Need help for making a Monk

[PCSwarrior]

Hi, I'm no newn to DDO, but I am to monks. I've read alot about them in the forums, but everyone is always argueing, so I have no clue how to go about this.

I was planning on a 14 str 16 dex 14 con and 16 wis (32 point) build. I was wondering if I should take Weapon Finesse, and I was also wondering if I should go human or halfling.

Also, I was planning on going with Ait Stance most of the time, cuz I love attacking faster, I think thats the whole point of the monk imo. And I was planning on taking the Way of the Monkey, but I was wondering if thats the best animal path or not.

And, idk if this matters, but I was planning on trying the Light Path, maybe TR later and try out dark, idk.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

[sisterjinx]

Hi, I'm no newn to DDO, but I am to monks. I've read alot about them in the forums, but everyone is always argueing, so I have no clue how to go about this.

I was planning on a 14 str 16 dex 14 con and 16 wis (32 point) build. I was wondering if I should take Weapon Finesse, and I was also wondering if I should go human or halfling.

Also, I was planning on going with Ait Stance most of the time, cuz I love attacking faster, I think thats the whole point of the monk imo. And I was planning on taking the Way of the Monkey, but I was wondering if thats the best animal path or not.

And, idk if this matters, but I was planning on trying the Light Path, maybe TR later and try out dark, idk.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

Not bad starting stats. If you go Halfling Definitely take Weapon Finesse as halflings get dex bonus enhancements. Even if you don't go halfling it's worth considering to help with AC you can continue to dump stat points into Dex.
Halflings get a lot of bonus enhancments that make a monk more fun to play and more survivable.

My monk has the tortoise path and I've not looked at what monkey does in a long long time so I can't speak to that one. I'm sure someone will.

I have done both light and dark paths and I far prefer the light path but this is really about personal preference and I know many who far prefer the dark path so I would say play around with it and see which one suits you best.

It took me 7 times trying different monk builds to find one that finally worked well and could be valuable to the party. Even now I find things I need to change or want to change and will when I TR but she is DEFINITELY my favorite toon to play.

Good luck and have fun.

[Crinos]

If you want to maximise your AC, put all your level ups into dex and take weapon finesse.

If you want to maximise your DPS put all your level ups into Strength (and start with at least 16 strength) and don't take finesse.

Halflings make great monks, and are probably the best choice if you are going dex based. The halfling cunning/guile enhancements can help to make up for the loss in DPS from having lower strength (as long as the mob is sneak attackable).

Warforged are also worth considering if you want to go the DPS route. You can get a great combination of DPS and high hitpoints if you go this route.

Humans make very versatile monks, and can easily get great healing amp, which is great for survivability. Probably the best choice for an all rounder.

Building monks can be complicated though.

I highly recommend you read this guide

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=242643

You may not choose to follow all of the recommendations as the build goals in the thread are not necessarily what you are after, but you should understand what the key areas to consider are when building your monk, and what strengths and weaknesses you will end up with.

[PCSwarrior]

So if I go halfling, do I have to use sneaking for the extra DPS? wouldnt that require maxing out my hide and move silently skills?

Also, should i go with 14 str 16 con, or 16 str 14 con. (I am planning on going with weapon finesse)

And thanks again for the replies.

[Zhiel]

You can also get a sneak attack if the mob is targetting someone other than you.

[Crinos]

So if I go halfling, do I have to use sneaking for the extra DPS? wouldnt that require maxing out my hide and move silently skills?

Also, should i go with 14 str 16 con, or 16 str 14 con. (I am planning on going with weapon finesse)

And thanks again for the replies.

As Zhiel said, you get sneak attack damage as long as you don't have agro, so no need to be hiding/sneaking.

If you are set on taking weapon finesse I'd go with 14 str and 16 con. 20HP (from the extra con) is more valuable than the +1 to base damage in my opinion.

[Drakos]

Hi, I'm no newn to DDO, but I am to monks. I've read alot about them in the forums, but everyone is always argueing, so I have no clue how to go about this.

This is usually because many Monk players have very strong feelings about build options, bon't let it bring you down.

I was planning on a 14 str 16 dex 14 con and 16 wis (32 point) build. I was wondering if I should take Weapon Finesse, and I was also wondering if I should go human or halfling.

This seems like a solid start. The question on Weapon Finesse really boils down to which stat (Str or Dex) will be the one you plan on putting level-up point into. If your going Dex then yeah WF is a great feat. If Str however you won't get alot out of it as your Strength will soon surpass your Dexterity and make the feat a waste.

Also, I was planning on going with Ait Stance most of the time, cuz I love attacking faster, I think thats the whole point of the monk imo. And I was planning on taking the Way of the Monkey, but I was wondering if thats the best animal path or not.

With the implimentation of U5 the speed of Wind isn't what it used to be, but is still nice if you don't have a constant source of Haste, I tend to prefer it myself. Fire is also nice as it helps with Ki generation. Water is good when trying to land special attacks with a Wis save.

As for animal path, All my Monks to date have taken Monkey. I just cant get past the ER you gain. I also like th Haggle bonuses. I have no experience with the other animal paths to give avdice there.

And, idk if this matters, but I was planning on trying the Light Path, maybe TR later and try out dark, idk.

I also prefer light side. I have recently rolled a Monk/Rogue who will be trying the Dark path however. For DPS dark is the way to go, I like the survivability of the light side however.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions

No problem, and welcome to one of the best classes in DDO (even if the Devs don't support it )

[Jasam01]

I just made a STR based dark path halfling in my thread a little while down so this is thankfully all fresh to me.


Weapon finese will generaly mean a little less DPS/HP(Toughness feat unable to be taken) vs a little more AC, and not needing any tomes for Greater Two Weapon Fighting

The other big diffrence will be in your stances. With U5, the benifit from wind stance is being felt a bit less, so a lot of people are considering fire stance for the ki generation.


On the STR vs CON, 16 STR will allow the potential for fire stance IV(with +2 tome), while CON will give you Eath Stance IV. Earth Stance strikes are considered the best DPS strikes. While Fire Stance is good for Ki generation. You will probably be best IMO, taking the higher CON, since you will be short one toughness feat for finese, with the goal of using earth strikes while in wind stance.


On animal paths, The two I recomend most are Crane and Monkey. Monkey gives elemental resitance, which can massivly reduced some spells that do DoT. Crane gives Ki generation on crits.

Of the two, if you are not using FireStance, I would recomend Crane, to allow you to keep up your ki generation.



Of the two paths, I would recomend dark. The Light PrE is worthless, while Ninja Spy is very nice. And Touch of Death gained at level 9 is 500 untyped damage, that can hit on all 2-3 strikes (offhand + double strike) Thats ~950 average damage if I recall in windstance. Anouther option is to start as light to make soloing the early levels easyer and switch when the PrE or ToD becomes available.

[PCSwarrior]

Thanks guys for all the opinions.

I went with 14 str 16 dex 16 con 14 wis.

Halfling and Weapon Finesse, with all level ups into dex.

Monkey Path, and Light Path, for now.

Might try it later with 12 wis and 10 int for more skill points to try out UMD.

My only question remaining is: What skills are most important? I maxed out Concentration, took alot of Balance, and a good bit of Jump and Spot.

[Crinos]

Skill point allocation looks fine to me.

Just remember to put at least 1 point into tumble to get the rolling animation rather than the drunken shuffle.

[Jasam01]

Concentration should be Maxed on a monk.
1+ point of tumble.
I would recomend maxing balance

Then choose between jump, or hide and move silenty.