Halfling/Monk Enhancements

[Toddlwarren32]

I am thinking about doing a enhancement reset, but am a little confused about what to take and what to avoid. For instance, should I invest in Halfling Guile and Cunning, or not? Is the Jorasco Healing enhancements really helpful, are a waste of AP? How about the Wisdom enhancements...must haves, or avoid like the plague?

What I am looking for is a viable end-game monk that has a decent DPS but also has a strong AC to survive. Can anyone give me a run down on the halfling/monk "must haves" for enhancements - or at least point me to a thread where this is covered? Many thanks!

[Angelus_dead]

I am thinking about doing a enhancement reset, but am a little confused about what to take and what to avoid. For instance, should I invest in Halfling Guile and Cunning, or not? Is the Jorasco Healing enhancements really helpful, are a waste of AP? How about the Wisdom enhancements...must haves, or avoid like the plague?

Guile and Cunning are good, especially if you have Unbalancing Strike. Healing is worthless. Wisdom may be useful depending on your level and other things- if you care about AC, get the wisdom.

[Rafal]

? How about the Wisdom enhancements...must haves, or avoid like the plague?

Halfing has Wis enh? I only know about racial DEX ones.

[Eurytos]

Halfing has Wis enh? I only know about racial DEX ones.

Monks do.

[Rafal]

Eh, for some reason I read it like halfing enhs....
Anyway WIS is quite essential for a monk so I would never skip it. Luck enhs are nice so you can skip a resistance item or just keep +3 from Icy instead of using a slot for +5.
Amp heal is nice for light monks cause fists of light can do more and let you regen HP while fighting.

[Eurytos]

While they are useful, 12 points for +3 (1 or 2 wis DC) isn't worth it. I wouldn't take more than the first or second wis enhancement to even yourself out.

[entropiccanuck]

I'm going to address the halfling enhancements as the monk ones are covered pretty well elsewhere.

Great:
- Cunning and Guile are great, though depending on where you're spending points the 4th tier might be too expensive. If you don't have Unbalancing Strike this isn't as useful.
- Dex is great if you're a dex/finesse monk, don't bother if you're not.
- If you have the dragonmark feats then the enhancements to increase their usage is very nice. I have a couple points there, and I make a decent backup or even solo healer (I solo healed a Running with the Devils run yesterday.)
- The 2 tiers of toughness enhancements are very worthwhile.

Decent:
- Hero's companion can be useful. I had it for a while, but dropped it when AP got tighter. Might be particularly nice if you run with a consistent group where you know who'll gain the most benefit.
- The first tier or two of the +saves enhancements can be useful, especially if you're a str monk and want to gain a little more benefit from your evasion feat.

Useless:
- Thrown weapon
- fear saves- fear lasts so much shorter now, and we have good saves already, and the reflex/will/fort saves are more broadly useful.
- + skills - I can only picking up this if it's needed for a prerequisite somewhere

[Quijonsith]

I'm going to address the halfling enhancements as the monk ones are covered pretty well elsewhere.

Great:
- Cunning and Guile are great, though depending on where you're spending points the 4th tier might be too expensive. If you don't have Unbalancing Strike or deception handwraps this isn't as useful.
- Dex is great if you're a dex/finesse monk, don't bother if you're not.
- If you have the dragonmark feats then the enhancements to increase their usage is very nice. I have a couple points there, and I make a decent backup or even solo healer (I solo healed a Running with the Devils run yesterday.)
- The 2 tiers of toughness enhancements are very worthwhile.

Decent:
- Hero's companion can be useful. I had it for a while, but dropped it when AP got tighter. Might be particularly nice if you run with a consistent group where you know who'll gain the most benefit.
- The first tier or two of the +saves enhancements can be useful, especially if you're a str monk and want to gain a little more benefit from your evasion feat.

Useless:
- Thrown weapon
- fear saves- fear lasts so much shorter now, and we have good saves already, and the reflex/will/fort saves are more broadly useful.
- + skills - I can only picking up this if it's needed for a prerequisite somewhere

Added a little something in red.

Personally I find hero's companion to be almost as worthwhile as guild/cunning for raids and epic. It's useful everywhere, but more useful in raids and epic. Tier 3 of hero's companion gives +4 damage and saves, +3 to hit, and +2 AC. The main thing i use it for is the offensive boost. +4 damage is the same as +8 str. Other melees love me for it and the raid goes faster. It's especially good if the raid tank is a DPS tank instead of an intimitank.

I definitely agree that if your AP are tight tier IV of cunning and guile is where I would pull extra points from. I only have tier III on cunning/guile for that reason.