monk as tank? - 1. ioun stones vs criticals; 2. dual wielding
Ygramul
Member Posts: 1,059
Basically, can the Ioun stones block critical hits in BG2EE? (Otherwise a monk has x2 damage vulnerability even with the best AC.)
Also, can it gain +++ in dual wielding?
If yes to both, a monk dual wielding katanas in the frontline with magic resistance boosting items seems to be a formidable opponent and a much better wizard slayer than the wizard slayer, no?
Also, can it gain +++ in dual wielding?
If yes to both, a monk dual wielding katanas in the frontline with magic resistance boosting items seems to be a formidable opponent and a much better wizard slayer than the wizard slayer, no?
0
Comments
Not sure about dual-wielding, but I don't think three pips is possible.
Monks can't put towards dual wielding at all. Only single weapon style. They also can't put anything more than 1 point towards anything. There is a bug at the moment where a monk can put a weapon in their off hand but the loss of Thac0 is such that its really only going to be worth it at higher levels.
- BGEE should have had an Ioun Stone (at least the Infravision one) -- great disadvantage to a front liner monk: you will be chunked by Gibberlings frequently. (Monk is a no-go for no-reload.)
- with only a single pip, your APR will be abysmal (though Belm + improv. haste would give 4apr, this is is still not impressive)
Q.: does a bare hand monk fare well? What is the greatest enchantment fists get? Can you punch demons and elementals such and live to tell the tale?
Otherwise I'm gonna ask: what's the bloody point? I had to let Rasaad go in my no-reload run after realizing that I was hauling around just a mediocre slinger... Does it ever get better?
Not sure, on that but I think fists count at best as +4 weapons.
Monks are not tanks. They should be micromanaged to go for the lone mage or archer in the back and pound them with their fists or stun them.
They kinda work like Thieves, hence their proficiencies and skills.
You don't put a Thief in the frontlines to tank and you don't put a Monk as well.
Unlike Backstab, Stunning Fist works any time, not just in the first attack (unless you go invisible or use Shadowdancer).
By the way, Rasaad is instead a Sun Soul Monk. Cannot remember of the specifics, but he should be played a bit more offensively than other monks.
He gets flame fists and a flame attack.
Here is a progression chart you can take a look at
http://playithardcore.com/pihwiki/index.php?title=Baldur's_Gate:_Progression_Charts#Monks
Just click on the Monk link
After level 5 monks are immune to haste. So IH would do nothing. Using Belm would mean that you are either using it as a single weapon, which would mean you would be doing less damage and not more (you'd lose some APR and fist damage by using it). Using Belm in your offhand (because of the bug) would mean that your main hand attacks all get -4 Thac0, and your one offhand attack gets -8. In early BG2 this would be all for an extra 1/2 attack per round (which in my opinion is not worth it). Might be worth it in later BG2 but by then you'll be close to getting the Whirlwind abilities (or already have them).
So, that actually looks formidable late game.
... but still I kinda hoped for a katana wielding monk. Alas.
Lastly, correct me if I'm wrong, but:
- PfMW -> Lower Resist Sequencer -> Zap! means a high level mage will still wipe the floors with a monk...
(then again high level mages do that to anything that ain't a mage...)
Hence the concern about monk survivability...
But I think mages-cast-a-dozen-spells-at-round-1 type 'improvements' are silly for a no-reload run. Just don't cheese yourself, and it will be fine fine game!