Monk Self sufficient?

[Jeargroth]

Ok got a monk to lvl 3 and have my fists of Light. However, I am still relying heavily on hirelings to stay alive during some fights. Using Fire stance for Ki generation, PA for some umpf the mobs aren't staying alive long enough for me to heal up... But they are nickle and dimeing me to death. What am I doing wrong with build. Maxed Concentration, using fists of light as often as can but not enough Ki to use on the mobs to get some health generation. Is this what its like at early lvls? or am I missing something?

[ProdigalGuru]

A couple of observations:

1. Cure pots still work.

2. Your PA extra damage is killing things faster, not allowing you to build up Ki.

3. Fists of Light and Healing Ki are not meant to be infinite full heals.

4. Try Mountain stance for more defense, more HP, and Ki generation on being hit.

5. Without seeing your build, it is hard to offer advice as to where you may have gone wrong.

[Rawel_San]

Generally when people talk about self sufficient builds they assume that you will at least use healing potions
to heal yourself more often healing scrolls. Until about lvl 10 pretty much every build is self sufficient using
potions of csw to heal afterwards it becomes harder.

To answer your question you are not doing anything wrong per se. You just won't be able to self heal just through
your own class powers unless you have lot's of twink gear and even then without access to consumables you will
probably find yourself needing hireling healing fairly often.

That said a lot of damage can be avoided once you know the quests and get to know the game better in
general.

[Zirun]

The Monk's healing generally favours high AC, low damage builds (Finesse, DEX/WIS). If you're STR-based, you'll have to get healing amplification to account for the increased damage you take and lower amounts of hits with Fists of Light.

And, yes, a DEX/WIS build can sustain itself basically infinitely through mid-level content solo where its AC is meaningful. Against tougher opponents (bosses, or at higher levels), that'll start to fall short, though.

[Jeargroth]

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.9.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 3 Lawful Good Human Male
(3 Monk) 
Hit Points: 50
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 2\2
Fortitude: 5
Reflex: 5
Will: 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 3)
Strength             16                    16
Dexterity            15                    15
Constitution         14                    14
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom               15                    15
Charisma              8                     8

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 8
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 8
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 8
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 8
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 8
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 8

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 3)
Balance               2                     2
Bluff                -1                    -1
Concentration         2                     4
Diplomacy            -1                    -1
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -1                    -1
Heal                  2                     2
Hide                  2                     2
Intimidate           -1                    -1
Jump                  3                     3
Listen                2                     2
Move Silently         2                     2
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                    -1
Search               -1                    -1
Spot                  2                     2
Swim                  3                     3
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device     n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge
Feat: (Human Bonus) Mobility
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Discipline


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Fist

Here is the toon at lvl right now. I use a lot of CLW pots when soloing or the hireling. Was going for a Wis/Str build if possible all lvl ups going into Wis for AC, and DCs. So just get better pots and better gear your saying and maybe turn off PA?

[redspecter23]

You should be able to get a very workable AC for low levels even if you don't commit too much to it. Some gear to look for

Black Widow Bracers (end reward from Waterworks chain) or Mage Armor pots/clickies, +4 AC
Any +dex and +wis item or Cat's Grace and Owl's Wisdom pots or clickies
Shield clickie (check the auction house or brokers) +4 AC

So just based on the build you posted your AC could be:

10 base
+1 Dodge feat
+4 armor from bracers or Mage Armor
+3 dex (if you have a +1 item)
+3 wis (if you have a +1 item)

That's 21 right there and should have many mobs missing you a decent amount. Add another +2 if you chug a wisdom and dex pot and another +4 from shield for boss fights and you're looking at 27 which should make you almost unhittable in level 3 content.

I wouldn't bother with the Mobility feat. I'm not sure it adds enough to a pure monk to be worth it. Also Discipline is somewhat subpar. If you're looking to meet a prerequisite for Shintao monk, give Cleave a try. Most melee builds will take Power Attack anyway and since the recent changes, Cleave is actually not that bad anymore. Certainly better than Discipline.

[phillymiket]

Builds take a moment to develop.

Light monks with good AC, healing amp and vampiric stonedust wraps are very self-sufficient but you won't see that for a bit.

Low level characters are not yet seeing the full benefit of their build.

Give it time.

Soon you will have the specs and gear to take care of yourself much better.

[Phidius]

...
4. Try Mountain stance for more defense, more HP, and Ki generation on being hit.
...

Agreed - Montain stance when you're being swarmed, and Fire stance when it's mano-a-mano.

[Jeargroth]

So swap stances, as I am not at this time. Staying in fire whole time... secondly run the WWs on casual to get the reward fast and then will try again on Norm/hard to test. Swap out some feats for better usage. And hit the AH for some pots and better gearing for better Dex and Wis...

Thanks for the advice guys.

[dkyle]

And hit the AH for some pots and better gearing for better Dex and Wis...

Uh... what pots are you buying from the AH?

CSW pots are available from vendors, and almost certainly much cheaper than from the AH. If you're in a level 20+ guild, you can buy them from the vendor in House K for a discount.

The only potions worth buying from the AH are SP pots, invisibility pots, and others that can't be bought from vendors.

[Jeargroth]

Only been playing for bout 4months so still learning game. Played WoW for years where Pots were typically only available on AH. I have only seen CLW pots on some vendors, but then I haven't been exploring Merchants... Not in a Guild nor too high with House K yet. Will check some of their vendors... Can i get the Mage armor and Dex/Wis pots there too?

[GuntherBovine]

Only been playing for bout 4months so still learning game. Played WoW for years where Pots were typically only available on AH. I have only seen CLW pots on some vendors, but then I haven't been exploring Merchants... Not in a Guild nor too high with House K yet. Will check some of their vendors... Can i get the Mage armor and Dex/Wis pots there too?

Mage Armor potions are cheap and last six minutes, so they are probably the best buy a Monk can make. They are sold in the Harbor close to Garrison of "Garrison's Missing Pack". They are also sold in the center of the Marketplace along with Dex and Wisdom potions as well Resist Acid/Fire/etc. potions.

[XL_Jockey]

Also, aside from the healing curse, make sure you're using the finisher as well.

[Kinerd]

A Robe or Outfit of Invulnerability will negate an enormous percentage of melee damage at low levels.

[Narmolanya]

Only been playing for bout 4months so still learning game. Played WoW for years where Pots were typically only available on AH. I have only seen CLW pots on some vendors, but then I haven't been exploring Merchants... Not in a Guild nor too high with House K yet. Will check some of their vendors... Can i get the Mage armor and Dex/Wis pots there too?

If you get the black widow bracers from waterworks it will act as a permanent mage armor. It will not stack with the spell or pots as the both provide armor bonus.

[voidstar2k10]

1. are you 32 point or 28? I see you do not have veteran statice yet.
2. why human? is it for the bonus feat and extra skill points?
3. if your dead set on human I would swap out mobility for any of the following feats lighting reflexes <+2 to reflex + better evasion> luck of heros <+ to all saves>or any feat that increases a saving throw <fort,reflex,will>
I would also swap out disaplen but only after mobility
A real good guide on monks is Rocking Robin if I had the link I would put it here.
Finnaly get some cure serious pots, and use them after all even a hardcore healing spec cleric isnt going to relie on his cure spells 100% of the time,
give your self some time monks are real fun to play but they arnt supermen

[ProdigalGuru]

Do NOT put level ups into WIS. They go into STR.
I could give you a long explanation as to why, but just trust me, OK?

You do not need Dodge, Discipline, or Mobility.

You need Power Attack, Toughness, and Luck of Heroes.
Again, not really up for a long explanation, have faith there are many good reasons.

Honestly, since you are only level 3, now is not a bad time to re-roll.
We all screw up our first couple of characters, and I have re-rolled as high as level 14.

[Jaid314]

Do NOT put level ups into WIS. They go into STR.
I could give you a long explanation as to why, but just trust me, OK?

You do not need Dodge, Discipline, or Mobility.

You need Power Attack, Toughness, and Luck of Heroes.
Again, not really up for a long explanation, have faith there are many good reasons.

Honestly, since you are only level 3, now is not a bad time to re-roll.
We all screw up our first couple of characters, and I have re-rolled as high as level 14.

he's a dex/wis build. should probably put them into dex, actually (for to-hit). (edit: scratch that, reading fail. someone else suggested dex/wis, but he is str/wis: agreed, put level-ups into str)

oh, and in addition to other suggestions people have made... barkskin potions. +2 to AC, or +3 if you have higher level content.

and if you can find it, +3 shield of faith potions are also available (not sure what min level). in the meanwhile, wear the korthos +1 AC ring if you can't get those potions.

but yeah, at low levels, a monk with decent AC can be almost impossible to kill.

[solacerodgers]

Also a quick way to get more bang at that level is using a trinket with devotion (whatever you can craft at that lvl ) and ador ? spelling to boost your healing ki as it counts as a spell and anything that boosts a clrs lvl 1 healing also works on your finisher.