Fist or Staff

[jimkromann]

Hi, im new to the monk, a friend helped me develop this build, we are not done yet tho, but now might be a good time to ask for some help.

I am unsure if the staff will work or if i should use fists instead, and then get 2 other feats that cleave and the 2handed fighting

(im a 32 points build) [ i made some changes to the build below, plz look here to see it : http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p...20&postcount=7 ]

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Test monk 
Level 4 Lawful Good Dwarf Male
(4 Monk) 
Hit Points: 89
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 3\3
Fortitude: 8
Reflex: 5
Will: 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 4)
Strength             17                    18
Dexterity            13                    13
Constitution         17                    18
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom               14                    15
Charisma              6                     6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 4)
Balance               5                    12
Bluff                -2                    -2
Concentration         7                    14
Diplomacy            -2                    -2
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -2                    -2
Heal                  2                     2
Hide                  1                     1
Intimidate           -2                    -2
Jump                  7                    11
Listen                2                     2
Move Silently         1                     1
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                    -1
Search               -1                     1
Spot                  2                     2
Swim                  3                     4
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device     n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Power Attack
Feat: (Selected) Two Handed Fighting
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense I
Enhancement: Monk Concentration I


Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics I
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortiose I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Lifting the Veil
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I


Level 4 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Monk Concentration II

[djsonar919]

Fists all the way. More damage and you can use all your attacks. The only time I would use a staff is if you have Souleater. Other than that you will want to be using fists.

[Soleran]

Welcome to the monk class

All that said it's been my experience to avoid staffs for a pretty simple reason:

1d6 crit 2x20 is the staff damage and it always stays that way (it does have a cool attack animation though.)

Your fists start at

1d6 crit 2x20 and improves as you lvl to eventually become 2x10 at lvl 20 and if you take improved crit blud you get 19-20 crit with the fastest (unbuffed)attack speed in game about 12% faster then attacking with a weapon

If you're starting at lvl 4 your fists will automatically be better then the staff at 1d8.

Get the twf line all the way to GTWF, monks also get full strength bonus to offhand damage, of course to qualify for the entire TWF line you'll need 17 dex base.

Also make sure when you start that you put just one point into tumble

[jimkromann]

thx 4 the reply, but why TWF if im using fists?

[Rusty_Can]

thx 4 the reply, but why TWF if im using fists?

Because, as their description states, TWF feats affect unarmed combat.

[jimkromann]

sweet.... thx again

[jimkromann]

I made some changes, how does this look?

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Test monk 
Level 4 Lawful Good Dwarf Male
(4 Monk) 
Hit Points: 89
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 3\3
Fortitude: 8
Reflex: 8
Will: 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 4)
Strength             14                    14
Dexterity            17                    18
Constitution         17                    18
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom               13                    14
Charisma              6                     6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 4)
Balance               7                    15
Bluff                -2                    -2
Concentration         7                    14
Diplomacy            -2                    -2
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -2                    -2
Heal                  1                     2
Hide                  3                     4
Intimidate           -2                    -2
Jump                  5                     8
Listen                1                     2
Move Silently         3                     4
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                    -1
Search               -1                     1
Spot                  1                     2
Swim                  2                     2
Tumble                4                     5
Use Magic Device     n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Power Attack
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense I
Enhancement: Monk Concentration I


Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics I
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortiose I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Lifting the Veil
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I


Level 4 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Monk Concentration II

[dunklezhan]

Because, as their description states, TWF feats affect unarmed combat.

Somebody advised me yesterday that since U5 the TWF feats no longer make a difference to monks as they no longer add additional attacks, just the chance of attacks, and as the hand wraps don't count as two weapons it doesn't 'proc' as such.

I have to say I'm sceptical of this advice, but I also have to say that compared to my TWF rogue or ranger, I don't notice the extra attack with my monk - when fighting with those classes using weapons you can tell when the off hand procs because the floating damage readouts are much closer together than the main hand attacks. My monk still attacks ridiculously fast even in a stance other than Wind however - so I don't know whether they've compensated by just adding speed to the attacks or what.

Can anyone confirm one way or another? Like I say I am sceptical - but I'm not sure.

[Rusty_Can]

Somebody advised me yesterday that since U5 the TWF feats no longer make a difference to monks as they no longer add additional attacks, just the chance of attacks, and as the hand wraps don't count as two weapons it doesn't 'proc' as such.

According to U5 Release Notes, TWF feats still affect unarmed combat.

[Ashurr]

Neither OTWF, Whirling Steel Strike and Longswords