Monk/Rogue Staff

[Roubajs]

Hello. I am no very good at the game, so I am starting this forum. I have been toying in my head with idea about mystic staff fighter who is fighting with his staff, is acrobatic, is able to break all locks and find all traps a dabbles in magic. This is not specific and I want to give you some specific questions, things to consider. Would like to hear ideas from other (more experienced) player. So:

1. Should I do it? If so, then how am I supposed to spread my levels? I am posting this here, because I want mainly monk. I am considering 19monk/1rogue, or 17monk/3rogue. I don't know about enhancements capstones. You need to be pure class to get them. Is it very big trade, or is it ok? I am especially anxious about not having Serenity.

2. STR or DEX? If I were to go 3 rogue, I can get dex to hit, dex to dmg and free feat. That seems cool (plus it makes roleplaying sense for him to be more Spiderman than Hulk). Maxing dex also gets me nice AC. Even without not having 3 levels in rogue, I could still go dex (maybe with first two cores in ninja).

3. Any ideas? Recommendations for items, or stuff I should do. I don't know about power attack, doesn't seem so good. I don't know if I should be Grandmaster of Flowers, or go for Dreadnought (like that fire dmg on attacks).

4. What enhancement trees should I use? Thief and Mystic are nobrainer, but then? Maybe VKF? Like those resistances and immunity to fear and energy drain.

I would like to play him. I know it will probably not be very good, but I am trying to make it at least 4-5 skulls raidable build. Tried to ask questions, which aren't tied to past lives or how many tomes I have. So its good for anyone. I want to make monk/rogue build. Pls don't write other classes. Sure I know you could probably make it better with dip in fighter, or barbarian, or bard, or whatever. I am not interested in that. Also yea, TWF better than double handed, staffs not in very good place... bla, bla... this not really helping.

Thank you, everyone.

[Discpsycho]

Opinion context: I did an Acrobat life (just to 20) a couple of years ago and a Henshin life (through 30) several months ago. I'm not incredibly well-geared / PL'ed and usually solo R1-R3



1. Should I do it? If so, then how am I supposed to spread my levels? I am posting this here, because I want mainly monk. I am considering 19monk/1rogue, or 17monk/3rogue. I don't know about enhancements capstones. You need to be pure class to get them. Is it very big trade, or is it ok? I am especially anxious about not having Serenity.


If you're looking for a solid heroic build, splash at least one level of Rogue, ideally at first level. If you want maximum performance in Epics, you're best off going pure Monk.

On the heroic end, the Henshin capstone has +15% attack speed, which is equivalent to a 4-AP dip into Rogue and comes quite a bit later. 18 Monk / 1 Rogue / 1 X is my recommendation, as 19 Monk doesn't give you anything worthwhile. Solid "X" classes are Fighter (free feat), Druid (Shillelagh for +1[W] for most of heroics), or Favored Soul (War Soul Wisdom trance for better tactics). But you said no other classes, so if you have to go just Monk/Rogue, go 18 Monk / 2 Rogue for slightly better trapping skills

The Henshin capstone also gives +1 Critical Multiplier while in your Cauldron of Flame, aka whenever you're fighting a boss and often when fighting groups. That will add quite a bit to your damage in epics (especially if you're going FotW), so consider the dps cost of a Rogue splash if you want to play all the way to cap



2. STR or DEX? If I were to go 3 rogue, I can get dex to hit, dex to dmg and free feat. That seems cool (plus it makes roleplaying sense for him to be more Spiderman than Hulk). Maxing dex also gets me nice AC. Even without not having 3 levels in rogue, I could still go dex (maybe with first two cores in ninja).


If you've got Falconry, Wisdom. If not, my suggestion is "whichever you have good gear for". Strength will reach slightly higher numbers (meaning more DPS), Dex will give you better defenses. I went Wis for a recent Henshin life, but during my Acrobat life (heroic only) went for Dex.



3. Any ideas? Recommendations for items, or stuff I should do. I don't know about power attack, doesn't seem so good. I don't know if I should be Grandmaster of Flowers, or go for Dreadnought (like that fire dmg on attacks).

Pick up Elemental Bloom if you can, it's an absolutely amazing heroic leveling weapon. Otherwise the usual Red Fens (or Feywild now)/ Ravenloft / Sharn sets. Dreadnought will be the best sustained dps, Grandmaster is great for Wis-based Falconry Monks (EiN and the CC abilities), Fury of the Wild is excellent burst damage and makes early epics a cinch.



4. What enhancement trees should I use? Thief and Mystic are nobrainer, but then? Maybe VKF? Like those resistances and immunity to fear and energy drain.


- 37-41 points in Henshin, depending on whether you go pure
- 25 points Shintao or Falconry. Shintao will be beefier, Falconry will have better tactics and damage. Personally, I went Shintao through 29 and switched to Falconry when I got Dire Charge
- Remainder in Thief/Acrobat. If you went falconry above, I highly recommend 4 points TA, 8 points Shintao for Iron Skin