WIS vs. DEX Monks?

[Requimatic]

Having looked a bit more at Falconry, I've come to dislike the idea of my Monk suddenly being a pet class simply because I'd like to use WIS for to hit/damage.. although I suppose I could just bypass anything having to do with the bird, but that would be kind of a waste.

That said, I also notice that Falconry can't seem to be purchased from the store.. does that mean it's a favor-only unlock? I didn't get the chance to check that before the servers went down. If it IS favor only, and I'm assuming I'm pretty far from that even on my Monk, I likely won't want to bother with it.

That said, I'm curious:

1. I went WIS on my Monk's current life for tactical DCs (Stunning Fist, Quivering Palm, etc.); yet, I'm seeing DEX builds and such with DCs of 100+ (sustained) on these (while also having almost-equal levels of DEX and WIS) abilities.. so I'm curious: are WIS builds even worth it for any reason at this point in the game, when you can achieve such things with other stats, like DEX? (And also maintain a pretty high, almost equal level of WIS anyway? I think the build in question I'm thinking of, the guy only had like 6 WIS less than their DEX.)

Is it basically personal preference?

2. Is Falconry so great that it puts WIS ahead of DEX in some way? While I dislike the idea of a zillion extra buttons and the Monk being a pet class basically, if it was leaps and bounds ahead for some reason I might consider it.. unless it requires a ridiculous amount of favor, at which point I would go DEX without a second thought.. don't want to have to grind before I get re-started, haha.. (Maybe later, though!)

3. I haven't looked at them much, but are the other two universal enhancement trees that can be purchased from the store worth having as well?

I'm considering jumping back in to the game and dumping enough money in to the game for a +7 all stat tome, and probably some very large ingredient/etc. bags/other stuff, but I like to plan way ahead on builds (especially in this game..) beforehand so I know what to do every step of the way. Also planning on VIPing again, too. Also probably that Tome of Learning that persists through TR.

Also, is there a preferred route when running through Heroic levels these days? As soon as I hit 20 on this Monk I'd be TRing again both for a 36pt build and to relearn the basics of the game.. but I also don't want to waste time in content that is largely considered irrelevant or outdated.

Thanks (again)!

[Doug]

Originally posted by Requimatic:

Having looked a bit more at Falconry, I've come to dislike the idea of my Monk suddenly being a pet class simply because I'd like to use WIS for to hit/damage.. although I suppose I could just bypass anything having to do with the bird, but that would be kind of a waste.

That said, I also notice that Falconry can't seem to be purchased from the store.. does that mean it's a favor-only unlock? I didn't get the chance to check that before the servers went down. If it IS favor only, and I'm assuming I'm pretty far from that even on my Monk, I likely won't want to bother with it.

Last I saw, the Falconry Enhancement tree could only be bought in the DDO Store as part of the White Plume Mountain Bonus bundle for 1495 DDO Points or unlocked via 700 Free Agent Favor. There's only 720 FA favor in the game, so you have to be VIP or own most of the game's content to do this. https://ddowiki.com/page/Favor#The_Free_Agents (Fun note: This will require you to run the Titan raid, which is pretty uncommon these days.. also the Zawabi's Revenge raid in the Sands.)

[Doug]

Originally posted by Requimatic:

That said, I'm curious:

1. I went WIS on my Monk's current life for tactical DCs (Stunning Fist, Quivering Palm, etc.); yet, I'm seeing DEX builds and such with DCs of 100+ (sustained) on these (while also having almost-equal levels of DEX and WIS) abilities.. so I'm curious: are WIS builds even worth it for any reason at this point in the game, when you can achieve such things with other stats, like DEX? (And also maintain a pretty high, almost equal level of WIS anyway? I think the build in question I'm thinking of, the guy only had like 6 WIS less than their DEX.)

Is it basically personal preference?

2. Is Falconry so great that it puts WIS ahead of DEX in some way? While I dislike the idea of a zillion extra buttons and the Monk being a pet class basically, if it was leaps and bounds ahead for some reason I might consider it.. unless it requires a ridiculous amount of favor, at which point I would go DEX without a second thought.. don't want to have to grind before I get re-started, haha.. (Maybe later, though!)

Wis or Dex to-hit.. no big deal which you use. But if you use Dex to hit and it penalizes your Wis, of course you take a DC hit on all your special attacks. (And Wis affects maximum Ki, but that's not generally an issue.) Both Wis AND Dex add to AC for a Monk.

Then there are stances. Air stance boosts Dex and attack speed. Water boosts Wis and saves, Earth boosts defences and gets extra Ki when something hits you. Fire boosts Str and Ki when you hit something.

Thing is, as long as your Dex is high enough to hit stuff, you don't need it to be your highest stat. So a Dex-based Monk might still boost Wis primarily.

There are all kinds of tradeoffs and what they look like depends on other factors like how many past lives and/or what stat tomes you might have. Is it basically personal preference? Kinda.

Falconry is great because it adds the option to use Wis for to-hit and damage. That doesn't mean it's the best choice for any given toon.

[Doug]

Originally posted by Requimatic:

3. I haven't looked at them much, but are the other two universal enhancement trees that can be purchased from the store worth having as well?

I'm not keen on the Vistani Enhancement Tree. It's pretty cheap at 495 DDO points, but only useful for dagger fighting (or throwing). And daggers have tiny hitboxes and poor damage. Still, I've built a toon or two that used it. It can also be unlocked with 180 Keepers of the Feather Favor, which requires that you own the Mists of Ravenloft expansion.

OTOH, the Harper tree has been very useful to me. Eldritch Knight Wizards with Int to-hit and for damage. Or Assassin Rogues likewise. Or Artificers. Gaining that requires only 12AP invested in the tree. I've seldom built anything that used much more of that tree, though.

[Doug]

Originally posted by Requimatic:

I'm considering jumping back in to the game and dumping enough money in to the game for a +7 all stat tome, and probably some very large ingredient/etc. bags/other stuff, but I like to plan way ahead on builds (especially in this game..) beforehand so I know what to do every step of the way. Also planning on VIPing again, too. Also probably that Tome of Learning that persists through TR.

There are two of those tomes of learning: one heroic and one epic. And each has a Greater and a Lesser version (+25%XP and +10%XP iirc). If you're considering buying any of the Expansions (Menace of the Underdark, Shadowfell Conspiracy, Mists of Ravenloft), check the bundles in the DDO Market. SC's Collector's Edition includes a Greater Tome of Epic Learning, while Menace of the Underdark's Standard Edition includes a Greater Tome of Learning (among other stuff in each case). Might be cost-effective to buy it that way and get some other goodies as well. https://store.standingstonegames.com/store/ssg/en_US/list/categoryID.58733100/parentCategoryID.58516100/themeid.4823088000

As for the planning ahead on builds, I used to recommend Ron's Character Planner, but the volunteers who were keeping it up-to-date with game changes have stopped. You could try Ellisdee's Character Builder Lite, tho. It's more designed for those who know the game rules better, but I expect it'll keep you from missing a prereq, which is the most common build error. https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/455712-Character-Builder-Lite

[Doug]

Originally posted by Requimatic:

Also, is there a preferred route when running through Heroic levels these days? As soon as I hit 20 on this Monk I'd be TRing again both for a 36pt build and to relearn the basics of the game.. but I also don't want to waste time in content that is largely considered irrelevant or outdated.

Thanks (again)!

Someone probably has a preferred route. I don't. Mostly I make sure I'm running an Elite Streak (all quests at-level on Elite or Reaper for a 50% XP bonus (https://ddowiki.com/page/Bravery_Bonus). About the only quest I farm is Shadow Crypt, for which I have an opener so I can run up to R/E/H/N. Pretty much my entire L10 worth of XP every life (I do it at L9, but when I already have enough XP to be L10). And the one quest chain I definitely do every life is Three-Barrel Cove, because the quests there have exceptional XP.

There are some places I avoid because they're longish to get to or because there aren't groups. Main four that come to mind are Splinterskull, Sorrowdusk, Threnal and the two quests in the Restless Isles (Ghola Fan and Shrieking Mines). There are probably others.