Monks in ToB

Christian · Post by **Christian** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 2:37 pm

Well, I've been planing to use my monk in ToB
and I would like to know it`s progression in ToB. New abilities and the like. I know it`s magic res is halted, but what about it`s fist magical equivalent?
Opinions on this obviosly best class are also welcome... he,he.

Krimmy · Post by **Krimmy** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 3:37 pm

I agree with Monks being one of if not the best tank in the game. As for the special abilities of Monks they draw upon the same pool as fighters. It would have been nice if maybe the abilities were taylored more to the class but there are still nice. Most effective is the whirlwind attack, your character gets 10 attacks in 1 round, can be quite devastating. There is also a poor man's Quivering Palm included with the abilities you get to choose from. And there are some others but for me whirlwind was the most effective.

Monks Rule~!

[ 07-09-2001: Message edited by: Krimmy ]

glory · Post by **glory** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 3:44 pm

I'm having some difficulty seeing how to use a monk as a Tank...unless you're fighting mages...as far as i see...they get hit more then fighers because they have no armor and they have a lot less Hps than fighters so must heal a lot more...maybe i'm just not playing it right...i just notice they they get wacked much more in fights than regular fighers...unless you're wearing keldorn's armor...which would be kinda wierd thing for a monk.

Laurelei · Post by **Laurelei** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 4:06 pm

Start with 18 dexterity. There are lots of non-armor items that increase ac, including but not limited to amulets of protection, bracers of ac 3 or 4, ring of earth control, ring of gaxx, cloak of the sewers, one of the ioun stones. A monk's natural ac also decreases as they level. I believe my level 18 monk currently has a -9 ac, which is better than poor Minsc's since he doesn't use a shield (in my game, anyway).

Also, a sneaking monk can jump into battle without necessarily being the tank-by the time the enemies notice she's beating the crap outta them, they have already focused most of their attacks on the visible "Tanks", Anomen, Jaheira, and Minsc.

Add incredible magic resistance (which can be boosted with some items) and natural missile resistance (boosted even higher by boots of avoidance), and let's just say "Hard to Hit" describes my monk.

The word "Tank" implies that you take alot of damage. Although my monk has the hit points to take damage when it comes, she really doesn't get hit that much...and the Ring of Gaxx regeneration rate generally keeps her ahead of the game when she does.

Christian · Post by **Christian** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 4:12 pm

Well, monks suck at low levels.True.But they just start gaining more and more abilities, and more,and more...Besides, their armor class goes down a lot, and very fast. Those who don`t use them till the end tend to dislike them cause, at the begining, your average rabbit familiar would just bite it`s head off...

Aside from that, does anyone know what magic value his fists have in ToB (ya know, +3,+4,etc)?

sp8472 · Post by **sp8472** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 4:58 pm

I wouldn't classify a monk necessarily as a tank. They do get hit a lot despite a low AC. Mine ended at -16 but still I got hit, although I think it would be less than most fighters. HPs arent really a problem. Glory, I know you know I am a monk fan, so I might be biased in my eval, but I find problems with only certain enemies. Otherwise I can jump into any throng and whip them. Magic and melee fighters both. I also find that since magic user cast area effect spells, Parties get damaged when trying to fight mages while the monk becomes impervious. If you have any other questions then let me know. I may be able to help you out with a monk.

Koren, monk fists top out at +4. Be sure to have some non-magical weapons though.

Christian · Post by **Christian** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 5:20 pm

gee, thanx. And you`re right, HP`s aren`t that much of a problem, there are items that boost them, like sensate amulet or various ioun stones. And monks aren`t that much of a charge strait at the enemy see what happens sort of character anyway.

Krimmy · Post by **Krimmy** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 5:34 pm

Maybe tank wasn't the best word to describe the Monk at higher levels, but in my experience he far and away was the best at totally obliterating the opposition. I think my Monk had like 90% of all the kills in SoA.

He was always the first into battle, unless it was against a Demi-Lich or Dragon, I then sent in Anomen....alone

dionysus · Post by **dionysus** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 6:21 pm

Despite the fact that they're not the most powerful class, I think Monks are one of the most enjoyable and most challenging to play.

Granted if you play either a Kensai/Mage or Kensai/Thief, you become a power-player that can handle most challenges alone, and that IS fun. But for me, it's also fun to play someone as severely limited as a Monk is.

Just my Two Copper pieces.

Christian · Post by **Christian** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 6:33 pm

Exactly in what do you find the monk limited?
Picture your tipical tank, give him godlike speed, loads of immunities, 1D20 dmge, hide in shadows, very low AC, the ability to kill or stun in one blow, better saving throws, BIG magic resistance, and...boom, you got yourself a monk, all for just a few HPs (and there are items that solve this).
If your idea of limited is 'not absolutely perfect', then OK, he`s limited.
Plus, dual class characters end up sucking in their first class on the long run.(Well, I have to admit that some do become very powerfull...)

glory · Post by **glory** » Mon Jul 09, 2001 9:17 pm

well...my problem is not that i don't know how to play a monk or that i dont know that a monk's AC can become really low or that they can get thier magic resistance to 98% in TOB. However...if you play at Core rules. Then a monk will have very low Hps comparative to warriors...for example Korgan and Serevok in one of my games both have about 200hps...korgan has all saves in negatives is wearing the shield of harmony, flail of ages +5, among other things anyway thats what i would consider a tank...keep in mind im talking about TOB here not SOA...i found that monks have a lot of trouble with melee heavy parties when everyone basically has to be a tank of run and hide (edwin). anyway...also against dragons especially draconis...the main reasons they have this problem is 1. no armor...(this give a boost to defense against weapons) and 2. low hps when compared to a warrior.

so as is see it...there is no good way i can see that a monk can be a tank playing at core rules of higher always. Now if you play at normal rules then yes he will have a lot more hps...but then so will everyone else, so they can all tank except for mages.

as a back up for a tank like korgan who can take the brunt of attacks i see a monk would be awesome, for taking out magic heavy parties or force attacking a dragon with quivering palm while he's still blue..yes call on the monk...but as far as a main tank?...i don't see how... at core rules.

Xyx · Post by **Xyx** » Tue Jul 10, 2001 10:24 am

Originally posted by Laurelei:
<STRONG>There are lots of non-armor items that increase ac, including but not limited to amulets of protection, bracers of ac 3 or 4, ring of earth control, ring of gaxx, cloak of the sewers, one of the ioun stones. A monk's natural ac also decreases as they level. I believe my level 18 monk currently has a -9 ac, which is better than poor Minsc's since he doesn't use a shield (in my game, anyway).</STRONG>

...or the Ring of Gaxx, the Cloak of the Sewers and the Ioun stone. Not really a comparison this way. Give any character that kind of equipment and they can tank.

Originally posted by Koren:
<STRONG>Well, monks suck at low levels.True.But they just start gaining more and more abilities, and more,and more...</STRONG>

Doesn't any class (except perhaps Fighters) gain more and more abilities?

sp8472 · Post by **sp8472** » Tue Jul 10, 2001 1:04 pm

Hmm...well, I'll have to start a game in SoA at core rules to see the effects then. I don't want to start a monk in ToB. You don't get crap. Besides, what you do get are mostly are weapons and armor, both that I monk generally doesn't use. I also figure that at core rules, a monks abilities will also increase. It would seem unbalanced if at higher levels fighters got increasing "bonus" while a monk did not. Anyways, we shall see. I will report on this later.

Once I get rid of this D2 expansion thing I've got going right now.

Christian · Post by **Christian** » Tue Jul 10, 2001 4:29 pm

Of course every class gains new abilities as they level up...but the monks seem to be gaining more and more stuff very fast. Other classes gain abilities, but hardly every ##@!! level!!! When playing a monk, nearly every level seems to greatly improve your character (more immunities, attacks, saving throws, AC, and so on)