Monk newbie looking for advice/critique

[Alyiakal]

I've always wanted to build a monk, but from my perusals of this forum, I've found a staggering amount of information on all varieties of monk builds, and it can be a bit difficult to separate out what is relevant at times. I've tried to build a monk before, but I've always gotten caught up in the fact that monks can do so many different things (and that they truly suffer from MAD while doing so).

I wanted to get some advice from the experts in the field here before I go off and waste resources attempting to build a monk and finding that it's not viable.

The build I dreamed up is below. Basically, I want a Shintao Monk (seems cheaper to equip) with functional stunning capabilities, as well as the entire Void line, because it looks shiny. Main questions are...

-Is stunning still a viable thing to build towards after the autocrit removal? If so, are my DCs ok with what I've done so far?
-Is Ki a major problem, and should I be using fire stance? If not, should I ditch the highest tier of fire stance (my understanding is that Wind Stance is most attractive due to the doublestrike chances)?
-Am I going to deal at least viable damage? (doesn't need to be top tier, but should at least be functional and not a waste of a DPS slot)

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.09.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Neutral Half-Elf Female
(20 Monk) 
Hit Points: 314
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 16
Will: 15

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    24
Dexterity            16                    18
Constitution         14                    16
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom               14                    16
Charisma              8                     8

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 Wisdom used at level 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               6                    27
Bluff                -1                    -1
Concentration         6                    40
Diplomacy            -1                    -1
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -1                    -1
Heal                  2                     3
Hide                  3                     4
Intimidate           -1                    -1
Jump                  3                     9
Listen                2                     3
Move Silently         3                     4
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                    -1
Search               -1                    -1
Spot                  2                     3
Swim                  3                     7
Tumble                4                     5
Use Magic Device      1                    10

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Half-Elf Dilettante) Half-Elf Dilettante: Fighter
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Power Attack


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


Level 4 (Monk)


Level 5 (Monk)


Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Blow
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Stunning Fist


Level 7 (Monk)


Level 8 (Monk)


Level 9 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting


Level 10 (Monk)


Level 11 (Monk)


Level 12 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons


Level 13 (Monk)


Level 14 (Monk)


Level 15 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 16 (Monk)


Level 17 (Monk)


Level 18 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 19 (Monk)


Level 20 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Serenity
Enhancement: Half-Elf Strategy (Stunning Blow) I
Enhancement: Half-Elf Strategy (Stunning Blow) II
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Human Versatility II
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortoise I
Enhancement: Way of the Patient Tortoise II
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery III
Enhancement: Shintao Monk I
Enhancement: Shintao Monk II
Enhancement: Shintao Monk III
Enhancement: Void Strike I
Enhancement: Void Strike II
Enhancement: Void Strike III
Enhancement: Void Strike IV
Enhancement: Adept of Wind
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Storms
Enhancement: Master of Thunder
Enhancement: Adept of Rock
Enhancement: Master of Stone
Enhancement: Adept of Flame
Enhancement: Grandmaster of the Sun
Enhancement: Master of Bonfires
Enhancement: Adept of Rain
Enhancement: Master of the Sea
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Improved Concentration I
Enhancement: Improved Concentration II
Enhancement: Improved Jump I
Enhancement: Improved Jump II

[AZ1JoeT]

-Is stunning still a viable thing to build towards after the autocrit removal? If so, are my DCs ok with what I've done so far?

Stunning is still very viable. It's no longer auto-death, and the "trolley bell" sound makes my molars hurt... but it still works. You put all level-ups into strength and took no wisdom enhancements. That will cost you 4 to your DC on stunning fist. I've not used stunning blow with a monk, so I cannot comment there. Your DC will be higher on it, I believe, and its cooldown takes twice as long as stunning fist (again, I think).


-Is Ki a major problem, and should I be using fire stance? If not, should I ditch the highest tier of fire stance (my understanding is that Wind Stance is most attractive due to the doublestrike chances)?

Wind stance does more damage. Fire stance brings you more Ki. It's about balance and management. I switch back and forth if I need to. I usually only take two tiers of fire, but that is because I am more a WIS/DEX build.


-Am I going to deal at least viable damage? (doesn't need to be top tier, but should at least be functional and not a waste of a DPS slot)

Your strength is higher than any monk I've run and I feel I do very good damage. It will depend on your gear and maximizing your selected handwraps vs the monster you are fighting.

[Kinerd]

I have a light monk with Stunning Blow and Stunning Fist. I don't remember exactly, but he had similar starting stats to yours. Both maneuvers are effective when targeted appropriately, and he doesn't have fighter dilettante.

I'm sure his DPS is quite low for a melee because most of the time he runs around with Stunning handwraps and focuses on stunning/FoL over DPS strikes. Monk DPS, especially light monk DPS, is strongly biased towards endgame - ToD rings, uber handwraps, top tier stances, and so on. With all that said, you are going to want a DPS mode for your monk before you can get all that stuff, and it just won't be as good as straight DPS classes. You have GTWF and good Strength, though, so I'm quite confident it will be viable.

[MaxwellEdison]

It's a solid enough build. As this is your first monk, don't be afraid to play around with your enhancements to find something that will mesh more with your playstyle. Use this build as a learning excercise in what you want your monk to be. Then you can come back with a build for your TR and we can do it all over again!