Building a Monk

[Sun Wukong]

So. Monks. How would you guys go about building one? The information I can find online is ALL over the place, with some saying max dex, others max strength, yet others max wis.

Those three are the basic monk archetypes on this server.

An example of the dexterity build would be a Monk 25/Shadowdancer 5 with Weapon Finesse gets Epic Dodge. You are a great sneaker thanks to that high dexterity and movement speed increase from monk. Another option to consider could be a Monk 16/Assassin 9/Something else 5.

An example of the wisdom build would be a Monk 20/Divine Champion 10. Divine champion lets you pick Great Wisdom feats, which improve both your unarmed AB and unarmored AC. Feats to pick are: Intuitive Strike, Fiery Fists, and Blazing Aura. What makes it a great build is how wisdom fuels all your class abilities, from AB, to AC, and Damage. Usually Monks are considered to be 'MAD' characters, but with wisdom you do not face such limitations.

As for a strength based build, you are best of combining a quarterstaff with Greater Flurry of Blows and Northlander Hewing feat. You will hit like a truck, and you will hit often, but the downside is your limited AC. You need dexterity, and wisdom, and although you can drink potions, your AC can be somewhat lacking. Therefore, I feel that a Monk 11/Fighter 16/Fist of the Forest 3 makes the best strength based monk build. Fist of the Forest gives your base constitution modifier as extra AC and it is an easy PRC to acquire with Monk. While those fighter levels net you more AB and Damage per hit, along with other feats. You could even get Improved Combat Expertise when you really need extra AC above all.

I'd like a monk that punches fast and hard with decent AC. Damage is more important than AC, I think... though of course, I'd like to avoid being squished.

I think that Monk 20/Divine Champion 10 might be the best build for you.



So, what actually fancies you the most?


Edit:

IB has very little synergy with Monk. You can't flurry with daggers or kukri's and you already need high WIS/DEX/STR and some CON....Can't really afford much INT. You could go M11/R10/A9 for 10d6 sneak dice w/ epic precision dual wielding kama's for 15 APR (5 in first flurry, 6 when hasted). However, this is less a monk and more a Rogue build IMO (and not the best one, at that). If I wanted INT to AC on a monk I'd say Duelist offers more than Invisible Blade and at a cheaper cost.

Invisible Blade requires Weapon Focus in Dagger or Kukri, but the abilities work with all light weapons.

[chad878262]

Invisible Blade requires Weapon Focus in Dagger or Kukri, but the abilities work with all light weapons.

Which would warrant consideration if DR didn't completely eliminate the bleed damage. The only benefit the monk would get from IB is INT to AC and it isn't worth it.

[DeepFriedMoose]

Builds are nice and all, but what is the character concept? I think that should influence which build you go for above all.

Quiet, contemplative monk? M30, WIS build.

Defender of the Faith? STR, or FotF build. (Or maybe Assassin/SD if you're the evil type)

Wandering lay preacher? STR Quarterstaff build?


Basically, at the end of the day, if you're looking for a power-character, I just don't think Monk is at all powerful (and I play a monk, myself). Play a monk if it fits the character concept, you know?

[Quidix]

Maybe obvious but the classic wisdom-based 20M / 3C / 7SF has not been mentioned yet. It's definitely among the (if not the) strongest monk builds out there.

[Hendrak]

There's only one way to play a Monk.... they call them the Silver Monks (badabing, badaba, tralalala; imagine Skyrim music ;D)

http://nwn2db.com/build/?283840

I am playing a different Monk20/DD7/FoF3 build with WIS 23 and getting Blazing Aura on lvl 29. Very difficult to level but fun on lvl 30. Dwarven Monk/FoF is nice for high HP and good Saves (fort.). Its even better as the other saves are also good.

Monks are not as powerful as other chars. They have good Gauntlets which are offered in Epic Shops. But the lack of Vamp.Reg. Weapons and good Quaterstaffs/Kama with CI or Silver hurts them. I guess the Dwarven Silver Monk pupil is easier to lvl and play. Combat Focus feats are an alternative to WF/WM/Imp.Crit/WS to get some Regen with the Combat Focus feats line.

All Monks need Exp.Weakness to hit regulary stuff in epics. So they are additionally limited in their epic feats selection.

[Khazrak]

There's only one way to play a Monk.... they call them the Silver Monks (badabing, badaba, tralalala; imagine Skyrim music ;D)

Souls of diamond, fists of steel! Silver Monks!

[Muckluck]

Maybe obvious but the classic wisdom-based 20M / 3C / 7SF has not been mentioned yet. It's definitely among the (if not the) strongest monk builds out there.

This is actually what I ended up going for! The build theory appealed to me, both in terms of mechanics and possible character story.

Thanks a lot to everyone who helped!

I do have a follow-up question that Sun Wukong already answered once, but that I find myself still not understanding...

Looking at a pair of gloves that have EB +3 and then another line that says +3 Attack bonus... does that give +3 damage and +6 attack, or only +3 damage and +3 attack? I mean, if the AB and the EB don't stack, why can both those enchantments even exist on the same item?

[Khazrak]

I do not believe they stack. I think that's the random loot generator being very dumb. Someone correct me if I am wrong, please.

[Flasmix]

They do not stack, thus +3 damage, +3 attack

[Muckluck]

Alright, thanks lads and lasses.

Should mention there's an item at Kalehir that also has both EB and AB. Just FYI.

[Theodore01]

Should mention there's an item at Kalehir that also has both EB and AB. Just FYI.

These gloves have ab+4 and eb+3 so that makes a difference.

[electric mayhem]

AB+ and EB + don't stack on gloves.


Re Wisdom monk. Monk 30. Can't go too wrong, fairly easy build, easy to use, fun to be had on the server and you'll be fairly comfortable, exploring and learning the server.

STATS:
At creation.
Max WIS.
Str 10-12 (12 good if you can manage for carrying, if not get a STR+ item).
Dex 10
CON 12-14 (used up with spare points)
Int (12-14, 14 pref as it'll get you handy skill points)
CHA 10 (or 8, you're not looking to impress anyone. But if you're doing diplomat/intimidate etc, it can affect it, but with INT bonus you'll have points into those skills anyway.)

On level up, sink stat increase into WIS.

Feats:
LoH, Toughness for level 1. Depends if race gives bonus feat. Pick toughness regardless for Steadfast later on. Not much being a powerhouse stalwart monk if you fail on a 1.
Level 3: Intuitive Attack. (Use wis mod for AB)
Other pre-epic feats: WeapFoc Unarmed., Steadfast, can't remember many others. Don't pick circle kick, it disturbs attack rounds when jumping between enemies.
Can look at Ki abilities for some interesting uses for stunning fists. Ki Dodge and Ki Step are handy. Fiery fists if you can fit it in build somewhere.

Epics: Expose weakness, Blazing Aura, WIS + , Spell Res (depends on choice).

[Hendrak]

There is no Ki-Dodge implemented in BGTSCC.

Steadfeast Determination only is good if you have a nice Fort. I dont think pure Monk's usually get that.

Fiery Fist is a must. DR doesnt work against it (even Fire Elemetals get full fire dmg from it) and its multiplied by crits. Also the same works with Blazing Aura.

[Khazrak]

Steadfeast Determination only is good if you have a nice Fort. I dont think pure Monk's usually get that.

Actually, all three of their saves are high. Monks aren't great at much, but they've always had 3 good saves.

[Hendrak]

You re right and wrong.

Their final save may not be that good with just a middle CON. It depends on the final fort. save value.