starting stats - monk

[sajbert]

Originally Posted by DeathsSilkyMist [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

It just depends on how much you think it will bother you as your character matures. EQ is a long game, and you won't want to reroll a level 60. STA is the better choice, as DEX is easy to cap with buffs.

That being said, you won't be in a position where that lack of STA will prevent you from doing any content. So it isn't the end of the world.

STA can be capped with buffs too, if you don't care about saving that buffslot and you have a STA-buff available then DEX is objectively better than STA. The advantage of STA in this context is that avatar buffs DEX already so you don't require another buff slot to max out DEX.

Even if you're not STA capped a damage proc or earlier avatar proc in a raid setting will be superior to having a bit more HP and bit better mend unless that small difference is what keeps you from dying in the fight, which is rare. For raid pulling that bit of extra HP should you not be STA capped likely won't make the difference. You typically survive or you are SUPER dead.

That's if you even mostly care about raiding. Solo you won't cap DEX without Avatar but you can cap STA self-buffed with insane levels of gear. So again, unless you're sacrificing a lot of other things for the sake of maxing out your resists (e.g. shroud of protection) STA isn't the best in this situation.

AGI is supposedly a pretty dead stat. Charisma doesn't do much for a monk. STR gets capped the fastest... so whenever STA gets capped, and there are many situations where it can, DEX is the winner.

That's why I don't think it's fair to say STA is best even in the extreme end game.

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Originally Posted by sajbert [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

STA can be capped with buffs too, if you don't care about saving that buffslot and you have a STA-buff available then DEX is objectively better than STA. The advantage of STA in this context is that avatar buffs DEX already so you don't require another buff slot to max out DEX.

Even if you're not STA capped a damage proc or earlier avatar proc in a raid setting will be superior to having a bit more HP and bit better mend unless that small difference is what keeps you from dying in the fight, which is rare. For raid pulling that bit of extra HP should you not be STA capped likely won't make the difference. You typically survive or you are SUPER dead.

That's if you even mostly care about raiding. Solo you won't cap DEX without Avatar but you can cap STA self-buffed with insane levels of gear. So again, unless you're sacrificing a lot of other things for the sake of maxing out your resists (e.g. shroud of protection) STA isn't the best in this situation.

AGI is supposedly a pretty dead stat. Charisma doesn't do much for a monk. STR gets capped the fastest... so whenever STA gets capped, and there are many situations where it can, DEX is the winner.

That's why I don't think it's fair to say STA is best even in the extreme end game.

You can get 160 DEX from Avatar + FoS. Monks start with 85 DEX worst case if you are a Human. That means a naked Monk with Avatar + FoS has 235 DEX before gear. Monks want FoS + Avatar, so you will have those buffs in the endgame.

You can only get 50 STA from Riotous Health. 70 STA if you get Primal Essence, but that doesn't stack with Avatar. Monks will pick Avatar over Primal Essence every time.

You are correct that putting your starting stats into DEX does increase your chance of an earlier Avatar Proc for the initial proc. This benefit will be available after a corpse recovery or dispel as well.

Putting your starting stats into STA will give you a bit more wiggle room to swap out resist gear if needed without losing your capped STA, and an extra buff slot. You can use that extra buff slot for a DEX buff to get the earlier Avatar proc, and that DEX buff is better than the amount of starting stat points you get. Overall I'd say that makes STA better, unless you really want the initial Avatar proc edge after a corpse recovery/dispel.

[sajbert]

Originally Posted by DeathsSilkyMist [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

You can get 160 DEX from Avatar + FoS. Monks start with 85 DEX worst case if you are a Human. That means a naked Monk with Avatar + FoS has 235 DEX before gear. Monks want FoS + Avatar, so you will have those buffs in the endgame.

You can only get 50 STA from Riotous Health. 70 STA if you get Primal Essence, but that doesn't stack with Avatar. Monks will pick Avatar over Primal Essence every time.

You are correct that putting your starting stats into DEX does increase your chance of an earlier Avatar Proc for the initial proc.

Putting your starting stats into STA will give you a bit more wiggle room to swap out resist gear if needed without losing your capped STA, and an extra buff slot. You can use that extra buff slot for a DEX buff for the earlier Avatar proc, and that DEX buff is better than the amount of starting stat points you get.

Sure you can cap cap dex with FoS as a STA-monk allowing you to proc Avatar ASAP. It won't help you solo without a Shaman to buff you but for raiding it's true enough. Unless you die and get ressed in fight, in which case you lose the buff and want to proc avatar ASAP.

However, if you go by the p99 monk wiki BIS-list with Gharn's and FoN and add resist-items like shawl of protection and VP robe you're still only 3 STA away from capped. There are a number of sidegrades you could swap in to max out those 3 STA or you could just self-buff.

So I'll maintain that at at the VERY end of the line STA stops to mattering for anything but some heavy resist-set wearing raid puller where it still probably will never matter. I'd personally rather be the heaviest solo hitter one can be. But like you say, DEX isn't exactly that useful either and even AGI could possibly be the best stat at that point.

But in any realistic setting, yeah STA is marginally better unless maybe you have a proc weapon.

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Originally Posted by sajbert [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Sure you can cap cap dex with FoS as a STA-monk allowing you to proc Avatar ASAP. It won't help you solo without a Shaman to buff you but for raiding it's true enough. Unless you die and get ressed in fight, in which case you lose the buff and want to proc avatar ASAP.

However, if you go by the p99 monk wiki BIS-list with Gharn's and FoN and add resist-items like shawl of protection and VP robe you're still only 3 STA away from capped. There are a number of sidegrades you could swap in to max out those 3 STA or you could just self-buff.

So I'll maintain that at at the VERY end of the line STA stops to mattering for anything but some heavy resist-set wearing raid puller where it still probably will never matter. I'd personally rather be the heaviest solo hitter one can be. But like you say, DEX isn't exactly that useful either and even AGI could possibly be the best stat at that point.

But in any realistic setting, yeah STA is marginally better unless maybe you have a proc weapon.

I agree!