Simple Monk?

[LoneWolfie]

I'm looking to try a monk
looking for the simplest build to give this a shot
i tend to play alone most of the time with a hireling for when i need them

have access to:
32 point builds
all races
all classes excepting favored soul
no tomes whatsoever

any and all advice is welcomed and ty for taking the time to look/help me hopefully

[edgarallanpoe]

If you are dead set against tomes, then it makes sense to go with a race that give a bonus to dexterity. The TWF chain needs a dex of 17 IIRC and enhancements don't count. You need to get the 17 via starting stat points, level increases, and tomes. While TWF isn't the be all end all for a monk I can't imagine playing a monk without it. I am sure that someone does but the TWF chain is really the best choice for a monk.

[LoneWolfie]

I am pretty set against tomes
i have a ton of characters and can't afford tomes for all of them
doesn't make much sense to spend a ton of plat on a character i may hate now does it?
i might be willing to deal with a +1 dex tome if i can find one cheap

[le_goat]

the right monk really depends on your play style.
by far the easiest monk i have played is the dex/wis halfling light monk.
STR:14
DEX:16
CON:14
INT:8
WIS:14
CHA:8

Level ups into dex, or split between dex and wis
weapon finesse needed
light path
mostly stays in wind stance

[LoneWolfie]

the right monk really depends on your play style.
by far the easiest monk i have played is the dex/wis halfling light monk.
STR:14
DEX:16
CON:14
INT:8
WIS:14
CHA:8

Level ups into dex, or split between dex and wis
weapon finesse needed
light path
mostly stays in wind stance

i guess i should have mentioned i have never played a monk before... at all... period
don't know much about them have read a little but no idea how to work them lol
more info would be greatly appreciated... feats? enhancements?

[ProdigalGuru]

Forum search is your friend.

Plenty of Monk threads.

You do not honestly expect people to give you a detailed play-by-play just because you chose to play it, do you?

Look it up, then ask some specific questions, like "How do I use a Finishing Move?" or "What path is stronger?".

[LoneWolfie]

Forum search is your friend.

Plenty of Monk threads.

You do not honestly expect people to give you a detailed play-by-play just because you chose to play it, do you?

Look it up, then ask some specific questions, like "How do I use a Finishing Move?" or "What path is stronger?".

more looking for a complete simple build
feats/enhancement( only need to know imporant ones)
i'll figure out how to work the moves and such lol

[TeacherSyn]

I'm looking to try a monk
looking for the simplest build to give this a shot
i tend to play alone most of the time with a hireling for when i need them

have access to:
32 point builds
all races
all classes excepting favored soul
no tomes whatsoever

any and all advice is welcomed and ty for taking the time to look/help me hopefully

Hey, there.

Monks are arguably the hardest to learn of the melee classes, but ultimately among the strongest in terms of soloing because of self-sufficiency.

As another noted, a race with bonuses to STR, DEX, CON or WIS is a bonus. A human has two advantages (size, extra starting feat) but no disadvantages. Dwarves are robust on CON, halflings get many racial bonuses but suffer just a little on STR. Avoid elven/drow monks.

A 32-point monk is a good thing. Start one with stats similar to this:

STR 14
DEX 14
CON 14
INT 8
CHA 8
WIS 16

WIS determines many monk skills and help with Stunning Fist, the monk's premier first attack. It's faster than Stunning Blow (shorter cooldown), among other things. With U9, you can pick this feat up any time you want. The STR and DEX numbers can be moved about if you want to put the WIS points there, though, again, the ability for a monk to solo hinges on WIS, which determines many of their saves against magic, traps, and attack DCs, even early on.

Next choice, stay STR based in attack or choose Weapon Finesse as a feat. Advantage to Finesse: DEX is used for both attack and AC boosting. This is a common choice, but don't neglect STR as it determines how hard you hit. If you stay STR, likewise, don't neglect DEX.

CON is very important, obviously, but monks get fewer HP than other melees, so you'll need to help it along. Most races give you Racial Toughness as enhancements, which require at least one selection of Toughness. You want at least 200 HP by level 12, and about 350 HP minimum by level 18. Greater False Life items can help, too, if buying tomes is not in your plan.

The biggest choice comes in your monk philosophy at level 3. The Path of Harmonious Light, or "light monk," has many abilities of a cleric. They can take enhancements that remove curses, disease, blindness, give lesser resurrections or raise dead. Most importantly, they get Healing Ki, a finishing move that allows you to use your ki (the monk's eternally rechargeable answer to spell points) to perform mass heals every 10 seconds or so.

Alternately, you can go down the Path of Inevitable Dominion ("dark monk"). These guys use ki to debuff and curse and twist their ki into damaging attacks. Downside to the dark monk is no innate healing ability (but consider a half-elf with a Cleric dilettante and healing wands are yours). The light monk is slightly less damaging than a dark, but I can take my light monk almost any quest in the game, completely alone, not even a hireling, and complete the quest, taking on all comers. I recommend the light monk for a very soloable toon.

There's more, but too much for a reply here. I recommend going to DDO Wiki (http://ddowiki.com/page/Monk). I've recently updated many of the monk articles there on starting one, tactics, and mastering the one thing that turns off many players to a monk--the finishing moves, which activate elemental damage, healing, debuffs, spell-like abilities--all through the renewable ki. Timing them and tuning your keyboard to do the moves is the harder part. You should find everything you need there on more specifics.

[LoneWolfie]

Ok i think i am going to go light monk path
seems to work with what i want better than dark... little less dps but much more survivable especially solo which is what i want for now
still need help on feats and enhancements though
probably going to go halfling as i just like the look/idea of a halfling monk
feats i'm sure i'll be taking/need

Toughness
Twf line
Weapon Finesse- figuring on going slightly higher dex to make it easier to reach twf requirements without needing tomes--- i understand i can take this as one of the monk bonus feats at 1,2,6 i believe they are
Dodge will probably be one of my other bonus feats
Stunning fist is likely to be another

if i remember correctly that should leave 3-4... correct me if i'm wrong plz
as for enhancements i know that those can be changed every 3 days with enough plat but are there any monk specific things i may want?

[wax_on_wax_off]

the right monk really depends on your play style.
by far the easiest monk i have played is the dex/wis halfling light monk.
STR:14
DEX:16
CON:14
INT:8
WIS:14
CHA:8

Level ups into dex, or split between dex and wis
weapon finesse needed
light path
mostly stays in wind stance

My philosophy with monks has always been to balance offense with defense. Light Path is a defensive option and dexterity based is too, I'd pick one or the other.

Light Path monks are much much much easier to gear than dark path monks so unless you are willing to do multiple runs of Shadow Crypt or Devil Assault for silver/good handwraps (up to 50 or more maybe, I've got devouts from shadow crypt on my monks in ~10 runs) I'd go light monk.

The exact build above but with level ups into strength and light path would be very solid. Though, you would need to either spend 1 level up into dexterity or use a +1 dex tome. However, this is only necessary by level 15 and by then you'll have made so much plat that a +1 dex tome will be cheap as.

[le_goat]

check out the rockan robin build for some insight :

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...t=rockan+robin

[ProdigalGuru]

I would advise against Finesse and Dodge, assuming you are putting level-ups into Strength.

Your STR will be higher than your DEX making Finesse a wasted feat.

+1 AC is also relatively useless, and is not a pre-req for anything light path.

If you want Shintao, I suggest Luck of Heroes.

Stunning Fist is a must-have.


The thing is: you are going to love Monk. You should consider +2 tomes in your build, because you are going to be playing this lightning-fast, self-sufficient, uber-puncher a lot more than you might think. Monks are arguably the most stat-intensive class. Light Monk, especially so, because of Kukan-Do requiring CHA instead of the typical WIS. Trust me you are going to want a high DC on this RANGED, WILL SAVE stun. If you want Void Strike IV, you will need base 16 in 3 prime stats and base 18 in the other one. Since Void IV is a quasi-vorpal, you might want to consider it.

Plus, you get at least ONE tome for free with favor, and you can bet on getting at least ONE more +2 tome before level 20.

[edgarallanpoe]

Avoid elven/drow monks

While I agree that they aren't the best choice, I disagree that they should be dismissed...especially Drow.

I play a 20th level Drow Monk and he is a blast to play. They get enhancements to 3 stats and a negative to one. Again, don't get me wrong, I am not saying they make the best Monks, but they do have advantages that other monks don't have. For example, they start with a 10 in Int..."big deal!" you say...well, you are only 1 point and a +2 tome away from qualifying for combat expertise and those extra skill points allow you to max Concentration, Balance, UMD, and then distribute to your taste.

The starting stat of 10 in Charisma is also beneficial in that it adds to your UMD skill, and haggle. At level 18 a Light path Monk gets a ranged stunner that is Charisma based...I have my DC up to 47 on that enhancement.

If you decide to go dark path, Drow get enhancement bonuses to short swords which aren't the most spectacular weapons but they are cheap on the AH and a dual wielding dark monk with a pair of nice SS can be a formidable opponent at lower/mid levels. Obviously the effectiveness of those weapons fades as the handwraps quickly overtake them in damage and speed of attack.

Also, the impact to Constitution can be negated by taking the Tort Path and toughness enhancements. My Drow monk sits at 424hp in Grandmaster Wind Stance with all of his toughness/Tort Path/Greater False Life bonuses. He also sits at around 55-60 ac which is useless at high levels but he had more than enough to get him through his lower levels.

Finally, the most deciding factor in the success of a Monk is the person working the keyboard/mouse. Monks are difficult to play. They have a wealth of moves and clickies that can be overwhelming for a novice to the class.

[Feralthyrtiaq]

Dark Path: To Bypass Devil Boss DR Requires Weapons that are Metalline of Pure Good, Eternal Rest HW + Holy Burst ToD Ring, Silver Threaded Holy or Pure Good Handwraps

Light Path: Shintao Monk 3 Enhancement makes your UA attack bypass Silver, So...your UA attacks Bypass Devil Boss DR with any ole Pure Good or Holy wraps or Holy Burst ToD ring..

[Therigar]

Simple?

Simple to me is dark path DEX/WIS w enough INT for CE and most of the rest in CON.

Turtle for HP and concentration, Wind for faster attack speeds. Ignore all the special attacks and combos, just Stunning Fist, Touch of Death and Quivering Palm.

Ninja PrE gives shortswords, including IC: pierce (shortsword) -- so load up on cheap metalline of PG shortswords by shopping the AH.

Dodge, TWF x3, Toughness, IC:bludgeon, Weapon Finesse, Stunning Fist, Combat Expertise. Leaves one feat choice, extra Toughness if nothing else strikes you.

Every race has pros and cons but simple.... Half-elf with cleric dilettante to access healing wands early, swap to wizard later for shield wands. Or, warforged because that really is easy.

It is all a no brainer from there. Almost no gear requirements but excellent soloability as well as group play. Takes no thinking because you've ignored special attacks. Just hit shadow fade and go kill stuff, spam ToD/QP/SF. Way too easy.

[Feralthyrtiaq]

Also, I play a TRd Capped Monk Xhiron Rhex on Khyber, was Dark Dex Build in last life, and Dex/Wis Shintao 3 Void 4 in this life.

I use a mouse to steer/select/and hold left mouse button to attack, and a G13 gamepad for strafe left/right forward and back, and have buttons linked to hotkeys 1 thru 10 for monk moves.

You will absolutely love your monk better with this much control!

My gf plays a lvl 18 light monk. Doesnt spam monk attacks, never uses strafe, rarely uses finsihing moves and still has fun playing it with just a keyboard. Not as effective, not a total loss either.

I really really should post a video...

[ProdigalGuru]

Dark Path: To Bypass Devil Boss DR Requires Weapons that are Metalline of Pure Good, Eternal Rest HW + Holy Burst ToD Ring, Silver Threaded Holy or Pure Good Handwraps

Light Path: Shintao Monk 3 Enhancement makes your UA attack bypass Silver, So...your UA attacks Bypass Devil Boss DR with any ole Pure Good or Holy wraps or Holy Burst ToD ring..

If you get the Shintao set you do not even need the Holy Burst, as it gives DR bypass to Good and Evil...

[LoneWolfie]

Wow i guess there are just so many ways a monk can go... noone seems to agree
i guess i'll make one see what i think... i'll probably screw it up and have to reroll but such is life
lol

[damien66]

Wow i guess there are just so many ways a monk can go... noone seems to agree
i guess i'll make one see what i think... i'll probably screw it up and have to reroll but such is life
lol

This is probably your best bet in my opinion. Fun build and I've topped kill count on plenty of occasions.

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=210181

Sorry le goat beat me to it above. So take it as a second to his suggestion.

[SensaiRyu]

I would advise against Finesse and Dodge, assuming you are putting level-ups into Strength.

You must have Dodge for the Dark Monk's Ninja Spy PrE.

Dark Path: To Bypass Devil Boss DR Requires Weapons that are Metalline of Pure Good, Eternal Rest HW + Holy Burst ToD Ring, Silver Threaded Holy or Pure Good Handwraps

Ninja Spy PrE gives you the ability to use short swords as ki weapons. You get to use most of your monk special attacks (Void, etc.) with the swords - No, Touch of Death does not work with short swords . Getting metalline/silver/iron and holy/good short swords is easier than getting named wraps. Since the named wraps are better you'll want to spend some time getting them - use the swords as backup.

The Shinto PrE requires one of a range of feats - so you get a choice of one you like best. At lvl 12, Shinto II gives you Demon Boss DR fists (cold iron), and at lvl 18 Shinto III gives you Devil Boss DR fists (silver). All you need is holy or good wraps and you're set.