The Book of Syncletica: New Monk Guide

[TeacherSyn]

(Updated 5/22/2014 based on game changes)

After a bit of frenzied and welcome error correction and formatting from DDO forum members (thanks again), I'm happy to invite you to "The Book of Syncletica", a Monk guide for new players to the class, or for experienced players that have tried Monks before and, for one reason or another, lost interest or became confused and frustrated.

The guide helps you with the essentials for Monks (think Luke Skywalker's training from Yoda) and not necessarily advanced stuff (like why Yoda didn't teach Luke about the "block Sith lightning" bit). Thus, it explains mechanics, feats, skills, abilities and enhancements common to Monks. what Light and Dark means (no, it's nothing to do with chicken) and the special attacks called finishing moves that form the basis of Monk abilities, from Level 1 to 20 and beyond, and details the use of the Monk Epic Destiny, Grandmaster of Flowers, as well as Shadowdancer, Legendary Dreadnought, and others.

The Book goes level by level, discusses the three central class trees as of Update 19 (Ninja Spy, Shintao Monk, and Henshin Mystic), and tries to illustrate where possible. Additional discoveries and variations from forum members are noted throughout.

The guide does NOT teach you how to multiclass (although it touches on what classes are compatible, such as the Kensei fighter and the elven Arcane "Zen" Archer Monk) nor does it contain specific how-tos on character building as popular character build apps do. Nor does the guide go far into cross-class training (UMD on a Monk? Sure, it can be done, but...that's not a Monk skill, so seek enlightenment elsewhere).

The guide is available at https://sites.google.com/site/bookofsyn. Since this is a web site, it can be continually updated and its format adjusted to meet changes in the game or new developments.

Feel free to send corrections, comments and suggestions to this link (http://orderofsyncletica.wordpress.com/about-the-monk-guide/) on the guide's sister blog, The Order of Syncletica (http://orderofsyncletica.wordpress.com/), also a DDO Fansite page.

The guide won't be much without community input to keep it accurate, so thanks in advance for reading and providing any comments or corrections required.

[Cordovan]

Too cool! The amount of sheer work and dedicated writing it took to put this together is very impressive. Congratulations!

[xaerr]

This is really good. All my past lives being monk, and being in a monk only guild, there is lots of really good stuff in here! Good Job!

[TeacherSyn]

This is really good. All my past lives being monk, and being in a monk only guild, there is lots of really good stuff in here! Good Job!

There's a Monk-only guild!? :drool:

Seriously, I appreciate the positive comments! Quite a few forum members in the last few days have helped find many typos and errors as well as expand or suggest sections where my own knowledge was lacking or biased.

The most important section is not yet in--one that shows how players use keyboards or other devices to play the class. As you know, "button mashing" doesn't BEGIN to describe this class.

If you find any serious errors or have some ideas, send me a PM.

[TeacherSyn]

Too cool! The amount of sheer work and dedicated writing it took to put this together is very impressive. Congratulations!

High praise. The guide wouldn't be much without the help of others. Thanks!

[Stoner81]

Only had a quick look at it but WOW this thing is impressive! I shall certainly be reading through it at some point. Awesome resource for anybody new to the monk class!

Stoner81.

[LionHearty]

Favored Soul: No. Not as good an option as a Cleric. The ability CHA , more than WIS, rules this class. You’ll spread out your ability stats too thin.
Not bad except this part made me cringe...unless you're making a healbot (even if you're making a healbot) WIS should be higher than CHA (By alot) WIS is DCs for a FvS,CHA is for SP ..and allowing you to cast,my FVS had 3.1k SP at 24 CHA and was 40+ WIS at 20. More CHA than that seems wasteful to me,so splashing it is just as good for stats,you might say something like "choice to consider since you lose 10 DR and will have only 1 level 9 spell" instead. :D

[TeacherSyn]

Not bad except this part made me cringe...unless you're making a healbot (even if you're making a healbot) WIS should be higher than CHA (By alot) WIS is DCs for a FvS,CHA is for SP ..and allowing you to cast,my FVS had 3.1k SP at 24 CHA and was 40+ WIS at 20. More CHA than that seems wasteful to me,so splashing it is just as good for stats,you might say something like "choice to consider since you lose 10 DR and will have only 1 level 9 spell" instead. :D

My inexperience showed in that. Thanks for letting me know. If FvS use WIS more, they'll have as good (if not a better) fit to multiclassing than a Cleric. I'll revise that right away.

[LionHearty]

My inexperience showed in that. Thanks for letting me know. If FvS use WIS more, they'll have as good (if not a better) fit to multiclassing than a Cleric. I'll revise that right away.

Just Re-read it,I was talking about the FVS 10 DR capstone,they get one too. ;)

[LionHearty]

Okay,after a full read,most of the multiclass page could go with changing..

For exemple,you say fighter is no advantage/disadvantage yet a 12 fighter 8 monk was considered the highest monk DPS for some time. An 18 Fighter 2 monk make great tanks too.

Then paladin 18 Paladin 2 monk with Defender of Syberies here too,great tank,switched around for Hunter of the dead makes the highest healing amp in the game.

Then for rogues,I once made a 14 rogue 6 dark monk,wasn't optimal but I had sneak over 60 had an almost free invis clickie from the monk levels and full UMD.
Some people go 19 rogue 1 monk for full sneak attack with monk attack speed,you're description is okay but you're not mentioning the DPS potential of em.

Trying not go too in depth on multiclass as that's what your guide is about but putting it out there since that part of the guide is a bit misguiding.

As for Epic destinies,as awesome as GMOF is,it's mostly for trash mobs (and I have problems changing it out too,that thing is sweet) but try legendary dreadnought for a big DPS boost!
As for the Everything is nothing,it's 1-hit-everything-is-dead-in-the-room, don't use that as a panic button,spam that thing,it charges fast enough! :D

As for races, H-orcs can get higher DPS from +6 to power attack ehancements and STR ehancements
h-elfs work out too either for cleric dilly for no fail hjeal scroll OR rogue dilly for an 3d6 sneak attack, they also get Human versitallity boosts for damage boost (20%.. or +5 not sure anymore)
but halflings are the mater race so who needs those?

Also,PRR is "physical resistance rating" not personal.

I could go on but you get the point. You should try Multiclassing a monk sometime,they're fun. ;)

[drwhy13]

There's a Monk-only guild!? :drool:

Seriously, I appreciate the positive comments! Quite a few forum members in the last few days have helped find many typos and errors as well as expand or suggest sections where my own knowledge was lacking or biased.

The most important section is not yet in--one that shows how players use keyboards or other devices to play the class. As you know, "button mashing" doesn't BEGIN to describe this class.

If you find any serious errors or have some ideas, send me a PM.

Button mashing LOL SMASHING would be closer.. find your self a controller that allows programmable keystrokes.. If you have 30 KI
One key stroke =
Fires of purity II
Fists of Darkness
Fires of purity III
Karmic Strike

I spend as much time getting the timing correct on the keyboard as playing..


Monks Just Plan Kick BUTT !!

[TeacherSyn]

Button mashing LOL SMASHING would be closer.. find your self a controller that allows programmable keystrokes.. If you have 30 KI
One key stroke =
Fires of purity II
Fists of Darkness
Fires of purity III
Karmic Strike

I spend as much time getting the timing correct on the keyboard as playing..


Monks Just Plan Kick BUTT !!


Got one. It's the Logitech G13. You can see it in the new chapter under Finishing Moves called, "Using Your Keyboard."

[TeacherSyn]

Okay,after a full read,most of the multiclass page could go with changing..

For exemple,you say fighter is no advantage/disadvantage yet a 12 fighter 8 monk was considered the highest monk DPS for some time. An 18 Fighter 2 monk make great tanks too.

Then paladin 18 Paladin 2 monk with Defender of Syberies here too,great tank,switched around for Hunter of the dead makes the highest healing amp in the game.

Then for rogues,I once made a 14 rogue 6 dark monk,wasn't optimal but I had sneak over 60 had an almost free invis clickie from the monk levels and full UMD.
Some people go 19 rogue 1 monk for full sneak attack with monk attack speed,you're description is okay but you're not mentioning the DPS potential of em.

Trying not go too in depth on multiclass as that's what your guide is about but putting it out there since that part of the guide is a bit misguiding.

As for Epic destinies,as awesome as GMOF is,it's mostly for trash mobs (and I have problems changing it out too,that thing is sweet) but try legendary dreadnought for a big DPS boost!
As for the Everything is nothing,it's 1-hit-everything-is-dead-in-the-room, don't use that as a panic button,spam that thing,it charges fast enough! :D

As for races, H-orcs can get higher DPS from +6 to power attack ehancements and STR ehancements
h-elfs work out too either for cleric dilly for no fail hjeal scroll OR rogue dilly for an 3d6 sneak attack, they also get Human versitallity boosts for damage boost (20%.. or +5 not sure anymore)
but halflings are the mater race so who needs those?

Also,PRR is "physical resistance rating" not personal.

I could go on but you get the point. You should try Multiclassing a monk sometime,they're fun. ;)

Thanks for the corrections, Lion. I'll amend them.

There are so many permutations with multiclassing that going beyond what I have in the Book now would be befuddling. And I have little multiclassing experience, besides, to ensure that the many possibilities are accurately accounted. The Book is for beginners. Later. a visit to the forums and other resources will allow folks to make interesting Monk "flavors." Thus, I need to keep to what classes have a good feel. I may add specific races that work nicely, but I think that might go out of bounds and my expertise, too.

Update 15 changed the cooldown to "Death Blossom" to 5 minutes. I can still recharge it fast, but the cooldown is such now that keeping it handy against a large horde is it's best use in my experience.

As for tanking...A Earth IV Light Monk with the right hardware does pretty dang well. Ever solo a Light Monk through the Subterrane (raid wilderness, no hirelings allowed) to hunt for your own Icy Raiment? I ransacked the poor thing. Keeping Garamol, a L22 skellie giant, centered on you as you chop it down, all while keeping yourself healed was a nice test. I wouldn't throw the best pure Monk tank at the Biggest and Baddest in game, but a properly built and trained one can be more versatile than a blend and can often handle the Bigger and Badder bosses. The key here is, can a multiclassed Monk be FULLY self-sustaining, with absolutely NO help?

That's why the guide centers on training full Monks to understand the class. But you make good points for others that like a challenge!

[LionHearty]

Update 15 changed the cooldown to "Death Blossom" to 5 minutes. I can still recharge it fast, but the cooldown is such now that keeping it handy against a large horde is it's best use in my experience.
Really? Didn't know that one.


As for tanking...A Earth IV Light Monk with the right hardware does pretty dang well. Ever solo a Light Monk through the Subterrane (raid wilderness, no hirelings allowed) to hunt for your own Icy Raiment? I ransacked the poor thing. Keeping Garamol, a L22 skellie giant, centered on you as you chop it down, all while keeping yourself healed was a nice test. Actually I did,with a Dark Monk/Rogue,fun times.


The key here is, can a multiclassed Monk be FULLY self-sustaining, with absolutely NO help?

Well,the build I was talking about can get healing amp up to 540% (Probably higher with epic destinies now) so ah....yeah they are.
Pure Monks are actually at a big disadvantage with the new update,big glass cannons.


Also...dangit now I wanna build another Monk.

[TeacherSyn]

Really? Didn't know that one.

Actually I did,with a Dark Monk/Rogue,fun times.


Well,the build I was talking about can get healing amp up to 540% (Probably higher with epic destinies now) so ah....yeah they are.
Pure Monks are actually at a big disadvantage with the new update,big glass cannons.


Also...dangit now I wanna build another Monk.

Been thinking of a Dark Monk/Rogue. You gave me a real reason now. :)

The healing amp on (what?) the Pally/Monk builds are phenomenal, if I remember hearing right. I wonder if some number crunching has been done on the ultimate (though probably not practical) max amp for a pure Monk? I'd disagree on the glass cannon bit--in fact, ED has improved it a bit, I've found. Before I TR'd her a few days ago, my GrM Earth Monk sat on 600 HP and was pretty good at holding her own in many of the Drow city quests, among other places. That extra edge to PRR, HP and AC helped quite a bit.

[LionHearty]

There's this http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=365909 It's a bit outdated,doesn't count EDs but most of it is there.

I tried 3 different ones

14 rogue 6 darkmonk with shortswords,was a bit squishy and DPS was bad without sneak attacks,TR'd out of it.

Then 12 rogue 6 D monk 2 paladin with 2 E midnight greetings , That one was pretty much invincible ,had an invis clickie from monk,full UMD ,saves were trough the roof, LoH etc TRd out eventually to try a new build.

Then 19 rogue 1 monk,using handwraps. Full sneak attack line with monk attack speed+haste boost 4,ToD rings,that one hurt.Alot. Switching between shadowdancer and GMOF/dreadnaught depending. Best of both worlds.

[Willibold]

The guide is an absolute gem. I have read through it and made a few changes to Tooflower, and he is now even better than before. Thanks for the input, but mostly well done on the style,and the production quality. I wanted to read all of it, and it was a pleasure to read. thanks.

[TeacherSyn]

There's this http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=365909 It's a bit outdated,doesn't count EDs but most of it is there.

I tried 3 different ones

14 rogue 6 darkmonk with shortswords,was a bit squishy and DPS was bad without sneak attacks,TR'd out of it.

Then 12 rogue 6 D monk 2 paladin with 2 E midnight greetings , That one was pretty much invincible ,had an invis clickie from monk,full UMD ,saves were trough the roof, LoH etc TRd out eventually to try a new build.

Then 19 rogue 1 monk,using handwraps. Full sneak attack line with monk attack speed+haste boost 4,ToD rings,that one hurt.Alot. Switching between shadowdancer and GMOF/dreadnaught depending. Best of both worlds.

I'll have to do some reading soon. Very powerful blends, there.

[TeacherSyn]

The guide is an absolute gem. I have read through it and made a few changes to Tooflower, and he is now even better than before. Thanks for the input, but mostly well done on the style,and the production quality. I wanted to read all of it, and it was a pleasure to read. thanks.

You're very welcome. I find myself tooling on it each day or so, checking for suggestions and corrections and adding new features, so check back in as you need.

[TeacherSyn]

* Clarified information on Void Strike and its optional use--at the cost of losing a finishing move later.
* Corrected information on Mummy Rot. As of the expansion, it's a supernatural disease that means Monks have to carry around Remove Disease potions if a Light Monk with Restoring the Balance (and Remove Curse, too, if a Dark Monk) to remove the full effect.
* Recently added sections on Healing Amplification and Damage Reduction.
* Corrections to Quest Strategies L6, L12 and L18.
* Usual beat-down of grammar, spelling, sentence fragment errors.

If you find any errors or want something in the guide that's not clear or mentioned, just shout out.

[TeacherSyn]

* Added section on Shadowdancer Epic Destiny levels.
* Added new chapter on stealth, "The Power of Shadow." (Thanks to MrCow for his impressive notes on this.)
* The usual clarifications, concisions and corrections.

[mjbowker99]

I've been playing a monk for years and disagree with some of the suggestions, but only because of my play style. All in all, I truly enjoyed this "book" and the effort put into it.

For those new to monks, read this book and take it as suggestions as indicated, and not as gospel. One of my biggest concerns is recommending cleave as a feat. The logic is fair, but in wind stance, you don't need cleave to keep a group around you paralyzed. I regularly invite a mob to surround me and I keep 8 paralyzed at a time. Think like a monk... Movement is life. Keep your feet moving in small motions (i.e. keep turning as necessary) and you will survive those situations. Have a high enough jump to get out of trouble if your health gets low. But, different style of game play. One isn't bettter than the other, just one works for one person, another works for another.

I really appreciate the balanced stat build. Too many believe its better to go Str or Dex build. I will always create a balanced allocation. I just TR'd my 25 so I could restart with more wisdom to gain vorpal strikes. If I don't like it, I can reincarnate again to rebalance my stats!

Thank you for your work. If you play on Cannith server and see Slatume, feel free to chat!

[TeacherSyn]

I've been playing a monk for years and disagree with some of the suggestions, but only because of my play style. All in all, I truly enjoyed this "book" and the effort put into it.

For those new to monks, read this book and take it as suggestions as indicated, and not as gospel. One of my biggest concerns is recommending cleave as a feat. The logic is fair, but in wind stance, you don't need cleave to keep a group around you paralyzed. I regularly invite a mob to surround me and I keep 8 paralyzed at a time. Think like a monk... Movement is life. Keep your feet moving in small motions (i.e. keep turning as necessary) and you will survive those situations. Have a high enough jump to get out of trouble if your health gets low. But, different style of game play. One isn't bettter than the other, just one works for one person, another works for another.

I really appreciate the balanced stat build. Too many believe its better to go Str or Dex build. I will always create a balanced allocation. I just TR'd my 25 so I could restart with more wisdom to gain vorpal strikes. If I don't like it, I can reincarnate again to rebalance my stats!

Thank you for your work. If you play on Cannith server and see Slatume, feel free to chat!

Thanks for your comments. Many players have far more years in the game and on different classes than I do. Cleave may not be the best fit for some, but might be for others, so definitely do not take the guide as gospel. I continually learn something different about the class through gameplay and from others that change my mind. My aim is to reflect that back into the guide to give a balanced observation of what works, what may work, and for newcomers, what does not work. I'm still torn between adding Improved Sunder or just bashing with Improved Destruction wraps to do much of the same thing.

The guide has received a chapter on Epic Elite preparation, with much of it's information gleaned from a few threads here as well as experience from a few quests I've joined. The word "Curbstomp" does not capture the difficulty involved in surviving, much less winning an EE adventure. In the near future I'll be adding info related to Update 17 as well as considerations for other Epic Destinies for specific build ideas.

[TeacherSyn]

The guide continues to get tweaking with the massive Update 17 changes that make equipping a bit easier.

I do what I can to add information based on more than hearsay; in other words, I like to use a particular ability before discussing it too much and perhaps sending readers down the wrong path. Now that my Earth Stancer Monk has most of her levels in Legendary Dreadnought, I have a better understanding of what works in that Fighter-aligned destiny and what doesn't when it comes to unarmed fighting. It's pretty darned good, actually, and there are a few low-level Twists you should add to your Grandmaster of Flowers training to make your character work like Neo against the Smiths in "The Matrix Reloaded." I'm going to get my Dreamspitter unlocked just to see what it does.

So you'll now find information on Legendary Dreadnought as it pertains to Monks.

From here, I'll likely add a "catch-all" destiny section for other EDs that you might twist for a few abilities here and there for extra this and that, but aren't by nature a melee ED that may be as useful or have abilities that are more dependent on class abilities carried over into Epic levels, like Bard songs or a blue spell bar.

The guide is at the link below on my signature. As always, please do reply with any errors you find, or other information you'd like to see or questions you may have.

[Arnhelm]

Thank you for the guide, and all the assistance you've given me getting my monk up-and-running. You rock!

[TeacherSyn]

(Note: Cordovan really hasn't done anything bad. I just needed something that faintly rhymed with KHAAAAAN!)

Update 19, naturally, has made over half of the Monk guide practically useless.

As someone that, like many of you, have lives outside of game, it was not immediately possible for me to begin work on updating the guide until the final release.

But I will. Oh, gods, will I be.

Updating the guide will take three things:


Time to play the game and note from experience what changed and what to expect
Time to gather comments and questions from readers on their experience
Time to retype a crapload of information


While you wait, here are some key bits of information that dramatically changed the Monk class, in case you haven't played on Lammania or read much about it:


ALL elemental stances are automatically granted to you at specific levels, as feats. Bye-bye "Avatar" builds.
You'll have more action points for enhancements in a sense, with the loss of elemental stances there
The Ninja Spy prestige line is GREATLY revised with powerful attacks
The Henshin Mystic prestige enhancements are up
Stealth is better than ever with the new AI changes. You can jump and tumble, but at a penalty, as well as re-hide from a chasing mob
Unless I've missed something, you cannot use the level 10 Void finishers unless you waste points in Henshin to take Void Strike as a Tier 5 ability, at Level 12
Shintao Monks are far more defensively powered, perhaps at a sacrifice to attack. A bug currently breaks certain attacks working as Light moves
Burst effects are no longer in-game. Not sure if that means that any Burst items you own are now nerfed, of if future generated items are nerfed


I am hoping to get much of the revised guide ready for digestion before mid-September. If time is generous, there may be some cosmetic changes as well. In the farther future, greater exploration of multiclassing is likely. Stand by, note any serious bugs to the dev team, and see you in-game.

[Arnhelm]

Thank you muchly, good sir! Truly appreciate the time and energy you put into this guide.

[TeacherSyn]

The Book of Syncletica guide (https://sites.google.com/site/bookofsyn/home) is ready once again for general use for players interested in rolling up a Monk, in light of the changes with Update 19.

These revisions make one exception to the classes in breaking with discussions on multiclassing. Specifically, in addition to the new Henshin Mystic and the revised Shintao and Ninja Spy class trees, more experienced players can find chapters on:


Kensei Fighter (multiclassed)
Arcane Archer Monk (Elven races)


There are older chapters that the scribes are busy at work archiving or revising still, but the general information needed for most players should be available to you.

If you have questions or find errors, please reply here, or visit the sister blog to this guide, The Order of Syncletica (http://orderofsyncletica.wordpress.com/) and post a comment there.

[Cordovan]

The Book of Syncletica guide (https://sites.google.com/site/bookofsyn/home) is ready once again for general use for players interested in rolling up a Monk, in light of the changes with Update 19.

These revisions make one exception to the classes in breaking with discussions on multiclassing. Specifically, in addition to the new Henshin Mystic and the revised Shintao and Ninja Spy class trees, more experienced players can find chapters on:


Kensei Fighter (multiclassed)
Arcane Archer Monk (Elven races)


There are older chapters that the scribes are busy at work archiving or revising still, but the general information needed for most players should be available to you.

If you have questions or find errors, please reply here, or visit the sister blog to this guide, The Order of Syncletica (http://orderofsyncletica.wordpress.com/) and post a comment there.

Thank you for keeping the guide updated!

[BananaHat]

You need to update the healing amp section. Positive spell power only affects an outgoing spell, not an incoming one. So yes, it helps your healing ki on yourself and everyone else, but not something like fists of light.

Also, as I recently found out, the monk and human healing amps are not added up and then multiplied. Human actually gives you 10% 3 times and Shintao gives you 5% 6 times. It makes a small difference but in the end it us slightly better and can affect those tipping points like reaching a multiple of 50% for your fists of light to tick over another point of healing.

[schelsullivan]

Thanks for all your hard work, I used this guide to help me get started with my first monk. Hes now level 18 and with update19 enhancement changes I need more pro advice to reconfigure his enhancements.

[karl_k0ch]

1.In the race section section, you write on drow "They also have a special 30-point initial build that prohibits them from certain types of Reincarnation."

This is not the case.

Drow have 28 build points, but this amount can only be raised by TRing, not GRing. Without differentiating between those two kinds in the race section, I think that something like "They have only 28 build points (even if you have access to 32-point-characters), which can only be improved by True Reincarnation.", linking True Reincarnation to the Reincarnation section of your book.

2. In the stat section, you write that Str or Dex are used for to-hit, depending on the fact if you use Weapon Finesse or not. Is there a particular reason why the Ninja Spy's core abilities to use dex for to-hit and damage for piercing and slashing weapons aren't mentioned?

3. On con, you write "Concentration skills are influenced by your Constitution score." Why do you use the plural here? Also, at this point of the guide, the new reader doesn't know the relation between Ki and Concentration, so I'm not sure how much of this advice is getting through.

4. On UMD, you write "Worse, to utilize your UMD, you must remove your handwraps or weapons. You become vulnerable, your odds of success with a low UMD are slim, and you will likely manifest as a soulstone in short time." In which sense does removing the weapons make you vulnerable?

5. In the skill section, there's a passage highlighted in green. Is this intentional?

6. In "Notes from the Old Master: Stealth, or Magic?", you are hinting that only Monks who follow the Path of Inevitable Dominion are able to get access to invisiblity.

This is not the case.

Any level 6 monk with 10 points spent in the Ninja Spy tree can get "Shadow Veil", which offers Invisibility and 25% Incorporealness.

7. In the feat section, you mention Cleave (amongst others) as a requirement for Shintao, which isn't the case anymore.

8. In the feat section, you advise to take Stunning Blow for Henshin Mystics with "Fighters get an enhancement that improves their Stunning Blow, but you can achieve this (and more) through more WIS. If you are building something that tries to stun everything as much as possible, it's a consideration, if you have enough feats and STR." I don't get the "through more WIS" part - is this part referring to stunning fist? What's the synergy of Henshin and Stunning Blow? (Note that the Ki Spell Like abilities of HeM are Wisdom-based.)

9. In the feat section, you are mentioning that THF should only be taken by a quarterstaff build, which you dub as a flavor build. Do you think that (even with +6 to damage and Lighting the Candle applying to every glancing blow) Quarterstaves are not a good choice in DPS terms?

10. In the feat section, you have a small paragraph on Weapon Finesse. Do you think that it's worth mentioning that Short Sword Ninja Spies will not need this feat?

[Delacroix21]

While i have enjoyed your guide it really doesn't cover some of the best EDs for monks or twists, as it has been limited to only 3.

Twists:
1. Rejuvenation cocoon is amazing for any class, just slot a wizardry or power item
2. Endless faith means endless mana for cocoon, even when lloth mana drains you
3. Tier 3 balanced attacks from primal avatar gives a no-save knockdown on a 20. In EE this is a MUST for TWF melee
4. Sense weakness twist from fury is a bunch of dps, especially when using stunning fist


And for ED choices the strongest for EE is actually Fury if using anything other than fists, and maybe even with fists (except the adrenaline knockdowns are bugged unarmed and only last 2 seconds). The helpless effect on knockdowns even gives bonus damage against mobs like skeletons who are normally immune! LD has the potential to be stronger if you can keep it up, and GMoF and shadow dancer don't come close, now if they allow spellpower to effect lily petals someday that will change things.



Just a few pro tips to add to the guide! Coming from a monk who has played since beta and soloed many EEs with a first life toon. :)

[TeacherSyn]

You need to update the healing amp section. Positive spell power only affects an outgoing spell, not an incoming one. So yes, it helps your healing ki on yourself and everyone else, but not something like fists of light.

Also, as I recently found out, the monk and human healing amps are not added up and then multiplied. Human actually gives you 10% 3 times and Shintao gives you 5% 6 times. It makes a small difference but in the end it us slightly better and can affect those tipping points like reaching a multiple of 50% for your fists of light to tick over another point of healing.

I think I've gotten much of it updated but another poster on the blog noted that 10 positive energy spell power that does play in as well. Math was never my strong suit but this will need a tiny bit of tweaking. Thanks!

[TeacherSyn]

While i have enjoyed your guide it really doesn't cover some of the best EDs for monks or twists, as it has been limited to only 3.

Twists:
1. Rejuvenation cocoon is amazing for any class, just slot a wizardry or power item
2. Endless faith means endless mana for cocoon, even when lloth mana drains you
3. Tier 3 balanced attacks from primal avatar gives a no-save knockdown on a 20. In EE this is a MUST for TWF melee
4. Sense weakness twist from fury is a bunch of dps, especially when using stunning fist


And for ED choices the strongest for EE is actually Fury if using anything other than fists, and maybe even with fists (except the adrenaline knockdowns are bugged unarmed and only last 2 seconds). The helpless effect on knockdowns even gives bonus damage against mobs like skeletons who are normally immune! LD has the potential to be stronger if you can keep it up, and GMoF and shadow dancer don't come close, now if they allow spellpower to effect lily petals someday that will change things.



Just a few pro tips to add to the guide! Coming from a monk who has played since beta and soloed many EEs with a first life toon. :)

Thanks for the tips!

The guide's primary mission is to get a player that's new to Monks up and running. Unarmed damage and speed, the hallmark of a Monk, is the concentration (when not speaking of Mystics). As such, the focus is on building a Level 20 Monk, any flavor but no multiclassing, in order for the player to understand what the class can and can't do. Then they can tap into the forums or other resources for more colorful, even more powerful and resourceful builds.

As such, the guide becomes less useful with Epic Destinies for several reasons in terms of the guide.


There are too many options for one player to test and play (that's me)
Epic Destinies are a flavor of multiclassing that brings out MUCH diversity (like Cocoon) but requires a heavy amount of playtime
Some Destinies require multiclassing to qualify, which the guide doesn't go in depth (and there are far more useful threads and resources to do this)
I don't presume that a player is going to train more and more EDs outside of the Martial area as a Monk is a martial class.


For now, the guide presumes that the new player isn't sure what EDs are best for a pure Monk, so the three shown (LD, Shadowdancer and Grandmaster of Flowers) are to help them to start off. If they're going the Elven Arcane Archer route, they'll need to look at Shiradi (something I plan to enter in soon now with this easy to get as an elven race from enhancements alone). I love LD on my tanker; it's completely badass. It mates with a pure Monk well. I've yet to work with a Druid (and would love to), and made one important exception to the guide's non-focus on multiclassing: Kensei fighters, since they offer non-ki weaponry a chance to work with Monks with awesome potential (a Monk with a greatsword? BRING IT!). I do keep reviewing how other EDs sync into Monks, so thanks for posting this, as this at least points people to potentials I can't/don't see with my own limitations.

[TeacherSyn]

1.In the race section section, you write on drow "They also have a special 30-point initial build that prohibits them from certain types of Reincarnation."

This is not the case.

Drow have 28 build points, but this amount can only be raised by TRing, not GRing. Without differentiating between those two kinds in the race section, I think that something like "They have only 28 build points (even if you have access to 32-point-characters), which can only be improved by True Reincarnation.", linking True Reincarnation to the Reincarnation section of your book.

Fixed.


2. In the stat section, you write that Str or Dex are used for to-hit, depending on the fact if you use Weapon Finesse or not. Is there a particular reason why the Ninja Spy's core abilities to use dex for to-hit and damage for piercing and slashing weapons aren't mentioned?

That section wasn't updated fully for Update 19. Fixed.


3. On con, you write "Concentration skills are influenced by your Constitution score." Why do you use the plural here? Also, at this point of the guide, the new reader doesn't know the relation between Ki and Concentration, so I'm not sure how much of this advice is getting through.

That section, as it pertains to Monks, does not make sense, since Concentration determines how much stable ki can be held (that is, spell casting has nothing to do with this) and the remaining text is rambling. I've deleted the note.


4. On UMD, you write "Worse, to utilize your UMD, you must remove your handwraps or weapons. You become vulnerable, your odds of success with a low UMD are slim, and you will likely manifest as a soulstone in short time." In which sense does removing the weapons make you vulnerable?

That section was rewritten recently, removing the text you noted, to remove my personal bias in UMD but still emphasize that Monks are fighters, not gadgeteers. As you know, they can and do use ki for many benefits, but they get very few skill points and these need to go into the key skills that matter. Remember, this is a guide for new players to the class and doesn't presume that you really know what you're doing as a Monk. So the language now (and in the argumentative subchapter) should have a better pro/con argument. I highly favor using Half-Elf dillys for obtaining this skills without compromising skill points or multiclassing for purposes of the guide.


5. In the skill section, there's a passage highlighted in green. Is this intentional?

I often use a green highlight in chapters to emphasize something new or important. I try not to overdo it since it makes a chapter unattractive with too much of it.


6. In "Notes from the Old Master: Stealth, or Magic?", you are hinting that only Monks who follow the Path of Inevitable Dominion are able to get access to invisiblity.

This is not the case.

Any level 6 monk with 10 points spent in the Ninja Spy tree can get "Shadow Veil", which offers Invisibility and 25% Incorporealness.

Correct, as this shows language from the pre-Update 19 mode. Fixed.


7. In the feat section, you mention Cleave (amongst others) as a requirement for Shintao, which isn't the case anymore.

I'm beginning to sense that your notes were done prior to my last major rewrites and prior to revisiting this thread. But you're still caught old pre-Update 19 language that I thought I removed. That item is now fixed.


8. In the feat section, you advise to take Stunning Blow for Henshin Mystics with "Fighters get an enhancement that improves their Stunning Blow, but you can achieve this (and more) through more WIS. If you are building something that tries to stun everything as much as possible, it's a consideration, if you have enough feats and STR." I don't get the "through more WIS" part - is this part referring to stunning fist? What's the synergy of Henshin and Stunning Blow? (Note that the Ki Spell Like abilities of HeM are Wisdom-based.)

That section was completely messed up. Simplified Stunning Blow (boost STR and tactical DCs) and the Stunning Fist text is clarified as well.


9. In the feat section, you are mentioning that THF should only be taken by a quarterstaff build, which you dub as a flavor build. Do you think that (even with +6 to damage and Lighting the Candle applying to every glancing blow) Quarterstaves are not a good choice in DPS terms?

Quite the contrary! But as the guide focuses on pure Monks using ki weapons, I wanted to emphasize the difference between armed and unarmed fighting at its core. Unarmed attacks are faster than armed but Mystics and multiclassing I don't go into can boost this radically. Clarified that text.


10. In the feat section, you have a small paragraph on Weapon Finesse. Do you think that it's worth mentioning that Short Sword Ninja Spies will not need this feat?

Yep. It's added.

Thanks again for your detailed notes; Update 19 broke much in the guide and there was (and may still be) a lot to resolve.

[JollySwagMan]

Props for all your effort in keeping this guide up to date!

[TeacherSyn]

I think the Book of Syncletica (https://sites.google.com/site/bookofsyn/) is back to a generally usable state with all the relevant Update 19 changes in place.

You'll find some new treats:


The Arcane Archer Monk chapter is now added but is a quite incomplete as I gather more information on its gamestyle from my own gameplay and read on the forums what others are doing. If you want to help fill it in faster, just send me a line (http://orderofsyncletica.wordpress.com/about-the-monk-guide/).
The Henshin Mystic chapter has extensive updates for those still on the fence in trying this class tree.
The Ninja Spy chapter has a new section on a build that uses the shuriken as a primary weapon (Many thanks to Firewall for his thread on his "Shiradi Shurcannon" build (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/423018-Shiradi-Shuricannon))
Other tweaks and corrections, quashing of bad grammar and spelling.


If you find anything in the guide that is inaccurate or would like to see something added, feel free to visit this link (http://orderofsyncletica.wordpress.com/about-the-monk-guide/) to post your comment on the sister blog of the guide, The Order of Syncletica.

[SirJesto]

Found this Dojo online and it's a perfect place to begin my training. Thank you and your disciples so much for the hard work.

[TeacherSyn]

Found this Dojo online and it's a perfect place to begin my training. Thank you and your disciples so much for the hard work.

You're welcome.

It's been a bit since the guide has gotten its twinks for Update 20, so keep that in mind as you read since there were a few changes passed between the game from the developer cubicles.

A Monk can take down all sort of things, but a Developer's Nerf Attack trumps anything we've got. :)

[Tilomere]

Unarmed fully works with ED Combat Brute and Sense Weakness. Sense weakness probably also stacks with 10 or 20% No Mercy, but not 30%. It is likely a 10% rogue no Mercy, 20% monk no Mercy, and 30% Sense Weakness effects all stack since they are different %s and appears to be untyped.

Ninja stars in Shadowdancer maxing sneak attack / dex as a Halfling 13 rogue 6 monk 1 ranger is around 600 dps, and shurikens apply sneak immunity vulnerability debuff of SD. Sneak damage is untyped, and not increased by helpless debuff or effects. Shurikens are considered ammunition which is why all the crit profile effects don't work. However, enhancement effects (+1 dmg/hit), ammunition imbues from AA or poison quiver do work. As ammunition, you can have a weapon offhand and not be hit by TWF penalty, like a +++HAMP Kama, but also can't use shurikens with Balanced Attacks from PA for knockdown. Add an unupgraded Ring of Lies, Seal of House Avinthul, and Arrowhead to a Rad II GS Shuriken for consistent CC effects and sneak damage, which at 600 dps you will probably need.

Thrown attack speed ot 14 BAB with Whirling Wrists/Haste was 1.11 attacks/second. Quick draw/Rapid Shot will likely increase that by around 20% total (they increase different parts of the attack sequence). Whirling Wrists is a 30% increase in total shuriken throw speed, since it speeds up only part of the attack sequence.

[dredre9987]

Sneak damage is untyped, and not increased by helpless debuff or effects.


I do not think this was always the case ( since the autocrit on helpless days ). Has something recent changed this?

[Nahiz]

Wow... Just today I have glimpsed at the Book of Syncletica for the first time. It´s not only excellent info on monks, but it´s also beautifuly done.

Congratz, Syn!

(Nahiz bows respectfully)

[TeacherSyn]

Wow... Just today I have glimpsed at the Book of Syncletica for the first time. It´s not only excellent info on monks, but it´s also beautifuly done.

Congratz, Syn!

(Nahiz bows respectfully)

Thanks. Google Sites isn't the greatest host but it gets the job done. I'm trying to ramp up for Update 21's changes...

[TeacherSyn]

With a shiny new computer, I've found more time to research, play and update the guide.

The Arcane Archer Monk chapter (https://sites.google.com/site/bookofsyn/class-trees/arcane-archer-monk) is now decently updated with contrasts to the ever-popular/despised/vilified "monkcher" builds.

I'm hoping to get the incomplete Kensei Fighter chapter (https://sites.google.com/site/bookofsyn/class-trees/kensai-fighter) to a useable level in the coming weeks. Update 22 is bound to bring newfound joys or woes to your local dojo, so the guide is always a work in progress.

Should you see anything that's inaccurate or have a question, complaint or comment on the guide, drop a note on the Guide's Q&A page (http://orderofsyncletica.wordpress.com/about-the-monk-guide/) on its sister blog, The Order of Syncletica.

[Psiandron]

Thanks to you and the other contributors for putting together this book Spencerian.

It is another of the amazingly helpful resources that the player-base has provided for the game. Looking forward to coming updates.

[TeacherSyn]

...Updates are coming by end of May for


Update of the Zen Archer, including build data you can pull into Character Builder Lite
The Poison Master build, also importable into CB Lite
Adjustments/new build for the AA Monk, also for CB Lite

[TeacherSyn]

Real life is slowing me down a bit in updating several somewhat obsolete areas of the guide, as well as getting my two simple build ideas fully documented.

I will continue work on it, but appreciate your patience. I want to keep the guide relevant and also prepare the guide for any upcoming enhancement passes.

In particular, there's been a lot of fresh monastic loot in recent updates that aren't noted. Stay tuned.