New Monk (and to game) looking for AA advice.

[Snee]

Hey everyone I'm new to the monk class and the game. I played a SK during retail and got it to 50 etc etc but I never knew much about monk class. Now I come back and there are AA's and im very confused on what route to go. The two routes that appeal to me are: STR Brawler route and AGI Brawler route. From my perspective and what I know it looks like the STR route will do the most overall damage with the relentless punches. Here is the part I dont understand though...what weapons can I equip that will still give me the relentless punches skill? Can I equip fist wraps, bandage type things and it'll count as bare fisted? What about the claws and cesti type weapons, do they count as relentless punches or are they the AGI Brawler route? Second question is...The AGI Brawler route seems like it would do less damage overall and only give you a bit of mitigation from the AGI, what are the benefits of this tree? I am interested in it because I love the monk and bruiser style weapons and this tree looks like it uses the batons/onehand staff weapons. Thanks for your time, hope you can help.

[Junaru]

<cite>Sneeto wrote:</cite><blockquote>Hey everyone I'm new to the monk class and the game. I played a SK during retail and got it to 50 etc etc but I never knew much about monk class. Now I come back and there are AA's and im very confused on what route to go. The two routes that appeal to me are: STR Brawler route and AGI Brawler route. From my perspective and what I know it looks like the STR route will do the most overall damage with the relentless punches. Here is the part I dont understand though...what weapons can I equip that will still give me the relentless punches skill? Can I equip fist wraps, bandage type things and it'll count as bare fisted? What about the claws and cesti type weapons, do they count as relentless punches or are they the AGI Brawler route? Second question is...The AGI Brawler route seems like it would do less damage overall and only give you a bit of mitigation from the AGI, what are the benefits of this tree? I am interested in it because I love the monk and bruiser style weapons and this tree looks like it uses the batons/onehand staff weapons. Thanks for your time, hope you can help. </blockquote>Relentless Punch is a un-armmed combat. Mean you can't have any weapon or anything in your hands to use it. With a 4,4,8 STR build you hands become very good weapons. In fact until you start raiding you would be hard pressed to find weapons that could beat the damage by the STR AA lines. The AGI line is IMHO really only worth going down for Altruism and only if you raid.

[Chenzir]

<p>STR AA line obviously until you get fabled t7 fists or something.  AGI isnt for me anyways, I would suggest STR 448 INT 448 then WIS 448.</p><p>I use this even now and raid pretty often, if your raiding altruism is actually pretty useless, and you get group fd anyways.</p><p>STR line means no weapons so your going bare fisted.  No weapons and no adornments for bare fist obviously.  I have had multiple people switch to bare hands and praise it cause the weapons and money they waisted was useless compared to what they could do with bare fists.</p><p>Once I get my fabled weapons Ill be going sta int wis 448 in each.  I dont see any decent results from any of the end line abilities, but again thats me personally.</p>

[Junaru]

<cite>Chenzir wrote:</cite><blockquote>I use this even now and raid pretty often, if your raiding altruism is actually pretty useless, and you get group fd anyways.</blockquote> You miss the whole point of Altruism. Group FD doesn't help your main tank when he falls and I can bet the 1st time you FD the main tank group (not like you would be in it anyways) they wont ask you back. Altruism lets the MT fall and get back up fully buffed with all his power rather then need a rez. While the idea is sound I just don't see it working as well as I had hoped and thats due to my guild not being use to it. I'm sure with more time that would/might change but I miss my DPS too much to give it any more time.

[Chenzir]

No I didn't miss the point, the point is you shouldn't be in the main tank group to begin with.  With the ae's on raids fd still gets hit by aoe so really it's pointless to fd the main tank anyways. So first your not in the main tank group, so you don't have to worry about fd'ing the main tank when you shouldn't. Second altruism with ae's in a raid wont help anyways cause hell still die as soon as an aoe goes off.  You should have a MA group anyways so it doesnt matter to much if the main tank takes a dirt nap. If your MT is dying every 15 minutes then maybe you need to get a few more healers in that MT group. Or a better MT.