The monk class

[Varashad]

How difficult is this class to play for someone who is used to playing barbarians and fighters? I like the +2 damage past life thing, and was very much interested in the class. However, I keep reading that to play one well, you have to play it like you're playing a fighting game with tons of button pressing. Is this the case, or is auto attacking with occasional button pushes for certain abilities an option on this class?

[Masadique]

How difficult is this class to play for someone who is used to playing barbarians and fighters? I like the +2 damage past life thing, and was very much interested in the class. However, I keep reading that to play one well, you have to play it like you're playing a fighting game with tons of button pressing. Is this the case, or is auto attacking with occasional button pushes for certain abilities an option on this class?

Play a monk if other melee is so ungodly boring that you can't stand it. If you like auto attacking, monk is not for you.

[sebastianosmith]

...I keep reading that to play one well, you have to play it like you're playing a fighting game with tons of button pressing. Is this the case, or is auto attacking with occasional button pushes for certain abilities an option on this class?

You will need to grow more fingers. And get two keyboards. Probably another mouse too.

Nah, it's not so hard. Hotkey setup is paramount to playing a monk. Once you find the combinations that work for you, finger memory will eventually take over.

[MaxwellEdison]

You will need to grow more fingers. And get two keyboards. Probably another mouse too.

Nah, it's not so hard. Hotkey setup is paramount to playing a monk. Once you find the combinations that work for you, finger memory will eventually take over.

I've managed to add in a trackball for my elbow too. Don't ask, it's complicated.

[sebastianosmith]

I've managed to add in a trackball for my elbow too. Don't ask, it's complicated.

I bet it is...

[Elixxer]

Once you find the combinations that work for you, finger memory will eventually take over.

I always start pressing 1-4 keys even when I am not on my monk. It's bad .

[baronlager]

It does take some time to get used to. Your abilities/moves are impacted by the stance your monk is in. Certain benefits to the stance you take depending on what you are up against. Once you pick the stance for the quest (or certain fight in the quest) you need to use the right hot key set-up; watch your ki generation; learn to appreciate the cool down periods for the specific moves; and learn to know when to use a certain combination, as well as what combination results in what end move. Hardly ever just hitting one button. More likely to be going from stun, to void strike, to something else. It keeps you active for sure. It really just takes some time to get used to. (I ran a barbarian before I tr'd him into a monk. A little confused at first, but now it is second nature.) It is not rocket science, but can be a tiny bit overwhelming at first.

[Shuleagh]

How difficult is this class to play for someone who is used to playing barbarians and fighters? I like the +2 damage past life thing, and was very much interested in the class. However, I keep reading that to play one well, you have to play it like you're playing a fighting game with tons of button pressing. Is this the case, or is auto attacking with occasional button pushes for certain abilities an option on this class?

People on the forums like to exaggerate. Monks aren't significantly harder than playing a barb or fighter. Monks have a lot of OPTIONS but when fighting anything there is usually only one or two good ones. Expect to use about 1-5 buttons frequently ( Every 1-2 seconds ). You'll use more on occasion, but those would be to keep up buffs and not something you need to mash for dps.

[Pikaia]

First, you will need to find a secluded meadow, a sunny hill or a grassy knoll (watch for snipers) upon which to meditate your choices grasshopper --> when a butterfly lands on your knee, speak to it with through the breaths of your eyes and it will summon a great eagle, which will then...

Seriously, monks are fun to play and not at all that diffucult to adjust playstyle. I tr'd my kensai khop fighter into a pure monk and the transition was easy and very fun. I tr'd him into a kensai monk (also fun to play) and I'm about to tr again (monkish build ofc)

Using hotkeys for attacks and a mouse with buttons on the side help alot; it's easy to learn the combos for attacks, takes a little time but not as hard as oh say...grinding 5 lds

BTW the 1st level passive past life monk feat gives you +1 to dmg rolls not +2, the 3rd level feat increase your unarmed damage by one step higher than normal on the unarmed combat chart and gives you +2 to concentration and you can enter an evasive trance once per rest (you enter evasion for a short time) - this last ability is so UBER and OP - I never use it on my tr'd monk since you get evasion at level 2 (though I do take the feat for the dmg).

Long story short - do it! take the plunge I think you'll enjoy a monk life.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post, especially the first paragraph, in no way reflect the well-rested and non-caffeine hyped opionions of the poster when said poster has not been playing too much ddo. Poster is not responsible for the experiences of players who do not like playing monk builds or for those who are currently attempting to breathe through their eyes to communicate with butterflies.

[Pikaia]

As previously stated above and edited for grammar:

BTW the 1st level passive past-life monk feat gives you +1 to dmg rolls not +2, the 3rd level feat increases your unarmed damage by one step higher than normal on the unarmed combat chart and gives you +2 to concentration and you can enter an evasive trance once per rest (you enter evasion for a short time) - this last ability is so UBER and OP - I never use it on my tr'd monk since you get evasion at level 2 (though I do take the feat for the dmg).

[Arvess]

You don't HAVE to button mash. Some builds benefit more than others but if your intention is to pick up a past life feat, I wouldn't sweat it. Monks rock through early and mid level quests and are relatively easy to gear...especially if you are not doing epics.

[Battery]

Monks aren't hard to play. It takes a little practice to learn how to set up finishers correctly but that's about it. You'll be pressing more buttons than on a barb or fighter for sure but it's not that difficult. you'll love the speed though and the survivability, in fact I'm so addicted to that stuff that I can hardly play any other class anymore.

[Varashad]

Mostly I'm hesitant to drop the 995(or is it 895?) TP on a class I might despise playing. It sounds like a fun class and it looks fun, I just don't like hitting a ton of buttons. I heard that on Lammania everything costs 1 TP but only works on that server. Could I go there and play around with Monk, or do I have to wait until Turbine decides to go activate U12?

[Zachski]

Mostly I'm hesitant to drop the 995(or is it 895?) TP on a class I might despise playing. It sounds like a fun class and it looks fun, I just don't like hitting a ton of buttons. I heard that on Lammania everything costs 1 TP but only works on that server. Could I go there and play around with Monk, or do I have to wait until Turbine decides to go activate U12?

I think they've got it active for U11.1

Honestly, it's a lot like playing a caster except in melee. And you don't actually have to use all of your abilities, you can use some of them if you wish.

Light Monk Finishers aren't really useful outside of parties, and even then the Water-Light-Water is the more useful of your options as long as you're partying with casters.

Dark Monk Finishers are rarely useful, aside from the one that increases the negative damage that enemies take. But considering that requires Dark-Dark-Dark, it'll be awhile before you meet an enemy that lives long enough to take that much damage.

Neutral Monk finishers aren't that useful until you get your second tier of elements from taking Adept of <Element>. And even then they're best used sparingly.

You'll actually be using your elemental strikes for their damage moreso than anything. It's not as complex as it seems.

I would definitely recommend getting it. You get so much from Monk that it actually feels rewarding to level it up. Instead of Fighter where all you get is some boring BAB and passive boosts to damage, you get new feats or updated feats almost every level, and they always seem to benefit you.

[Battery]

Dark Monk Finishers are rarely useful, aside from the one that increases the negative damage that enemies take. But considering that requires Dark-Dark-Dark, it'll be awhile before you meet an enemy that lives long enough to take that much damage.

I pretty much only use it in epics, really only use earth finisher and occasionally shining star anywhere else.

And yes you could try it out right now on lamma

[voodoogroves]

I think they've got it active for U11.1

Honestly, it's a lot like playing a caster except in melee. And you don't actually have to use all of your abilities, you can use some of them if you wish.

Light Monk Finishers aren't really useful outside of parties, and even then the Water-Light-Water is the more useful of your options as long as you're partying with casters.

Dark Monk Finishers are rarely useful, aside from the one that increases the negative damage that enemies take. But considering that requires Dark-Dark-Dark, it'll be awhile before you meet an enemy that lives long enough to take that much damage.

Neutral Monk finishers aren't that useful until you get your second tier of elements from taking Adept of <Element>. And even then they're best used sparingly.

You'll actually be using your elemental strikes for their damage moreso than anything. It's not as complex as it seems.

I would definitely recommend getting it. You get so much from Monk that it actually feels rewarding to level it up. Instead of Fighter where all you get is some boring BAB and passive boosts to damage, you get new feats or updated feats almost every level, and they always seem to benefit you.

I think you're seriously under-estimating the finishers.

Monk can be as active as you want OP, and you'll probably start with a few limited cycles and then expand as you get better at cycling them. One handy trick for newer players is to figure out for the encounter ahead what your most common strikes will be, then remap those to the same limited keys but keep your generic finisher. You can do that and (for instance) set up a portal-set for Shroud pt 1, then when you get to pt4/5 switch to a boss set. You can have a set you use in epics, etc.

[Zachski]

There's only three things that can interrupt a ki chain.

1. Another elemental ki attack (I think Void is included in this)
2. Waiting too long (which is longer than you'd think)
3. Interacting with an object (which will be your most frequent interruptions - fixed by having others interact with objects)

[OliviaCrowley]

I'm doing my best to figure out enhancements for my human light monk, but it's a nightmare at times. Do I take both Shintao 3 and Void 4? I can do it, but at a loss of 1 Wis from enhancements, some extra HP, and I wanted GM Wind stance but can't fit it. Taking all of the extra stances is such a hog when it comes to AP!

I was also wondering if human versatility was worthwhile on a monk? Given the high attack rate, maxing that out for the bonus damage could be handy. Of course, I can't fit it all with Void 4.

[elg582]

I'm doing my best to figure out enhancements for my human light monk, but it's a nightmare at times. Do I take both Shintao 3 and Void 4?

I wouldn't, but many people swear by void4.

I can do it, but at a loss of 1 Wis from enhancements, some extra HP, and I wanted GM Wind stance but can't fit it. Taking all of the extra stances is such a hog when it comes to AP!

Skip GM wind; wind3 is fine, since you should be running in earth most of the time.

I was also wondering if human versatility was worthwhile on a monk? Given the high attack rate, maxing that out for the bonus damage could be handy. Of course, I can't fit it all with Void 4.

It is worth it; skip wind4 and WIS, and get void4, earth4, most of the HP (you can skip tortoise 3 & 4), and the 1 WIS could go either way.

[Consumer]

I'd like to point out that anyone who thinks Barbarians are simply auto attack and done need to reroll.