Any monks out there?

[Jatelka]

This is my first time playing through SOA, and I'm not really thst great a gamer. I see loads of stuff on these forums about pretty much everyone except monks: So inspire me!

[Angelousss]

monks are incredibly powerful at high levels. Almost(some people would drop the almost) to powerful at high levels. at low levels you may have a little trouble but you will dominate after a little while

[MrSmith]

i think the general consensus is that monks are ridiculously strong. havent played one yet though. do they get a stronghold?

[Dace De'Briago]

They get the D'Arnise hold, same as normal fighters.

[Xero279]

ya, monks are really powerful at high levels, someone on this forum (not sure if they are still here or not) one shotted a ancient red dragon with one unarmed attack lol now THATS power

[Brennihelvete]

Monks are a very powerful class. In the beginning they might not do much but in the later levels they turn out to be great juggernaughts of destruction. They use martial arts and with their special ability Ki they can take out a dragon in just one hit. Ive only played the monk once. He was powerful indeed and I did indeed laugh out loud when he killed firgraag with a fly kick

[Dace De'Briago]

If I ever want to 'test' a class, I start a new game with a character of that class.

Then use shadowkeeper and give the character 8 million EXP.

Then just play through Irenicus' dungeon.

I didn't really think all that much of the monk, even at L40, though I suppose his abilities are largely wasted on goblins [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Olorin]

I played my first game through SoA with a monk. It's not a class to choose if you haven't played either BG or IWD before though. They start out very vulnerable. They cannot wear armor, so their AC is pretty bad, and they use the priest's hp rolls, so they can't take as much damage as a normal fighter. They also can't use any two-handed weapons, so they can't be a support archer. Once you level up a ways though, they become a workable tank. Use rings, cloaks, amulets, etc to boost AC, which also improves as they advance in levels. Their unarmed attacks increase in the amount of damage they can do (eventually becoming THE most damaging weapon in the game), and their fists become equal to enchanted weapons, allowing them to hit magical creatures.

At lower levels, use their stealth to get into melee range when a fight starts and activate stunning blow. It applies to all attacks for two rounds and gives a chance to stun on a hit. I always try to switch targets if I stun the first one to get the most out of the stunning blow charge. The stun doesn't last too long, but long enough for a few free hits. Once you use your stunning attack, have your monk go bother one of their archers or spellcasters, don't try to go toe to toe with enemy tanks (that's what Minsc is for).

Once you hit level 13, you will rock. You get quivering palm (use it and the next one attack has a chance to instantly kill the target). You only get one per day so use it wisely (stunning blows are added one per four levels). Also by this time, your AC will be down to decent levels and your attacks per round will be awesome--but you only get the extra attacks when fighting unarmed.

Level 14 is when it gets insane. You gain 3% magic resistance per level (it's retroactive, so you will suddenly have 42% magic resistance). Add to that your previous immunities to disease, charm, and poison; and mages have a hard time stopping you. Nor do their stoneskins last very long (keep a normal weapon around though, since your fists are magical weapons, so protection from magical weapons applies to them).

At high levels, your only drawback is your low number of hitpoints compared with fighter classes, but that's only a problem against enemies that actually live long enough to hurt you.

Soloing a monk can be tricky--you can detect traps, but not disarm them, locks will be a problem--you can't use potions of strength because you're a priest class, and you don't have a fighter's hp to eat the trap damage.

[Dundee Slaytern]

Just a little nitpick, but the Monk's fists are by far NOT the most damaging weapons in the game, and yes, I know they can attain 1d20 damage.

I have not even factored in weapon proficiencies, woohoohoo. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Mr Flibble]

Pretty much to sum it up: early on, you will want a party to go along with your monk. Later levels, you can walk up and kick a dragon in the nose and still walk away with your pride intact.

Monks are VERY fun, they make a good challenge in the early part of the game, and allow you to be a force-to-reckon-with towards the end.

BTW, I have been gone for a long time, and it's good to be back and see the forum is still alive!!!!