Help with my Monk

[Jumpkick]

So I'll start by saying I haven't played Gemstone in something like 8 years. I just got a bug to play again and thought I would create a monk. I created one using the 'suggested' stat allocation but for the life of me can't figure out a way to train the way people are suggesting on this site or the Simu forums. Here is what my character looks like at an amazing level 5. I was trying for 2x CM, 2x Brawl, 3x PF, 3x Dodge, and 0.5x harness, 0.5x transformation, 0.5x spell. There is no way I have enough TPs to do that, let alone add in other auxiliary skills like perception/first aid/climbing/etc. Also, reading through the Simu forums design people were saying it would be better to have no weapons in your hand, but my physical DS is so low that I constantly get pummeled! Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Stats: Normal (Bonus) ... Enhanced (Bonus)
Strength (STR): 91 (25) ... 91 (25)
Constitution (CON): 72 (11) ... 72 (11)
Dexterity (DEX): 71 (10) ... 71 (10)
Agility (AGL): 91 (20) ... 91 (20)
Discipline (DIS): 91 (20) ... 91 (20)
Aura (AUR): 61 (5) ... 61 (5)
Logic (LOG): 61 (10) ... 61 (10)
Intuition (INT): 62 (11) ... 62 (11)
Wisdom (WIS): 42 (-4) ... 42 (-4)
Influence (INF): 31 (-9) ... 31 (-9)

Combat Maneuvers...................| 66 14
Brawling...........................| 66 14
Physical Fitness...................| 66 14
Dodging............................| 82 18
Harness Power......................| 15 3
Mental Lore - Transformation.......| 15 3
Climbing...........................| 50 10

Spell Lists
Minor Mental.......................| 3

[DrZaius]

I will preface this by saying that I have not created a monk before, so take any advice I have with a grain of salt.

That said, Monks are considered "Squares", by both the system and TP costs. Think about the amount of magical training a rogue takes, and that may be a better representation of how quickly you should try to get the cool spells for your monk. I will say that I have several UAC characters, all of which are a blast to play, so I think you'll enjoy that aspect.

People will be able to give you better stat advice if you let us know what race you are. Additionally, do you want to stat for cap, or for fun now? I'd consider stating for something like 40-50 if you're just messing around to get a feel for the game again. A lot has changed over the last 8 years (The adventurer's guild! Combat Manuevers! MONKS!) so search on this forum for "I just got back.." or something similar; there are tons of threads with recaps for people who are recently returned.

Also, welcome back!!

-DrZ

[Jumpkick]

I made a human monk. Thanks very much for the response! I think finding something that is fun to play would be ideal. It will probably take me forever to get to 100 again.

[Jumpkick]

I had also trained once in punch mastery, but wasn't sure if I should take kick/grapple as well. I would love to play around with UAC, but it seems like i get my butt kicked quite a bit.

[Gompers]

Play with UAC once your 30 days is up...your first 30 is better spent getting as many levels as possible. Grab a claid and go to town - you can train 3x per level in dodge and physical fitness...that's a lot of dodge and a lot of HPs...I'd just go purely 2-hander for the first 28 days or so, and then use your unlimited fixskills to find out how you wanna UAC...

Dunno how long you've spent getting to level 'x', but it might be worth it to start over and power level.

edit: also - welcome back!

[Jumpkick]

What's involved in power leveling these days? I'm a bit old school where getting to 20 would take months!

[Gompers]

By power leveling I mean toss all skills into 2handed weapons, toss a claid on your char and romp everything. you can conveniently get to around 20-30 levels by going twohander - and monk is no different...if anything it's easier cause its a square.

[Haldrik]

In your first 30 days you get 5 score changes and unlimited fix skill.

This means you can raise your physicals to 100/90/90 in the first 30 days and then switch back to growth if you want.

[SonoftheNorth]

.25 harness, spells and lore instead

[Gompers]

just started a random halfling monk to give you an idea -

Strength (STR): 100 (10) ... 100 (10)
Constitution (CON): 71 (20) ... 71 (20)
Dexterity (DEX): 91 (35) ... 91 (35)
Agility (AGI): 100 (35) ... 100 (35)
Discipline (DIS): 71 (5) ... 71 (5)
Aura (AUR): 31 (-14) ... 31 (-14)
Logic (LOG): 100 (30) ... 100 (30)
Intuition (INT): 61 (15) ... 61 (15)
Wisdom (WIS): 23 (-13) ... 23 (-13)
Influence (INF): 21 (-19) ... 21 (-19)

(at level 3), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name
Combat Maneuvers...................| 40 8
Two-Handed Weapons.................| 50 10
Physical Fitness...................| 70 15
Dodging............................| 70 15

go full combat skills, swing a claid in 5 seconds, and have a decent DS, since you can triple in dodge...

[Gompers]

also, if you end up going two handers for the first 30, cman kifocus works for it...15 stamina for an extra 15 AS each swing. tripling in PF helps, of course!

[bigshot]>stance defensive
You are now in a defensive stance.
>
A dark vysan charges at you!
At the last moment, you parry the blow with your claidhmore!
>
[bigshot]>stance off
You are now in an offensive stance.
>
[bigshot]>cman kifocus
You summon your inner ki and focus it to enhance your next attack.
Roundtime: 2 sec.
R>
[bigshot]>kill #176088735
...wait 1 seconds.
R>
[bigshot]>kill #176088735
...wait 1 seconds.
>
[bigshot]>kill #176088735
You swing a bronze-tipped steel claidhmore at a dark vysan!
AS: +79 vs DS: +22 with AvD: +31 + d100 roll: +25 = +113
... and hit for 58 points of damage!
Deft slash!
The dark vysan is spun around and hit hard in its lower back.
The dark vysan is knocked to the ground!
The dark vysan is stunned!
You lose the intense focus of your ki energy.
Roundtime: 5 sec.

[Jumpkick]

Thanks! Here I am being a chump and actually trying to be a monk from the start! Hah

[Aluvius]

I would recommend 2x CM, 2x Brawling, 2x PF, 2x Dodge as a baseline training. Get 1 rank of TWC (as points allow get up to .5x and stop there, I chose after spells but up to you). 5 ranks of Transformation Lore (stop here or at 6 ranks for +1 from 1209). Climbing, Swimming, Perception as you see fit, I usually go .5x at most (though 1x perception much later is nice). HP .5x or so to taste, maybe 1x early on for help spelling up.

I would also recommend going up to 1220 in spells as quickly as you can, you can leave off on some CM if needed to do so but I'd keep it at 1x minimum. If you want to self spell you might want to do 101-103 as well. Once you get to these goals you can leave off spells for awhile and fill in all of your skills like 2x CM and .5x TWC, etc you may have slacked on. You can also bump up Dodge and PF over 2x, but my monk is about to start beelining for 120 first.

I wouldn't take kick or grapple mastery. Punch is what you want to be using, just use the others to tier up (Jab for openings of course). Feint is almost required once you start meeting casters or things that turtle. Unfortunately you need a weapon for that until rank 5 but you can macro it easily. Perfect Self is nice and addicting, my monk took it early up to rank 4. Krynch can be good but honestly its just the best of a poor selection of offensive combat stances, I don't know whether I want to keep it or pick up one of the defensive stances like inner harmony/slippery mind. The usual stuff like combat mobility is also great.

At some point you'll want to start aiming your attacks (around 20ish?), I'd suggest throwing in some Ambush training (10-20 ranks). My monk has 15 ranks and doesn't seem to get any missed openings now. I took the ranks after spells but before going over 1 rank of TWC.

Here's my monk at level 29:


Metog (at level 29), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Two Weapon Combat..................| 70 15
Combat Maneuvers...................| 162 62
Brawling...........................| 162 62
Ambush.............................| 70 15
Physical Fitness...................| 162 62
Dodging............................| 162 62
Harness Power......................| 74 16
Mental Lore - Transformation.......| 30 6
Perception.........................| 70 15
Climbing...........................| 70 15
Swimming...........................| 70 15

Spell Lists
Minor Mental.......................| 20

[Jumpkick]

Thanks for the advice!