Monk with splash of Ranger

[Gerril]

I'm thinking of trying out a Monk with a couple of levels of Ranger. The favored enemy, proficiencies, and extra feats at level 2 Ranger are handy but I wanted to make sure that Rangers are able to use divine wands and scrolls even though they don't get their own spells until level 4.

I almost exclusively solo so I just want to see if this is even remotely viable. The truth is I am going to go crazy not being able to unlock doors and chests and other roguey stuff, but I think Monks are very cool and I want to build it as much as possible.

If it's a bad idea then I'll probably switch to a Ranger/Monk/Rogue build but I really want to level the monk as much as possible.

[erikbozelie]

6 levels ranger was the strongest dip multiclass for dps before the update. not sure how its now.
but with recent changed to the earth stance it might be better to stick to pure monk.

if you want to melee unarmed and have ranger fluff, to for the exploiter build. cant go wrong there.

[Gerril]

Thanks for the reply.

[Snarglefrump]

I play a Monk 12 / Ranger 6 / Rogue 2, and it's awesome. I highly recommend it if you like the active playstyle of a monk. There are many different things you can do with that level split, depending on which feats you take and where you put your ability points. Getting the maximum potential out of it requires some planning.

Rangers can use divine scrolls and wands that are on the Ranger spell list.

I took Rogue as my first level, put 4 ranks in Open Lock, and have yet to meet a lock I can't open. You have to keep up on your gear though.

I also squeezed in max ranks in Disable Device, Search, and Use Magic Device. That requires some planning, though. The extra skill points from the Ranger levels and counting Search as a class skill helps.

I should really write up my build some time.

[slimkj]

A Rgr1 splash is a fine thing on a monk for levelling with wands and sprint boost.

[thouston]

I play a Monk 12 / Ranger 6 / Rogue 2, and it's awesome. I highly recommend it if you like the active playstyle of a monk.

8<----------------- edited for brevity ----------------->8

I should really write up my build some time.

please do. i have a monk that needs to tr and i would love to see the build

[unbongwah]

I'm not a fan of splashing monks; either stay pure for capstone or go for a deep multiclass, IMHO. Monkchers like monk 12 / rgr 6 / ftr or arty 2 is an obvious example.

[FuzzyDuck81]

I'd have to second Unbongwah here.... the 10/epic DR at 20th & the monk capstone (stackig +2 wisdom & +1 passive ki gen) are hugely beneficial, trading off for relatively minor benefits of a splash IMO aren't worth it, unless you're going for a deep splash & that's often for a 12/6/2 or 12/7/1 type build (such as the monk archer, or a monk/stalwart defender, or a monk/DoS).

If you have them, i'd recommend making a half elf monk instead & take the cleric dilly, you'll get a load of nice scroll & wand use out of it & have healing amp thats second only to a human monk (with the combination of benefits from staying pure & ability to use Heal scrolls from level 15ish) - they've got great survivability & speed

[slimkj]

Whilst I would agree with unbongwah and FuzzyDuck81 in principle, I have played both pure and shallow-splashed Monks at cap and both are viable. They just offer different things. My recommendation, as ever, is to be greedy and have one of each!

Giving up 10DR and the passive Ki gen, +2 Wis, etc. is tough, but you can splash a number of different things for some lovely benefits.

For example, as someone who loves run speed - Monk18/1x/1Rgr, with Shadow Fade (Empty Body? Always forget the name...) and Sprint Boost is just beautiful.

[fco-karatekid]

I play a Monk 12 / Ranger 6 / Rogue 2, and it's awesome. I highly recommend it if you like the active playstyle of a monk. There are many different things you can do with that level split, depending on which feats you take and where you put your ability points. Getting the maximum potential out of it requires some planning.

Rangers can use divine scrolls and wands that are on the Ranger spell list.

I took Rogue as my first level, put 4 ranks in Open Lock, and have yet to meet a lock I can't open. You have to keep up on your gear though.

I also squeezed in max ranks in Disable Device, Search, and Use Magic Device. That requires some planning, though. The extra skill points from the Ranger levels and counting Search as a class skill helps.

I should really write up my build some time.

I did a Ranger 6 Tempest Splash to rest Monk... I love her... BUT adding 2 levels of rogue LIKELY woulda made me love her more if for no other reason but the rogue class skills... then again, I'd have lost Monks 13 and 14, so cannot say for certain if that woulda ticked me off .

IMHO you will really enjoy either.

EDIT: BTW, I love my pure monk, too - but they are totally different and I use them for varying quests (play to each's strengths).

[Snarglefrump]

please do. i have a monk that needs to tr and i would love to see the build

I'll try to post my build sometime this week.

[MaxwellEdison]

I did a Ranger 6 Tempest Splash to rest Monk... I love her... BUT adding 2 levels of rogue LIKELY woulda made me love her more if for no other reason but the rogue class skills... then again, I'd have lost Monks 13 and 14, so cannot say for certain if that woulda ticked me off .

IMHO you will really enjoy either.

EDIT: BTW, I love my pure monk, too - but they are totally different and I use them for varying quests (play to each's strengths).

Monk 13 and 14 don't give much over 12, the big thing is increased spell resistance. Deep multi's have their place, but I do agree the only acceptable thing to splash with monk is a level or two of monk.