Kung-Fooiness

[Ayedin]

<p>(Posted in bruiser forum as well.)</p><p>Hey, new player here.</p><p>I started a froglok monk with the intention of betraying to become a bruiser. Mostly because I'd heard that bruisers were better for soloing.</p><p>I plan to mostly solo. I'm especially attracted to the brawlers' ability to delve deeper into dungeons and solo boss mobs that I've read about. I also enjoy taking on multiple mobs at once. (I love the cobra strike!)</p><p>At level 14 I finished my Neriak citizenship and became a bruiser. I didn't expect how much the froglok martial arts animations of the monk would add to my enjoyment, and I was disappointed when I took on the more street-thug bruiser style animations.</p><p>So my question is, do bruisers get more kung-fooey animations later on? And if not, are they _so_ much better than monks (particular at solo dungeon-diving) that I should just get used to the thuggish animations? Or can I return to my monkly ways and still enjoy the playstyle I'm hoping for?</p><p>Thanks!</p>

[Morrolan V]

<p>Monks are excellent soloers.  You can solo with a monk and have a great time.</p><p>Bruisers are, in my understanding, slightly better at soloing really tough encounters because they have better burst DPS at higher levels.</p><p>I would not worry at all about being able to solo quite effectively with a monk.</p>

[XunSarak]

<p>wouldn't worry about soloing as a monk either. Have been 80 since a couple weeks after launch and solo over 90% of the time. I also have 166AA atm.</p><p>Yes I like the animations especially with a 2h. But I really have no issues with soloing, questing.</p><p>80 Monk Highkeep/Butcherblock</p>

[Larkverdin]

<p>I actually just betrayed from an iksar bruiser to a monk, and I like the monk better imo. To answer your question though, no, bruisers don't get more traditional fighting movements or styles later on, it's pretty much going to be thuggish/street fighting moves the whole way. The monk on the other hand does have the more traditional, fluid movements, so you can make your selection there based on those facts (also, monk ability names are more martial art sounding, whereas bruiser ones are going to be more thuggish).</p><p>Now to your other question, I just betrayed like a week ago, I've gained 2 levels being a monk (from 54-56) and based on my playing a bruiser for 54 levels and a monk for 2, so far I haven't noticed much of a difference. One thing I have noticed, is the bruiser does have more burst DPS, but as far as sustained DPS, a monk is going to win that fight. Let that factor into your choice if you ever want to get into a raid as DPS instead of tanking, monks=sustained DPS, bruisers=burst DPS. Also, just as a side note, the invis that a monk gets that a bruiser doesn't, is awesome, and I can especially see it being helpful to you if you choose to proceed with dungeon-diving.</p><p>Hope this helps <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>