My 32 Point Dark Path Human Monk build.

[Jamma]

I like to have the extra AP to spare when they come out for prestige line for monks.

But since it will be for monks doesn't that mean the prestige line is gonna suck? Now I'm all confuzzled...

[Hydro]

Just to give you an idea of my strength breakdown and to show how easy it is to get back to 38 strength even after a death.

32 base Str (18 base +5 level +2 tome + 6 item +1 exceptional)
+2 Rage Pot
+2 Tod Pot
+2 Madstone Clikie or Proc
-----------------------
38-40 Str

Even if I have used my Madstone clickie already the proc is extremely quick, so in a quest where I might die I can have myself back to 36 str almost instantly and since Madstone procs so fast I am usually back to 38 str in less then 30 seconds if not 40 str depending on if I have a Madstone clickie.

Throw in a +4 tome and I can get to 42 Str, not to mention I can throw on the bloodrange symbiote when main tanking part 3 Tod and get to an easy 44-46 str with 800hp.

[Taimasan]

Just to give you an idea of my strength breakdown and to show how easy it is to get back to 38 strength even after a death.

32 base Str (18 base +5 level +2 tome + 6 item +1 exceptional)
+2 Rage Pot
+2 Tod Pot
+2 Madstone Clikie or Proc
-----------------------
38-40 Str

Even if I have used my Madstone clickie already the proc is extremely quick, so in a quest where I might die I can have myself back to 36 str almost instantly and since Madstone procs so fast I am usually back to 38 str in less then 30 seconds if not 40 str depending on if I have a Madstone clickie.

Throw in a +4 tome and I can get to 42 Str, not to mention I can throw on the bloodrange symbiote when main tanking part 3 Tod and get to an easy 44-46 str with 800hp.

Yes I can see how it will easy to max strength at Character Generation for Warforges/Dwarf, and still have enough points over for grandmaster wind and grandmaster earth. The +2 Con bonus at character generation really makes that a easy choice to make. But for people who don't wish to play those 2 races, the points become a little more difficult to manage imo. Furthermore ToD pots take time getting favor in Amrath is not easy for some people(not to mention those pots are not cheap, a stack of 100 will cost you around 100k plat), pulling Madstone boots sometimes take people ages, im assuming you mean getting Exceptional +1 Str on DT or a ToD ring, which is also indefinite. With the build I offered 17(base)+1(adapt)+5(spectral gloves)+4(wind IV)+5(level ups) + 2(Tome). You will be at 34 Dex, with spectral gloves(also adds +2 to hit) with no ToD pots, alchemical pots, or exceptional bonuses needed. It makes it easier imo on new players to reach this goal.

[Hydro]

Yes I can see how it will easy to max strength at Character Generation for Warforges/Dwarf, and still have enough points over for grandmaster wind and grandmaster earth. The +2 Con bonus at character generation really makes that a easy choice to make. But for people who don't wish to play those 2 races, the points become a little more difficult to manage imo. Furthermore ToD pots take time getting favor in Amrath is not easy for some people(not to mention those pots are not cheap, a stack of 100 will cost you around 100k plat), pulling Madstone boots sometimes take people ages, im assuming you mean getting Exceptional +1 Str on DT or a ToD ring, which is also indefinite. With the build I offered 17(base)+1(adapt)+5(spectral gloves)+4(wind IV)+5(level ups) + 2(Tome). You will be at 34 Dex, with spectral gloves(also adds +2 to hit) with no ToD pots, alchemical pots, or exceptional bonuses needed. It makes it easier imo on new players to reach this goal.

If a new player or a veteren player is not going to work to maximize their character what is the point of even playing. I feel the strive to get the better gear is what motivates most people to play MMO's so saying its to gear dependent is kinda misleading.

Also how can you say Spectral Gloves are easy to get, they sell on the Khyber auction house for 600K + Plat and through probably 40 runs of offering of blood I have only pulled one pair. The spectral gloves honestly are usefull for any melee character so even a STR based Monk should work to get them.

Also you can farely easily get +1 exceptional bonus to stat on your Dragontouched armor since you can just endlessly farm Prey on the Hunter for runes since the chest does not ransack. It even drops a rune 100% of the time on solo which is very easy to solo on any monk.

So with an 18 base STR +5 level ups +2 Tome (you included one) +6 Item and +1 exceptional on your DT armor you are sitting at a 32 Strength. Drink a very cheap rage potion and you are sitting at a 34 Str, its also worth mentioning that pretty much any raid you are in will keep the Rage spell on the melee at all times.

So you cant say STR is a more difficult stat to max since there are so many items and spells in this game that increase Str but none that increase Dex (not counting acrobat rogues).

Also as I posted earlier its just as easy to a max strength Halfling as it is Dwarf or Warforged and even a human can start with a 16 str easy.

Halfling

16 Str
16 Dex
16 Con
8 Int
8 Wis
8 Cha

Warforged or Dwarf

18 Str
16 Dex
16 Con
8 Int
6 Wis
6 Cha

Human

16 Str
16 Dex
16 Con
8 Int
10 Wis
8 Cha

Check your move.

[Taimasan]

I lesser reincarnated to go max strength, My stats are 32 30 24 10 20 10, Sitting AC at 46, with a total loss of -3 to my hit. I have never tried a strength build monk, unlike some others I am willing to try something before I knock it. I will be back in a week to see the pros and cons. I will also revise the most crit thread to reflect 20 Strength versus 32 Strength on crits.

EDIT: 20 Strength Critical's Vs. 32-38 Strength Critical's, http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?p=2874007.

[Bolo_Grubb]

If a new player or a veteren player is not going to work to maximize their character what is the point of even playing.

how about to have fun? What is fun for you may be different then what is fun for me.

And based on everything here both Taimasan and Hydro have maximize their monks in different ways. If only one way is the only a person should build a character then why have choices at all?

[Impatiens]

If a new player or a veteren player is not going to work to maximize their character what is the point of even playing. I feel the strive to get the better gear is what motivates most people to play MMO's so saying its to gear dependent is kinda misleading.

There are different ways to maximize your character though. The builds you are advocating will rarely if ever be able to hit anything with a monk ability that has a DC. No Stunning Fist, no Quivering Palm, no Unbalancing Strike, no Dark path finishers (the blinding and paralizing finishers are actually quite useful for trash). A halfing monk who can't get off Unbalancing Strike is going to be a sad monk indeed. Do strength builds have merit? Of course they do. But they are not the only way to play and they are not the only way to maximize a character.

[Hydro]

There are different ways to maximize your character though. The builds you are advocating will rarely if ever be able to hit anything with a monk ability that has a DC. No Stunning Fist, no Quivering Palm, no Unbalancing Strike, no Dark path finishers (the blinding and paralizing finishers are actually quite useful for trash). A halfing monk who can't get off Unbalancing Strike is going to be a sad monk indeed. Do strength builds have merit? Of course they do. But they are not the only way to play and they are not the only way to maximize a character.

From what I understand those rarely land in elite/epic quests even for max wis monks, and honestly I could care less about trash thats what weighted 5% is for.

[Quijonsith]

If a new player or a veteren player is not going to work to maximize their character what is the point of even playing. I feel the strive to get the better gear is what motivates most people to play MMO's so saying its to gear dependent is kinda misleading.

From what I understand those rarely land in elite/epic

Let me get this straight: you're concerned about new players and talking about epic content? Last I checked there was far more content in this game than just epic/elite.

[manfredshw]

why you chose the dark path since you have such a low wisdom?

choose light monk instead, at least they can rely on the weighted 5% hws+wind4+autoattack+FOL
heal themselves or even the party, and some minor useful light buffs.

[AylinIsAwesome]

why you chose the dark path since you have such a low wisdom?

choose light monk instead, at least they can rely on the weighted 5% hws+wind4+autoattack+loh
heal themselves or even the party, and some minor useful light buffs.

I assume it's for Touch of Death.

[Impatiens]

From what I understand those rarely land in elite/epic quests even for max wis monks, and honestly I could care less about trash thats what weighted 5% is for.

From what you understand, but do you have any personal experience to indicate such? How often do things have to land to make it often enough? Also remember that there is always the possibility of using improved curse spewing to reduce saves before using an ability. Weighted 5% is, of course, amazing for epic trash, but if you have more tricks up your sleeve to try and use and actually have a chance of getting them off because of high wisdom then all the better. The dark path paralyzing finisher will have a higher DC than stunning fist since it takes your full monk level instead of half. It's true that I have yet to play a dark monk in epic content since I just TRed recently, but it would be interesting to see how often that ability is able to land there.

[Elof_X]

From personal experience, he is.

Seconded.

[Bobthetamato]

I must say I really like your build. I am currently leveling up a clone of your build and it is a lot of fun to play and very survivable. I am a new player and this game is complicate so it is really nice to be able find a good build that is laid out so well. This might be asking to much but if you get time it would be sweet if you went though what equipment you use and maybe talk about how you play your char a little. This will be my first level 20 so I am obviously am wet behind the ears and am still learning but Thanks again for putting you build on the forum. (and being so rational and level headed).

"I love scotch. Scotchy scotch scotch. Down in my belly."
Ron Burgundy

[Hendrik]

I assume it's for Touch of Death.

As well as the Elemental Curses.



Epic Valeh + Water Curse = Happy Casters.

[Taimasan]

I must say I really like your build. I am currently leveling up a clone of your build and it is a lot of fun to play and very survivable. I am a new player and this game is complicate so it is really nice to be able find a good build that is laid out so well. This might be asking to much but if you get time it would be sweet if you went though what equipment you use and maybe talk about how you play your char a little. This will be my first level 20 so I am obviously am wet behind the ears and am still learning but Thanks again for putting you build on the forum. (and being so rational and level headed).

"I love scotch. Scotchy scotch scotch. Down in my belly."
Ron Burgundy

http://my.ddo.com/character/sarlona/quis/

You can check my current gear at that link, and I believe I am wearing pretty good gear for a capped monk. For general equipment I would recommend something like this.
Helm: Minos or Mineral II helm
Gloves: Spectral Gloves
Ring: Strength Ring(ToD ring with shocking burst or holy burst best)
Ring2: Wisdom Ring(ToD ring with shocking burst or holy burst best)
Cloak: Smoke II or Wretched Twilight Cloak
Bracers: Chaosgarde's
Goggles: Tharne's Goggles
Belt: Greater False Life, Con +6; Belt from Amrath
Boots: Madstone Boots
Neck: Oremi's; For Extra Ki generation, Crane can be a substitute and use Oremi set but I prefer Monkey for reflex saves and innate resistance to elements
Trinket: Bloodstone
Wraps: Flaming Burst/Force Burst/Icy Burst of Weighted %5(Stacks with your ToD rings)

Due to how you play of course that equipment selection will change, but this is just meant as a general guide. As in play style I dunno, I am usually just all over the place. When I am on my monk I simply am "in the zone" and try to be everywhere at once. I am always busy pressing keys, moving from mob to mob, using different finisher sets on different bars, switching between weapons. This is what I love about monk, and sometimes my pally, rather than my level 18 barbarian, which is more press rage button, turn auto attack on, and sit back and get healed. You have to learn to adapt to every situation, and have a plan of action for every situation, since as a monk your usually the last one standing.

[Bobthetamato]

Wow fast reply. Thanks that helps a lot. Monks rule and tumble is king!

[elricken]

The naysayers in this thread need only transfer to sarlona and run a couple of instances with Quis, his build has pretty monstrous dps and ac. Ran a 15 minute sos with him recently (2 minutes extra for sorjek). I happen know from experience that he also has no problem hate tanking sully in both VOD and TOD. Really tho.. don't knock it unless you have tried it or ran with Q before.

[elricken]

more like super gimp
the only thing worth being finnese is a rogue because thats the only dps finnese that doesnt stink
halfling rogue assasin is THE only non gimp finnesse
sorry to burst your bubble take your head out of the sand hole and be aware that any finnese besides halfling rogue assasin 3 is gimp
if u want ac put it on an assasin 3 get a 1 monk lvl
halfing ac finnese rogues simp;lly owns this build and has dps on par with full bab str warrior classes on trash no strikes needed

So my finesse based battle cleric's dps is low?

.....

Oh wait she is gimp, lol

[elricken]

So any finesse build except rogue is gimp, roger that. Nice that you had to state the same thing 4 times. In every sentence except 1. Reading some of your posts im not surprised by this post from you, quite frankly, it seems like you may have some kind of mental illness.

Pretty sure it has been established that the majority of Murdrface's posts are nonsensical and idiotic.