Help with Monk Gear?

[Gladiator_206]

Hey all, was just wondering if the forum Gurus would be willing to assist me with
picking out some of my gear for when i get higher level on my tr'd monk. There are some
items which i will stubbornly hold onto, but for alot of stuff i simply don't know what is best in slot.
If anything looks out of place, our you don't agree, present your arguement and I might be swayed


Notes to consider:
Pure monk, Path of Harmonius Balance
Half Orc
(Currently digging fire stance and earth stance for its combo with Jidz-tet'ka)
Lawful Good alignment


Starting stats: (I think :P)
18 Str
15 Dex
14 Con
6 Int
14 Wis
6 Cha

Slots to Consider: (almost nothing is locked in)
Head: Minos Legens
Necklace: Oremi's or Shintao - stance dependant
Trinket: Bloodstone if possible, maybe Shimmering arrow head until then
Cloak: Envenomed Cloak (Epic eventually)
Belt: _________?
Ring1: Some form of ToD ring with Holy Burst
Ring2: A different ToD rin with Shocking Burst
Gloves: Charged Gauntlets (Epic eventually)
Boots: _________?
Bracers: Jidz-tet'ka (Preety much locked in.)(Epic eventually)
Armor: Dragontouched (still undecided on what to put on it)
Weapon: Seems largley dependant on Monster

So as you can see, im a little bit lost as to how i should outfit my monk.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, and thank you in advance!

(Ps: if you could provide reasoning for some items going in specific slots,
that would help me out a tremendous amount.)

GREEN, means ive changed the original post, due to people providing good arguements.

[solacerodgers]

I play my now retooled human light monk x2 tr 34pt build void VI striker like this and with this gear.

(I should say before i start i have 8 hotbars - i know alot for a monk - and a ton of gear I switch out depending on the situation. )

Head - Minos all the time for heavy fort (not so much hp at this lvl and the 570 i walk around with and once another GS cleansed slot opens this will be the next to go )

Neck - This is my main switch spot i have a full bar just for this starting with, Neck of solid fog x5 clickie (tanking situations) Jorg's collar which I normaly run 90% of the time b/c I stay in Earth stance and as you know gets very slow at VI and I dont like to chug haste pots, Oremis neck from tod (+1 ki gen per strike nice, a must for all monks ) finger neck ( +10% healing amp, I slot in and out ) The GH and INVS clickies from TOD ( forget there names but essential clickies and a great place to slot them ) and last deaths locket = deathblock when I need to slot in or out my DT with DB and or other sets. I find this the best place to slot items as nothing is 100% needed here for me no +6 stat item or heavyfort to maintain.

Belt - Acrobat set from tod (jump clickie ) plus i keep the ring on as it is holy bursted and adds unbalancing on strikes. This is a +6 con non slotting item for me.

Cloak - When and if the event comes back I will make a mabar epic cloak but for now I have my GS hp + smoke cloak a 20% miss chance + displace clickie is a wonderful thing. This also never leaves unless in pvp where I play with the mantle for its ion stone like ability to get me to a caster - you guys know who you are lol

Rings - 1st slot is epic buck's and second is acrobat ring with holy burst, I do slot this in and out with a ring of the ancestors when i need a quick rez clickie.

Boots - I used to stay in madstones but you cant use clickies, scrolls, finishers ect so they now sit in the bank and I usuall stay in Boots of the innocent 99% of the time for +5 all res and 15% striding, switch out to firestoms when needed and last boots of anchoring stay on the hotbar at all times ( never know when a tod pops up and you dont want to forget these pups. )

Gog's - right now tharnes switch with times for 3x haste clicky ( will epic these one day )

Bracers - Epic jidz never leave me slotted in +6 cha and GFL to mine.

Armor - Several sets of DT healing amp 10/20/30 , DB/Healing amp 20%/ Blind guard (radiance ) great in epics , and finally DB/healing amp 20%/ dodge + for when i switch to ac gear ( epic sirens ect )

Trinket - Bloodstone with +1 res bonus added, Pirate event spyglass , mum bat (ff if i ever need it ) pendant of time, and a few twinks i crafted but usually BS stays put.

Gloves - Brawlers most of the time but as you will be slotting them out with E charged when I can afford the scroll. Untill then these are great. ( I know im naming a lot of gear from events here also so I hope you made everything and a few of each )

Weapons - ahhhhh the goods -

The 1st problem i see is your wis is going to be to low to stun anything in epics even with +10s so keep that in mind and also your shintao strikes need DS's in the 41 range as well to be useful in most epics.

I carry the following wraps Flaming burst GCB (portal beaters but smiters now also work and are cheaper ) Parlyz of pure good with icy burst ( all purpose leveling wraps ) vamp stonedust only really useful if you have great healing amp or around the lvl you get them 12-16 ish. ( can we get these epic please? ) Stunners - Holy +10 (not holy burst bc tod ring will not stack ) acid +10, paralyz +10, force burst +10 ( all stunners are icy burst and force dmg as well ) All purpose trash beaters Holy bleeders ( i like the bleeders as they do 1-8 over the pg 1-6 and things that dont bleed shintao strikes usually get )

I also carry 2x rhals mights both unsuppressed (force and bleeder ) a GS minII staff and a GS earthgrab staff. I have made 2 shruikens 1 for fun a earthgrab ( low on ings 3 LDS ) and a LitII but really only use these to pull trash or in DQ or pvp. A set of PG vorp kamas ( only really use in hound for trash )

You just have to decide where your going with your monk I like being able to play all roles and will TR 1 last time to helf for the clr scroll use as I love pots but its hard to fill myself up at my hp and SF pots get $$$$$$. Have fun make sure to always have heavy fort and DB sloted somewhere.

[Gladiator_206]

Neck - Jorg's collar which I normaly run 90% of the time b/c I stay in Earth stance and as you know gets very slow at VI, Oremis neck from tod (+1 ki gen per strike nice, a must for all monks ) finger neck ( +10% healing amp, I slot in and out ) and last deaths locket = deathblock when I need to slot in or out my DT with DB and or other sets. I find this the best place to slot items as nothing is 100% needed here for me no +6 stat item or heavyfort to maintain.

makes sence. do you not like to use the tod set bonuses however? or are they not enough to bother with?

Belt - Acrobat set from tod (jump clickie ) plus i keep the ring on as it is holy bursted and adds unbalancing on strikes. This is a +6 con non slotting item for me.

why not something like belt of the defendors of siberys, which also has GFL in addition to con 6? See next comment for another option entirley

Cloak - When and if the event comes back I will make a mabar epic cloak but for now I have my GS hp + smoke cloak a 20% miss chance + displace clickie is a wonderful thing. This also never leaves unless in pvp where I play with the mantle for its ion stone like ability to get me to a caster - you guys know who you are lol

havent looked into mabar stuff, as i missed that event entirley, but if you used the envenomed cloak wouldn't you gain one con while freeing up a belt slot? Just a thought.


Rings - 1st slot is epic buck's and second is acrobat ring with holy burst, I do slot this in and out with a ring of the ancestors when i need a quick rez clickie.

Boots - Boots of the innocent 99% of the time for +5 all res and 15% striding, switch out to firestoms when needed and last boots of anchoring stay on the hotbar at all times ( never know when a tod pops up and you dont want to forget these pups. )
Would golden greeves' (or its epic companion's) DR work with monk 10/epic dr? If not, you've made a perfect sugestion. thank you.


Armor - Several sets of DT healing amp 10/20/30 , DB/Healing amp 20%/ Blind guard (radiance ) great in epics , and finally DB/healing amp 20%/ dodge + for when i switch to ac gear ( epic sirens ect )
If i were to have only say... one set, just for conversation purposes, what would be optimal? talking from a dps perspective, as i wont be tanking on my monk.

Weapons - ahhhhh the goods -

The 1st problem i see is your wis is going to be to low to stun anything in epics even with +10s so keep that in mind and also your shintao strikes need DS's in the 41 range as well to be useful in most epics.

Ick, wondered if that might have happened. Where would my wisdom need to be in terms of starting stats if i wanted to achieve meaningful Shintao and stunning fist dc's?

Comments should be in red. Thanks for starting off the discussion with some great advice man!
+1'd you

[solacerodgers]

Some tod sets are nice I usually just keep the acrobat set on as it has the unbalancing built in and I save a AP, The GFL is build into my epic jidz. There are great tod sets the shintao is a fav for DPS as it adds to hit and dmg but I have got into a routine where I like the strike. The env cloak is a option I just found more useful belts while leveling then I did cloaks so I stay in my HP+smoke cloak at all times, you will have to find a place to slot a hp item anyway and this worked for my gear. As for boots the +5 res are always on and I know my saves are always there ( being a monk they are good already but I mainly stay running epics ) I will eventually slot these out one day with a epic set or GS but until then they save a slot on my DT or trinket.

As for DT ( i am a bit of a ***** I have about 7-8 sets in the bank as well ) I would say for straight dps slot in DB eldrich / 20% amp tempest (always nice to up the amp for yourself and the healers plus the guards here are **** in epics whats salt really doing for you? ) and the sov is really up to you I like the blindness guard a ton helps the rogues, gives your SA dmg, helps keep you alive and effects just about everything. Great way to help keep trash clear as well and off your healers and tanks.

You will have to get your wis to about 30 fully geared and buffed ( +2 tome, +2 shrine, +6 item , monk wis I,II,III if needed ect ) a 38-39 hits in things like the fens epics about 70% but when you get into echrono and house d ect you need that 41 to be reliable. Stunning fist is my lead off strike 99% of the time as it helps with CC and things die faster. ( I miss auto crits )

Also just out of curiosity why horc and light path? I went human this life ( from my ac halfling last life ) for extra feat, healing amp, skill pts and human adap for atr pts anywhere?

[Gladiator_206]

You will have to get your wis to about 30 fully geared and buffed ( +2 tome, +2 shrine, +6 item , monk wis I,II,III if needed ect ) a 38-39 hits in things like the fens epics about 70% but when you get into echrono and house d ect you need that 41 to be reliable.
Sweet. Thank you

Also just out of curiosity why horc and light path? I went human this life ( from my ac halfling last life ) for extra feat, healing amp, skill pts and human adap for atr pts anywhere?

Horc? mainly because i wanted to try the Half Orc race (yea i know... horrible reasoning :P)

And i went light path because im just more used to it. I was light path all the way threw my first life, which was a little halfing dex monk - wonderful but just not up to the task for damage output. I tried going ninja spy while lvling this guy, but i just didn't find it to be what i want. I was hoping shortswords would have been more viable, but I new they could never really compete with fists, especially with earth stance and past life upping my die rolls. Im just to addicted to the versatility and comfort that light brings, with remove curse, resto, raising allies (guildies are allways embaressed when i have to res them, haha), and fists of light just seem to flow so nicley with the monk.

Responses in red again.

[solacerodgers]

Yes fists on a tr in Mount with jidz is 2d14 Short swords just dont compete. The light path is def the best IMO also but if you dont have the DCs to back your strikes then you are missing out on a ton of added dps and 1 shot kills. You also have to take into account this is my only toon and I have been playing about a year so all gear/focus has been on him I raced through my first life as a AC dex/wis halfling as well and even with PA I was doing 30ish a hit I think compared to the damage I do now I feel much better rounded and am able to assume most roles if needed.

I looked long and hard at races as well before this life and went human for simple leveling and the few perc's my final Tr will be helf as I dont need the massive str of a horc with 2d14 base dmg. I also always go void VI its not a good option for a 28pt build but when you have the 32-34 pts plus the +2 tomes to back it it can be a life saver in many situations. The mabar event was great we got a set of epic wraps that are not the end all wraps but in sands epics and a lower lvl set while leveling is great.

I also just recently took UMD for the first time and am trying this out as I have never played a caster and besides a shield wand never really carried anything besides clickies. The most fun I have had so far is PVP using energvation ? spelling scrolls, nothing like a monk neg-leveling you Also works in epics against anything without dw so fun there as well. Also dont have to beg casters for GH when clickies run out or have the group wipe when your the last standing and you can grab stones and DD out of there. Like i said i am a year in and I play for fun and enjoy being a guild officer as well. I am old school so i came from pnp and this was my first run at a monk and I have enjoyed him so much, the twitch button pushing for strikes was the hardest to get down everything after that is a breeze.

[Gladiator_206]

Yes fists on a tr in Mount with jidz is 2d14 Short swords just dont compete.
Is with two monk past lives? one? none? Just curious, because doing 2d14 points of anything sounds so awesome, i didn't stop to consider it would go that high :P

The light path is def the best IMO also but if you dont have the DCs to back your strikes then you are missing out on a ton of added dps and 1 shot kills.
Yes... I believe i might need an LR or something... I will need to get my dc's higher. thank you for pointing this out before I embaressed myself in quest.


I looked long and hard at races as well before this life and went human for simple leveling and the few perc's my final Tr will be helf as I dont need the massive str of a horc with 2d14 base dmg. I also always go void VI its not a good option for a 28pt build but when you have the 32-34 pts plus the +2 tomes to back it it can be a life saver in many situations. Nonsense, you can never have to much strength
Also.. whats Void VI give ya except the obvious attack? Did i miss a combo such as light void light or dark void dark as being awesome?

As per usual,check out the red.

[nolaureltree000]

This is what I'm doing with my monk. I am dumping AC and he is a WF tanking build so some of the goals might be a bit different than your build, but I think some of the gearing would lend well to yours.

Head: Minos Legens/GS HP
Goggles: Tharne's Goggles
Necklace: Oremi's Necklace for ki generation/Shinto Chord for to-hit and damage bonus
Trinket: Bloodstone
Cloak: Epic Cape of the Roc (im putting a cheap triple air GS HP cloak here until i can get the epic together)
Belt: ToD belt
Rings: ToD ring - holy burst first and shocking burst second
Gloves: Epic Gloves of the Claw (Brawling Gloves in the meantime)
Boots: Madstone Boots
Bracers: Epic Bracers of the Claw. (Jidz-tet'ka in the meantime)
Armor: Dragontouched
Weapon: Force Burst of Pure Good and Force Burst of Bleed for all around beaters. When the Risia Ice Games come back, get icy burst on most of your wraps. Metalline of Bleed for boss beaters and if you're lucky enough to pull some, craft holy silver of GEOB and holy cold iron of GEOB.

[Gladiator_206]

Head: Minos Legens/GS HP
Necklace: Oremi's Necklace for ki generation/Shinto Chord for to-hit and damage bonus
Trinket: Bloodstone
Cloak: Epic Cape of the Roc (im putting a cheap triple air GS HP cloak here until i can get the epic together)
Belt: ToD belt
Rings: ToD ring - holy burst first and shocking burst second
Gloves: Epic Gloves of the Claw (Brawling Gloves in the meantime)
Boots: Madstone Boots
Bracers: Epic Bracers of the Claw. (Jidz-tet'ka in the meantime)
Armor: Dragontouched
Weapon: Force Burst of Pure Good and Force Burst of Bleed for all around beaters. When the Risia Ice Games come back, get icy burst on most of your wraps. Metalline of Bleed for boss beaters and if you're lucky enough to pull some, craft holy silver of GEOB and holy cold iron of GEOB.

Looks solid. I might disagree on Epic bracers of the claw. But then again im totaly biased towards the Jidz-tet'ka, as its possibly my favourite item. Any specific plan for your dragon touched? Just curious

You might never have guessed, but my answers are in red
Thanks for contributing! +1

[Tobril]

Here's what mine wears, I have everything except the claw gloves.

Head: Pirate Hat - +6 Seeker, +15 Concentration
Neck: Shintao or Oremi (stance dependent)
Trinket: Epic Gem of Many Facets (slot GFL)
Cloak: Mabar Cloak - Deathblock, Blur, Invis Guard, etc (specialty GS swaps here)
Belt: Min II - +45 HP, +6 CON skills
Ring (swap): Kyosho or Oremi - +6 WIS (stance dependent) (shocking Burst)
Gloves: Epic Claw for tanking/soloing, otherwise Epic Brawling Gloves
Boots: Madstone
Ring (perm): Ravager - +6 STR, +1 ex STR, (holy burst)
Bracers: Epic Jidz-Tet'ka, Slotted with +6 CHA and +4 Resistance
Armor: DT – 10% Amp, 20% Amp, Freezing Ice Guard
Goggles: Epic Raven’s Sight - +2 ex WIS, True Seeing, +4 to-hit, +3 Will Save

[AtomicMew]

Here's what mine wears, I have everything except the claw gloves.

Head: Pirate Hat - +6 Seeker, +15 Concentration
Neck: Shintao or Oremi (stance dependent)
Trinket: Epic Gem of Many Facets (slot GFL)
Cloak: Mabar Cloak - Deathblock, Blur, Invis Guard, etc (specialty GS swaps here)
Belt: Min II - +45 HP, +6 CON skills
Ring (swap): Kyosho or Oremi - +6 WIS (stance dependent) (shocking Burst)
Gloves: Epic Claw for tanking/soloing, otherwise Epic Brawling Gloves
Boots: Madstone
Ring (perm): Ravager - +6 STR, +1 ex STR, (holy burst)
Bracers: Epic Jidz-Tet'ka, Slotted with +6 CHA and +4 Resistance
Armor: DT – 10% Amp, 20% Amp, Freezing Ice Guard
Goggles: Epic Raven’s Sight - +2 ex WIS, True Seeing, +4 to-hit, +3 Will Save

I like this setup very much. I think I'd prefer a min II cloak rather than mabar, coupled with the frenzied berzerker set. With earth stance, I'm not missing the DR from mabar.

[Tobril]

I like this setup very much. I think I'd prefer a min II cloak rather than mabar, coupled with the frenzied berzerker set. With earth stance, I'm not missing the DR from mabar.

Knost's ring is a lie.

People might say they have it, they might link it in chat, but it really doesn't exist. (insert other jaded comments about lack of loot luck)

[Braegan]

Another monks gear list for comparision:

Braegan

Head: Smoke2 +45 hp greensteel
Trinket: Bloodstone
Neck: Oremis/Shintao/Silver Flame Talisman
Cloak: Epic Cape of the Roc, +1 exc Str, +2 exc Str, +4 Resistance Slotted
Belt: Epic Belt of the Mroranon, +7 Str, Hvy Fort, Toughness, GFL Slotted
Rings: Tod rings (Shintao & Ninja Spy atm) Holy Burst & Shocking Burst added
Gloves: Epic Spectral Gloves, +7 Dex
Boots: Madstone
Bracers: Jidtz (one day epic ~ still missing the seal)
Chest: Epic Red Dragonscale Robe, +2 Good Luck Slotted
Goggles: Tharnes'

[Tobril]

Another monks gear list for comparision:

Braegan

Head: Smoke2 +45 hp greensteel
Trinket: Bloodstone
Neck: Oremis/Shintao/Silver Flame Talisman
Cloak: Epic Cape of the Roc, +1 exc Str, +2 exc Str, +4 Resistance Slotted
Belt: Epic Belt of the Mroranon, +7 Str, Hvy Fort, Toughness, GFL Slotted
Rings: Tod rings (Shintao & Ninja Spy atm) Holy Burst & Shocking Burst added
Gloves: Epic Spectral Gloves, +7 Dex
Boots: Madstone
Bracers: Jidtz (one day epic ~ still missing the seal)
Chest: Epic Red Dragonscale Robe, +2 Good Luck Slotted
Goggles: Tharnes'

That's pretty decent.

What did you put in the yellow gloves and colorless robe slot?

[Braegan]

That's pretty decent.

What did you put in the yellow gloves and colorless robe slot?

Currently both blank.

Future planning I was thinking of slotting +1 exc Dex on the gloves to maintain even Dex score when I swap rings around.

And once I redo Silver Flame favor (so not looking forward to it) was gonna slot +6 Cha on the colorless robe to get above 10.

Whenever the loot gods feel my grinding punishment has been enough and gift me with the jidz seal I was going to put +1 excep Con in the colorless. Could do it now on the robe but running low on tokens and don't wanna re-shuffle later.

That will leave me with one yellow slot on bracers when all said and done that I don't know what to put in. Most yellow stuff is covered by being a monk or drinking a pot so I don't know what to slot there.

[Soleran]

Head: Epic Frost Helm (nothing slotted yet)
Trinket: Greater Bold trinket
Neck: Oremis/Shintao/Silver Flame Talisman
Cloak: GS min II
Belt: Knosts Belt
Rings: Tod rings (Shintao & Encrusted) Holy Burst & Shocking Burst added
Gloves: Charged gauntlets (slotted plus 6 dex)
Boots: Madstone
Bracers: Epic Scorched braciers (slotted toughness)
Chest: DT armor (plus 5 resists, salt guard, radiance) or (plus 5 resists, crushing wave, insight 4)
Goggles: Tharnes'

The greater bold trinket will process with epic charged gauntlets for a big bang on a roll of a 20. Also sometimes I'll replace my shintao ring with an oremi ring if the fire damage will land in epics and that has holy burst on it.

The reason for this setup is that I didn't want the aggro from the claw set but wanted enhanced dps in someway so the 3 piece abashi was my answer. It let me switch out my mino's helm since I had a min2 cloak and simply put toughness in a bracier slot so it was a minimal gear transition piece for me. Another option is putting plus 4 saves in my helm slot and wearing garments of equilibrium for more dps.

It took my the longest to acquire the frenzy ring and madstone boots other than that it was just a grind or trade to pick up ingredients I needed to craft. So that was about 60 tower runs for me and 40 reavers, the abashi set took less then 20 runs to make the entire set.

[nolaureltree000]

my general questing docent is +5 resistance/20% healing amp/guard of choice.

EDIT:

forgot about goggles. i use Tharne's Goggles.

[solacerodgers]

lol of couse to much str is never a bad thing but with my base of 14 +2 tome + 7 item, + 1 exc , +2 ship buff , +6 titans grip clicky i can get to 30+ when i need it.

The 2d14 is from 1 step for monk past life and 1 step for jidz in mount stance or if you choose robes of equillebrium = 2d14+str.

Jidz+robe do not stack but i never used the robe past 16 once my DTs unlocked and I live in my epic jidz.

Well void has a finisher its moment of clarity its +5 to just about everything for 10 seconds i believe maybe 5 seconds and clears away anything preventing spell casting i dont use it often just the void VI and III strikes as 1 insta bye bye and the other has a chance to stun and the ki cost is so low and cool down so fast i can pop them off very quick.

[solacerodgers]

Not to steal the OP topic but seems we have a few Tr monks in here I was wondering what are you guys seeing from self heals with what amp?

The most I can get is Monk Improved recovery I,II,III human improved recovery I,II,III, DT I,II,III , Firestance 25%, Finger neck 10%,, ship 10% amp = 225% with a trinket i made in crafting a superior ( think its devotion increases first lvl spells by 50% for clrs ) fists of light finisher does 160 or so to myself and outputs about 80 or so to others with no amp. Cure serious pot about 70ish or so. Just wondering what ppl are getting ( non silverflame pots ) I have enough UMD to use the cure critical? (highest clr scrolls from house k vendor ) but with no clr lvls its still only about 80ish or so I will have to retest. I dont notice the diffrence with human I,II,III and Monk I,II,III so im wondering if they no longer stack?

[Gladiator_206]

lol of couse to much str is never a bad thing but with my base of 14 +2 tome + 7 item, + 1 exc , +2 ship buff , +6 titans grip clicky i can get to 30+ when i need it.

The 2d14 is from 1 step for monk past life and 1 step for jidz in mount stance or if you choose robes of equillebrium = 2d14+str.
Sweet, thats what ill be getting then, I can't wait

Not to steal the OP topic but seems we have a few Tr monks in here I was wondering what are you guys seeing from self heals with what amp?

I dont notice the diffrence with human I,II,III and Monk I,II,III so im wondering if they no longer stack?
Can't really comment on that, as my tr monk is neither Human nor high enough lvl yet to obtain Monk III, but I can attest to healing amp being so very beautiful - even with only Monk I combined with Fire+Jidz's 25% I can allready start to see such an improvement. Wish I could be of more help :s

Look for zee red.

Also, I was wondering, to make Sintao and Stunning fist attacks worth while, what should my starting stats begin to look like? Assuming still Horc as the race. I want to try and be as effective as possible, without sacrificing survivability and hopefully keeping brute force as well.