Pure Human Dragonmark Monk feedback

[WanderingGrump]

Hi folks,

I have been toying with playing a pure Monk for awhile now since I have generally only used it for splashes. This is a wisdom based Dark build modified a bit from Rockin Robin (I dropped the UMD as it's not going to get high enough for real uses and I could put the points elsewhere. I have a fair handle on it thanks to Ron's Character Generator, but I am debating on the feat order and definitely the enhancements.

I plan to mostly solo this character and I wanted the Passage Marks for the speed and DDoor ability to save things if it goes awry. Here's what I have so far:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.8.0
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Chun 
Level 20 Lawful Good Human Male
(20 Monk) 
Hit Points: 292
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 16
Will: 19

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             15                    17
Dexterity            16                    19
Constitution         14                    17
Intelligence          8                    10
Wisdom               15                    25
Charisma              8                    10

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               7                    32
Bluff                -1                     0
Concentration         6                    38
Diplomacy            -1                    17
Disable Device       n/a                    n/a
Haggle               -1                     0
Heal                  2                     7
Hide                  3                     4
Intimidate           -1                     0
Jump                  6                    15
Listen                2                     7
Move Silently         3                     4
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                    n/a
Repair               -1                     0
Search               -1                     0
Spot                  5                    30
Swim                  2                     3
Tumble                4                    19
Use Magic Device     n/a                    n/a

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Human Bonus) Least Dragonmark of Passage
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Orien Balance I
Enhancement: Improved Balance I
Enhancement: Improved Concentration I
Enhancement: Improved Jump I


Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Stunning Fist
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use I
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Way of the Elegant Crane I
Enhancement: Void Strike I


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Inevitable Dominion: Fists of Darkness
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Finesse
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I


Level 4 (Monk)
Enhancement: Improved Balance II
Enhancement: Improved Concentration II
Enhancement: Improved Jump II
Enhancement: Improved Tumble I
Enhancement: Improved Tumble II


Level 5 (Monk)
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Dexterity I
Enhancement: Way of the Elegant Crane II


Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Lesser Dragonmark of Passage
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Power Attack
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II


Level 7 (Monk)
Enhancement: Void Strike II
Enhancement: Adept of Wind


Level 8 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom II


Level 9 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Fists of Iron
Enhancement: Adept of Rock


Level 10 (Monk)
Enhancement: Way of the Elegant Crane III
Enhancement: All-Consuming Flame


Level 11 (Monk)
Enhancement: Static Charge
Enhancement: Adept of Flame


Level 12 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons
Enhancement: Eagle Claw Attack
Enhancement: Master of Thunder


Level 13 (Monk)
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Constitution I


Level 14 (Monk)
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III


Level 15 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Way of the Elegant Crane IV


Level 16 (Monk)


Level 17 (Monk)
Enhancement: Ten Thousand Stars
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom III


Level 18 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge
Enhancement: Monk Ninja Spy I


Level 19 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Ninja Spy II


Level 20 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Serenity
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Storms

So my question to you folks is should I swap taking Power Attack with Dodge at levels 6 and 18 respectively so I can get the Ninja Spy PrE in sooner? or can waiting until 18 be an acceptable alternative? Would going with the Lightpath improve this build and if so how?

[MsEricka]

Light monks have the fancy toys, which are pretty cool and always useful. I've been a dark monk since the pre came out and I rather enjoy it.

Waiting for the pre won't kill you but personally I'd want it sooner rather than later, especially when at level not much stands up against touch of death.

I dropped the UMD as it's not going to get high enough for real uses

11 base
04 GH (clickies, bard, arcane caster)
02 Good luck
03 cartouche
03 base 8 CHA, +2 tome, +6 item
06 CHA skills item
29 Total

Got some more gear?

29 From above
03 Tier 3 spyglass
02 Seven fingered gloves
01 +2 Exceptional CHA item
35 Total

Got A Guild?

35 From above
01 +2 CHA shrine
36 Total

Got Buffs?

36 From above
02 Bard skill song
38 Total

A 38 UMD for an 8CHA character? Quite spectacular actually. Yes I agree it could be a LOT of equipment swapping but it's possible, and doable. Even without a bard song it's still a 36 possible UMD self buffed with a whole bunch of gear.

[WanderingGrump]

Well the PrE sooner is a tradeoff with Power Attack. Is that going to be missed more I wonder. I know putting in both Dragonmarks is stretching it some but recently I played with a Human Pal who had the pair on his build and that instant built in DDoor saved a party wipe and I can see it being handy as all get out farming for various things.

As for the UMD yes I know it is possible but if I press that then I have to alternate Spot and Jump as I will keep Balance and Concentration Maxed along with UMD... hmmm yes I could go that way and yes I know with gear that could get respectable and with the right buffs able to use a Raise Dead Scroll which if memory serves needs a 38.

I haven't rolled the character yet but it intrigues me. I may also drop the Dragonmarks and do monk on my TR Fighter and take the past life fighter feat as a 34pt build but that toon has a few more levels to go before I consider that. I think I want to try at least one toon with the Dragonmarks just to see how it is.

Revised feat order:

1 Two weapon fighting
1 (human bonus) Least Dragonmark of Passage
1 (monk) Toughness
2 (monk) Weapon Finesse
3 (monk) Path of Inevitable Dominion
3 Dodge
6 Lesser Dragonmark of Passage
6 (monk) Stunning Fist
9 Improved Two Weapon Fighting
12 Improved Critical: Bludgeoning
15 Greater Two Weapon Fighting
18 Power Attack

The question is should I move Stunning Fist down for Power Attack or delay getting further along in the TWF chain. Since I haven't played a monk yet that remains a significant question in mind. I know I want to be careful with Feats since I am probably going to have to play this particular toon on a server that is not my primary unless I spring for an extra character slot so I will have to farm everything this guy needs by himself.

Thanks for the feedback on the PrE.

[jennick52]

You could alway drop weapon finesse as your str and dex aren't that far apart. On my monk, I took stunning fist as early as possible, as its a wonderful feat and makes some quests very easy, expecially if your DC is high enough to land consistently. Though as a human, it might not get as high as a dwarf/WF. My dwarf monk at 14 with +10 wraps has a 35 (IIRC) SF dc, and it lands close to 100% on normal quest at level.