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Ishanda · 10-02-2002, 06:07 AM

That is so, what happens is that the monk is unbalanced. I ask myself, is the game easier in the beginning or at the end. The beginning of course.

Firstly, you have to know that later in the game the monk is a veritable powerhouse of a killing machine (at a higher level).

Secondly, what level was your monk at when you decided to drop him/her. At a relatively early level (4, 5, 6) the monk gets a speed improvement. By level 10 if I remember correctly the monk has improved evasion, more speed improvement and if you couple that with improved initiative, you will understand where the strenghts of a monk lie.

The monk is NOT, I repeat NOT, good at barging towards the enemy and taking them head on. The monk is however BRILLIANT at "guerilla" tactics. If you have ever used a haste spell on a fighter, you will understand that such a spell is VERY valuable. The monk eventually performs like he/she has a permanent haste spell on. Plus, although the monk's BAB's are not as high as a normal fighter's, the monk gets more attack rolls per round. A fighter gets an extra attack for every 5 BABs, a monk after every three. Because of the way the structure of BAB improvement works, the 1st attack of a fighter will always have a better chance of hitting than a monk's, but the second attacks are close, for the third, fourth the monk's eventually are BETTER than the fighter's.

Almost no-one likes monks, because (A) they are not prepared to carry him/her for the first part of the game and/or (B) they do not understand how to make use of a monk's abilities properly.

What can I tell you? My monk is level 15 currently. (which in a full party you will most probably get to by the end of the game I think) If you want to know what that means ... in the game room in lv2 ... my monk waltzed up to a demon (starts with a C...)and took care of it within 30secs, without taking a single point of damage. At this level the monk has FOUR attacks per round, has almost 30% spell resistance and very high saves in all three classes. Spells up to level 5 and 6 ALMOST NEVER affect the monk at this level.

Get that? You can stand right next to an enemy wizard...magic missile, fireball, web, entangle, gas cloud, chromatic orb, icelance, charm, sleep, chaos, silence...whatever they DO NOT have an effect on the monk in practice at this level. THAT is very powerful. Ever heard of explosive potions? walk up to a HORDE of enemies, drop the explosive potion....enemies are obliterated, monk takes no damage. Not enough? Drop another. Wanna have more, spend points in crossbow, get rapid shot, get the nice magic crossbow in level two...result....load up on +2 magic bolts or better....fire FOUR shots (HIGH damage) per round at enemies from afar. I would like to see a ranger do that!

I am not sure whether this is good...(I think it is)....but I managed to whack an Elder Earth Elemental in the game room once within the time limit as well, no weapons used, did not need to heal once.

I have been playing a monk ever since BG2, and in BG2 the monk was ridiculously powerful. I can assure you that he/she is MORE in IWD2. You just have to know how to play it.

10-02-2002, 06:07 AM	#17
Ishanda Dungeon Master Join Date: September 23, 2002 Location: South Africa Age: 51 Posts: 61	That is so, what happens is that the monk is unbalanced. I ask myself, is the game easier in the beginning or at the end. The beginning of course. Firstly, you have to know that later in the game the monk is a veritable powerhouse of a killing machine (at a higher level). Secondly, what level was your monk at when you decided to drop him/her. At a relatively early level (4, 5, 6) the monk gets a speed improvement. By level 10 if I remember correctly the monk has improved evasion, more speed improvement and if you couple that with improved initiative, you will understand where the strenghts of a monk lie. The monk is NOT, I repeat NOT, good at barging towards the enemy and taking them head on. The monk is however BRILLIANT at "guerilla" tactics. If you have ever used a haste spell on a fighter, you will understand that such a spell is VERY valuable. The monk eventually performs like he/she has a permanent haste spell on. Plus, although the monk's BAB's are not as high as a normal fighter's, the monk gets more attack rolls per round. A fighter gets an extra attack for every 5 BABs, a monk after every three. Because of the way the structure of BAB improvement works, the 1st attack of a fighter will always have a better chance of hitting than a monk's, but the second attacks are close, for the third, fourth the monk's eventually are BETTER than the fighter's. Almost no-one likes monks, because (A) they are not prepared to carry him/her for the first part of the game and/or (B) they do not understand how to make use of a monk's abilities properly. What can I tell you? My monk is level 15 currently. (which in a full party you will most probably get to by the end of the game I think) If you want to know what that means ... in the game room in lv2 ... my monk waltzed up to a demon (starts with a C...)and took care of it within 30secs, without taking a single point of damage. At this level the monk has FOUR attacks per round, has almost 30% spell resistance and very high saves in all three classes. Spells up to level 5 and 6 ALMOST NEVER affect the monk at this level. Get that? You can stand right next to an enemy wizard...magic missile, fireball, web, entangle, gas cloud, chromatic orb, icelance, charm, sleep, chaos, silence...whatever they DO NOT have an effect on the monk in practice at this level. THAT is very powerful. Ever heard of explosive potions? walk up to a HORDE of enemies, drop the explosive potion....enemies are obliterated, monk takes no damage. Not enough? Drop another. Wanna have more, spend points in crossbow, get rapid shot, get the nice magic crossbow in level two...result....load up on +2 magic bolts or better....fire FOUR shots (HIGH damage) per round at enemies from afar. I would like to see a ranger do that! I am not sure whether this is good...(I think it is)....but I managed to whack an Elder Earth Elemental in the game room once within the time limit as well, no weapons used, did not need to heal once. I have been playing a monk ever since BG2, and in BG2 the monk was ridiculously powerful. I can assure you that he/she is MORE in IWD2. You just have to know how to play it.