Just hit 18, here's my gear. Need suggestions.

[SolarDawning]

My halfling monk is currently using the following set of gear at level 18:

Goggles: Tharne's Goggles with +1 competence to saves from stone of change
Helm: Minos Legens
Cloak: Cloak of the Zephyr (20% concealment)
Necklace: Oremi's Necklace (+6 con, +1 ki on hit) or Shintao Cord (+6 con, +15 concentration) depending on need.
Armor: Icy Raiment with +1 alchemical dodge from stone of change
Gloves: Spectral Gloves
Bracers: +7 Armor
Ring: Generic +6 strength
Ring: Generic +6 wisdom
Belt: Knost's Belt (+6 con, greater false life)
Boots: Golden Greaves (3/- DR, 15% striding)

So, here's my questions!
What gear should I be looking for as improvements?
I'm aware of the ToD rings, but am not yet flagged for ToD, and only have one part to make the boots. I'm working on that.
I'm also on the lookout for +8 armor bracers, but haven't had the luck to pull any yet.
I've got a load of shroud mats saved up. I had greensteel hp/con skills goggles made up to teir 2, but replaced when when I pulled Tharne's. Should I instead make that greensteel as a cloak, since I'll have blur in most groups anyways?
Cloak of the Zephyr is great for running solo, which I do often, so I'll be holding onto it anyhow.
I'm not really sure what to do about boots. I love those Golden Greaves, but they'll be obsolete when I get 10/epic DR at 20. Any suggestions for boots to keep an eye out for?

Thanks for helping a newish player out.

[Samadhi]

If you find that you really like the blur, you could make a shroud HP item of smoke for that cloak slot.

Beyond that Tower rings really would be my primary suggestion - these are huge for DPS boost on a monk especially.

Edit: I usually just wear 30% striders for boots on my monk. I value running fast more highly than most folks though.

[Maegin]

missing a shroud +45 hp item, bloodstone, chattering ring.

You could make a 45 hp smoke cloak with a displacement clicky on it, that covers both spots you like/need.

Boots, id do +6 DEX and use a ring slot for ToD monk ring with holy burst on it.

change spectral gloves to +6STR gloves and free up another ring slot for another TOD ring and add exceptional healing/STR/insight ac or replace it with chattering ring swap action. Ring slots are precious for a monk, dont waste them with stat items.

Minos could POTENTIALLY be replaced with a min2 hat 45+hp/prot 5/heavy fort if you really are tyring to sqeeze out an extra 1 point of ac.

[SimVerg]

Mentau Goggles + Abbot Cloak + Litany

[SolarDawning]

Thanks for the ideas. I didn't know about the 20% passive conceal on smoke greensteels, I'll make my a HP smoke cloak my first goal.

[Samadhi]

Boots, id do +6 DEX and use a ring slot for ToD monk ring with holy burst on it.

change spectral gloves to +6STR gloves and free up another ring slot for another TOD ring and add exceptional healing/STR/insight ac or replace it with chattering ring swap action. Ring slots are precious for a monk, dont waste them with stat items.

I do not understand your point in regards to moving stats off rings. Right now, he has Str and Wis on his rings. That is perfect to add the Shintao (wis) and Frenzied Berzerker (str) rings as Tower upgrades.

I would definitely add holyburst to whichever the first ring you get is though.

[SolarDawning]

I do not understand your point in regards to moving stats off rings. Right now, he has Str and Wis on his rings. That is perfect to add the Shintao (wis) and Frenzied Berzerker (str) rings as Tower upgrades.

I would definitely add holyburst to whichever the first ring you get is though.

Those are the ToD rings I'd love to get someday, especially since I have the counterpart items to each, so could also capitalize on the FB set bonus' +2 damage.
I'm fine with the +5 dex on Spectral Gloves, don't need a +6 dex equipped that badly.

[QuantumFX]

You’re looking pretty solid so far. Almost everything I can offer in suggestions is either an incremental upgrade or a situational item.

Looks like you’re already shooting for the rings to complement your Oremi’s Necklace and Knost’s Belt.

Armor Slot:
Dragontouched Vestments with +5 Resistance, +5 Protection, +4 Insight bonus to AC. Better for an unarmed monk and you can use the chaosguarde to emulate +8 Armor braciers.
At least one Silver Flame vestment from the Necropolis turn in. (14 minute Nightshield clickie)

Potential cloak replacements:
Earth III: +45 HP, +6 CON based skills (Concentration) and Earthgrab guard (Procs of grazing hits)
Radiance II: +45 HP, Radiance Guard (Procs of grazing hits)
Smoke II: +45 HP, +6 DEX based Skills (Balance, Hide, Move Silently) 2x Displacement clicks, Blur 20%

Boots:
Madstone Boots: Sure it screws up some finishers but in a boss fight it may be more useful as madstone offers a monk more attack speed.
Firestorm Greaves: Useful in places like Enter the Kobold and portions of SoS.
Kundarak Delving Boots or Spikey Boots for protection from slipping

Trinket:
Bloodstone: For times you can stun something
Undead Guard Trinket from the Cursed Crypt chain: When fighting undead
Pouch of Jerky: Undispellable Heal over Time Clickie.

[SolarDawning]

You’re looking pretty solid so far. Almost everything I can offer in suggestions is either an incremental upgrade or a situational item.

Looks like you’re already shooting for the rings to complement your Oremi’s Necklace and Knost’s Belt.

Armor Slot:
Dragontouched Vestments with +5 Resistance, +5 Protection, +4 Insight bonus to AC. Better for an unarmed monk and you can use the chaosguarde to emulate +8 Armor braciers.
At least one Silver Flame vestment from the Necropolis turn in. (14 minute Nightshield clickie)

Potential cloak replacements:
Earth III: +45 HP, +6 CON based skills (Concentration) and Earthgrab guard (Procs of grazing hits)
Radiance II: +45 HP, Radiance Guard (Procs of grazing hits)
Smoke II: +45 HP, +6 DEX based Skills (Balance, Hide, Move Silently) 2x Displacement clicks, Blur 20%

Boots:
Madstone Boots: Sure it screws up some finishers but in a boss fight it may be more useful as madstone offers a monk more attack speed.
Firestorm Greaves: Useful in places like Enter the Kobold and portions of SoS.
Kundarak Delving Boots or Spikey Boots for protection from slipping

Trinket:
Bloodstone: For times you can stun something
Undead Guard Trinket from the Cursed Crypt chain: When fighting undead
Pouch of Jerky: Undispellable Heal over Time Clickie.

That's very helpful, thanks Quantum.
Funnily enough, I'm trying to make those exact dragontouched vestments you described. I've got the +5 protection on them already, but won't swap out the Icy until I also win the lottery for +4 insight.

My trinket situation is pretty bad, I'm just using Voice of the Master. Someday I may get a bloodstone, and I'll be happy if that day comes. I usually use 5% weighted elec burst handwraps, so it'd be handy.

I'm thinking I'll go for a Smoke II HP cloak.

And I'll surely be keeping an eye out for any of those boots you listed. I run Reaver whenever I'm off timer, so I may see a Madstone Boots someday. Delving Boots are less likely, I've only run Velah once. Maybe she'll be more popular with the new patch.

[Impatiens]

You might want to try running Weapon Shipment for the arrowhead. Not as good as bloodstone, but an okay replacement until you can afford one or get a lucky pull. Ideally you'd upgrade the spectral gloves to the epic versions eventually, but of course that will take a while to achieve. Really your gear is looking pretty solid. Get flagged for ToD and start trying for some rings

[lyeman]

I would get an existential stalemate cloak (+6 wis) and tumbleweed (+6 dex ring)

[QuantumFX]

That's very helpful, thanks Quantum.
Funnily enough, I'm trying to make those exact dragontouched vestments you described. I've got the +5 protection on them already, but won't swap out the Icy until I also win the lottery for +4 insight.

Just do what I do: Chant “Alter of the Dragontouched churn, churn, churn… Tell me the enchantment that I have earned. Oh look, Greater Potency VII… again.”

My trinket situation is pretty bad, I'm just using Voice of the Master. Someday I may get a bloodstone, and I'll be happy if that day comes. I usually use 5% weighted elec burst handwraps, so it'd be handy.

Funny story, I have pulled both of my bloodstones on my monk. I think the loot tables feel sorry for monks.

Since you’re running reaver you could also go for the head of Good Fortune too!

And I'll surely be keeping an eye out for any of those boots you listed. I run Reaver whenever I'm off timer, so I may see a Madstone Boots someday. Delving Boots are less likely, I've only run Velah once. Maybe she'll be more popular with the new patch.

Indeed. My guild added DQ to our Friday night raid schedule thanks to the changes in Mod 9. And based on my experiences on Lamannia I know the VoN 5 is going to be even easier to access since you don't need to split the raid group to flag for the raid.

If you do Bloodstone runs you can also take a quick detour over to the Firestorm greaves chest too.

[SolarDawning]

Ressurecting this thread to give an update on my gear situation.
I've just crafted my new cloak- +45 hp, +6 dex skills, 20% concealment, displacement 2/day. Absolutely loving it, it put me in that comfy over-400 hp zone, as well.
I'm now flagged for ToD and have crafted my Boots of Anchoring. Ran ToD once so far, thanks to all the Legion and other folks on Thelanis who were kind enough to take me along the other night.
Looking forward to rings someday. =D

[BigBozzy]

Pretty much in the same boat..level 18+ lookin to upgrade gear and mine is very similar to urs... few questions...

My goggles and cloak spot are lacking... I was thinking greensteel for both.. or would tharnes be better for the goggles...as for the cloak ive been told to go air air air earth earth earth.. or air earth air =P which combination is everyones favorite.. i saw smoke up their what combination is that ??

weapons.. what are some high end weps people like to use.. for dps purpsoes right now i usually use +5 shocking burst of bleeding....and switch to force of weighted 5% (hopfully be force burst soon) and got all my staples..paralizing banishing disruption etc.. collecting my greater ____ banes...also have a few dream edges i dont use and vorpal kamas i dont use all that often... guess im just seeing what other monks are using

[NXPlasmid]

My halfling monk is currently using the following set of gear at level 18:

Goggles: Tharne's Goggles with +1 competence to saves from stone of change
Helm: Minos Legens
Cloak: Cloak of the Zephyr (20% concealment)
Necklace: Oremi's Necklace (+6 con, +1 ki on hit) or Shintao Cord (+6 con, +15 concentration) depending on need.
Armor: Icy Raiment with +1 alchemical dodge from stone of change
Gloves: Spectral Gloves
Bracers: +7 Armor
Ring: Generic +6 strength
Ring: Generic +6 wisdom
Belt: Knost's Belt (+6 con, greater false life)
Boots: Golden Greaves (3/- DR, 15% striding)

So, here's my questions!
What gear should I be looking for as improvements?
I'm aware of the ToD rings, but am not yet flagged for ToD, and only have one part to make the boots. I'm working on that.
I'm also on the lookout for +8 armor bracers, but haven't had the luck to pull any yet.
I've got a load of shroud mats saved up. I had greensteel hp/con skills goggles made up to teir 2, but replaced when when I pulled Tharne's. Should I instead make that greensteel as a cloak, since I'll have blur in most groups anyways?
Cloak of the Zephyr is great for running solo, which I do often, so I'll be holding onto it anyhow.
I'm not really sure what to do about boots. I love those Golden Greaves, but they'll be obsolete when I get 10/epic DR at 20. Any suggestions for boots to keep an eye out for?

Thanks for helping a newish player out.

At that level of raid/named gear I would be more concerned to get your ToD ring and upgrade it. And a 45hp shroud item, probably a cloak or boots. If you don't already have the devout handwraps then you should be running the Shaddow Crypt till you do. For my monks, it's getting really good handwraps that's the biggest issue.

[NXPlasmid]

Pretty much in the same boat..level 18+ lookin to upgrade gear and mine is very similar to urs... few questions...

My goggles and cloak spot are lacking... I was thinking greensteel for both.. or would tharnes be better for the goggles...as for the cloak ive been told to go air air air earth earth earth.. or air earth air =P which combination is everyones favorite.. i saw smoke up their what combination is that ??

weapons.. what are some high end weps people like to use.. for dps purpsoes right now i usually use +5 shocking burst of bleeding....and switch to force of weighted 5% (hopfully be force burst soon) and got all my staples..paralizing banishing disruption etc.. collecting my greater ____ banes...also have a few dream edges i dont use and vorpal kamas i dont use all that often... guess im just seeing what other monks are using

the 45hp smoke GS item sound good if you only solo, but I find I get blurred in virtually every group I'm in so it doesn't seem so essential to me. Some people like destruction guard which is untyped damage, or one of the other guards. *edit* I would not craft a +45hp shroud item with +6wis (which I did... doh!) as you'll be picking up +6 wis on your ToD ring when you get it...

[Taimasan]

The 3/- DR on the greaves will override your 10/epic DR if you plan on going 20 Monk.