Light or Dark?

[Habreno]

Which is better?

I know that's a simple question. Let me rephrase that:

For end-game content, often run with parties, which is better?
For end-game content, soloed, which is better?
For between 4 and 9 or so, what is better (most likely partied) for quick leveling?

I will have a free feat swap if need be, to switch between light and dark, once, but would not like to do it twice. What would you start with as a Veteran character, and what would you end with? Same stat distribution on both:

HOrc 32 point build:

STR: 18 <- will get levelups
DEX: 16
CON: 14
INT: 6
WIS: 14
CHA: 6

Mainly will run in Fire stance for extra STR, for better Ki generation, with Water the swap for Stunning Fist DC's if need be (2 dc over Fire, due to -2 penalty in Fire and +2 bonus in Water)
I know that STR is not maxed, I did not feel that the extra 6 build points were worth 2 STR given Monk's necessity for 3-4 stats. GTWF will be gotten with minimum +1 tome, probably +2 for even-ness of stats.

I was curious what path you would take, and why, given that build setup.

[Tunst]

personally, dark.
though i wouldnt use the stance for it at all

to be very effective dark monk, use the best wind stance with Oremi's necklace for ki gen.
which is still possible, just use a +2 dex tome instead.
also, keep in this mind, Void Strike IV can be one of the most powerful moves.

20ish force damage and spamable, but ona nat 20 it instakills whatever (minus bosses)
works in epics, doesnt have to be under 1k hp.
to get it you need 18 of one stat, and 16 of the other 3 and get master of all stances, grandmaster of one.

so its debatable, but id still go str build, in wind stance, dark.

edit: negative rep? really?

[jojoalva69]

For end-game content, often run with parties, which is better?
For end-game content, soloed, which is better?
For between 4 and 9 or so, what is better (most likely partied) for quick leveling?

Often run with parties I would say Dark, you shouldn't have to rely on healing yourself (aside from carrying pots which any melee should IMO). You do more damage, and you have ways to make enemies more vulnerable to certain elements(Fire, Ice, Elec, Acid, Negative Energy and reduction of fortification).

Soloing end-game. That just depends on how many pots you want to use and what you're running, although, light would be better because you have a constant source of positive energy with the fists of light attack, even better if you have a decent amount of healing amp to go with it. You have three ways to immobilize an enemy making it unable to do anything to you for a short period of time which reduces the amount of damage you would normally take overall, since it couldn't hit you if it tried.


I have a Dex/Wis based Halfling Dark Monk. I can solo just about anything up to Amrath Normals (still working on a few pieces of gear for hard quests out there). Being Dex/Wis gives me a pretty large bonus to my AC (self buffed to 73 {78 if need be with the Epic Staff of Nat Gann} which is just fine for normal Amrath quests) making it a lot easier to solo, Str/Wis would be new to me, but this is just what I have learned over my experience with my monk.

Comes down to personal preference in the end.

Edit: Since i forgot my response!! >.<

levels 1-18(18 for Oremi's), Light monk will be better now that Ki doesnt generate like it used to, wont be able to keep ToD goin, making it almost useless when you could be spending little Ki on healing yourself as a light monk.