Are monks any good at higher levels? Do they "top off" like fighters and gain nothing other than more HLAs, or do other things increase as well (speed and magic resistance, for example)?

Which HLA pool do they choose from?

Well, supposedly they are good. I used Shadowkeeper and made myself a high level monk, though I couldnt get out of Irenicus' dungeon without falling asleep watching his 'amazing' combat skills in action.

The monk draws the HLA's primarily from the fighters class. MR% and speed increases as well.

You won't know if you like the class unless you give it a go yourself.

Well, I would personally pick a Fighter kit over a Monk. For the simple reason that ApR is key, and the best way to get it, Improved Haste (GWW sorta works, but only lasts for one round), doesn't work on Monks. They will max out at someone like 4-4.5 ApR (can't remember exactly; been some time), and a fighter at 7 ApR (Specialization, over level 9 and 13, Improved Haste) will dole out more damage. Not to mention that the fighter can use weapons that give cooler effects, like Vorpal or Elemental Damage (see: Stoneskin) or Slow. Oh, and they're helpless against PfMW, as their fists automatically turn into Magical Weapons and they much resort to normal weapons (ApR of 2? =/)

Now, as to the speed increases and MR. MR protects against most of the spells, but a regular Fighter can be protected with a little bit more difficulty, but just as effectively. And a Fighter with IH/Boots of Speed will probably be just as quick as a Monk.

Well, that's just me. They're cool and require less micromanagement, but a Fighter with minor preparation can kill just as, if not quicker than a Monk.

Of course, I'm also assuming that you keep IH in ToB (that's where the higher levels usually kick in) at all times. It really doesn't take much effort, and combined with Critical Stike, you can easily triple the effectiveness of your warriors. (Which is why after level 13 [the level that Mages/Sorcerers get level 6 spells], I often restart the game because the game is just too damn easy with IH and a bloody AGEN script).

i soloed one and gave up on him on SoA when i realised that whatever the enemy i was just running up to them and smacking them about - MR is capped (~78% iirc) but i think the number of stunning blows and quivering palms per day keep going up

interesting party character mind as (s)he'd stay weaker longer

Without mods, Monks use the exact same HLA pool as Fighters and Barbarians. If you have Oversight installed, though, Kish made a lot of changes to the Monk's HLA pool, making tem less like standard Warriors and more like Balthazar. Some people hold that these changes make the Monk overpowered, or at least capable of things that the enemies in the game are not scripted to be able to handle (like Dimension Door).

Power-wise, Monks in ToB are about as powerful as a Warrior with good stats and good equipment. But when you realize that you could just as easily be a Warrior with GREAT stats and GREAT equipment.....not to mention that Warriors are much more versatile. All Monks are the same: Tell me what major quest you've completed and I'll be able to tell you what level you are, what your stats are, and what you're wearing. The Shapeshifter shares this lack of variety, which is why I've never played either one.

I had a hard time getting into my Monk during the game I played. He was a little weak at the beginning and then got eclipsed by the other party members later on. I guess I was probably just not taking full advantage of some of his features. I actually did kill a few powerful critters with quivering palm, which was fun, but it seemed like of all my powergaming characters he was the least powerful in the end...

<--- Yay, no longer a "Manshoon"

[ 02-11-2005, 05:21 PM: Message edited by: Neomi ]