Monk...Splash...?

[Syrikin]

I have no idea why people do put levels into monk when using a ranger because I don't know what good it does. Can anyone get me on the same page please?

[Burtle]

something bout the wisdom bonus to armor....

[Goldeneye]

There are a few reasons why people put 1 or 2 levels of monk into a Ranger:

• At level 1 and 2, Monks get another feat.
• 1 Level of monk allows a robe/outfit-wearing rangers to get his/her wisdom modifier to AC.
• 1 Level of Monk, provides 2 more Will save (Monk have higher save progression).
• 1 Level of monk allows rangers to unlock diplo/balance as class skills.
• 1 Level of monk for your 1st level, gives you more Skill Points.
• Next mod, melee-focused rangers gain little benefit from Levels 19/20, since the capstone is weak, there isn't much for enhancements, and Tempest III PrE is level 18, so it is more beneficial to mix in 2 levels of another class.

Those ideas are just off the top of my head, for more info, go to the Monk Page in the Compendium

btw - Fantastic Grammer!!!

[Syrikin]

Ok, i'll go check the compendium. And thanks for the comment on my grammer, ha.

[Goldeneye]

DDO Wiki: Monk

DDO Compendium: Monk

Also, a popular build is doing 14 Ranger / 1 Monk / 1 Rogue - that allows you to have UMD as a class skill, and a little bit of sneak attack Damage.

[Syrikin]

Is it monks or rogues that get the umd skill as a class skill?

[Burtle]

rogues

[Syrikin]

oh, ok thanks

[Club'in]

Two things, you need a decent wisdom bonus to make it worth it (wis 20, modified, minimum i'd say), and to get it you can't be wearing armor of any kind. Consequently, it is usually only advantageous if you have built a dex-ranger, which is most typically either an elf/drow or a halfling. Those races get enhancements that modify dex. So, with enough ranger levels you can get +3 to dex via enhancements, and the racials allow you to add another 2. This allows you to switch into robes, wear some armor bracers (+6's are easy to find, +7's aren't prohibitively expensive), and actually achieve a higher ac than if you were wearing armor. When wearing armor, the armor type dictates the maximum amount of your dex bonus that can be applied to your ac. For a ranger, this would likely be +5 Mithril Chain Shirt. Chain shirts give you a 4 armor bonus, the magical is another +5, chain shirts allow you to apply 4 points from your dex modifier, and mithril boost the potential dex modifier by 2 more points. So, you need a 22 dex to "max out" a set of +5 mithril chain shirt, for a total of 15AC. Robes don't give you any armor bonus, but they don't restrict the amount of AC you gain from your dex modifier. Add in the armor bonus from some AC bracers (we'll say +6), and you need a +9 dex modifier to equal the armor protection of the mithril chain shirt. By adding the monk level, you then gain your wisdom bonus to this AC calculation. Another +4 or +5 is relatively easy to achieve.

One other thing I did with my monk splash, was use the monk bonus feat on Combat Expertise. This is a stance that you can enter that gives you another +5 ac, but reduces your bonus to hit by 5 as well. So, by splashing monk for my 15 level, I potentially gained 11 AC (+6 from my 22 wisdom, and 5 from my CE). With +7 armor bracers, the Icy Rainments (with armor ritual), I can get into the 50's AC while dual wielding.

[Syrikin]

I guess that makes sense. I plan on making a drow ranger and I wanted to go pure but lately it seems like that idea flew out the window. How should I level it out and what feats should I take if I do make the toon 18/1/1?

[Club'in]

Usually you want to start rogue if you are doing a rogue splash. This allows you to max out your skill points. Rogue 1st level. Then, as I showed you, you really need high enough levels for the dex enhancements, +4 to +6 modifications on your items (for dex and wisdom), before you really start to see a big benefit to monk. So I'd take Ranger clear up through level 12 (level 11 ranger is an awesome level, you max out your energy resist spells, are shooting 3 arrows per shot with manyshot, and gain Improved Precise shot, Greater Two Weapon Fighting, all kinds of rangerly goodness). Monk for level 13, ranger thereafter.

Feats are pretty rigid. You need Dodge, Mobility, and Spring attack as your Level 1, 3 and 6. That will allow you to get Tempest with your 6th ranger level (at level 7). At level 9 you can either pick up toughness, or consider Improved Crit Piercing. Take the other one at 12. For your bonus monk feat at 13 you may want to consider Weapon Finesse or Combat Expertise. Keep in mind that you'd need a 13 intel (unenhanced) to be able to get CE. At level 18 you'll definitely want something like Oversized Two Weapon Fighting, which is one of the prereq's for Tempest 3. That then only leaves you with level 15 to play with.

[78mackson]

I went with 1rogue, 1monk, then rest ranger..

at lvl4 I had 35-39 ac with house P buffs n those bracers from WW with a 16,16,13,8,13,8 build halfer.. anyone can achieve this.. that have enough plat for the P buffs. edit: well 39 ac didnt exactly stop those pesky spiders in TR-elite :S

[Aranticus]

I guess that makes sense. I plan on making a drow ranger and I wanted to go pure but lately it seems like that idea flew out the window. How should I level it out and what feats should I take if I do make the toon 18/1/1?

check out EinarMal's exploiter build

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...ight=exploiter

[GunboatDiplomat]

I guess that makes sense. I plan on making a drow ranger and I wanted to go pure but lately it seems like that idea flew out the window. How should I level it out and what feats should I take if I do make the toon 18/1/1?

Make sure you start with 8 strength...

Kidding!!!

[78mackson]

Make sure you start with 8 strength...

Kidding!!!

and dont forget to get 4 useless FE´s so you make sure your the last one to get aggro(before you eventually get aggro n dies..) just so you can say that in the forums

[GunboatDiplomat]

and dont forget to get 4 useless FE´s so you make sure your the last one to get aggro(before you eventually get aggro n dies..) just so you can say that in the forums

And start with 6 con, because with evasion and your high ac you'll never take damage and thus wont need hit points. Or fortitude saves

[78mackson]

And start with 6 con, because with evasion and your high ac you'll never take damage and thus wont need hit points. Or fortitude saves

and then you can have 18 or, heck its drow ofc, 20 in charisma so you can get above 45 in umd(since we lose 4 in umd without springattack!).

[Leyoni]

Glad I've been so entertaining to you. But let's move this whole thing so we don't keep derailing OP's posts.

[GunboatDiplomat]

and then you can have 18 or, heck its drow ofc, 20 in charisma so you can get above 45 in umd(since we lose 4 in umd without springattack!).

Even if you don't have spring attack, you won't lose 4 umd if you activate an item while standing still. Its called twitch skills mate - learn to play the game ffs.

Glad I've been so entertaining to you. But let's move this whole thing so we don't keep derailing OP's posts.

All right all right, sheesh can't we have a bit of fun?