TRing Need help with an unarmed monk and some questions

[happypuppy]

I have this really old and outdated monk. He crits for like 150 dmg at level 20 (I'm also undergeared). So since I really like to solo and would like to do harder content. Going to TR, I like attacking fast and moving fast so I want at least 17 levels of Monk (fast movement). Since I don't know much about multiclassing I went pure. I just want to do nice dmg and solo stuff.

Went with strength on my level ups and get my wisdom through enhancements. I won't be able to get Vorpal strikes at epic level :/ and don't know what else to get. Don't know if Overwhelming critical is worth it.

Skills - How many points should I put on Balance? Besides putting 10 points on Jump, everything on concentration and heal (don't like move silently or hide) I didn't see anything interesting so went with Spellcraft cause of healing but I'm sure its terrible since I get nothing out of it.

I read Syncletica guide on monks and searched for a generic Unarmed pure monk build but couldn't find one that was updated, I just don't want to gimp myself for the second time. Thanks for the help.

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Level 28 Lawful Neutral Human Male
(20 Monk \ 8 Epic) 
Hit Points: 364
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 18
Reflex: 16
Will: 18

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(34 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 28)
Strength             16                    25
Dexterity            15                    17
Constitution         14                    16
Intelligence          8                    10
Wisdom               16                    23
Charisma              8                    10

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 1
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 1
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 1
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 1
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 1
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 1

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 28)
Balance               7                    37
Bluff                 0                     8
Concentration         7                    40
Diplomacy             0                     8
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                0                     8
Heal                  6                    25.5
Hide                  3                    12
Intimidate            0                     8
Jump                  7                    24
Listen                4                    14
Move Silently         3                    12
Open Lock             n/a                  n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     8
Search                0                     8
Spellcraft            0                    17
Spot                  4                    14
Swim                  4                    15
Tumble                4                    32
Use Magic Device      n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Monk
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Power Attack
Feat: (Human Bonus) Stunning Fist


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


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Disciple of the Fist
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light


Level 4 (Monk)


Level 5 (Monk)


Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Great Cleave
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge


Level 7 (Monk)


Level 8 (Monk)


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


Level 10 (Monk)


Level 11 (Monk)


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


Level 13 (Monk)


Level 14 (Monk)


Level 15 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 16 (Monk)


Level 17 (Monk)


Level 18 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Thoughness


Level 19 (Monk)


Level 20 (Monk)


Level 21 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Epic: Improved Martial Arts


Level 22 (Epic)


Level 23 (Epic)


Level 24 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Epic: Overwhelming Critical


Level 25 (Epic)


Level 26 (Epic)


Level 27 (Epic)
Feat: (Selected) Epic: Epic Damage Reduction


Level 28 (Epic)
Enhancement: Human - Human Versatility: Damage Boost (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Human Adaptability: Wisdom (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Human Versatility: Defense Boost (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Human Adaptability: Strength (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Improved Recovery (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Don't Count Me Out (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Don't Count Me Out (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Human - Don't Count Me Out (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Human - Ambidexterity (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Ambidexterity (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Human - Ambidexterity (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Human - Improved Recovery (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Human - Improved Recovery (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Ninja Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Ninja Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Shadow Veil (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Stealthy (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Acrobatic (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Acrobatic (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Acrobatic (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Eagle Claw Attack (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Agility (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Bastion of Purity (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Protection from Tainted Creatures (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Iron Hand (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Argent Fist (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Touch of the Void Dragon (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - To Seek Perfection (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Deft Strikes (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Deft Strikes (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Deft Strikes (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Smite Tainted Creature (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Iron Skin (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Iron Skin (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Iron Skin (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Fists of Iron (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Conditioning (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Conditioning (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Conditioning (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Jade Strike (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Dismissing Strike (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Wisdom (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Tomb of Jade (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Instinctive Defense (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Instinctive Defense (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Instinctive Defense (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Wisdom (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Kukan-Do (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Violence Begets Violence (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Meditation of War (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Empty Hand Mastery (Rank 1)

[Maxxcore]

Not sure about planner, monks get free feats at levels 1/2/6, not seeing the one at 6? I would take the dodge/mobility/spring attack chain, but not sure that's the most efficent. Been seeing less melee monks and more staff builds lately, not sure if fists are up there in dps.

[happypuppy]

You are right, added dodge since it was missing. Going unarmed cause staffs seem weird. Want to punch, kick and headbutt people.
I'm ok with my unarmed dmg being subpar compared to everyone else. Would love if it wasn't but, oh well.

[TeacherSyn]

You are right, added dodge since it was missing. Going unarmed cause staffs seem weird. Want to punch, kick and headbutt people.
I'm ok with my unarmed dmg being subpar compared to everyone else. Would love if it wasn't but, oh well.

Hey there.

One of the downsides of my guide to some is that I didn't post specific builds. That's for two reasons: One, I didn't want a bunch of Syncletica-clones stomping throughout Stormreach, and two, I didn't want a bunch of gimpy Syncletica-clones stomping through Stormreach as I'm not the best player in defining the best DPS build.

Others do better at building, although I'm slowly coming around to listing a couple of unique builds on the guide itself. As for a Shintao build, I'd look at the Martens build. Even a fraction of what's shown there might give you a better DPS edge. Note the high STR since that's the key to Shintao damage. He's a pure Halfling Monk, which means he's on to something specific than the usual Human direction, especially since that race is -2 STR. Or he just likes Halflings.

There has been a long-running thread, filled with gnashing of teeth and lamentations from players who think that the Shintao Monk (at the least) just isn't doing the damage and needs all kinds of redos. The enhancement pass's adjustments to Shintao both helped and hurt the tree by pigeonholing it's options. I do more damage as a ninja, I'll admit, but there remains a place for the durable Shintao. Again, look at Martens' build for some options. He leverages EDs later for some impressive Doublestrike and melee attack speed. If you can't hit harder, hit faster, it seems.

Any suggestions to the Monk guide are welcome. I'll do my best to update it so it better meets a player's needs, but I will reiterate that the guide's focus is for the new player starting out on the class, as there are other players and resources that detail how to grow a Monk past their first life.

[happypuppy]

Thanks for the input. I would really like to go Battleforged but I don't have the iconic race and don't like the whole 15-28 level thing. Want to start as 1 and go through Korthos again. But I'm going to try to do it as my second TR.
Would prefer Half-orc but not unlocked and they are ugly, dirty little creatures. Going to change how I level up wisdom and try to shoot for Vorpal strikes, changing skills to include UMD and tumble.
Thanks for your guide, it helped a lot in understanding his strength and weaknesses. Hope you include some examples of stat distribution.