Monk questions from a newbie! Please help!

[fraud911]

<DIV>Hey all,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I started a Dwarven monk in EoF and have currently reached level 10. I cannot find who to speak to about becoming a Brawler, or doing that quest line to become one. Can someone point me in any direction? I am in Gfay I believe, or Kelethin, with all the lifts and the city atop the trees.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Maybe I am already a Brawler, not sure.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Also, what is a good weapon of choice for a newbie? Right now I am using a 2 handed staff I found off some wimpy orc. Is it better to go dual weild (crushing/unarmed stuff) or a 2h staff? What else can Monks use, I know of crushing, and unarmed (wraps etc) is that it?<BR><BR>Please advise, I am really liking this character and need a little direction! Thanks!!</DIV>

[tensai]

You are already a brawler.Just started a Fae Monk too.  He's 20 right now and he has about 10 AAs.  Most of them from the quest in Kelethin.If you going for unarmed, you need put points in the STR line.Read this thread for AAs:http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=achievements&message.id=5738&view=by_date_ascending&page=1I wish I read that when I was level 10.  I might have more than 10AAs.<div></div>

[Dragonhelm]

<P>Hi,</P> <P>Brawler is the generic class that both Monk (good characters) and Bruiser (Evil characters) belong to, so as you thought you are already a brawler at the moment. Where they differ is certain skills, and in particular the achievement experience lines. Basically there are two 'trees' that you can spend your achievement points on: A Brawler tree which is available to both Monks and Bruisers, and a Monk tree which is exclusive to Monk characters.</P> <P>Re your question about weapons I regularly switch between 2 Handed, dual wield and fist weapons for a bit of variety. If you want a really good weapon though have a look at what's available on the brokers (From memory I think there's one on the furthest North East platform of Kelethin). Use the advanced search option to find Monk items of level 10 and you'll be amazed how much stuff you can buy from other players! In all likelihood you'll also be able to afford some equipment that far outperforms what you already have!</P> <P>If you have the money I'd also recommend buying a throwing weapon. You can use them to start a fight from a short distance away (instead of a taunt), giving you a chance to do some damage before they reach you.    </P> <P>The two best skills for a Monk (in my opinion) are Feign Death (lvl 14) and Wind Walk (Invisibilty! lvl 24). Both of these make the class really fun to play and have saved my life dozens of times. Hope you enjoy it!  </P> <P> </P>

[fraud911]

<DIV>Thanks all,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Currently when I highlight my name on the top left of my screen it says I am a level 11 Monk. But I have put some points into the Brawler tree for AA.. well, 1 point.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So this means I am a brawler? I swear when I played 2 years ago that there was a quest to become a level 10 'class'. But, I was in Qeynos at the time.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Also, is the brawler tree smart to put my points in? I am going strength, I've only spent 1 point to start the tree off.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks in advance</DIV>

[Mayl]

<DIV>correct, when you last played you started as a brawler.. Then did quests at level 10 and 20th to become a monk/brusier</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>you start now as a monk.  However if you hit "L" to bring up your AA points, both monks and bruisers get AA tree called Brawlers..</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Then you have a 2nd page with monk specific AA's if you want to spend points there.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Regarding weapons, I went dual wield with best available weapons I could afford until I was able to max out my Str line to get the unarmed bonus.  Fastest is 4-4-8 AA points in STR to reach that.  Since then, I have maxed to 8-4-8</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>At 43rd I can no issues soloing up to 47th (no arrows up or down) mobs in Steamfont, SS etc.   There was a huge increase to my damage output when I went barefisted and had my 8 points into the AA str line.  You get 96% chance to double attack and a straight 20% increaes to dps.  Couple that with everburning buff (which you should always run barehanded as the delay on hands is longer then using dual wield weapons) and you burn thru mobs.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I love the monk..  Could never play another class ..  Having FD and self invis is also just amazing</DIV>

[Dragonhelm]

<P>Up until about a year ago you had to choose your sub class and speciality at levels 10 and 20, so for example you'd start off as a fighter at lvl 1, become a brawler at level 10 and a monk at level 20. They then changed it (for the better in my opinion) so that you choose your overall class at level 1.</P> <P>Essentially you are a Brawler specialising in Monk skills, and as a result you are free to spend your achievement points in both trees, up to a maximum of 50 in each. I started by putting some points into Strength in the Brawler tree then spent a few on Run, then Heal in the Monk tree. Largely it's personal choice anyway but it's worth looking at the abilities further down any one tree to see if there's one you <EM>really</EM> want. You won't earn enough to buy all the abilities so this might save you a bit of grief later on. </P> <P>A lot of the Brawler AA's beyond the initial stat increases are very dependent on what weapon you've got equipped. I keep changing my mind (and weapons) so I've tended to spend more on the Monk tree at the moment which improves everything else. Once I finally settle on a weapon I might then look at the Brawler tree again.</P> <P>Both will benefit you though in the long run and it depends which abilities you like/find yourself using a lot. There's also a lot of gear you can buy to increase your stats, and the favourites for Monks seem to be items to increase Strength (More damage and more power), Agility (Higher avoidance) and Stamina (More health).</P> <P>The choice however is yours...! </P> <P> </P> <P> </P>