Totally basic Monk questions (how does Ki work?)

[Pugsley]

Is Ki like spell points that recharge over time, and your special monk abilities use it up? Or what?

I understand how the class works in 3.5, just not in DDO.

Is it worth pursuing AC with the class, or is it like wizards/sorcerers in that you'll always be hit at high levels, even on a 1, no matter what you do?

One more thing... if you do go the AC route with high dex... do unarmed attacks work with Weapon Finesse?

I wasn't able to find these answers searching. Any help you can offer would be appreciated.

[AylinIsAwesome]

Is Ki like spell points that recharge over time, and your special monk abilities use it up? Or what?

I understand how the class works in 3.5, just not in DDO.

Different Ki strikes have different Ki costs. For the elemental ones the range is 5-8 Ki, depending on the level of the strike. Finishers are usually 10 (I think there is one exception). These abilities are used from your hotbar.

[quote[Is it worth pursuing AC with the class, or is it like wizards/sorcerers in that you'll always be hit at high levels, even on a 1, no matter what you do?[/quote]

It can be, though getting a high AC will require high DEX and WIS, in addition to grinding out AC items like a Chattering Ring.

One more thing... if you do go the AC route with high dex... do unarmed attacks work with Weapon Finesse?

Yes.

[TiranBlade]

Is Ki like spell points that recharge over time, and your special monk abilities use it up? Or what?

I understand how the class works in 3.5, just not in DDO.

Is it worth pursuing AC with the class, or is it like wizards/sorcerers in that you'll always be hit at high levels, even on a 1, no matter what you do?

One more thing... if you do go the AC route with high dex... do unarmed attacks work with Weapon Finesse?

I wasn't able to find these answers searching. Any help you can offer would be appreciated.

If your read the player addition section of Class Monk from the compendium, you should read the Ki and Concentration sections you should have a better idea with how the Ki Pool works.

[Pugsley]

I did, but the recharging thing was sort of unclear to me. I'm sure it's perfectly clear if you've played it, but it's a bit confusing to a total outsider.

[TPICKRELL]

The basic way that ki recharges is that you gain ki each time you successfully hit a MOB.

This can be supplemented by other effects. At low levels the most important additoinal effects to look at are the effects of Fire Stance, the ki generating aspects of Hound and Crane animal paths and the ki generation while sneaking abilities of the ninja spy PRE.

There are more options as you get to high levels, but those will become clear when you get there. the ones to worry about now are the ones listed above. I'd suggest that you read the compendium and or ddo wiki entries for each of these areas, and then if anything isn't clear, come back with more specific questions.

[Pugsley]

Thanks!

[Drakos]

Is Ki like spell points that recharge over time, and your special monk abilities use it up? Or what? Ki is generated the Monk attacking. Whenever they hit it generates Ki. A Monk's Concentration skill score determines what his/her resting Ki value is. If you have more than this resting value you Ki will degrade while you are not attacking to the resting value.

Ki is used to activate you Monk special attacks/abilities. You get the basic level of special attacks for each stance but you can spend AP's to get others.

I understand how the class works in 3.5, just not in DDO.

Is it worth pursuing AC with the class, or is it like wizards/sorcerers in that you'll always be hit at high levels, even on a 1, no matter what you do? It differes bassed on your build. A Dex/Wis based Monk can usually get a useful AC for non-epic content. For epic content it is possible to get a useful AC but it will require specialized gear and grinding out that gear.

Note, a natural 20 will always hit reguardless of your AC, although miss chances from cover and insubstantial still apply.

One more thing... if you do go the AC route with high dex... do unarmed attacks work with Weapon Finesse? Weapon Finesse works with your unarmed attacks and in fact is recommended for Dex/Wis based monks.

I wasn't able to find these answers searching. Any help you can offer would be appreciated.

Answers in red.