Are the two levels of monk worth it for us?

[tkneip1874]

just keep in mind that evasion is great but if your refl save is in the toilet it is worthless. that being said if your thinking of adding monk to current build but didnt plan for it from the begining then you will probably not be happy with it. if its a new toon and you plan it out then it can be good. all depends on your play style.

[Dawnsfire]

Your spell DC will be 10 + ATTRIBUTE BONUS + SPELL LEVEL.

10 + Spell Level + Casting Stat Modifier + Items + Feats = DC.

[DrNuegebauer]

10 + Spell Level + Casting Stat Modifier + Items + Feats = DC.

The point that ought to be made here is that the monk splash will INCREASE your DC by 1.

All other things being equal, the difference between a 20 cleric and a 18/2 clonk is that the clonk will have +2 wisdom in water stance, and thus +1DC.

The spell penetration roll will be lower by 2 (2 less in the level department). However, getting past a creatures SR is only a part of the battle, getting the darn thing to HIT once it penetrates is the DC check (and bear in mind that your DC is better by 1 than a pure cleric).


Another factor worth considering is that the monk splash will give you the chance to build yourself some AC (if you so choose - get the raiments and +8 bracers and you're most of the way there!). I know it doesn't make much difference in Amrath, but if you decide to roll some Vale stuff for ingredients (etc) then you can have a fairly workable AC thanks to your wis (should be at 40 wisdom without too much hassle by level 20).

Personally I would definitely do it, I think almost every cleric build ought to incorporate the 2 monk splash (evasion, evasion evasion).

[Mister_Peace]

Creeper, I think Propane read how clerics down two levels will have problems with spell pen, and mistakenly thought that had something to do with DCs.

SolarDawning, your solution would be great, but would the cleric be able to hit mobs reliably to generate enough ki?

[grodon9999]

I enjoy not getting hit (60ish AC at level 17), having evasion, and being able to vorp the **** out of mooks in Wind-stance. It's worth it to me.

[biggin]

If you can't tell by now, it comes down to playstyle. I have capped both types, and yes, I run them situationally. Scale runs? AC/evasion can't be beat. Enter the Kobold for guildies? Beat your *** I'm going in there with my evasion build. Shaky group in VOD/Shroud/Hound? Bring out the pure cleric for the extra SP. Truth is a clonk has a lot of forgiveness built in with the AC and evasion, but mostly it comes down to how you play DDO.

Since you'll be leveling them all at once, I wouldn't go for it until you at least have 32 pt builds unlocked. You're going to need WIS, CON, DEX and STR to make it decent. Encumberance can be a PIA. And also know that gearing a clonk is a whole other ballgame. A pure cleric can be geared from vendor trash, a clonk takes some cash plus you'll be fighting with all the monks for handwraps and kamas. Superior potency 6 mace is found anywhere, Sup pot 6 kama around 2 mil plat. There are work arounds with necklaces and such, just an FYI.

[gwlech]

retardedly easy provided you have the minimal gear.

DQ torc or shroud co item, vorpal kamas, bb, heal, did i miss anything?

[dasein18]

The 14/2 cleric monk that I used, then 18/2 after the cap went up, was my favorite toon for a long while. Until FvS came out that is.. I just TR'd the 18/2 to a WF FvS lord of blades.

In hindsight would have waited and TR'd a different toon and kept the 18/2 for more flexibility but in the end will likely make a FvS with monk splash and a level of fighter to replace that toon.

The 14/2 was able to solo heal many speed shroud runs back when cap was 16, could solo most of the game (but so could a lot of builds).

[dasein18]

A pure cleric can be geared from vendor trash, a clonk takes some cash plus you'll be fighting with all the monks for handwraps and kamas. Superior potency 6 mace is found anywhere, Sup pot 6 kama around 2 mil plat. There are work arounds with necklaces and such, just an FYI.

Instead of Sup Pot kama, go with the Warchanter necklace and ring set from ToD. Likely what you are recommending here. Pretty easy to find good kamas, check the vendor in Amarath.

[JollySwagMan]

In all honestly, the way I end up learning to play a class properly is that I have a few different cleric toons and I take turns leveling them depending on the how I feel that day. So by the time most people have leveled 1 cleric to 20, I have leveled 4 clerics to level 5.

Aside from familiarising yourself with content from different build perspectives, your approach can actually pay off in terms of grinding for content. By farming Favour on each server you will get free turbine points. Odds are by levelling up a stable of starter characters you won't be sinking Tomes and re-specs on them like many new players do by taking one toon to 20 first. :thumbsup:

Just as some folks are sick of wiping in raids due to dead-weight party members, I'm unpleasantly surprised at how many TRs I encounter who don't know the content and don't prepare their reincarnated characters for the levelling process.

Back to the thread.

As mentioned previously Clonks are a little harder to kit out than vanilla Clerics, and may not be worth the investment if you do not have 32 point build, shared Account Bank, and a fair bit of paid content.

I would suggest rolling up a Clonk to learn quests by solo-ing them, then run those quests with a pure Cleric and a group, armed with the knowledge that will mitigate damage to your party members. You may find that Evasion/higher mobility than a brick comes in most handy when you are unfamiliar with content, and that your 8 Dex pure cleric can get by if they know what to look out for.

However, unless you are dedicated to solo-ing things or running with groups who insist upon dying in every trap available, wait until you are at Cleric level 11 for the second level of Monk. You *can* get by with Heal scrolls and Unyielding Sovereignty if you take the 2nd Monk level earlier, but grouping will be expensive.

I quite like the 17/3 mix myself, those self-cast Aligning the Heavens (1-minute 25% SP discount) make your metamagics really shine. However, it is extremely hotbar intensive adding Monk combos and perhaps melee crowd control to your mix of Clerical duties. Before trying the 17/3 mix see how often you can pull off the Fire finisher (after drinking a Superior Inferno 1 pot for 75% damage of course ) while laying down crowd control and heals as needed.

[Frodo_Lives]

As a sidebar, when should you put the levels of monk in?

I was thinking later on when AC benifits from a really high wisdom outweigh the AC from decent armor, and you have can take the sp hit a little better. Not to mention you get the heal spell and blade barrier at proper levels.

Not to mention at higher levels it's easier to get your reflex save higher (better resistance and dex items).

Or is it earlier (level 1) for extra skill points and the feat (usually toughness) sooner?

[JollySwagMan]

I think going Pure cleric up to 11 gives you more flexibility with your feats, particularly if you are trying a Human build. That may be wiser on an offensive casting focused Clonk.

On a survival-focused Halfling build (especially Permadeath, though that's hardly relevant to the thread so far), I would stress the skill points and early Toughness.

[biggin]

I took my first 2 monk levels right off the bat, but if you do be prepared to use lots of scrolls and wands. I think the general rule of thumb is monk at level 1, then again after you gain 6th level spells. I just really wanted my evasion and to play around a bit, even if it was for only the first few levels.

[Phidius]

I think I like the 2 free feats from 2Monk even more than the evasion.

[Khuul99]

Hmm

A human 18clr/2monk is a bad idea?

I guess the halfling enhancements are pretty good though

[grodon9999]

I love my halfing Clonk, hell yeah it's worth it!