Toughness vs PL:Monk

[nicro]

I'm looking to lesser reincarnate my half-elf dark monk so he can pick up Overwhelming Critical, but in doing so I'm have to drop Toughness and would like some feedback on whether or not it might be worth dropping Past Life: Monk to keep Toughness.

My feat selection will probably be the following in no particular order:
Past Life: Monk
Stunning Fist
Two-Weapon Fighting
Improved Two-Weapon Fighting
Greater Two-Weapon Fighting
Dodge
Power Attack
Cleave
Great Cleave
Improved Critical: Bludgeoning
Improved Martial Arts
Overwhelming Critical

[Munkenmo]

What's the stat layout of your build look like?

generally speaking, most dark monks will get good mileage out of improved sunder as a debuff before using touch of death / quivering palm.

Vorpal fists is also a very strong epic feat for monks, and doesn't require 2 feats as pre reqs, it may well be a better choice for you.

That aside, if you really want to chase big numbers on crits, then the monk pastlife will help with that more than toughness.

Giving up toughness is a drop of ~50hp on a helf monk, I'm assuming you're going to be running round in earth stance for the extra crit multiplier, meaning you probably have around 750hp in gmof.

If I'm correct, dropping to 680-700ish hp shouldn't be a problem on a toon with shadowfade, 10dr, improved evasion, ~14% dodge and ~30prr.

[nicro]

I'll have to double check, but I believe my standing stats are as follow while in wind stance:
STR: 40
DEX: 36
CON: 30
INT: 14
WIS: 38
CHA: 14

I was considering Vorpal and going Wisdom, but a friend went that path so I figured I'd try something different and go after Strength and Overwhelming Crit.

[Munkenmo]

I was considering Vorpal and going Wisdom, but a friend went that path so I figured I'd try something different and go after Strength and Overwhelming Crit.

Just bare in mind, that str monks aren't all they once were, now that to hit is chance based, the differences in to hit between a full str build or a str/wis build are minimal.

You will have bigger crits than your friend, however if you're in wind stance you'll likely be at ~600hp without toughness, if you've got good gear.

At that point esp. if you do EE content, i would advise dropping the monk pastlife for toughness.

Can you transfer your toon to lammania? It might be a good idea to try it there and see how you find it for yourself.

[goodspeed]

What's the stat layout of your build look like?

generally speaking, most dark monks will get good mileage out of improved sunder as a debuff before using touch of death / quivering palm.

Vorpal fists is also a very strong epic feat for monks, and doesn't require 2 feats as pre reqs, it may well be a better choice for you.

That aside, if you really want to chase big numbers on crits, then the monk pastlife will help with that more than toughness.

Giving up toughness is a drop of ~50hp on a helf monk, I'm assuming you're going to be running round in earth stance for the extra crit multiplier, meaning you probably have around 750hp in gmof.

If I'm correct, dropping to 680-700ish hp shouldn't be a problem on a toon with shadowfade, 10dr, improved evasion, ~14% dodge and ~30prr.

well more like 50 with the optional 30. Still you can drop around 650 and still be good to stand next to the 1k hp guy who the healers watching for masses.

Still taking 2 feats, one of which I think is bugged for monks (no surprise there) for an extra modifier to hopfully roll a 19 or 20 Just doesn't seem worth it. I mean it's cool on those reaching weapons cause they're nailing everything again and again and getting to use the stuff from ld. (Again magically the shabby destiny for handwraps)

Still id trade toughness for the extra die step.