How to even survive with a level 27 monk?

[Di_Yu]

<DIV>Hi</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I play a dark elf monk level 27 as my alt and she's magnificent in her white Gi. But apart from looks, I can't seem to do anything with her, a single solo mob one level over her's almost kills her, 2 solo mobs at her level almost certainly kills her. What the hell? What am I doing wrong? I play to have fun, I'm having a blast with my main character, 48 fury, but the way my monk is being mishandled is not fun at all.... aren't warriors supposed to be tough [Removed for Content] that can blast through mobs? I don't want to be leveling on green-blue mobs because they are the only one that don't kill me (even that can't be assured). I want to be able to solo in places where anyone else can solo, harclave come's in mind... but I can't seem to do it at all :smileysad:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My gear is nothing exceptionnal, the AQ Gi, a pair of normal imbued T3 weapons and 2 rares dolls i recenty added, agi and res. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Can anyone give me some tricks and advice? :smileysad:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks</DIV><p>Message Edited by Di_Yung on <span class=date_text>08-15-2005</span> <span class=time_text>03:38 AM</span>

[Uanelven]

In harclaves I found I did better not using combat arts.   My auto attack got a big boost with the buff.   Don't try to take on more than two groups. <div></div>

[Di_Yu]

<P>I just lost 4 hours for nothing, I was killed by the last mob, the skeletton king in harclave.... [expletive ninja'd by Faarbot], I was so close!</P> <P>Now I'm seriouly thinking about deleting, monk are useless!!!!!</P>

[Owa]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Di_Yung wrote:<BR> <P>I just lost 4 hours for nothing, I was killed by the last mob, the skeletton king in harclave.... [expletive ninja'd by Faarbot], I was so close!</P> <P>Now I'm seriouly thinking about deleting, monk are useless!!!!!</P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>Monks are definitely not useless. You just need to avoid the mindset that they are like plate tanks - you can't rely on absorbing damage to get you by. Be agile, strike fast, postion yourself <DIV>properly and stun and stifle as much as possible. Levels 20-30 can be tough for Brawlers but things do get better. It takes a certain skill to be able play a Monk  but it's a skill that most people can acquire - so stick with it and enjoy!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>For a comprehensive guide on how to optimise your character and their ability, you can't do better than to check out <FONT color=#ff3300>bonesbro</FONT>s excellent work.</DIV>

[Nefari]

You're in the roughest point of a Monk's life.  25-30 are AWFUL, BUT, after 30, you really start to shine.  Don't give up, the payoff is worth it! Nefalu Bald Monk of Halcyon Affinity <div></div>

[Dandeli]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Di_Yung wrote:<BR> <P>I just lost 4 hours for nothing, I was killed by the last mob, the skeletton king in harclave.... [expletive ninja'd by Faarbot], I was so close!</P> <P>Now I'm seriouly thinking about deleting, monk are useless!!!!!</P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR>If monks usefullness is based off what we can do while soloing, try guardian. They have a much harder time solo.

[Swordmage]

<P>There are a number of strategy threads here if you scan back.</P> <P>I was in the same boat as you around level 31 and then I went back and read the old threads that mentioned soloing and discovered the fine art of stunning and chaining stuns. At your level, many of the tools are not quite in place, but by level 33, you will be able to stun/stop attack, run behind, then chain Winter's Talon, Darting Sparrow, and <what ever your remaining biggest attack is> all without the enemy turning around (it is so nice to see all the Darting Sparrow hits land). This works because Winter's Talon and Darting Sparrow have a stun effect that is long enough for the next art to land.</P> <P>But even if you just use stun as a way of improving the effectiveness of your bit attack art, you gain a lot of ground on that nasty.</P> <DIV>Oh, and never, ever, ever set your expectations for the soloing ability of a normal character by that of a fury. They are GODs. When I switch back from my warden to my monk, I always take a few deaths until I get my expectations back in line with reality.</DIV><p>Message Edited by Swordmage on <span class=date_text>08-15-2005</span> <span class=time_text>05:53 PM</span>

[Kota]

could be operator-head-space and timing.  i'd read the faq. <div></div>

[ShashLigai]

<P>In all the CRP games I've ever played (and that's alot) monks start weak and take a long time to develop, but by the end of the game they are one of, if not the, most powerful char. Based on comments in this thread and others, EQ2 monks appear to follow a similar pattern. </P> <P>I have monk lvl 29, and have the similar prob with solo, especially with mobs with spells. So when i get to a hard spot, I just ask for group, and in groups i really shine as DPS, no one even comes close. </P> <P>Its a long path, but the rewards are worth it.</P> <p>Message Edited by ShashLigai on <span class=date_text>08-16-2005</span> <span class=time_text>12:47 PM</span>

[ganjookie]

I call [ID-10t] error on this.  Especially after I heard how great you think you look in pj's...... <div></div>

[Zetnorr]

<font color="#ccccff"><font size="3"><font face="Century">I  have an Iksar Monk  &  a  Barbarian  Brawler  & I  noticed the  whole  time  that  the Iksar was far  more  agile  than my  Barb. , even  when  they were  at same  Lvl's. The Barb's  strength  is  marginally  higher  but  my  Iksar  alway's hit  harder.I'm  currently  using  a  cesti  &  a DW  staff  for  my Monk. I've  copped  a  few  death's  when  I've  not  been  ready  being  stunned  & such  but have  always  had  the  ability  to  solo  against  a  mob  3  Lvls  higher  ( not  all  but most ) & can  take  a  group  of  3  that  are same Lvl but  blue  heroic's are just  that 1 too  many - I'm  also  good at running ! I  used to  be  a  crusader/SK/Pally  only player  but  now  I'm  a  mad Monk  player ( pun intended )  I  just  love  my Monk  &  can't wait to get  my Barb  to  Monk lvl  as  well.The  only  problem  is  that my  Barb  is  also  doing quite  well  as  a  provisioner  & bring's  in  all  the  coin  <i>it's hard to  Lvl  from behind  the  stove &  keg .</i> I'm looking forward  to  each Lvl  so much so  that  I'm  not  in a rush to  fly past  it  I  want  to  enjoy every  moment  of it. I don't know  what it is  you  might have  been  doing  but  stick  at it , Monk's  are cool  &  Iksar  Monk's  are what  the God's  are made  from. I love  the silent fist kata too  as  an  Iksar  everywhere I  go  I  get comments , " don't belong  in this city " even the dogs &  cat's  " sense that  I don't  belong here "  and  some come right out &  say it. I just turn around  give  them  a  /rude gesture  then  launch  into my  silent fist  kata ! Ah ,  so cool  I only wish  I  started an  Iksar Brawler  when  I  1st  started is  all. </font></font></font>

[Mochr]

I guess it all depends on the monsters you fight. At 23 right now (One more level till my chainweave gi is wearable!) I can easily solo level 25-26 monsters, as long as they are straight up beating on me types. I guess that is part of our function, avoiding getting pummelled. Spellcasters, on the other hand, chew me up and spit me out at level 25. At 24 I can take one out 50% of the time. Frustrating? Sure, perhaps, but I guess it is just an excuse for me to finally start getting some grouping in. <div></div>

[HailinKOP]

<P>I am lvl 24 and I am having a hell of a time tanking and soloing. Healers hate me cause they have to work there butts off to keep me alive. Last night I was tanking two giants at once cause our crusader couldn't keep up. I love being a monk and I love tanking. I was really disappointed cause the druid in the group got [Removed for Content] at me for tanking. He was like "Hey let the crusader do his job." I am not one to speak up and say something so I just swallowed it. But I was choked. YES he had to work harder but at least I kept agro from two giants off the wizzie. </P> <P>I realize I have a ton to learn but now i am starting to think I picked the wrong class. But I just love being a monk so much. /sigh it is frustrating. </P> <P>But I will tough it out as you say it gets better.</P> <P> </P> <P>Halfing Monk</P>

[Kelypto]

<DIV>I am amazed.  I recently came back to eq2 as a 27 monk and leveled up to 31 very quickly.  I was able to solo mobs MUCH higher than me all the way from 27 to 31 and I imagine this will continue.  I regularly solo mobs that are 1 red level above me and go through yellows and oranges like candy.  This means the mobs can be up to 6 levels above me.  At 2 red levels above, the mobs just become too hard to hit.  Just buff yourself with Wis of Zephyl, Karmic focus and keep decent food and drink for the downtime.  Usually when I'm soloing an area I see folks much higher level than me doing the same areas.  It's all about beating them down fast.  Start with an HO, debuff with Grappling Bear then stun, then start mashing your other combat arts.  Avoid Bruising Strike on solo mobs.  My gear isn't anything special either really.  I did all the AQ armor and it's very good stuff until you hit 30.  I upgrade all my arts to app4 or adept1, and keep a good 2 hand weapon.  I found that slower 2 handed weapons are way more efficient than dual wield.</DIV>

[HailinKOP]

<DIV>So does Grappling bear work like cheap shot where you have to stop attacking and move into position? I just got it and I noticed once i did when I used it and it hit Giants went down awfully quick without me taking any damage. Are my eyes just playing tricks on me.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>And I was in a group last night with some upgraded armor and a hella good priest and we flew. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Felt a lot better about my monk last night. Again with a crusader tanking he couldn't keep up to me. Are crusaders really the off tank tank and not monks? Cause i was MT just fine last night and never lost agro.</DIV>

[Waung]

<font size="4"><font size="3">i just wanna say i LOVE my monk, and tank all the time.  it also helps being the highest lvl fighter class in my guild, but my guild leader started out in EQ1 with the mindset that monks just cannot tank, but i like to think i have turned him around on this idea, since our last cove of decay raid he wanted me to be MT but i was at work hehe.  i've also tanked lord everling, and have been told i am to tank varsoon for a couple people's next attempts at him.  now i am contantly upgrading my gear, and have rare crafted imbued weapons, but i solo pretty well too.  i've been in groups where i just tell everyone to take an afk because i solo these mobs when i'm not in a group.  biggest key for me is agility.  get your agility up and your avoidance will be that much better.  i just hit lvl 36 last night and have solo'd pretty much all of my experience off solo quests and soloing while questing since lvl 27 (minus the occasional nektropos/ruins of varsoon group).  and i did tank lvl 40 mobs in runneyeye the other day too at lvl 35 with a group of 4 hehe.  just keep with it and you'll love your class. Trainn Saiyuk Dynasty Rising of Unrest </font></font><div></div>

[Xita]

<P>high 20's to low 30s are very rough on a monk. I still think level 33 was my roughest level with possibly level 29 coming in 2nd.</P> <P>Check your jewelry and make sure its all the good stuff. also make sure you have the best weapons possible. The white gi is pretty good but dump it at 30 for crafted.</P> <P> </P>