Monk Capstone: Serenity Preview

[Eladrin]

Since this is the week of Thanksgiving, I thought I'd introduce a Capstone Enhancement to the public to give you something to chew on between bites of turkey.

The next module brings a selection of new Prestige Enhancements to some classes and expands some existing lines for others, but every class will gain a Capstone Enhancement to celebrate reaching 20 levels in the class. A character may only possess a single Capstone Enhancement at a time. (At this moment it's academic as there will be one for each class, but other choices will likely be added in the future.)

Enough preamble! Here's the Monk's Capstone Enhancement:

Serenity
Prereq: Level 20 Monk, 74 Action points spent
Cost: 2 Action Points
Benefit: You are a paragon of understanding and serenity. Your Concentration is increased by 10 and your centered ki generation is increased by 1.

Serenity is subtle, yet in the hands of a master, potentially very powerful. Ki retention is heavily governed by one's Concentration score, and while this is a hefty bonus; the second bonus is what I find much more interesting... With Serenity, a monk's ki not only decays at a slower rate and stabilizes at a higher "Concentration band", but it will actually regenerate over time if their accumulated ki is low.

Let us know what you think!

[Mhykke]

I have a feeling some are going to be upset they splashed another class when other capstones come out.

[bobbryan2]

Tell us what you think huh?

This particular enhancement looks nice. That being said, I still think 20th level enhancements are a bad idea without respecs.

The only basis player build makers have to go off of is D&D rules and classes. And barely any of those have huge bonuses for hitting 20th in a class.

[Balkas]

I like it .

I think they are a good idea. Greater variety of builds =

[redoubt]

Will the concentration stack with an item?

[Junts]

and this is a nice but far from huge bonus

[Balkas]

Will the concentration stack with an item?

Yes.

[Aerendil]

I'd rate it as "good" but not "omgwow!!1", which is a good thing.

Capstones too weak would not give enough of a reward for staying pure build, resulting in complaining; capstones too strong will punish anyone for multiclassing, resulting in even stronger complaints.

So the devs have to walk a fine line so as not to underpower/overpower the capstones.

And who knows what else will be ingame by that point? There may be additional capstones; there might be character respec options; there might even be greenweave handwraps. Who knows.

IMO, the true bonus of being a 20 Monk will probably be Perfect Self. This capstone is just a nice little addition on top of that

[maddmatt70]

The only basis player build makers have to go off of is D&D rules and classes. And barely any of those have huge bonuses for hitting 20th in a class.

I like it less for classes that didn't really have any special reason to go to level 20 in D&D examples include: fighter, paladin, and rogue, with cleric, wizard, and sorcerer being lesser examples. The only classes where I think a capstone is warranted is the following because they had a special reason in the rules to go pure: barbarian (mighty rage), bard (+1 to hit and damage on inspire courage), druid (able to shape change to size huge elementals), monks (perfect self), and ranger (5th favored enemy).

[TreknaQudane]

This is pretty nice. I've got a Human Monk that will like getting this

So instead of 37 Ki before it decays it will be around 50 (counting level ups)

AND you normally go to -1 Ki when you are over your current concentration but below twice... will mean he'll be able to have 100 Ki that won't decay.. wow

[bobbryan2]

I like it less for classes that didn't really have any special reason to go to level 20 in D&D examples include: fighter, paladin, and rogue, with cleric, wizard, and sorcerer being lesser examples. The only classes where I think a capstone is warranted is the following because they had a special reason in the rules to go pure: barbarian (mighty rage), bard (+1 to hit and damage on inspire courage), druid (able to shape change to size huge elementals), monks (perfect self), and ranger (5th favored enemy).

Especially considering we haven't known about capstone enhancements for very long, and before that we even had incentive to 'not' go pure class in some cases... like warchanters gaining additional rages/day.

Sure.. a small thing, but coupled with the fact that no one mentioned capstone enhancements for over 2 years of the game, and people can't respec builds...

I just don't think it's a very good idea.

[Turial]

All depends on the ki regeneration rate. There are many quests in the game where it is less wise to engage mobs which results in monks having little to no Ki by the end, where quick ki generation and use is essential for them.

[Inspire]

Fantastic, thanks El.

[Toblakai]

Especially considering we haven't known about capstone enhancements for very long, and before that we even had incentive to 'not' go pure class in some cases... like warchanters gaining additional rages/day.

Sure.. a small thing, but coupled with the fact that no one mentioned capstone enhancements for over 2 years of the game, and people can't respec builds...

I just don't think it's a very good idea.

So... are you saying that you thought the dev's would not release level 20 enhancments? Did you think they were going to stop at level 16 enhancements and go no further?

I think its sort of obvious that level 20 enhancements would be created, and that they would probably be pretty decent.

Toblakai

[bobbryan2]

So... are you saying that you thought the dev's would not release level 20 enhancments? Did you think they were going to stop at level 16 enhancements and go no further?

I think its sort of obvious that level 20 enhancements would be created, and that they would probably be pretty decent.

Toblakai

I was pretty sure they would be there.

I didn't think it was obvious they would be decent at all.

[Aerendil]

So... are you saying that you thought the dev's would not release level 20 enhancments? Did you think they were going to stop at level 16 enhancements and go no further?

I think its sort of obvious that level 20 enhancements would be created, and that they would probably be pretty decent.

Toblakai

I think his argument is that previously there was nothing to dissuade you from multiclassing.
In fact, it was almost encouraged based on the lack of xp penalties that accompany PnP multi-classing, and the fact that some prestige classes such as Warchanter actually receive bonuses from multiclassing.

Which is why the capstone enhancements can't be *too* strong. You can't silently encourage it for over 2 years, and then penalize those people later on.

Not without offering a respec at some point (which, in terms of D&D, is possible - psionics introduces mind wipes, and I'm sure magic could offer similar opportunities so that you "forget" certain skills, feats, levels, etc. It's just the coding into a MMORPG that could prove problematic).

[sephiroth1084]

Cool!

I think, perhaps throwing a little more power into the capstone may not be a bad idea, as a greater reward for staying pure, BUT PrEs likely pick up some of that slack as well, so I'm not going to criticize any further than that.

Oh, Eladrin, so unfair is it for you to gain all the glory as the DEV OF KNOWLEDGEDGEdgedgeedge. Do not the others wish also to revel in the glory? Have they not the want to bask in the light of adoration streaming from the playerbase, so thankful on this holiday of thanksgiving for bestowing upon us more information? Should you not break bread, and share in the joy of giving unto us, your subscribers, the much sought after insights into our future? Is Tolero not jealous? Does she not lament?

Whoo! ANYWAY, thank you for the info and have a great Turkey Day weekend!

[EKKM]

I dont know much about monks, but I like the idea of level 20 enhancements. Also, I agree that they should not be overpowering must have abilities but good enhancements. Kind of like fighter haste boost, no one takes a level of fighter just to get it, but most with fighter levels end up taking it because it is good.

[Tat2Freak]

Regardless of what they come out with, I wouldnt change my character anyway (12 Fighter-2 Rogue-2 Barbarian). I can use any scroll in the game, DPS ALMOST as well as any of the top end tanks, open/disable almost all the locks/traps in the game (could do all but thats another story), the fact of the matter is, hes a **** powerhouse and I doubt there is anything they come up with at 20th level that would cause me to go straight fighter and lose the things that make him so...and if they do...well then I just make a new character(doubt it).


p.s. Yes I agree there should be some incentive to stay pure...make them powerful, cause when you multi-class your powerful from the get...

p.s.s HAPPY THANKSGIVING to The Turbine Team, The DDO Community and mostly to all of Sarlona.

[Aerendil]

Cool!

I think, perhaps throwing a little more power into the capstone may not be a bad idea, as a greater reward for staying pure, BUT PrEs likely pick up some of that slack as well, so I'm not going to criticize any further than that.

Oh, Eladrin, so unfair is it for you to gain all the glory as the DEV OF KNOWLEDGEDGEdgedgeedge. Do not the others wish also to revel in the glory? Have they not the want to bask in the light of adoration streaming from the playerbase, so thankful on this holiday of thanksgiving for bestowing upon us more information? Should you not break bread, and share in the joy of giving unto us, your subscribers, the much sought after insights into our future? Is Tolero not jealous? Does she not lament?

Whoo! ANYWAY, thank you for the info and have a great Turkey Day weekend!

Only one problem with that theory. Not all of the posts here consists of adoration
I'm sure Eladrin sees as much criticism as adoration on these posts. Part and parcel of being a dev I guess. You can't please everybody.

But, if Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse have taught us anything, even bad publicity is good publicity... so I suppose in the end, Eladrin does win out

And I think I speak for most of us that whether we love or hate the capstones, new PrEs, or racial enhancements, it's nice to at least be kept in the loop of dev knowledge. So a /salute to Eladrin for that one.