Couple Questions: Barbarians and Monks

[WoodMan]

Hey all! Icewind Dale veteran here, but just playing through with the EE now (and its great). Couple of questions since I've never used a Monk or Barbarian before and I have one of each in my party.

Firstly, if I use barbarian rage and then click level up does the Constitution bonus from the rage go towards my level up and give me the extra HP bonus?

Also, with Monks a more general question.... WTF? lol, basically I can't figure out exactly what role he is meant to be playing! He is kind of a bit useless at the moment... Kind of like a mage (try to keep him alive) but without the spells!

I've seen some BG2 guides on Monks and the main problem seems to be that those guides are referring to much higher level monks. I can't see what use a low level monk has in a low level party. He has good AC I suppose, so I was using him a a distraction/tank, but it kind of backfired and I just brought him back at the temple, lol. Any tips on best use of a monk? Damage dealer, tank, something else?

[Grigsey]

Monks: hard to keep alive at the start, super ultra awesome once they are leveled up, but ya really hard to get going.

They are kind of a generalist class like a bard, except more focused on combat (in the long run).

[WoodMan]

Cool thanks, I had a feeling they would get better as they go along, definately a tricky start though! Any info on the Barb Rage/Level Up trick? (I'll try it next time anyway, but it might be a while).

[Lady Crimson (RIP)]

Monks are designed to be anti-spell casters. In 2E and 3E, and any other.. they have good saves with spells and are all attack.

The reason why monks get to be so powerful at the later levels is because mages get so powerful at the later levels.

As mages don't usually attack with weapons, monks are perfect against them (as that is their main downside).

Monks also are fast and able to get to mages/clerics/druids sooner (as well as spell resistance and some immunities I think).

[Lady Crimson (RIP)]

Also no, the rage hp lasts as long as the rage does.
Doing otherwise would be a bug, and it shouldn't, if it does.

[Lady Crimson (RIP)]

Basically, keep monks away from the people with the swords unless you have to.
Have them run around and go after the people who are weaker at melee, ranged, spell casters, or stealths, as you need.
They are offense based, in their hands.

[Tyler Durden]

My monk became the best non-mage tank in the party, as well as the most damaging, even almost rivalling my Archer in terms of kills. Starting out, she was kinda fragile (even with max con and dex bonuses) and honestly I kinda felt like I should have gone with a different class instead. But, I kept on and eventually she became the strongest member of the party physical damage-wise too, and her speed and ultra high AC made her nigh unstoppable. Towards the end of the game she literally used to chunk almost everything.

So I think you should hang in there for a bit. Monks do start off rather weak, but their potential will more than make up for that!

[Scorpiova]

Have your mage supplement your monk with defensive spells... also a sun soul monk can use sun ray (or whatever it is called) which I believe is a nice ranged spells as they are closing in on the enemies casters.

[fenlander]

Does a high Wisdom stat help with monks in this game like it does in Neverwinter Nights ?

[Tyler Durden]

Not at all, I'm afraid.

[Ancient Ways]

I have not done a monk in this game but have in other d&d computer games. If they follow the same growth plan, then Monks are very weak for a long time before eventually becoming quite nasty.

There are some gamers out there who seem to like the idea of struggling with weak characters and long hours of wretched gameplay, in order to have that character become ultra badass at the last moments of the game. Personally, I have never understood that mentality, but they are out there. Perhaps the monk was made with them in mind.

[fenlander]

Originally posted by Ancient Ways:

I have not done a monk in this game but have in other d&d computer games. If they follow the same growth plan, then Monks are very weak for a long time before eventually becoming quite nasty.

There are some gamers out there who seem to like the idea of struggling with weak characters and long hours of wretched gameplay, in order to have that character become ultra badass at the last moments of the game. Personally, I have never understood that mentality, but they are out there. Perhaps the monk was made with them in mind.

I have made a monk for a play through and she is only level 4 at the moment and is doing really well against ranged and spell casters. Even getting them to fizzle their spells.

She doesn't do well against melee npcs at the present though.

[13524697035]

Originally posted by WoodMan:

Hey all! Icewind Dale veteran here, but just playing through with the EE now (and its great). Couple of questions since I've never used a Monk or Barbarian before and I have one of each in my party.

Firstly, if I use barbarian rage and then click level up does the Constitution bonus from the rage go towards my level up and give me the extra HP bonus?

Also, with Monks a more general question.... WTF? lol, basically I can't figure out exactly what role he is meant to be playing! He is kind of a bit useless at the moment... Kind of like a mage (try to keep him alive) but without the spells!

I've seen some BG2 guides on Monks and the main problem seems to be that those guides are referring to much higher level monks. I can't see what use a low level monk has in a low level party. He has good AC I suppose, so I was using him a a distraction/tank, but it kind of backfired and I just brought him back at the temple, lol. Any tips on best use of a monk? Damage dealer, tank, something else?

I build up a Dark Moon Monk with LW, now he is Level 16.
Basce THACO: 5
Fist +3 (at level 15 the monk's fist will be treated as +3 magic weapon)
Dex -2
Str -3

Total to Hit -3, my best paladin with the +4 long sword now to Hit is -1.

Dmg:

Fist +3: 1D20+3 ( at level 15 the monk's fist basic damage is 1D20+3)
Strength :+7 (with belt of Str 19)
Number of attacks: 7/2 ( 7 times per 2 round)

Also the monk gain 45% magic residence,
and immune to any mind control spells.

So, what say you?
Monk can be a killing machine, once he/she levels up.

[Damn_Monkey]

I'm sure the OP is greatfull to get a responce two and a half years later.

[Tyler Durden]

Nevromancy is a fine art, mind you.