Dwarf Shintao Monk (34Pt)

[PTStroth]

Hi everyone!
I just TRed my fighter into a Monk, which I want to play to cap at 20 and TR again as a monk, so this life will work as a training on the class.
I've used the Character Planner thinking on the go, so there'll probably be many things that should be changed or just dropped. I specially had a hard time on the Feats and Enhancements. I knew I wanted to make it a Shintao Monk, and the Grandmaster of Mountains just looked as the safest path.
Regarding to the Tomes, I've put all those I read on my first life.
Tips would be most appreciated, since I don't really know much about the class. Thank you in advance for the help!


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.14.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 18 Lawful Neutral Dwarf Male
(18 Monk)
Hit Points: 314
Spell Points: 0
BAB: 13\13\18\23
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 14
Will: 16

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(34 Point) (Level 1) (Level 18)
Strength 16 23
Dexterity 15 17
Constitution 16 21
Intelligence 8 10
Wisdom 16 21
Charisma 6 8

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 3
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 3
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 3
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 3
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 11
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 11
+3 Tome of Wisdom used at level 11

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 18)
Balance 6 29
Bluff -2 -1
Concentration 7 28
Diplomacy -2 -1
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle -2 -1
Heal 3 5
Hide 2 3
Intimidate -2 -1
Jump 6 27
Listen 3 5
Move Silently 2 3
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform n/a n/a
Repair -1 0
Search -1 2
Spot 3 5
Swim 3 6
Tumble 3 14
Use Magic Device n/a n/a

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Fighter
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense I
Enhancement: Improved Balance I


Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Power Attack
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics I
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortoise I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Fist
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I


Level 4 (Monk)
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I


Level 5 (Monk)
Enhancement: Dwarven Giant Dodger I
Enhancement: Dwarven Goblinoid Hatred I
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortoise II


Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge
Enhancement: Shintao Monk I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II


Level 7 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery II


Level 8 (Monk)
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II


Level 9 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting


Level 10 (Monk)
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom II


Level 11 (Monk)


Level 12 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery III
Enhancement: Shintao Monk II


Level 13 (Monk)
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics II


Level 14 (Monk)
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense III


Level 15 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Adept of Rock
Enhancement: Master of Stone


Level 16 (Monk)


Level 17 (Monk)


Level 18 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Precision
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics III
Enhancement: Shintao Monk III
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Mountains

[Mastikator]

I'd personally take Improved Sunder instead of Dodge at 6, and Dodge at 18 instead of Precision, it gives a -3 fort penalty (stacking up to -15), effectively increasing your Stunning Fist DC by 3 if you use Improved Sunder before Stunning Fist (don't worry, it has a really short animation on monk).
But that's more a matter of taste I guess.

Other than that I think you'll be fine.

[TeacherSyn]

Not too shabby.

A Monk makes for an excellent scout. You'd do well to put at least 10 points into Hide and Move Silently, if not more. Jump comes naturally to a Monk. A popular notion is 10 points only, but I see 15 as natural. The rest comes from many items that enhance it (Jidz-Tet'ka bracers, Cannith Boots of Propulsion later).

Dwarven Spell Defense may not be necessary. The class has inherent resistances, making them natural mage-killers. You'll have more opportunity to raise spell resistance, if needed, in Epic Destinies (Grandmaster of Flowers, specifically).

I would not invest more than 1 point in Way of the Patient Tortoise; place these AP into things that improve other parts of you.

WIS is the powerful stat for Monk DC checks. Once you get 30 or more to WIS, many, many abilities such as Stunning Fist, Kukan-Do and more will reliably land, even through Epicland. It (and DEX) improve your AC as well. Pump DEX and WIS as much as you can. That said, your DEX is a bit low. A Monk is about balance, so keep DEX closer to STR (and, if a Finesse Monk, STR closer to DEX) as much as possible.

You can get away with less in Tumble.

Epic gear such as the Way of the Sun Soul set will help a lot, but early care and feeding of your abilities make the best difference later on.

For tactical use, get Greater Fire and Ocean Stance. Fire will help quick ki regeneration on attack, and Ocean will allow passive regeneration, which is very handy in a pinch. Do not favor one stance. Earth has great defense but builds Threat like crazy, is 10% slower on attack, and isn't good in ki regeneration on attack. Monks aren't ultimate damage absorbers, so you'll have to moderate your fights more so than as a Fighter. (Items can help all of those deficits, but I'm not assuming you have them, yet.) That's why Greater/Ultimate Fire Stance is good. You deal good damage but do not generate as much threat (but this costs you WIS while in stance, so use wisely).

Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Sunder are good ways to ensure you're just not punching one person at a time.

[Kinerd]

For tactical use, get Greater Fire and Ocean Stance. Fire will help quick ki regeneration on attack, and Ocean will allow passive regeneration, which is very handy in a pinch. Do not favor one stance. Earth has great defense but builds Threat like crazy, is 10% slower on attack, and isn't good in ki regeneration on attack. Monks aren't ultimate damage absorbers, so you'll have to moderate your fights more so than as a Fighter. (Items can help all of those deficits, but I'm not assuming you have them, yet.) That's why Greater/Ultimate Fire Stance is good. You deal good damage but do not generate as much threat (but this costs you WIS while in stance, so use wisely).Two disagreements:

1. Fire stance - never buy. You get the +1 ki on hit, the bracer healing amp, the ED effects, and +2 Str with the freebie stance. A monk has plenty else to spend the AP on.
2. Earth stance - is 10% slower on movement, not attack. DPS-wise it's in general about equal to Wind, which when combined with the threat can be a problem if you're in a situation where you should not have aggro.

.

To the OP, I would really like to have IS in addition to Dodge and Precision, so I would (and did) go Human. Additional perks: it is unreal how much HP you will recover with the extra heal amp, even one rank of Human Versatility is a superb DPS increase. You do lose out a bit in the HP department, but one of the underrated things about the epic expansion/travesty is that we get HP out the gills now.

Also keep in mind that your epic feats present a very interesting selection:
-Improved Martial Arts, +1[W] damage, easy money
-Vorpal Strikes, does what the name says, but requires a potentially significant additional investment to reach 23 base Wis
-Overwhelming Critical, can't go wrong with +1 multiplier on 19 and 20, but even for monks Cleave and Great Cleave pre-reqs are a significant investment

As constituted, you could get OC or IMA (and some other feat). You would have to sink 4 level-ups into Wis to even qualify for Vorpal Strikes, but with so many Wis-DC abilities this isn't necessarily the end of the world.

[Carpone]

I've played a monk for more than two years. IMO Dwarf doesn't offer enough to consider it long-term. My top three races for monks:

1. Half-Elf nets 3d6 Sneak Attack with the Rogue Dilettante which compliments Stunning Fist really well. Also, up to 20% Healing Amp and +1 to two stats. Human Versatility IV (Damage Boost) is gold.

2. Human nets you an extra feat (useful on a monk build that doesn't splash fighter). Also, up to 30% Healing Amp and +1 to two stats. Human Versatility IV (Damage Boost) is gold.

3. Horc nets you +4 STR. While I wouldn't take Horc Power Attack enhancements on a build without sufficient Fighter past lives, it's an option for advanced builds/characters.

[edgarallanpoe]

I've played a monk for more than two years. IMO Dwarf doesn't offer enough to consider it long-term. My top three races for monks:

Could not disagree more with this. I have played and capped a monk from every race except WF and my dwarf is by far and away my best monk. A max tactics, ultimate mountain stance, Shin III, dwarf is a devastating character.

Anyone who has grouped with me and my dwarf (Bonetooth) will testify to this.

[Dylvish]

Could not disagree more with this. I have played and capped a monk from every race except WF and my dwarf is by far and away my best monk. A max tactics, ultimate mountain stance, Shin III, dwarf is a devastating character.

Anyone who has grouped with me and my dwarf (Bonetooth) will testify to this.

I second this. My dwarf monk has been one of the most enjoyable, and powerful chars I have played and I love him. Has Mtn IV, and Wind IV. Granted he also has +3 all tome on him as well. ;)

[Carpone]

Could not disagree more with this. I have played and capped a monk from every race except WF and my dwarf is by far and away my best monk. A max tactics, ultimate mountain stance, Shin III, dwarf is a devastating character.
Epic destinies overshadow whatever tactics DCs a race can provide. Using the Grandmaster of Flowers epic destiny:

+3 GMOF autogrants
+6 twisted from Legendary Dreadnought
+3 to Stunning Fist and finishing moves from +6 WIS in GMOF
---
+12 DC to Stunning Fist and finishing moves, +9 DC to Trip, Sunder and Stunning Blow

It's very straightforward to get a 60 DC Stunning Fist for epic elites.

[Kinerd]

A dwarf spends 12 AP to get plus 3 Stun DC.
A human spends 12 AP to get times 1.3 healing amp.

A dwarf gets a little more HP and a little more saves.
A human gets damage boost and an extra feat.

I also don't really see how it's a contest. It's not that hard to get Mountain 4 on a human: 14 start, 2 tome, 2 levelups, done. Even a 28 point monk can manage that.

[edgarallanpoe]

I never said that Dwarves were the top DPS choice...and the OP is asking about a dwarf shintao. What I am saying is that I disagree with the sentiment that dwarves don't bring enough to the table to warrant a long term commitment to them. Like I said....I have been playing one for quite some time and it is my best monk. That includes my human. Does the human do more DPS? Maybe...actually probably...but this is a first life dwarf with close to 800hps (depending upon destiny) and a base stunning fist DC of 48...63 with wraps and +5 exceptional combat mastery.

There is nothing about this monk that isn't viable in any and all content.

[Kinerd]

I never said that Dwarves were the top DPS choice...and the OP is asking about a dwarf shintao. What I am saying is that I disagree with the sentiment that dwarves don't bring enough to the table to warrant a long term commitment to them. Like I said....I have been playing one for quite some time and it is my best monk. That includes my human. Does the human do more DPS? Maybe...actually probably...but this is a first life dwarf with close to 800hps (depending upon destiny) and a base stunning fist DC of 48...63 with wraps and +5 exceptional combat mastery.

There is nothing about this monk that isn't viable in any and all content.In turn, no one ever said a dwarf monk was unviable. The difference between dwarf HP and human HP is at most...

25 from net 2 Con at build
12.5 from net 1 Con enhancement
10 from net 1 Toughness
=
37.5, so if you built/geared a human monk the same way as your nearly 800 you would end up with a little over 750. Even if you didn't spend on Con or racial Toughness past 3, you're still over 700 HP. In the same way, your human would end up with a 60 Stun DC. In trade for this potentially superfluous DC and surely superfluous HP, you get *1.3 healing amp, a considerable damage boost, and a potentially useful extra feat.

.

Please note! This is not saying that humans are the best at everything, that dwarves are terrible, that dwarves are useless. It is also not saying which choice you enjoy the most. It is merely comparing the relative mechanical benefits of each choice.

[Dematto]

I love me my dwarf monk/fig. Sunder, Stun, Trip. Lots of Tactics. Lots of winning. Tanking out the wazoo with Mountain and Stalwart.

[edgarallanpoe]

In turn, no one ever said a dwarf monk was unviable. The difference between dwarf HP and human HP is at most...


Point taken, but to be fair the comment about a dwarf monk not giving anything worthwhile for the long term is implying that they aren't viable. I take exception to those type of posts because I believe that there are a great deal of things that are more important than race that determine a characters viability. Luck with the loot, player skill, etc...

The comment about the superfluous DC is also slightly unfair. The reason the DC of my SF is so high is that I took the tactics line in order to make SB a viable option. The combo of the two is really nice for leveling...I have even made it work in epics but it wasn't worth keeping the feat when the epic upgraded critical feat was fixed.