Monk Q-Staff Build

[ycardinal]

I'm relatively new to this game, thought I'd take a shot at making my own Monk build; I've only gone up to L10 as it is my furthest game progression so far. This is a STR Build using Flame Stance to generate the massive Ki needed for Touch of Death. Feedback appreciated, Thanks.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Armstrong 
Level 10 Lawful Neutral Human Male
(10 Monk) 
Hit Points: 179
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 7\7\12
Fortitude: 9
Reflex: 9
Will: 9

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 10)
Strength             16                    19
Dexterity            15                    15
Constitution         14                    14
Intelligence         10                    10
Wisdom               14                    15
Charisma              8                     8

                  Starting          
                 Base Skills        
Skills           (Level 1)          
Balance               2             
Bluff                -1             
Concentration         2             
Diplomacy            -1             
Disable Device        n/a           
Haggle               -1             
Heal                  2             
Hide                  2             
Intimidate           -1             
Jump                  3             
Listen                2             
Move Silently         2             
Open Lock             n/a           
Perform              n/a            
Repair                0             
Search                0             
Spot                  2             
Swim                  3             
Tumble                n/a           
Use Magic Device     n/a            

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge
Feat: (Human Bonus) Power Attack
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Two Handed Fighting
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Monk Concentration I


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Inevitable Dominion: Fists of Darkness
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortiose I


Level 4 (Monk)
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I


Level 5 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Monk Concentration II


Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Mobility
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Static Charge
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortiose II


Level 7 (Monk)
Enhancement: All-Consuming Flame
Enhancement: Adept of Flame


Level 8 (Monk)
Enhancement: Porous Soul
Enhancement: Winter's Touch


Level 9 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Handed Fighting
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Touch of Death


Level 10 (Monk)
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortiose III
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II

[zavozod]

Other then being a I will play what I want type of build a QS monk build is a no go. Period...

[Cedwin]

Monks do way more damage with their fists, and TWF.

If you want a Quarterstaff build, take a look at the rogue thief/acrobat prestige enhancement.

[Impatiens]

I'm not certain, but I think you need to be unarmed for Touch of Death to work (same as with some other monk abilities like Stunning Fist). Can someone who is dark path confirm?

[Goldeneye]

IMO: fists are the way to go with monks.
If you like the quarterstaff, 12 rogue gives you acrobat II: which is a great choice for a quarterstaff build.

I could imagine:
13 rogue / 6 monk / 1 fighter or
12 rogue / 6 fighter / 2 monk

[Baahb3]

As far as I have heard Touch of Death does not work with weapons, only handwraps.

[ycardinal]

I am currently using a fist build, the desire to use a Q-Staff was sort of an impulse thing; Thanks for the feedback, does anyone have a link to a high DPS fist build? I'd like to compare mine to one and see if I've made any errors.

[coolpenguin410]

As the others said, a q-staff monk is less DPS than handwraps, but it is more fun in my opinion. However, I also prefer the light path.

I would look again at you stats and race. You're going to want more than just fire stance. I prefer earth myself, also the earth strikes will help with DPS. Try to get your CON, STR and either WIS or DEX to 16 each by level 18. That will open the first three tiers of 3 stances and then the fourth tier if you get some +2 tomes. I recommend DEX of WIS because the air stance speed in sweet. Though, I'm sure the other posters will jump all over me for recommending dumping WIS on a monk.

[hu-flung-pu]

At level 8 on my current attempt at a monk, with no handwraps on I do slightly less damage then a quarterstaff. But I attack faster unarmed.

I think in order to really start comparing a staff to handwraps you need to use Rahl's might or green steel to even begin comparing and a STR approaching the 40's to start noticing.

[victorey84]

Actually, higher STR favors unarmed as long as you're bypassing DR. The reason for this is that you get full STR bonus with both hands, such that you effectively have 2x STR bonus to damage vs THF's 1.5

The advantages of quarterstaves are longer reach and glancing blows. While both of those can be significant advantages -- specially the reach, as unarmed combat has the smallest reach -- they're relatively situational advantages and in particular the latter one requires an investment of 3 feats to make full use of it.

[hu-flung-pu]

The reason I disagree is mostly because of the miss chances with the off hand. Yeah you're only missing on a one, but I also know in live action not just crunching numbers two handed fighting has a tendency to lag out and the dice rolls are stuck on low numbers resulting in a series of whiffs. But even I admit that's a weak argument.Which is why Rahl's might and green steel staffs even the playing field. Unarmed's still the way to go, but a high STR Q-staff monk puts out damage not too far behind. And you can bypass boss DR easier and for cheaper then with handwraps. Which is ultimately the monks weak spot.