A few questions

[Doug]

<DIV>Greetings fellow monks! I seek answers to a few questions which have been bugging me for a while now.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Today I reached level 20 and became a monk, so I feel now is the time to address these questions before I go any furthor.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1) My brother who plays a mystic claims that my monk's DPS is rather low.  Am I doing something wrong?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>- I start off by auto attacking the monster.  I begin my heroic opportunity by using Focus Strike, then I finish it with Taunting Slap.  It either does Sky Strike or Crushing Anvil, i think.  It basically does about 50-60dmg on even cons non-heroics, but i've seen it spike up to about 80 in Blackburrow.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>- I flying kick and thrust kick whenever they are up (now i will be using LU'sungs), </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>- I occasionally use bruising strike and rapid strikes.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What am I doing wrong that makes my brother say that my DPS is low?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2) In terms of weapons, what is important to look at?  I have been looking at the overall stats of the weapon.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>- Does it add any +agil or +str?</DIV> <DIV>- What is the damage rating of the weapon? (I use whatever is highest)</DIV> <DIV>- What is the damage of the weapons?(I make sure its decent)</DIV> <DIV>- What is the speed of the weapons? (I don't really worry about this at all right now.)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have mainly been looking at the damage rating of the weapons i choose to use.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3) I seem to lose HP very quickly but I completely blame this on my light blue-gray conning armor.  I haven't upgraded anything except from what I get from quests.  This ofcourse will soon be over when I get my Monk Quested armor(lvl 20 stuff).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So from what you have read above - am I doing anything wrong?  Should I not be focusing on damage rating?  I dual wield or use a 2hander, just depending on what is better at the time.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Any help or insight any of you can offer me is greatly appreciated.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-Droz Rumblebelly</DIV> <DIV>Halfling Monk</DIV>

[ganjookie]

Have checked out the MONK FAQ at the top of this page yet? <div></div>

[Doug]

<DIV>Yep I've read it through so many times I find myself quoting it in my dreams.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I haven't found exact answers to my questions in it however.</DIV>

[bonesbro]

It sounds like you're doing pretty well.  Don't worry about your DPS much right now.  Classes are pretty close in DPS at 20, but you'll be getting far more offensive attacks than a Mystic will.  You're right that armor upgrades will really help your tanking ability.  I recommend doing the armor quests - that'll get you most of a suit of pretty good stuff, as well as show you some good hunting spots. <div></div>

[Doug]

<DIV>I have another question, just a very very broad and general question:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1) Do monks have a place in large scale raids?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>- I can deduce from reading the FAQ and from playing up to level 20 that monks are indeed DPS / light tank right now.  With combat changes rumored to be "on the horizon" I know that all of this may change.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The question still stands though, do monks have a place in large scale raids?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The reason I ask is that I've been downloading and watching alot of guild movies, watching them defeat major bosses and accomplish what seems to be the end-game.  In the credits a few of these guilds list their members.... I was troubled to find that zero monks were listed.  (They were not evil only guilds, they had a mix.)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>A little insight to my troubled mind is appreciated!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thank you</DIV>

[Gaige]

I raid everynight, for hours.  I almost always have a spot in the raid if I'm around.  So yes, but I'd say more than class, its player ability/knowledge that matters most in getting you good playtime, in any scenario.

[fre'do]

what kind of weapon are u using...i just bought myself a new weapon and i can see the difference in damage now...i hit 100 once in a while...u will see the difference even though i am only lvl 24 i can see why we are dps people.

[Doug]

<P>I am using two of these at level 21:</P> <P> </P> <P><IMG src="http://eq2images.station.sony.com/itemicons/5/6/1/56327294491.gif"></P> <P> </P> <P>However they do not do 15-46 for me right now.  I think they do something like 9-23?  they are 11.3 attack rating.  I can't find better for my level on the broker right now.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P> <P>*edit*</P> <P>And just to add:</P> <P> </P> <P>If anyone has a favorite ability, or key skill that they use when fighting, please feel free to share it and why you use it.  I am very interested in how others have chosen to play their monks. </P> <p>Message Edited by Dougyb on <span class=date_text>07-12-2005</span> <span class=time_text>05:14 PM</span>

[Doug]

<P>I find myself filled with even more questions.</P> <P> </P> <P>- When soloing I am finding that I am using the same HO that I used at level 1.  Does my HO ever change?  I like it's like Sky Dive, or something to that effect. I am currently level 20 and I have switched abilities that I use during my HO's and I am finding that the HO damage is rather low compared to the damage of just a few of my skills (thrust kick, Lu'Sun's stifling dragon, etc all do more).</P> <P> </P> <P>- Do we as monks get more HO's to use on our own?  Does the abilities we use when continueing or finishing the HO have any effect on it whatsoever?</P>

[bonesbro]

<span><blockquote><hr>Dougyb wrote:<div></div> <p>I find myself filled with even more questions.</p> <p>  - When soloing I am finding that I am using the same HO that I used at level 1.  Does my HO ever change?  I like it's like Sky Dive, or something to that effect. I am currently level 20 and I have switched abilities that I use during my HO's and I am finding that the HO damage is rather low compared to the damage of just a few of my skills (thrust kick, Lu'Sun's stifling dragon, etc all do more).</p> <p>  - Do we as monks get more HO's to use on our own?  Does the abilities we use when continueing or finishing the HO have any effect on it whatsoever?</p><hr></blockquote>Nope, your HOs will never change.  They don't scale up much as you level, either.  They're still a useful damage boost, but think of them as free damage in the early game to make up for the fact that you don't have many skills yet.</span><div></div>