Questions: Centering on Druid Half-Elf Dilettante Monk

[Svanlaug]

Lowbie here returning to the game after long break. Searched forums and the old guides but frankly so much has changed and all guides seem horribly outdated so figured best to just ask via new post.

I Just LR'd my Druid HE Dilly Monk intended to be a tank-ish caster (a la Gingerspyce thread) because I screwed a couple things up (CHA-based Dragonmark!), but want to continue with this race and class, currently LVL8. Question revolves around the math of being centered/not centered for this specific toon config because I get the warning "Not Centered" with certain equipment.


On the "Centered" entry, DDO Wiki says:

"Several class-specific benefits are lost while a Monk is not Centered, effectively switching off the Monk's central powers.

The Monk loses his Armor Class Bonus received at levels 1, 5, 10 and 15.
You cannot use or attain the benefits of any Monk-specific stances.
Your ki meter drains rapidly to zero and cannot be refilled.
The Fast Movement and Slow Fall abilities are disabled, leaving the character slower in running and in greater need of a Feather Falling item.
Any Monk enhancements that toggle (such as Sting of the Ninja) will deactivate.
The Flurry of Blows feat is disabled, bringing a Monk's Base Attack Bonus from 1 * Monk level to 0.75 * Monk level.

Being uncentered doesn't affect your AC bonuses related to WIS or DEX stats. Being uncentered also doesn't affect your Improved Evasion ability."


From this it appears being uncentered is not affecting my toon at all ... the Dilly Monk benefits do not appear to include any of the above that would be compromised by being uncentered (don't have AC bonuses, ki meter, monk-specific stances, or any of the other mentioned feats/enhancements), at least through LVL 8, especially considering all my AC bonuses come for WIS and DEX stats. Also, the Druid feats include Light and Medium Armor Proficiency and Shield Proficiency (General) which do un-center a Monk. Which leads to two questions:

1) If I equip medium armor, a shield and a scepter that all boost casting abilities but generates the "Not Centered" warning, are there any penalties either to casting or melee abilities?

2) Is my toon getting any benefit from being centered?

TIA.

[NemesisAlien]

I havent tried helf dilly yet, interesting question...

[Mindos]

From this it appears being uncentered is not affecting my toon at all ... the Dilly Monk benefits do not appear to include any of the above that would be compromised by being uncentered (don't have AC bonuses, ki meter, monk-specific stances, or any of the other mentioned feats/enhancements), at least through LVL 8. Also, the Druid feats include Light and Medium Armor Proficiency and Shield Proficiency (General) which do un-center a Monk. Which leads to two questions:

1) If I equip medium armor, a shield and a scepter that all boost casting abilities but generates the "Not Centered" warning, are there any penalties either to casting or melee abilities?

2) Is my toon getting any benefit from being centered?

TIA.

Proficiency with the quarterstaff, kama, and shuriken, and can add up to 2 points of your Wisdom bonus to your Armor Class as long as you are Defensively Centered

You only lose the wisdom bonus to AC. That's it. (disclaimer: been wrong before)

[Svanlaug]

Proficiency with the quarterstaff, kama, and shuriken, and can add up to 2 points of your Wisdom bonus to your Armor Class as long as you are Defensively Centered

You only lose the wisdom bonus to AC. That's it. (disclaimer: been wrong before)

Right, so any combo of Armor, Shield and Weapons that add at least 2 points to AC make up for being uncentered, and there are no other ramifications.

If that's the case, it's a no-brainer for a caster.

[unbongwah]

On a WIS caster, half-elf with monk dilettante can get +2 WIS and +20% heal amp for 12 APs if I'm adding right. The AC bonus will never be worthwhile. That's about all they have going for them vs a human build, frankly.

[Svanlaug]

"On a WIS caster, half-elf with monk dilettante can get +2 WIS and +20% heal amp for 12 APs if I'm adding right. The AC bonus will never be worthwhile. That's about all they have going for them vs a human build, frankly."

Right, so to amplify that HE vs Human race benefit, I'll want to maximize/focus on WIS-based equipment and healing skills/equipment.