Monk...Worth it?

[Maegin]

It amazes me that everyone dismisses DR8/- from Greatest Earth stance and everyone seems to love DR10/epic from pure monk. Once we start running into stuff that does epic damage, the DR10/epic goes to DR0 while the DR8/- stays at 8. Of course, stuff will do so much damage that DR8 isn't a huge deal, but it does turn into a couple more hits at high level while waiting on the FoL or the cleric/fvs/bard to heal you.

I actually use 3 different stances according to situation. Solo/tank I like earth. When I'm trying to build up ki fast for combos, I go fire. And wind is just sweet for the faster attacks in other situations. Hmm... earth, wind, and fire?

I understand from a powergame/practical standpoint that just about every gamer that has figured out, that windstance is better than everythign else in the game simply becuase of the attack speed, and I say that since ppl spend 6 lvls (ranger) just to imitate an ability we as monks get for 10 ap, is and has been the most game altering ability since fw, apparently...

BUT.

...there comes a time when you decide to not think in the zone of +5% weighted/gm wind is king (even tho it basically is in the easy button sense) and express your conagitve abilities and manage your toon to its most benifitial potential and not think along the tearms of 'kill it before it kills you'. And for this sense, I think that dr/8 or 12 is a pretty big thing, seeing how ppl sh!t a brick for the bards dr/5 song as it is.

Unfortunately, the popular crowd has coined the defining ranger ability of quicker attacks, now, the standard of efficency. Now, its not bad, but it limits playing anything else that the monk has to offer. For instance, and for some reason, I actually have better ac in gm ocean stance over wind stance. That being said, that no matter what my AC is sometimes, I still get hit. Furthuremore, I have fallen in love with stoneskin clikies, and along those lines, soon to be gm earth stance, since it imitates the latter. At the cost of what? haste? movespeed that I already have thats basically overkill? I'd rather save 8/12 HP an attack, then get to a place 2-3 seconds quicker, especially when I know that AC wont help me in the situation, and when survival is a must. as for haste? drink a pot. If you have enough resorces to only focuse on the need for fast and faster and faster and faster attacking and ignore everything else, then I'm certine you've been smart enough to fill your pockets with haste potions.

Now I know dead things dont hit back, but then I see a sence that its not about how much you can dish out, but how much you can take. if saving anywhere from 60-100 hp of damage from an assault to killing a mob 2-3 seconds faster benefits me more, Ill take it. This spawns from a detached feeling of 'need to get things done faster and faster' and actually slowing down to enjoy the game. If not, it gets ingrained that, and to many it already has, that this is one big grind fest.

This is all assuming that time isnt an issue to you. If so, stick to +5% weighted/g bane/windstance.

Or when you reach a point where your AC is so much that you only get hit on a 20, then I still like earthstance/water stance, since glancingblows wittle you down and start costing you minor resouce usege, and having a 40 WIS really helps in landing those stunning blows with imp cursespewing handwraps. And for that, OP, I commend you for not falling into the easy button trap that drives so many to boredom and feeling this game is a grind. Because unlike most I know and see, this OP has had fun along the way and not racing to the end, and for that...

+1 :P

[rimble]

Maybe long winded, but..

I have no idea what just happened...

Anyways, for some reason I feel inclined to say, the usefulness of that DR 8/- was based on the supposition that Epic damage will show up more and negate our innate DR 10/Epic. Until that happens, and until you face it frequently, it doesn't seem like there is a whole lot to talk about.

Of course it will always be situationally useful (perhaps moreso while leveling up), and you should have that Tier IV Earth stance to have access to the strike anyways, so it's another tool to use at the right time in the right place.

Also, just to be clear, Epic creatures don't all do Epic damage, so that alone isn't even reason enough.

http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p...1&postcount=46

[Maegin]

I have no idea what just happened...

Anyways, for some reason I feel inclined to say, the usefulness of that DR 8/- was based on the supposition that Epic damage will show up more and negate our innate DR 10/Epic. Until that happens, and until you face it frequently, it doesn't seem like there is a whole lot to talk about.

Of course it will always be situationally useful (perhaps moreso while leveling up), and you should have that Tier IV Earth stance to have access to the strike anyways, so it's another tool to use at the right time in the right place.

Also, just to be clear, Epic creatures don't all do Epic damage, so that alone isn't even reason enough.

http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p...1&postcount=46

Ahem. Sorry about that, hehe it just came all spillting out.

But yeah, the info from your post is definately on the right track; I was also speaking in a general sense, in reguards from lvl 1-20, in general, ya know? Since not everyone is lvl 20, so it still is reason enough aside, in my opinon, thats all Maybe I shoulda made that a bit more clear. :/ my bad ty +1 to you too

[Arvess]

I understand from a powergame/practical standpoint that just about every gamer that has figured out, that windstance is better than everythign else in the game simply becuase of the attack speed, and I say that since ppl spend 6 lvls (ranger) just to imitate an ability we as monks get for 10 ap, is and has been the most game altering ability since fw, apparently...

BUT.

...there comes a time when you decide to not think in the zone of +5% weighted/gm wind is king (even tho it basically is in the easy button sense) and express your conagitve abilities and manage your toon to its most benifitial potential and not think along the tearms of 'kill it before it kills you'. And for this sense, I think that dr/8 or 12 is a pretty big thing, seeing how ppl sh!t a brick for the bards dr/5 song as it is.

Unfortunately, the popular crowd has coined the defining ranger ability of quicker attacks, now, the standard of efficency. Now, its not bad, but it limits playing anything else that the monk has to offer. For instance, and for some reason, I actually have better ac in gm ocean stance over wind stance. That being said, that no matter what my AC is sometimes, I still get hit. Furthuremore, I have fallen in love with stoneskin clikies, and along those lines, soon to be gm earth stance, since it imitates the latter. At the cost of what? haste? movespeed that I already have thats basically overkill? I'd rather save 8/12 HP an attack, then get to a place 2-3 seconds quicker, especially when I know that AC wont help me in the situation, and when survival is a must. as for haste? drink a pot. If you have enough resorces to only focuse on the need for fast and faster and faster and faster attacking and ignore everything else, then I'm certine you've been smart enough to fill your pockets with haste potions.

Now I know dead things dont hit back, but then I see a sence that its not about how much you can dish out, but how much you can take. if saving anywhere from 60-100 hp of damage from an assault to killing a mob 2-3 seconds faster benefits me more, Ill take it. This spawns from a detached feeling of 'need to get things done faster and faster' and actually slowing down to enjoy the game. If not, it gets ingrained that, and to many it already has, that this is one big grind fest.

This is all assuming that time isnt an issue to you. If so, stick to +5% weighted/g bane/windstance.

Or when you reach a point where your AC is so much that you only get hit on a 20, then I still like earthstance/water stance, since glancingblows wittle you down and start costing you minor resouce usege, and having a 40 WIS really helps in landing those stunning blows with imp cursespewing handwraps. And for that, OP, I commend you for not falling into the easy button trap that drives so many to boredom and feeling this game is a grind. Because unlike most I know and see, this OP has had fun along the way and not racing to the end, and for that...

+1 :P

The game is designed in such a way that raw DPS is king. Its lame but since its that way, it forces everyone into a singlemindedness. The game should allow for effective debuffs. The reason why weighted 5% is so **** good is because there is no save.

On top of that, stunned mobs don't hit back AND get auto-crited. What else can bring CC AND 2x or 3x damage from everyone that hits the target?

I am all for DR as an important part of your build. My experiences though is that your DR has very little effect on the success of the party. That's great that grazing hits bounce off you or that you can withstand 2 extra hits before a cleric REALLY needs to throw a heal but when Orthons are teleporting out of the woodwork and ripping the stuffing out of your less AC minded teammates, that stun comes in WAY more handy. And because that stun is so handy and is based off of frequency of attack...wind stance helps the most.

[Maegin]

The game is designed in such a way that raw DPS is king. Its lame but since its that way, it forces everyone into a singlemindedness. The game should allow for effective debuffs. The reason why weighted 5% is so **** good is because there is no save.

On top of that, stunned mobs don't hit back AND get auto-crited. What else can bring CC AND 2x or 3x damage from everyone that hits the target?

I am all for DR as an important part of your build. My experiences though is that your DR has very little effect on the success of the party. That's great that grazing hits bounce off you or that you can withstand 2 extra hits before a cleric REALLY needs to throw a heal but when Orthons are teleporting out of the woodwork and ripping the stuffing out of your less AC minded teammates, that stun comes in WAY more handy. And because that stun is so handy and is based off of frequency of attack...wind stance helps the most.

I hear ya and totally agreed! Which brings me to the point of its basically the new WoP :/

But I'm refering to not being at lvl 16+ at lower ranges and monk in general, not a specific point in the game where orthons are common, thats all. But, ya agreed agreed! I should have made that clear, once again like I said. my bad

[Failedlegend]

Hmm, you should look up the Shining Star finishing move if you're not already aware of it...

Shining Stars effectiveness relys on Charisma the one stat a monk can actually ignore so its really not worth boosting the stat for one ability

[Arvess]

I hear ya and totally agreed! Which brings me to the point of its basically the new WoP :/

But I'm refering to not being at lvl 16+ at lower ranges and monk in general, not a specific point in the game where orthons are common, thats all. But, ya agreed agreed! I should have made that clear, once again like I said. my bad

lol yeah because weighted 5% isn't available at the lower levels. Between 10-15 there is a lot of options. paralyzing is great. pure damage is great. stat damage spamming is great. improved curve then stunning blow.

[rimble]

Shining Stars effectiveness relys on Charisma the one stat a monk can actually ignore so its really not worth boosting the stat for one ability

Right, but the DC is 10 + Monk Level + Cha Modifier, as opposed to 10 + 1/2 Monk Level + Wis Modifier of our other powers. It generally works out to have about the same DC as the rest of your abilities, unless you're particularly DC/Wis focused.

10 + 20 (Level) - 1 Cha (Cha of 8) = DC 29 Will save for Shining Star

10 + 10 (Level) + 10 Wis (Wis of 30) = DC 30 Fort save for Stunning Fist/Quivering Palm

I rarely bother building up to that move, but it's fun sometimes, and I think it's the only Will save thing we have.

[Halock]

It is the only will save we have, and wearing a +6 char item makes it a pretty high dc, and its will, it's loads more reliable than stunning i'v found in higher up levels of play, i used it alot in amrath for example, anywhere else it was almost guaranteed.