Legend: Untouchable Monk Build (AC 80)

[redspecter23]

Guards can be great on a monk, but they are obviously better if you're getting hit more. In non epic quests, I would make them more of a minor bonus and not build specifically for them, but if I can fit them in, all the better. In epic, you'll be getting hit nearly as much as any other melee toon so they will be of more use there.* It all comes down to what slot you have it in and if there is anything better for your situation for that particular slot.

*Depending on how you play your monk in epic, you might not get hit all that often even if AC is a non issue. Shadow fade for starters will put you at a 50% miss chance. Skillfully played monks avoid initial aggro and instead pick off targets with stuns, light monk instakill/stun, quivering palm or just a burst of damage from a well timed ToD. Even the best played monks will be getting hit in epics, but the point is that a barbarian will still likely be getting hit more, given equal levels of gearing and playskill.

[sephiroth1084]

Yup, I'll agree with you, that is the problem. I went out of my way to make it less of an issue on that build. 3 fighter lives were quite a grind, but I have many gearswaps I can make to get more +hit if needed. Warpriest tod set helps out with a +4. +4 attack crafted item adds another 2 to that, or tharnes in a non aggro situation for +5. It is definitely the weak point of the character, but for me the tradeoff was worth it.

Yes... the +to-hit is very worrisome....

However, that aside... I completely forgot the +2 on capstone. Didnt put that on my count. So that nets me +1 ac. =P

Except that anyone else could have quite a bit more to-hit than you guys do (spit-balling 3-8 higher, but could be more than that). Meanwhile, your DCs are only up by 3-4 points, and it doesn't matter how good your DC is if you're missing a lot. Given that I see Str-based monk builds going around that are also using the Raven's Claw set for the to-hit bonus, that should really emphasize to you how far behind you are on your to-hit.

At the very least, leveling points should be going into Dex, with a slightly higher starting score there, and racial bonuses to pump it even more before making sure to have the option of stepping into Ultimate Wind Stance for another +2 to-hit with Weapon Finesse. The problem with Wis-based builds and with Water Stance is that you're not improving your ability to land attacks at all with either of them, and that neither are even improving your DPS.

[redspecter23]

The to hit isn't really that far off. I'm at 16 starting str, which should be similar to a str build so thats even. 5 points into level ups, is made up for by 3 fighter past lives (which admittedly is an extreme grind). Where exactly is a first life str based monk getting the extra str points that get it so much further ahead?

Like I said, in situations where to hit is an issue, there is plenty of gear that can be swapped in to more than make up for any problems. The main areas where your hit is an problem is in epics where you can skip any ac gear in favor of hit gear. Fabricator set, Shintao set, Warpriest set and +4 attack goggles can all swap in if needed for up to +10. I don't personally run the raven set, but that is a very good option as well. I run unbalancing strike and eagle claw strike as well as improved destruction weapons for particularly difficult bosses and those abilities also help the party as well. With proper gear swaps, hit is only an issue if you let it be an issue. As long as you know how much you need and for what mobs, you'll do fine.

Anyway, I think I'm straying a bit off topic from the OP. I was originally suggesting ways to up his ac even higher if he were to want a few more points. The obvious downside is having lower hit scores. I was just saying that for me, the lower hit scores haven't been an issue as I have other ways of making up for not having 5 level ups in strength or being in fire stance the majority of the time.

[sephiroth1084]

Unless I'm totally blind, I didn't see you posting any starting stats anywhere, so I was commenting off of the OP's starting 12 Str, and assuming he was going to be using his much higher Dex for to-hit along with Weapon Finesse.

Str-based monk
16 starting
5 lvls
3 tome
3 Abishai
2 ship
2 rage
2 yugo
7 item
4 sun stance IV
____
44 (+17)

To-hit
20 BAB
17 Str
5 weapon
4 Raven set
4 GH
-5 PA or CE
_____
45

Buffs can get that up to about 60, maybe, which isn't quite high enough for Epic DA bosses, Epic Abishai Devastator, Lord of Blades and a few other fights. Admittedly, AC is only marginally useful in a couple of these fights, but this is looking like quite a bit of to-hit focus. I see a lot of monks picking up a fighter life or two on top of the above in order to get their attack bonus up, not using the fighter lives as a way to skimp on that.

Now, I'm not assuming any SA to-hit, because if you're building your monk for AC at endgame, you probably are going to want to be the focus of attention for at least some of these guys, and therefore won't have it. Mind that for at least Turgilon, his to-hit isn't so high that AC is out of the question if you work with the party to apply a couple debuffs as well.