Dominion vs. Balance

[Sirea]

So I have a low-level monk who, out of interest of doing something different, I decided to take down the Path of Inevitable Dominion. When I went to the compendium to see what's in store for him, I found a lot of information about the Path of Harmonius Balance but not so much about Dominion (unless I really overlooked something)

What are pros and cons to going Dominion? I know that the "light side" monks get all the curative benefits, but is there any real benefit to going to the "dark side"? Will I get an insta-death attack or something like that? I'm new to the Monk class but I've seen a couple of great monks at higher level so I'm intrigued.

Thanks

[hu-flung-pu]

The darkside is ok, but it's like fighting with one hand behind your back.

And ALL monks get an instant death attack, quivering palm.

If you do go darkside, max out your WIS, because all your finishers are fortitude based, and most of the monsters in the game have a high fortitude. Another thing you might want to consider is really trying to max out your "to-hit" bonuses.

The imminent domination is by far the weakest monk path, not because of the lack of self healing, but because you spend all your ki on one strike, on one enemy. So if you miss that strike you wasted all that Ki, or if you hit, you still have to succeed on a fortitude check, leaving you with nothing gained, where as with the light side, you can fire off an area buff, and not worry about wasting ki.

[Hendrik]

So I have a low-level monk who, out of interest of doing something different, I decided to take down the Path of Inevitable Dominion. When I went to the compendium to see what's in store for him, I found a lot of information about the Path of Harmonius Balance but not so much about Dominion (unless I really overlooked something)

What are pros and cons to going Dominion? I know that the "light side" monks get all the curative benefits, but is there any real benefit to going to the "dark side"? Will I get an insta-death attack or something like that? I'm new to the Monk class but I've seen a couple of great monks at higher level so I'm intrigued.

Thanks

Dark Jedi(Monk) is a debuff Monk. We Blind, Paralyze, and Curse.

After playing both Light and Dark to cap;

Light Side is far easier to play then Dark. Dark side is a challenge to play effectively but if you can stick with it it is very rewarding. If you are making your first Monk, I would suggest going Light at first to get a feel for the class, then change to Dark if you want a challenge.

I have never regretted my decision to go Dark and stick with it. Very happy with the choice and a well played Dark Jedi is an asset to any party and enjoy surprising others when they learn that I am a well played Dark Jedi.

[hu-flung-pu]

In what ways does your dark monk contribute?

And how do you maximize your ki effectively on single mob, single strike use of finishers?

[esoitl]

Dark Jedi(Monk) is a debuff Monk. We Blind, Paralyze, and Curse.

After playing both Light and Dark to cap;

Light Side is far easier to play then Dark. Dark side is a challenge to play effectively but if you can stick with it it is very rewarding. If you are making your first Monk, I would suggest going Light at first to get a feel for the class, then change to Dark if you want a challenge.

I have never regretted my decision to go Dark and stick with it. Very happy with the choice and a well played Dark Jedi is an asset to any party and enjoy surprising others when they learn that I am a well played Dark Jedi.

What's the story with the dark side finishers?
I made a Monk ages ago when they came out and was an Inevitable Dominion Monk but I didn't play it out very long. My new Monk started with Harmonious Balance but has since chosen to pursue Dominion.

Again, I haven't played it out far yet but a life of Balance has many enhancements whereas Domionion has none. Wondering what it actually has in store, are they all finisher based abilities?

[hu-flung-pu]

Yes.


They're all finishers.

[Hendrik]

In what ways does your dark monk contribute?

And how do you maximize your ki effectively on single mob, single strike use of finishers?

Beyond the basics of Eagle Claw, Unbalancing Strike, and Stunning Fist and Palm;

Like many Monks I'll chain up my Elemental Attacks (currently a Master of all 4 Elements) for DPS, such as it is. For use of finishers, situational for Dark Side. I will mostly find myself with a Finishing Move keyed up for start of the next fight. Melee types I'll blind them or paralyze them via Air+Dark and Water+Dark. Casters, they are fun to slap with all kinds of things; pure Dark(mostly for Clerics), Earth+Dark is my favorite at the moment. I will quickly hit a target with something, move to the next and repeat.

ANA - Falling Star Strike (Blinds Target)
WNW - Freezing the Lifeblood (Paralyzed Target)
ENE - Pain Touch (Nauseated, No actions)

But that just how I enjoy playing my Monk.

[Hendrik]

What's the story with the dark side finishers?
I made a Monk ages ago when they came out and was an Inevitable Dominion Monk but I didn't play it out very long. My new Monk started with Harmonious Balance but has since chosen to pursue Dominion.

Again, I haven't played it out far yet but a life of Balance has many enhancements whereas Domionion has none. Wondering what it actually has in store, are they all finisher based abilities?

Hu covered it, they are all single target, debuff-ish type finishers where Light are AOE buff-ish type.

[hu-flung-pu]

Beyond the basics of Eagle Claw, Unbalancing Strike, and Stunning Fist and Palm;

Like many Monks I'll chain up my Elemental Attacks (currently a Master of all 4 Elements) for DPS, such as it is. For use of finishers, situational for Dark Side. I will mostly find myself with a Finishing Move keyed up for start of the next fight. Melee types I'll blind them or paralyze them via Air+Dark and Water+Dark. Casters, they are fun to slap with all kinds of things; pure Dark(mostly for Clerics), Earth+Dark is my favorite at the moment. I will quickly hit a target with something, move to the next and repeat.

ANA - Falling Star Strike (Blinds Target)
WNW - Freezing the Lifeblood (Paralyzed Target)
ENE - Pain Touch (Nauseated, No actions)

But that just how I enjoy playing my Monk.

Falling star is probably my favorite negative, just because it lets me maximize stances like faithful hound, and gives me so many bonuses, and them so many negatives.

I guess I was asking how you unleash the Ki, ki's not a big problem to accumulate, but storing it up seems to be my problem.

And light side get access to the offensive stuff like eagle claw and unbalancing strike as well.

[esoitl]

Beyond the basics of Eagle Claw, Unbalancing Strike, and Stunning Fist and Palm;

Like many Monks I'll chain up my Elemental Attacks (currently a Master of all 4 Elements) for DPS, such as it is. For use of finishers, situational for Dark Side. I will mostly find myself with a Finishing Move keyed up for start of the next fight. Melee types I'll blind them or paralyze them via Air+Dark and Water+Dark. Casters, they are fun to slap with all kinds of things; pure Dark(mostly for Clerics), Earth+Dark is my favorite at the moment. I will quickly hit a target with something, move to the next and repeat.

ANA - Falling Star Strike (Blinds Target)
WNW - Freezing the Lifeblood (Paralyzed Target)
ENE - Pain Touch (Nauseated, No actions)

But that just how I enjoy playing my Monk.

Sorry for being a noob here but what do you mean by ANA and the like?

[Borror0]

Sorry for being a noob here but what do you mean by ANA and the like?

He means the order in which the combination was made.

• E = Earth = Strike of the Enduring I, II or III
• A = Air = Storm Strike I, II or III
• F = Fire = Fires of Purity I, II or III
• W = Water = Flowing Water Strike I, II or III
• P = Positive = Fist of Light
• N = Negative = Fist of Darkness

[Hendrik]

Falling star is probably my favorite negative, just because it lets me maximize stances like faithful hound, and gives me so many bonuses, and them so many negatives.

I guess I was asking how you unleash the Ki, ki's not a big problem to accumulate, but storing it up seems to be my problem.

And light side get access to the offensive stuff like eagle claw and unbalancing strike as well.

I have max'd my Concentration so I have a good pool to draw from as well as a +15 Item. I usually find myself with to much Ki and rarely running out.

If I want to unleash my Ki, I read that as burst damage - if I am incorrect, please let me know, I will chain my Elemental attacks. I have them bound so it is very easy for me to run through them all very fast. Add to that Weighted 'wraps and when they proc, Ki is gained hand over foot, or some similar Monk-ish pun.

[Hendrik]

He means the order in which the combination was made.

• E = Earth = Strike of the Enduring I, II or III
• A = Air = Storm Strike I, II or III
• F = Fire = Fires of Purity I, II or III
• W = Water = Flowing Water Strike I, II or III
• P = Positive = Fist of Light
• N = Negative = Fist of Darkness

Thanks B.

[hu-flung-pu]

I have max'd my Concentration so I have a good pool to draw from as well as a +15 Item. I usually find myself with to much Ki and rarely running out.

If I want to unleash my Ki, I read that as burst damage - if I am incorrect, please let me know, I will chain my Elemental attacks. I have them bound so it is very easy for me to run through them all very fast. Add to that Weighted 'wraps and when they proc, Ki is gained hand over foot, or some similar Monk-ish pun.

Thanks, but let me ask you this, instead of spamming Air 3-negative-air 2 wouldn't it be simpler, and better, and easier, to just fire off air 3-negative-air 3 again?

Giving you more damage from two tier three air strikes as a result?

It's the blasted cooldown on ki strikes that gives me fits.

[rimble]

Thanks, but let me ask you this, instead of spamming Air 3-negative-air 2 wouldn't it be simpler, and better, and easier, to just fire off air 3-negative-air 3 again?

...and slower. Sounds like he's talking about total Ki dump to me...you wanna run through them fast. I need a +2 Con tome to get Earth 3, but when I do I'm looking forward to constantly cycling through Earth 3 - Earth 2 - Earth 1...right now I've settled for Earth 2 - Earth 1 - Void Strike...of course with Light thrown in where necessary to get the healing out, and delving into Fire/Water just when I want to hit those buffs. Too tired of trying to figure out who is going to ignore the Fire/Water strike damage, so I'm all about some Earth now, except for obvious situations--Fire on ice things, Water on fire things, etc.

[Hendrik]

Thanks, but let me ask you this, instead of spamming Air 3-negative-air 2 wouldn't it be simpler, and better, and easier, to just fire off air 3-negative-air 3 again?

Giving you more damage from two tier three air strikes as a result?

It's the blasted cooldown on ki strikes that gives me fits.

I stick to all my top end Elemental attacks. Sorry if I gave the impression I did not.

There is a second or two delay with launching the final attack, so I put in a normal attack before the final Elemental.