Monk Twink Question

[sdp00888]

As a twink monk should I buy black panther gear or stack AC/HP gear? If so what AC/HP would you recommend?

[Jimjam]

Here are a few items that pad AC nicely for low level monks.

http://wiki.project1999.com/Azure_Sleeves
http://wiki.project1999.com/Fine_Silk_Turban
http://wiki.project1999.com/Cloak_of_Shadows Note: BPS cloak (http://wiki.project1999.com/Black_Pantherskin_Cloak) is actually quite good for this slot
http://wiki.project1999.com/Targishin's_Bone_Mask (http://wiki.project1999.com/Targishin%27s_Bone_Mask)

I always figure get enough AC to decently mitigate what you are fighting, then stack HP for wriggle room (with haste/regen/weapons as resources permit).

As you get higher level consider pulling; MR to shrug off roots and CR to save getting iced by comets.

[sdp00888]

My monk is level 21 currently. Thank you for the response

[Red_Messiah]

AC isn't a big deal unless you're tanking, I know I ignored the weight limit they put on monks for a long time.

[RDawg816]

AC isn't a big deal unless you're tanking, I know I ignored the weight limit they put on monks for a long time.
If all you ever do is turn attack on, then yes. If you do more than that, you will want to be light and properly geared.

[EdTuBrutus]

Here are a few items that pad AC nicely for low level monks.

http://wiki.project1999.com/Azure_Sleeves
http://wiki.project1999.com/Fine_Silk_Turban
http://wiki.project1999.com/Cloak_of_Shadows Note: BPS cloak (http://wiki.project1999.com/Black_Pantherskin_Cloak) is actually quite good for this slot
http://wiki.project1999.com/Targishin's_Bone_Mask (http://wiki.project1999.com/Targishin%27s_Bone_Mask)

I always figure get enough AC to decently mitigate what you are fighting, then stack HP for wriggle room (with haste/regen/weapons as resources permit).

As you get higher level consider pulling; MR to shrug off roots and CR to save getting iced by comets.

The BPS cloak might be ok, if it didn't cost 1500pp and http://wiki.project1999.com/Shimmering_Terror_Hide_Cloak wasn't 1200.

[EdTuBrutus]

AC isn't a big deal unless you're tanking, I know I ignored the weight limit they put on monks for a long time.

If you are a monk in an XP group and you are letting anyone else tank, you need a large does of L2P. Unless you are not tanking so you can keep steady pulls coming so mobs arrive right as the last one dies. But if you are pulling you want a high AC anyway.

[Nixtar]

If you are a monk in an XP group and you are letting anyone else tank, you need a large dose of L2P.

Yeah, sure, meanwhile as a healer I'm sitting rolling my eyes as I have to heal the entire damn party because this hero monk read on the forums that monk can mitigate damage really well.

[RDawg816]

Yeah, sure, meanwhile as a healer I'm sitting rolling my eyes as I have to heal the entire damn party because this hero monk read on the forums that monk can mitigate damage really well.
They can and they do. It's a game mechanic. Aggro is another mechanic. There are ways to control that easily.

[Nixtar]

They can and they do. It's a game mechanic. Aggro is another mechanic. There are ways to control that easily.

Exactly why they're not tanks and should absolutely not be seen as the automatic choice for tanking. I'll take a knight any day since they will keep the spice flowing.

[Jimjam]

Exactly why they're not tanks and should absolutely not be seen as the automatic choice for tanking. I'll take a knight any day since they will keep the spice flowing.

Well, they have defence skill on par with a warrior, which means per ac they mitigate the same, and that is before considering the low weight bonus. They also avoid better (and block is considerably better than parry).

You do have a point though; as this avoidance/mitigation is of course offset by monks gaining less hp per stamina and classically itemised to be less tanky (which becomes less relevant as expansions get released up to Loy/PoP as ac becomes possible to hard cap and even easier to reach the point of diminishing returns against real content).

I'm frequently in groups where the only melees are a pair of monks, and the only one I am eye rolling at is the one didn't go for the chunky mitigation boost focusing on AC achieves.

[Raev]

Yeah, sure, meanwhile as a healer I'm sitting rolling my eyes as I have to heal the entire damn party because this hero monk read on the forums that monk can mitigate damage really well.

I could be wrong, but I think Eduin is simply saying that if as a monk you are in fact tanking and you have good AC gear there is no real reason to FD.

Personally I disagree, not for mechanics reasons, but because it's bad for Warrior morale.

But really, once you get stuff slowed, does it even matter who is tanking? XP mobs do so little damage anyway.

[EdTuBrutus]

I could be wrong, but I think Eduin is simply saying that if as a monk you are in fact tanking and you have good AC gear there is no real reason to FD.

Personally I disagree, not for mechanics reasons, but because it's bad for Warrior morale.

But really, once you get stuff slowed, does it even matter who is tanking? XP mobs do so little damage anyway.

Yes and no.

I can see the argument of wanting Warriors to feel relevant while levelling up, especially if your playing with a group of friends or guildies. But a hell of lot of levelling in EQ (especially 50+) is probably going to be done in PUGs and frankly, in a PUG the XP rate is by far the most important concern to me.

I think the key point is that, grouped with a Monk, I'm gonna be very disappointed if they're wearing 12k worth of Black Pantherskin instead of items like Azure Sleeves which cost, what, 50pp tops.

But I don't think that nuance of various scenarios is the important thing in this thread.

The OP asked a question that he deserves an answer to - should he get Pantherskin or AC/HP gear. We know the answer. The problem is some muppet chipping in with a confusing message that AC doesn't matter.

[Red_Messiah]

Nice to see some rustling going on in this thread. Monks are for pulling, tanks are for tanking.

You want chain pulls, and you expect the monk to tank as well? Get out of here. Always happy to smack the mob a few times before going to get the next one. Pick me if you want quick pulls and fast XP, pick those lazy ass monks if you want one that'll tank but try to get the rogue or someone else pulling... or AFK his way out of his role.

[Jimjam]

What makes you think it will be the same monk pulling and tanking?

Monk is a versatile class, the server is saturated with them.

[EdTuBrutus]

Yeah in terms of pure XP (outside AE groups pre-nerf), I don't think you can get much better than MNK, MNK, SHM plus however many ROG the spawn can support. Or if you're being really technical, MNK with Holgresh Beads to tank while pulling, SHM plus however many ROG the spawn can support - but that's just being pedantic.

[fugazi]

Cleric/enchanter wins. Always.

Also, Wu's Quivering Staff is a great and cheap pickup that works wonders up to lvl30. Past that the more expensive 2handers start outperforming it a lil. If money isnt an issue, hi tstaff cd

[fishingme]

Monks can tank. Monks can wear pantherskin armor. WhTs the problem?

[mefdinkins]

I think the key point is that, grouped with a Monk, I'm gonna be very disappointed if they're wearing 12k worth of Black Pantherskin instead of items like Azure Sleeves which cost, what, 50pp tops.

Black Pantherskin Sleeves
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: ARMS
AC: 7
STR: +4 DEX: +5 STA: +5 AGI: +5
WT: 0.4 Size: SMALL
Class: MNK
Race: HUM BAR ELF TRL OGR IKS

vs.

Azure Sleeves
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: ARMS
AC: 12
WT: 0.6 Size: SMALL
Class: ALL
Race: ALL

[brecon]

Here's what matters while you are leveling:
(1) Weapons
(2) Worn haste
(3) Fungi
(3) Lots of bandages
(4) Throwing weaps or a Velious Leather Bracer MQ
(5) +HP gear
(6) +MR gear
(7) Pumices to dispell DS while soloing
(8) Bags to stick them in

Literally nothing else matters, and no one is gonna parse numbers for sub-50 monks to figure out whether 5ac is worth +4str +5stam +5agi on the average fight.

[Phantasm]

HP is nuch more useful imo. I stay withing my weight allowance easily, and regardless of how good you are, eventually you take damage as a puller/general monking.

AC doesnt stop spell damage only at best reduces it partly. Id rather have phat HP.

(As a monk you control how much tanking you gotta do. As a monk you control everything. Learn to time pulls well, the amount your group can handle, how to help CC, etc. Many nuances to learn and having the HP to do it really helps)