Needing Build Advice

[Staffman]

I am looking to make a monk. I am leaning towards a dwarven, quarterstaff user. I would also like to start lv 1 as a rogue for end game skills. Whats the best starting stats, feats, etc. Thanks in advance.

[esoitl]

what are you actually going to use rogue for?
if not for rogue skills just build a Monk in normal fashion(STR, CON, DEX, and WIS based)

if you're looking to use rogue skills then you have to factor in INT and maybe CHA if you want UMD
i assume you are looking to take only 1 lvl of Rogue so that tells me you're going more Monk oriented and therefore probably just taking it for UMD?

i guess the big question with any Monk is what do you value more, AC or DPS?

[Staffman]

I am going rogue for traps, locks, search (and spot). I don't care about jumping around, etc. I want to be well rounded, but dont want to pull agro off tanks. I am thinking quarterstaff, unless it stupid.

[esoitl]

i hardly think it's stupid

i'm putting together a Thief-Acrobat/Monk now and it's working fairly well
realize though that you have to sacrifice somehwere as with Rogue skills you're talking about 5 prime attributes with the 6th being an optional/slight dump stat

STR 17
DEX 14
CON 15
WIS 12
INT 12
CHA 6

is how i set mine up, you get a ton of extra feats with monk, more than needed really so taking UMD focus isn't that much of an expenditure
even with the 6 my UMD isn't great but passable
keep in mind my build will be more Rogue than Monk though so yours may stack up different, didn't like the low INT for traps and search but i'm getting by with buffs so far(ran Delera's and was finding everything up until Necro with just skill boost... neded Hero and Foxes + boost but then again i was 4 levels below quest level)

this is a bit of an awkward build IMO as there is a great deal of flexibility in the stats if you're willing to lose a point of something here or there to be more rounded

[Lifespawn]

don't worry with a qstaff you wont pull aggro off a decent tank you would need a 16 int to max search disable umd and concentration.

but neway

str 16
dex 10
con 14
int 14
wis14
cha 10

not going to get a great ac not going to have a good stunning fist or quivering palm stunning blow should be taken along with the racial enhancments for dwarven tactics

great hp's easily 400

full rogue skills is a plus and lets you fill that role and add in some ok damage

[esoitl]

the split is going to dictate whether your Monk special attacks are even worth it as i think the DC is based party on Monk lvl
OP what was your intended split?

[Staffman]

I never played a monk...not sure. Is this even feasible?

[esoitl]

certainly is
like i said i am planning a similar character but having the split more Rogue based(i want to get Thief-Acrobat II which means 12Rogue-4Monk for now, 12/8 at lvl 20 cap)

i started with Rogue and then 3 Monk to get the path and i can hit traps with some basic buffs no problem
just remember that Staves are STR based weapons so your to-hit is coming from STR and you can't finesse unless you change weapons

you do have to spread stats fairly thin to get everything in but take into account the enhancements as Monks give WIS, Rogue gives DEX, and dwarf gives CON
the big fetch up i'm finding is AC isn't as high as it could be due to the fact that i want some halfway decent damage and to-hit numbers so i have more STR and much less DEX and WIS than i would prefer, also my INT is lower than i want but i like hitting things regularly