Playing a successful monk
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The only reason to play a monk is because you want to play a monk, not a rogue or a fighter or a mage. In terms of mechanics, its easy to survive as a low level monk without using a crossbow. Just learn how to be a good flanker and you're pretty much set. Avoid taking hits, use potions at the right times, and make sure people don't expect you to stand on the frontline. It just takes practice and a bit of patience but its certainly doable. Besides, using ranged weapons as a monk is probably going to be less fun and its certainly less effective than fighting melee. You don't need a specific build to play an effective but survivable monk, you just need to learn how to play to the classes strengths while avoiding its weaknesses.
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@Swifty:
Wait, wait, wait, did I read that right? The +1 attack +1 damage gloves also work for weapons?
From the NWN Wiki:
Since NWN has various gloves with attack bonuses, monks can do their fist damage with the attack bonus of wielding a weapon. The only disadvantage they have from not using a weapon is the decrease in attacks per round (no two-weapon fighting).
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@Khamal:
@Swifty:
Wait, wait, wait, did I read that right? The +1 attack +1 damage gloves also work for weapons?
From the NWN Wiki:
Since NWN has various gloves with attack bonuses, monks can do their fist damage with the attack bonus of wielding a weapon. The only disadvantage they have from not using a weapon is the decrease in attacks per round (no two-weapon fighting).
You misread it. They're only saying that they'll have the same AB as someone wielding a magical weapon because there are gloves that give AB bonuses.
You will NOT get the damage/attack bonus from gloves if you're not unarmed. (Learned this the hard way)
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The only reason to play a monk is because you want to play a monk, not a rogue or a fighter or a mage. In terms of mechanics, its easy to survive as a low level monk without using a crossbow. Just learn how to be a good flanker and you're pretty much set. Avoid taking hits, use potions at the right times, and make sure people don't expect you to stand on the frontline. It just takes practice and a bit of patience but its certainly doable. Besides, using ranged weapons as a monk is probably going to be less fun and its certainly less effective than fighting melee. You don't need a specific build to play an effective but survivable monk, you just need to learn how to play to the classes strengths while avoiding its weaknesses.
That.
and, Swifty, if I recall, one of your first characters spent a lot of time trying to take over the remains of the Blades from.. guess what… a monk.
Again, you dont need mechanics on your side. You need friends. or at least, companions. -
I have been playing a monk for the past couple weeks and i've gotten him to level 6 with no problems. Sure he died once, but that's normal if not good. Compared to my pure fighter, of course he doesnt do the same amount of damage or have the same AC, but he is fun to play. You aren't gonna get every kill, and you aren't gonna be at the front line of every battle. But i think it's easy enough to play monk, and most of all it's fun. The only time my monk had to use a ranged weapon is when he found a magic sling in a quest at like level 5. And he's only used that sling during 1 quest… a DM quest. Surround yourself with a proper party (in fact even just a proper tank) and your monk will prevail. and you should have fun while you're at it. :)
One thing i like to do to make it more interesting is that i always type emotes when my monk gets a kill. something like gives the gnoll a bonecrushing uppercut to the groin and it falls lifeless to the ground ... or if someone gets the kill before me he comes hard with a fist, but just before contact his companion's blade slices its head off ... adds to the fun and makes me feel more like my monk is doing something unique, something that the blades and magic of all other classes cannot accomplish.
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Monks are the same as any other class. Besides PvP, they suck solo.
My cleric is lvl 8. Her Ac, on a good day is 19. My ab, with my very magical spear, and strength gloves and what not, is 10/5 if memory serves.
Sure, I can buff myself to kingdom come, and survive for about a minute. OR, I can play with other team mates, and become an unbeatable team.
There are two rules on CoA, for characters and questing.
1. You excel at some function. Be it, melee, traps, scouting, damage dealing with magic, "buffing", summoning. In other words, carry your own weight.
2. Be so entertaining, that people ignore that you are horseshit at everything.
If you cant turn your monk into a powerhouse, which it sounds like is the goal with your posts Swifty, then be so entertaining roleplay wise, that people will trip over their own feet to bring you along.
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Then you let those guys take the monsters attention. Personally I've found that 23 AC unbuffed is more then enough for any quest up to level 7 for a frontliner character. Throw in expertise and you can pretty much survive any encounter.
disagrees after being beaten into a bloody pulp by Red Slaad while having AC 29, partially AC 34
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Then you let those guys take the monsters attention. Personally I've found that 23 AC unbuffed is more then enough for any quest up to level 7 for a frontliner character. Throw in expertise and you can pretty much survive any encounter.
disagrees after being beaten into a bloody pulp by Red Slaad while having AC 29, partially AC 34
The Lower your Ac, the faster you need to be able to kill your enemies.
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Basicly you need a wizard to buff your monk in combat to be cost effective and beable to frontline otherwise after level 5 you are forced to work as a flanker no matter how you RP your monk fact is thats what you need magic buffs to survive on CoA exactly the same way that fighters do.
Also i would suggest dex based monk as ive always prefered them for survivability,strength based do huge amounts of damage and wis based stun anyone but both of these have flaws strengh lacks AC and wis lacks AB.
Oh and last point if you look at those characters (i mean combat characters not casters)that have reached high level they are mostly IE combat types that focus on not getting hit. -
A succesful way, since I am not going to throw around mechanical aid, is to "Tag along", as in, become a sidekick of someone. If you are depending on them to function, then might as well make it part of the concept.
An evil magicians bodyguard, devoted to the ideal of safeguarding and perfection through servitude, would have a "Boss" who could likely supply you with the BUFFS! (I hate that word) you need.
I know for a fact, that if someone approached me, and said, "Hey Olouth you sad solo wanker, I have this wicked concept about a monk who seeks perfection of self, through the study and teachings of goodly dragons, can you help me out?"
I would devote the next week or two, as you tried to establish yourself, to ensure that you never ran out of potions, and never quested without Extended Bulls strength, Endurance and Owls Wisdom, not to mention I would let you in on all my future plotting and hopefully awesomeness.
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careful though, you must always consider the below which will bring the demise of your toon
Olouthitis: Character does awesome things for a few months, but inevitability hijacks an air ship and crashes it into an evil faction head quarters screaming battle cries.
:D
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I don't get why monks purport to be tanks (whatever tanks mean in nwn). I mean, you are not a fighter, nor a barbarian. If you want to play a fighter or a barbarian, play a fighter or a barbarian, not a monk. Leaving the RP side aside (that is nevertheless the most important), if you think you can play a monk and have the same AC, the same dmg output and the same staying power of a fighter, obviously something is wrong. If you want that, play a fighter. If you play a monk, look for those things a monk excels in. Speed, manoeuvrability. Stunning fist is the greatest perk of monks. Get to an enemy sleathed, stun it, and let your friends destroy it. Expecially that pesky wizard who would usually haste fireball your team to death. Just an example.
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I have said it so many times. A monk asassin is the most devastating bastard.
Kale, at the time a lvl 10 monk or so, took down my min/maxed halfling before my allies could react, and escaped with me.
As in Teth, a lvl 12 powerhouse of a cleric, didnt have time to react before Kale was gone again.
You get cleave, stunning fist, improved knockdown, evasion, stealth, and three attacks per round before anyone else.
Thats at lvl 6.
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Kinda circles back to a re-occuring issue with the d20 game system, the huge impact of the math.
A +1 AB here or a -1 AC there could mean a reduction of 50% damage taken or adding 100% more damage you take over a battle, not 5% like the game creators probably intended.
The end result is certain classes are fractionally useful in unfortunately common situations which I can see to be very frustrating.
I tend to cringe but try to give additional respect to anyone who plays one of the more mathematically challenged classes. I know that over their lifetime, it is possible they will take 1000% more damage then my 'easy mode' character.
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I tend to play Eagleman as a flanker, as that is what he is good at as a Monk. I always try to position myself to be in the best spot to deal damage and take out monsters while at the same time being in a spot that I wont get the crap kicked out of me.
However, this may be a bit off topic, but due to my high level, I sometimes get the feeling that party members, including the tanks, kinda expect me to take the lead combat wise. Which, I often end up doing, even if I wont be as effective as a tank.
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Allright, well I've gotten a lot of good feedback. I'm going to try a few different things here to see if they all work out better for me.
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does parry work well with monks?
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I say this once,
If you want to test builds my suggestion is go play on an Arena server and go balls to the wall PVPing I personally prefer capture the flag.
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I agree with O'louth Kale was one Monk you did not want to mess with and showed the amazing devastation the class could bring if used right.
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