New to monk...some advice.

[RavenStormclaw]

So I TRd my Druid into a light monk. Liking it so far. One question what's the best stat to put level ups in. My breakdown is as follows: str 14, dex 16, con 14, wis 16, intel 10. She ate a +5 supreme tome just before I TRd. I solo a lot but group when ever I can. Any tips are welcome.

[Munkenmo]

too much dex.
Aim for only enough dex to easily qualify for GTWF (tomes count towards qualifying.)

I'm assuming your Human and only have 34 pts to work towards.

Stats
str : 16 +2 levels (before 21)
dex : 14
con : 15
int : 8
wis : 16 + rest of your levels
cha : 8

These days I'll always advocate just enough str to qualify for Overwhelming critical, then focus on wisdom for my stunning fist / quivering palm / unbalancing strike DC's.

I also don't really like pure much now, as I find getting the capstones underwhelming. There's strong arguments to be made for 18monk/2fighter, or 16monk/2fighter/2 (druid,fvs,rogue or paladin)

My preference would be a 16/2fighter/2druid

[TeacherSyn]

So I TRd my Druid into a light monk. Liking it so far. One question what's the best stat to put level ups in. My breakdown is as follows: str 14, dex 16, con 14, wis 16, intel 10. She ate a +5 supreme tome just before I TRd. I solo a lot but group when ever I can. Any tips are welcome.

If you are VERY new to Monks, I don't recommend multiclassing unless you're experienced in how that would affect a Monk's viability. While ftdOmen surely knows more about blending than I do, it might be better to enjoy the class with what it provides versus picking and choosing with damage in mind.

I'd agree a bit in that, given that you have a +5 universal tome, you needn't put a lot into DEX except for a bit more AC and Reflex saves (always a good thing). The Shintao Monk is more fitted for a tanker, so STR and CON are good early on but do add significantly to WIS. By level 20, you should have 36-38 there unbuffed to make things work for Epic quests. If you need any fundamental advice on Monks, check out my guide (see the signature) but do keep asking since your past life experience can really help boost some damage and defense on your character, and, as I said, there is benefit to multiclassing but not at the expense of losing knowledge in playing the class pure, first.

[ArcaneArcher52689]

If you are VERY new to Monks, I don't recommend multiclassing unless you're experienced in how that would affect a Monk's viability. While ftdOmen surely knows more about blending than I do, it might be better to enjoy the class with what it provides versus picking and choosing with damage in mind.

I'd agree a bit in that, given that you have a +5 universal tome, you needn't put a lot into DEX except for a bit more AC and Reflex saves (always a good thing). The Shintao Monk is more fitted for a tanker, so STR and CON are good early on but do add significantly to WIS. By level 20, you should have 36-38 there unbuffed to make things work for Epic quests. If you need any fundamental advice on Monks, check out my guide (see the signature) but do keep asking since your past life experience can really help boost some damage and defense on your character, and, as I said, there is benefit to multiclassing but not at the expense of losing knowledge in playing the class pure, first.

This, monks are one of the few classes that still has significant pure advantages

If you ate a +5 supreme, i suggest attempting to "live the dream" aka, have overwhelming critical and vorpal strikes on a str/wis based light monk.

So, stats (assuming a 34pt human w/ +5 tomes)
base
16- rest of level ups
15
15
8
15- 3 level ups
8

So, @20, stats should look like
23
20
20
13
23
13

feat/feat order(assuming human)
1- twf, stun fist, toughness
2- power attack
3- cleave, fist of light
6- great cleave, improved sunder
9- itwf
12-IC: Blunt
15-GTWF
18- Choice, dodge?
21- Vorpal strikes
24- Overwhelming critical

If you're not human, skip toughness

Others might disagree on the order there, but unless your base damage is >100, Vorpal strikes gives you more damage and more utility if you take it first

[RavenStormclaw]

If you are VERY new to Monks, I don't recommend multiclassing unless you're experienced in how that would affect a Monk's viability. While ftdOmen surely knows more about blending than I do, it might be better to enjoy the class with what it provides versus picking and choosing with damage in mind.

I'd agree a bit in that, given that you have a +5 universal tome, you needn't put a lot into DEX except for a bit more AC and Reflex saves (always a good thing). The Shintao Monk is more fitted for a tanker, so STR and CON are good early on but do add significantly to WIS. By level 20, you should have 36-38 there unbuffed to make things work for Epic quests. If you need any fundamental advice on Monks, check out my guide (see the signature) but do keep asking since your past life experience can really help boost some damage and defense on your character, and, as I said, there is benefit to multiclassing but not at the expense of losing knowledge in playing the class pure, first.

i did read your guide..it was really good and the inspiration for trying monk.

[RavenStormclaw]

This, monks are one of the few classes that still has significant pure advantages

If you ate a +5 supreme, i suggest attempting to "live the dream" aka, have overwhelming critical and vorpal strikes on a str/wis based light monk.

So, stats (assuming a 34pt human w/ +5 tomes)
base
16- rest of level ups
15
15
8
15- 3 level ups
8

So, @20, stats should look like
23
20
20
13
23
13

feat/feat order(assuming human)
1- twf, stun fist, toughness
2- power attack
3- cleave, fist of light
6- great cleave, improved sunder
9- itwf
12-IC: Blunt
15-GTWF
18- Choice, dodge?
21- Vorpal strikes
24- Overwhelming critical

If you're not human, skip toughness

Others might disagree on the order there, but unless your base damage is >100, Vorpal strikes gives you more damage and more utility if you take it first

thanks. I actually went half elf because I thought the cleric Dili would work nicely. It is 34 point build. I can see that I will have to do a LR to change my dex a bit.

[ArcaneArcher52689]

thanks. I actually went half elf because I thought the cleric Dili would work nicely. It is 34 point build. I can see that I will have to do a LR to change my dex a bit.

half elf is fine, drop toughness. It's boost at early levels is long gone, I included it more out of habit than anything else.

As for gear, look for decent stunning wraps.

[RedHost]

thanks. I actually went half elf because I thought the cleric Dili would work nicely. It is 34 point build. I can see that I will have to do a LR to change my dex a bit.

I really liked my Half Elf Monk before the Enhancement Trees. Now, however, getting the enhancements to make the dilettante auto-grant actually worth while takes too much away from much more important enhancements. :-/ Will be TRing almost all of my Half Elves as soon as Mabar is over (or before if they really did remove the +6 tomes) because of this. You may want to plot out your AP usage before you LR. If you find that you don't have the 17 points to dump into being able to use Heal and Raise Scrolls you may want to switch that to something that is actually useful without so many AP spent, such as Rogue Dili. Really, using either Rejuvenation Cocoon or Healing Stream works a lot better than trying to scroll heal any more anyways, especially without W&S Mastery.

As others have mentioned before, your Dexterity is not that important. Wisdom should be your main focus, with just enough Strength to pick up Overwhelming Critical. For a pure monk especially, you should be getting every point of WIS you possibly can, in order to achieve viable Stunning Fist and Quivering Palms DCs.

[Munkenmo]

Seems like people are pushing strongly towards pure still.

I'll point out the differences between a 16/2/2 and a pure.

16/2fighter/2druid
- 2 more feats (though only 1 if you still pick grandmaster of forms)
- can select empower heal
- rams might
- vengeful hunter.

Pure
+5% movement speed
+.5[w]
Empty body (ki activated shadow walk)
Shining Star
Free Grandmaster feat
Free featherfalling
+3 ac bonus
Perfect self - 10 dr / epic.


Perfect self is about the only thing still worth staying pure for imo. But with rejuv cucoon as a twist now, I'd much rather qualify for empower heal. There's even less differences between 16 and 18monk, thus the second 2 level split.

The split I'd take + feats. There's a couple of choices there that only really make sense for EE gameplay. If you don't like deflect arrows, take doge at level 6, then pick up mobility at 14, empower heal at 15, grandmaster of forms at 18.

str : 16 +2 levels (before 21)
dex : 14
con : 15
int : 8
wis : 16 + rest of your levels
cha : 8

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave
Feat: (Half-Elf Dilettante)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Power Attack

Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting

Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Fist

Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Deflect Arrows
Feat: (Selected) Great Cleave

Level 7 (Druid)

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

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

Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Dodge

Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Selected) Mobility

Level 18 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Heal

21- Vorpal strikes
24- Overwhelming critical

[RavenStormclaw]

So..I have an unused golden guile sitting around and it seems improved deception procures quite often on another toon I've got one on. Would it be worth it to switch to rogue dilli since between it and ninja spy I could get a total of 6d6 sneak damage or is the ap expenditure to get the improved cleric Dili worth the ap?

[Munkenmo]

So..I have an unused golden guile sitting around and it seems improved deception procures quite often on another toon I've got one on. Would it be worth it to switch to rogue dilli since between it and ninja spy I could get a total of 6d6 sneak damage or is the ap expenditure to get the improved cleric Dili worth the ap?

I'm a big fan of the rogue dil, but i've got a significant amount of past lives and can umd heal scrolls regardless.

once you access rejuvination cucoon, I would definately swap from cleric to rogue, only switch earlier if you've gotten silver flame favor, or can umd heal scrolls.

[RavenStormclaw]

I'm a big fan of the rogue dil, but i've got a significant amount of past lives and can umd heal scrolls regardless.

once you access rejuvination cucoon, I would definately swap from cleric to rogue, only switch earlier if you've gotten silver flame favor, or can umd heal scrolls.

ahh...that sounds like a good plan