Need assistance with a monk build

[Erdams]

Ok i am no monk build master so i have been trolling the forums for different builds

I ended up with that i wanna make a halfling pure monk dragonmarked. Might swap out dragon marks at end game, but new on US servers so low on cash and they are nice for leveling then.

I am not sure if i go light or dark at the end but for leveling i will go light.

So question is for starting stats i will do (32p):

str 14 all level up here
dex 16
con 14
int 8
wis 14
cha 8

that leaves 4 points, should i go 4 int for potential CE if i swap out DM, and more skill points, 2 wis for ac/dc or 2 con for hp and easy access to rank 4 earth attack?

I will use a sup +2tome at level 7 so expect +2tome in all stats at level 7.

Feats will be something like:
3*twf
imp crit blud
PA
toughness
3*dragon mark
Last feat not sure could be stunning, but doubt i will take it unless they fix weighted wraps, else perhaps dodge/CE

Air stance and halfling sneak attacks ofcourse

Am i missing something crucial?, is str based viable compared to the same build starting with same stats but 16 wis and level ups there?

Thanks alot in advance for the input

[Samadhi]

Put them into Int for CE in the future. That will actually give you stats almost identical to my "final" monk build which, to be honest, I found to be far more powerful than all of my starting builds when the class first came out.

[lyeman]

I did not find CE at all useful; the only time power attack should be off is if you are missing, in which case you can't spare the to-hit penalty from CE, either.

[LAWPRE]

unless you are a skill monkey, put 2 points into Int and 2 points into Cha in order to eliminate any negative penalty. IF you are, you should put them into Int. However, only do this IF you are going to take "weird" skills (like Heal to buff up your Shrining or Hide and Move for sneaking).

The Cha penalty is more of a cash flow thing. It WILL cost you more for pots and stuff but that may not be a big factor unless you keep running out of plat.

I would not put two points into Con as the forums do not seem that impressed with GM Earth. IF you are looking to max out your DC, I would put the four points into 2 Wis.

[Arkat]

I did not find CE at all useful; the only time power attack should be off is if you are missing, in which case you can't spare the to-hit penalty from CE, either.

Agreed.

[Impatiens]

I would not put two points into Con as the forums do not seem that impressed with GM Earth. IF you are looking to max out your DC, I would put the four points into 2 Wis.

Except that tier 4 earth is the best of all the ki strikes. Sure you won't use the stance, but the ki strike is worth while.

[Erdams]

Ok loosing the idea of CE, never liked that feat anyway hehe (well expect for pure tank builds)

I do love wierd skills from the int, max tumble, jump or hide and sneak is fun to have, though jump isnt a real issue with the nice jump clickies you get later on

I agree with Impatiens that earth ki strike is the best and that is the reason i consider 16 con, as i get 20 hp and tank 4 ki strike. While wis is 1 ac, dc and conc hmmm tricky tricky Though in the end the total difference probably wont make that big a deal.

Last question is what should i take as the final feat?

I will allready have...
twf
imp twf
greater twf
power attack
toughness
imp crit bludgeon
and the 3 healing dragon marks

so 1 feat left, stunning blow/fist, dodge, another toughness ,,, any thing critical i should grab as the last one, leaning towards stunning blow but not sure.

Thanks for the input sofar

[lyeman]

Ok loosing the idea of CE, never liked that feat anyway hehe (well expect for pure tank builds)

I do love wierd skills from the int, max tumble, jump or hide and sneak is fun to have, though jump isnt a real issue with the nice jump clickies you get later on

I agree with Impatiens that earth ki strike is the best and that is the reason i consider 16 con, as i get 20 hp and tank 4 ki strike. While wis is 1 ac, dc and conc hmmm tricky tricky Though in the end the total difference probably wont make that big a deal.

Last question is what should i take as the final feat?

I will allready have...
twf
imp twf
greater twf
power attack
toughness
imp crit bludgeon
and the 3 healing dragon marks

so 1 feat left, stunning blow/fist, dodge, another toughness ,,, any thing critical i should grab as the last one, leaning towards stunning blow but not sure.

Thanks for the input sofar

Stuns are nice, but you're not really getting high str or wis to up the DC, and halflings don't get tactics. Dodge is only 1 ac, but not bad for all that. Toughness is a waste after the first one.

[LAWPRE]

Do not forget that you have optional granted feats at 1,2, 3 and 6.

so, I count two (3?) slots that are available as Dodge, Weapon Finesse, Stunning Fist, Power Attack, toughness and TWF can be taken as your monk feats. I would take Dodge as your 1st Level Monk and Luck of Heroes (+1 to ALL saves) as your first level feat. Then, take Weapon Finesse as your Monk 2nd level. IF you still have the slots left, you can start TWF at 3rd level AND Stunning Fist for 3rd level Monk(or Power Attack and take Stunning Fist at 6th level Monk).

[Erdams]

I am str based so will only gain a +1to hit or something from weapon finess, (and only while in air stance, though this will be most of the time)

Also one of the feats is used for monk path (light or dark) so i only have one free feat.

Perhaps i should just go dodge, more ac is always nice

[surbrin]

I got a question about my monk and the weapon finesse. My question is i know that weapon finesse goes off dex but is strength still necessary for the chance to hit or is that dex only?

[Erdams]

If you take weapon finess your to hit bonus will be based on str or dex depending on what stat is highest.

So if you have 30dex and 20str you will use dex for a +10 to hit but only get +5 to dam.

Reason some str build monks take weapon finess is with airstance (and most use this 95% of the time) you get +4 dex, add racial dex, dex enhancements etc, you might end up with higher dex than str even if you put all your level up points in to str.

On the build i am making i start out with 2 more dex, get 4 from stance and possibly 2 from enchancements that is 8 points so i have a higher dex bonus than str bonus of 1 or 2 when in air stance.

I dont think its worth a feat to get +1 to hit though, like i dont plan on take weapon focus either. But some do, and in epic quests i might be worth it to have both weap focus and finess even on a str build like this, but i dont think so we will see

Hope that explains it.

[surbrin]

i appreciate the help this is my first monk and dont want to gimp him so any pointers is always welcome ty

[LAWPRE]

I am not sure how you get Light or Dark but I was fairly sure that it is a Feat gotten from enchancements as I reset my enchancements but not my feats after Update 3.

Still, Weapon Finesse is less needed on a Pure Str build but you will still need to do something with your AC. However, the idea here is have more than enough Str in order to kill them before they have much chance to even swing - let alone hurt you

Most of the builds I have seen would still benefit by Weapon Finesse as stated above. I tend more towards Dex builds but I am not much of a Front Line Type. Although, I HAVE FoL'd and use a less dps weapon in order to heal up!

[Impatiens]

I am not sure how you get Light or Dark but I was fairly sure that it is a Feat gotten from enchancements as I reset my enchancements but not my feats after Update 3.

You choose light or dark path as a feat at level 3.