rolling a monk need help

[skunk]

I am rolling a monk,

32 point build, i want to do 18 str, and go for the most damage i can, i think twf is good. I was thinking splashing 2 levels of rogue into the build (first 2 levels) and maxing out DD and search.

Stats,
18 str,
13 dex
14 wis,

not sure the rest..

The other thing i was wondering, with a str build, what stances would be best to use, and should i go dark over light?

thanks in advance

[Uska]

stay pure I would say the dr at lvl 20 will help with grazing hits and the like plus the ki generation, for a str base monk I would think dwarf, my main monk is a drow though and I went ac route started a dwarf for str based but he is only lvl 4

stats look ok some what but dont forget con

[Mobeius]

Hang tight my friend, me and Garth are both working on a monks guide...

[Soulken]

Hang tight my friend, me and Garth are both working on a monks guide...

when?

[Maegin]

Hang tight my friend, me and Garth are both working on a monks guide...

God bless you two

[Mobeius]

Well I have mine and he has his... Mine is very rough draft stage right now.. I will work on it more soon and I will need the communities help for some input...

[Cack]

Few quick points.

If you want twf, your gonna wanna start with atleast 15 dex on a str build (assuming your putting points into str and a +2 dex tome will be available to you).

From a pure dps perspective, wf would be a better strength build. PA enhancements are solid.

I have tried a few different str based monk builds, and honestly did not like them. Giving up the ac and dc's on skills etc. I found not to be worthwhile for my play style. I enjoy a nice medium in dps/survivability.

Just came back to game after a few month AoC stint again, but my monk looks like this (and is highly effective.)

halfling -- 32 pnt

12/20 Str (+2 tome, +6 item)
18/28 Dex (+2 tome, +2 Enh, +6 item)
14/22 Con (+2 Tome, +6 item)
8 Int
16/32 Wisdom (+3 tome, +3 Enhancement, +6 item, +4 lvl up)
8 Cha

Take all the halfling SA Enhancements (guile and cunning).
Str stance to build ki, Air to dps, water to....? live?.
Crane path, high concentration + capstone = unlimited ki.
Unbalancing Strike + your SA dmg = awesome.
The ability to land all your specials is the biggie, you'll never out dps the dps classes anyways, you are a great utility and an addition to a raid/party if played right and built right.

[tranceallnight]

Few quick points.
you'll never out dps the dps classes anyways, you are a great utility and an addition to a raid/party if played right and built right.

Never out dps the dps classes? really?

Even if your going strength need 17 base dex to get ITWF and GTWF feats. Good luck on your monk.

[CSFurious]

too much str

a pure monk right now is best fighting unarmed with twf line

if you want to focus on str, roll an acrobat monk & fight with the thf line using a staff

later

I am rolling a monk,

32 point build, i want to do 18 str, and go for the most damage i can, i think twf is good. I was thinking splashing 2 levels of rogue into the build (first 2 levels) and maxing out DD and search.

Stats,
18 str,
13 dex
14 wis,

not sure the rest..

The other thing i was wondering, with a str build, what stances would be best to use, and should i go dark over light?

thanks in advance

[honkuimushi]

I agree with the others. Your Dex has to be 15 for TWF and 17 for GTWF. The best way is with a tome-- that means you have to start with a 15, and a 16 is better. The 18 you get from a +2 Tome will help you reach Grandmaster in wind stance. Also, with your stats, you can only get your Con to 13. Always get Con to at least 14 on a Monk, especially if you plan on using wind stance.

I would also give up on the Rogue splash. You wouldn't have enough skill points to max out Search and Disable with a 14 Int without gimping Concentration, UMD and your other skills. Trying to do that when you've only left enough points for an 8 Int is insane. Also Rogue doesn't give you much. You get the cap on UMD and Roguie skills unlocked, but you don't have the skillpoints to take advantage of it. And you get 1d6 Sneak Attack. You already get Evasion from monk. And you're missing out on SR and a decent capstone for that.


Also a final note, usually people spread the levels apart when they splash 2 levels of Rogue. That allows the to "catch up" on their Rogue skills by putting a bunch of skill points into a few skills when you have a 1 to 1 buy. You're on the right track with taking Rogue first though.

[skunk]

thanks for the advice, and looking forward to reading the guides. I am a returning player. My main is a 2 ranger 11 rogue. I just like how rogues are. From reading more of the forum, i am understanding Monk past 16 might as well go all the way.

Thanks for the replies.

[Vellauno]

Honesty, I think a Str monk is a waste. Most of your damage is not going to be coming from your Str anyways (except at low level, but who cares about that) and you get plenty of hit with dex and weapon finesse. If you are getting the TWF line on your monk (a good idea btw), you may as well get hit, reflex save, TWF prereqs and ac all from one stat instead of just damage and hit. I really only go for high Str on THF fighters because of the 1.5x multiplier to Str damage. I am a fan of

Str 12, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 16, Cha 8 on a Halfling Monk. The key there is to use stunning fist to stun your enemies (Wis effects DC), then hit them with multiple sneak attacks using the Halfling enhancements (even though you are not a rogue, you still get to sneak attack enemies who are helpless, such as those effected by stunning fist.) You then do an extra 8 damage every hit for free. Use you level stat boosts to put one point in Dex and the rest in Wis (Or all in Wis with a tome in Dex is what I did).

Also keep in mind that a monk's best stance is the wind one which has a Dex prereq. I suppose the fire Str based one could be good for huge amounts of trash if it were not for the fact that everything is immune to fire at later levels.

[Taelan]

IMHO, there is no advantage gained from splashing any class that is better than the late level advantages gained by staying pure. As Uska said, the DR10/epic gained at 20th level monk is a big help versus the grazing hits. In addition you have access to the capstone which is very beneficial to the monk as it will grant you a positive ki generation. I don't know if it is possible to raise your concentration to a high enough level that you are able to add to your ki while inactive without it, but it is nice to have the option when you have the capstone.

As far as Cack's claim that you will never out-dps the melee's, Ummm, not necessarily. The monk is just like any other class, if you put the time into building the character and acquiring the equipment it is possible to 'out-dps' the other melee's. I know this for a fact as I have been surprised myself when I see myself pull aggro from the "dps'ers" in the party and hold the aggro. So the monk is just like any other melee class, if built right the class is very effective.

And that is without the splashes of other classes.

As far as a strength-build versus a dexterity-build? I would say that you will want to balance your four stats as much as possible (STR, DEX, CON, WIS) as this will allow you the most access to the abilities that you will want. Always remember that the monk is an ability class. What I mean by this is that the monk really comes into their own when you use the ki strikes and the various special ki strikes to optimal effectiveness.

That's just my two-cents. Remember to seek the perfect balance.

[Cack]

As far as Cack's claim that you will never out-dps the melee's, Ummm, not necessarily. The monk is just like any other class, if you put the time into building the character and acquiring the equipment it is possible to 'out-dps' the other melee's. I know this for a fact as I have been surprised myself when I see myself pull aggro from the "dps'ers" in the party and hold the aggro. So the monk is just like any other melee class, if built right the class is very effective.

Obviously this comes down to player skill and gear. But simply put, 2 player's with similair gear and player skill, one monk and one monster, frenzy barb, ranger multi, rogue multi etc. Will out dps the monk, there is no claim, no arguement....number's prove it time and time again. The monk class is great, I enjoy it alot, but investing in the gear and everything else to make it shine in the dps department when you don't need close to as much with another class to get the same "numerical" results, just isn't worth it to some, myself included.

[RATRACE931]

Dex over STR always with monks in my opinion, as someone already said To-hit, Reflex, Wind Strance, GTWF all a huge boon to your build. Also I think a monks damage output comes MUCH more from his abilities than his STR . Spamming my Stance special damaging attacks allows me to dish out an absolute TON of dps. I continually steal aggro on my monk these days (12 starting str).

[tranceallnight]

But simply put, 2 player's with similair gear and player skill, one monk and one monster, frenzy barb, ranger multi, rogue multi etc. Will out dps the monk, there is no claim, no arguement....number's prove it time and time again.

Fail to see these numbers, please compare monks damage output to others with these numbers.

[dontcare123]

Strength based monk is not optimal, but starting with 18 str is just plain stupid.

Cack Posted my exact monk stats and I am also pleased with the build:

12 Str
18 Dex
14 Con
8 Int
16 Wisdom All level ups go here for Ac/will save/SF + QP Dcs
8 Cha

Str based monk is like a throwing weapon based fighter. Sure you gain range and some degree of survivability... but is it worth giving up ALL the damage/skills the fighter gets to gain the relatively mediocre bonus?

[Thralgaf]

Strength based monk is not optimal, but starting with 18 str is just plain stupid.

Cack Posted my exact monk stats and I am also pleased with the build:

12 Str
18 Dex
14 Con
8 Int
16 Wisdom All level ups go here for Ac/will save/SF + QP Dcs
8 Cha

Str based monk is like a throwing weapon based fighter. Sure you gain range and some degree of survivability... but is it worth giving up ALL the damage/skills the fighter gets to gain the relatively mediocre bonus?

I think this is the "stupid" comment he was referring to. The guy called him stupid.

[Nezichiend]

Fail to see these numbers, please compare monks damage output to others with these numbers.

Barbs:

Lots more Str (LOTS!).

More crit multiplier.

Frenzy dmg (6d6...)

I don't know monks very well but your air stance and hand wraps can't beat that.

[dontcare123]

Although I dont think monks can beat similarly geared fighters/barbs in dps, the gap closes dramatically once you get some of those nice monk rings + metalline hand wraps. Good luck getting them though.