily paladin and monk).

Some of the main options are the original (12 paladin/7 monk/1 rogue) which brings the highest possible amp to the table at 401% before any ship buffs/past lives, Tobril's version (15 paladin/3 monk/2 rogue) which if modified for U7 can easily get you workable intimidate, has better dps than the first, and doesn't sacrifice a ton in the way of healing amp, and one that I think works best for newer players, a 14 paladin/6 monk version. All three of them *can* use intimidate. The first two could choose to do traps/locks instead. The common thread to all of them is 330%+ healing amp, several paladin levels, and Whirling Steel Strike to remain centered with long swords.

[Darkrok]

The only reason to be centered is to use ki. So why do you need ki? that what you should be asking yourself, If your not using ki for anything why do you need to be centered?

Exactly! And dps isn't a valid reason because you'll get more dps from a different weapon than you'll get from staying centered.

For the healing amp builds the reason to stay centered is that you can keep yourself alive with curse of healing and the lightx3 finisher. There are times that the x/light/x finishers could be useful as well (ToD for instance). You need a build that intends to make maximum use of ki though to make it worthwhile.

I do think that light monks tossing in some healing it actually going to be slightly more important in U7. Once Tendon Slice and the other slow-downs on red/purples goes into affect a lot of PuG's that were succeeding with those tools will be failing without them. Having a /3, /6, or /7 light monk splash around tossing out lightx3 finishers will definitely help bridge the gap between heals from the clerics/fvs/bards. And as Tobril has pointed out in his thread on the 15/3/2 build there's always the option to slap on some Khopeshes and ignore your ki. The -4 to-hit isn't going to matter on quite a bit of content. Even better, you can do it on the cheap if you want in that build at level 19 with the Holy Sword spell.

[Tobril]

WSS is not DPS.

WSS is survivability and/or solo work.

[Choopak]

Well, seems i have a lot to learn on monk class, lol!

First thanks all for your answers, exactly what i wanted: input w/o bashing the noob :)

Oki so after reading all the comments, i'm leaning toward a big splash: like 12-14 x/ monk 6-7 or even 8
I want 2nd level stance, Ki for crit finisher (iron fist i think), earth strike (+8 dam every swing) and for wholeness of body. I'll switch between fire and air stance: one for ki generation and STR, the other for attack speed.
Now, any build idea, links or more comments?

[stoolcannon]

In my limited experience of having capped a longsword paladin that couldn't kill a fly I'd say avoid longswords. One GR later and I'm a 2 weapon kopesh wielding Paladin/Monk 18/2 and I can hang pretty well with most DPS.

[DevilButcher]

Thanks for replies guys, keep it up!

First i would like to figth with sword, HW range sucks and try to find a decent one... or make a GS!


I just want to point out I have tested attack range and Hand wraps have the same reach as a Great sword.
BUT Hand wraps are kind of bad at attacking while straifing since they won't let you circle and hit the target at the same time with out the need of stoping, unlike everything else.

[Choopak]

Oki... so lets say i narrow it down to 2 picks:
1) rang14/monk6 TWF longsword, air stance for max speed and double strikes, using crit finisher.
2) figh12/monk8 TWF sword, fire stance for +2 STR, crit finisher, earth strike for extra damage.

Now how good are they gonna be? Ranger bring spells, favored ennemies, TWF. Fighter gives kensai II, bunch of feats, STR surge.
I would love to hear from you guys and your experience if you leveled one of these...
:)

[elujin]

WSS is not DPS.

WSS is survivability and/or solo work.

i agree trying to make it dps is fine but will be out done by pure monks rangers fighters paladin

my pally/monk has greath stying power and can solo most things easy

[Mortriek]

I am probably wrong but i thought that to use stances you need to be centered, and to be centered you need to wear robes and ki weapons. Ki weapons as far as i know are kamas and HW, if you take ninja spy you can add shortswords as well to your ki weapons so my question is...

How can you be centered with longswords?

[Tobril]

I am probably wrong but i thought that to use stances you need to be centered, and to be centered you need to wear robes and ki weapons. Ki weapons as far as i know are kamas and HW, if you take ninja spy you can add shortswords as well to your ki weapons so my question is...

How can you be centered with longswords?

2 ways.

1. House Q favour. (difficult to get)

2. http://ddowiki.com/page/Whirling_Steel_Strike

[unbongwah]

A couple of builds to look at: Solar Phoenix (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=248800), my Tempest Phoenix (http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p=3081029&postcount=13). Could also do monk 6 / paladin 14.

[Tobril]

Here are a couple of 15/3/2 builds for your consideration:

Tobril
Thief splash (not cool enough to have "solar" or "phoenix" in the name)
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?p=3227440

Phoneix Champion - Built by Sigtrent
Fighter splash
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=243511


Darkrok is building something similar, I'll try to dig up his post as well.