Monk: Human or Halfling?

[AStormbringer]

I don't currently have access to Half-elf so am trying to choose between a human or Halfling monk...hoping to get some feedback on the merits of each. A bit about my play style:

32 point build
Will use a stat tome if needed
From what I've already read, I plan to try a Dark monk
I solo 90% of the time, almost always on Normal difficulty, at most 1 level above Normal.
Raiding/ Epic content will be rare at best..just doesn't fit my play schedule...also means I don't pursue epic gear.

Thanks in advance for any insights on which race suits me best.

[Whesper]

I would definitely go with human. Racial healing amp * monk healing amp is very very nice. The extra feat is always nice and the human adaptability means you can get some more wisdom. Human versatility damage boost for those times when you have to absolutely positively kill something NOW.

Now to mention halflings get that 1/4 penalty to carrying capacity which means strength damage can make you uncentered a bit faster.

So there you have it, go with human.

[Carpone]

I would definitely go with human. Racial healing amp * monk healing amp is very very nice. The extra feat is always nice and the human adaptability means you can get some more wisdom. Human versatility damage boost for those times when you have to absolutely positively kill something NOW.

Now to mention halflings get that 1/4 penalty to carrying capacity which means strength damage can make you uncentered a bit faster.

So there you have it, go with human.

Nailed it. Human >>>> Halfling by far.

[DarkForte]

If you can get a +3 dex tome, there's zero advantage to being halfling, since you can qualify for wind IV stance and for GTWF with base 15 dex, which is easy to do even on human. Guile, though good doesn't compare to damage boost.

[TeacherSyn]

Being human does have obvious advantages for soloing. Human+Monk Improved Recovery, no disadvantages to abilities and an extra feat make them the best overall race for many classes.

Being a Dark Monk does not favor an easy soloing character, however. You'll find it hard to "pure solo" (no healbot hirelings) without considering options:

>Invest in stealth skills. A Dark Monk with Ninja Spy enhancements can become invisible with ki, regenerate ki while stealthed and are designed to move throughout the game without most foes ever knowing you're there. From here, sneak to objectives, fight the essentials, use Wholeness of Body to restore your HP as needed every two minutes, and continue. Most DDO quests are "kill or be killed" mobfests, with few single-target objectives where stealth is a valid option, however. There are a few exceptions, like "Blockade Buster," where I've enjoyed blowing all the ships up without anyone knowing I was onboard.

>Somehow work in UMD for better self-heal options. I don't go for this cross-class skill myself as I encourage new Monk players to use their inherent skills to fully utilize what Monks can do and not cause serious compromises in the build later. Others have done so and may have something to say in its defense. Monks get few skill points, so it's important to invest them in Concentration, some in Hide/Move Silently, Balance and Jump. You can be flexible here, but to use UMD may also mean you must invest in CHA to make it happen--an otherwise little-used stat for Monks (save two late-game abilities) that take away from your damage or defense.

>Going Half-Elf might be a better compromise. You don't get the extra feat as Human, but you gain Half-Elf Improved Recovery I/II (there is no "3") and can add a dilettante that can aid in UMD/casting ability for using scrolls/wands for many needs as a Dark Monk. I have a Dark Monk halfling that I will likely take down this route to help in this very area.

>Go Light Monk instead. You give up Touch of Death but you gain (though Shintao Monk enhancements) DR bypass for almost everything, and far greater self-healing.

That said, a Dark Monk Ninja is an ideal toon in the depths of the Underdark, the Vale or even Sharavath when well equipped and trained. Dark Monk finishers, however, require timing to make the most of them for damage. It's not a matter of spamming them as Light Monks can do their buffing finishers.

[Meriadeuc]

Halflings do have one advantage for dark monks specifically: dragonmarks of healing. If you get all three of them and invest some AP in extra uses, they can be a highly effective self-healing option, which is the weak point for dark monks. If you have items (such as the epic Chimera's Crown) that give you extra dragonmark uses, it's even better.

[dpadan17]

If it's dark monk then I would suggest half elf with a cleric dilly. Hjealing is nice with tod and many dark monk fun stuff.

If light then human.

Half elf gets the same fun stuff as human but only one less feat and if you were thinking halfling then half elf should work out great

My dark monk is this half elf dark monk cleric dilly and I absolutely love it!!! Makes soloing easier.

[Zachski]

If it's dark monk then I would suggest half elf with a cleric dilly.

*snip*

Half elf gets the same fun stuff as human but only one less feat and if you were thinking halfling then half elf should work out great

My dark monk is this half elf dark monk cleric dilly and I absolutely love it!!! Makes soloing easier.

Uh...

did you miss the part where TC said he/she doesn't have access to half-elf?

[Uska]

I would say since you don't have half-elf go human and light monk

Khandikane has been a monk 3 times. and nearly 50% monk for 2 other lives.

[Therigar]

IMO if you go with a WIS based monk it really doesn't matter what race you choose or if you go light or dark path.

I currently run a light path halfling monk that is sitting at L25 and deals with every bit of content he's ever been in just fine. Healing amp is good but I think a bit overplayed on the forums.

Most larger groups are going to include fighters, barbarians, etc. And those are ultimately going to have 50% or more of the monk's HP. Clerics and Favored Souls are going to be using the cure/heal spells that fill up those health bars. That is going to be like trying to fit 10 gallons into a 6 gallon container, it is a lot more than you can hold. Monk healing amp by itself is going to be sufficient -- at least that is my experience.

Epic feats are IMA and Vorpal Strike. Recently people have scoffed at VS, but I find it procs quite often on trash -- which is where you want it to work. This means you are working with 10 or 11 heroic level feats.

The no-brainer ones are TWF, ITWF, GTWF. IMO Dodge, Mobility and Spring Attack are also no brainers. Toughness is probably a given as well. That leaves room for dragonmarks whether human or halfling. I don't know if that is the best choice, but it is possible.

I personally like Precision and I feel Stunning Blow is a must have as well. So, in my case, I would not even begin to fit in the dragon marks. But it is there if you wanted it. And, I suppose I could see surrendering some of the dodge line if a character had other sources of dodge available.

FWIW, I like dodge. I sit near 20% and with Shadowdancer active can hit 25%. Of course, that is at L25.

In any case, IMO the choice of human for healing amp is oversold. Either halfling or human (or, honestly, any other race that suits your fancy) works just fine.

[WruntJunior]

Healing amp is good but I think a bit overplayed on the forums.

The healing amp ties in very well with half-elf, though...I feel healing amp's biggest benefit is for self-healing, and healing amp + heal scrolls = nice.

That said, the only monk I play a lot lately is only 12 levels of monk due to being a monkcher, and all but required to be half-elf...but if I didn't have half-elf, I would go human for monk - it's just a better race than halfling (in part because at low levels, ray of exhaustion can be more annoying on a halfling monk if you don't sell enough).

Edit: I like dark monk, btw, because of shadow fade...but if you're human, light monk is probably better for the self-healing.

[Lonnbeimnech]

I never had self healing problems on a human dark monk. Tho I had vampiric stonedust wraps before I ever made a monk.
In fire stance you can get to 200% heal amp by the time you can put them on, gain 2 hp per punch and you wont be drinking pots often.