Monk theory

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Reading through the monks abilities makes it sound like it can do some pretty powerful stuff but when ever i start a game with one a feel week and want to go again with a new character. What do you guys think of the monk? What are its advantages/disadvantages, fun bits, etc.

 

Monk is imo one of the best classes in the game. I have completed the game many times and the easiest time I had doing that was playing as a monk, I never used its special abilities much and battles with certain enemies that would usually be pretty hard became easy, I mean he probably wouldn't be as good as a Kensai dual wielding +5 Scimitars and Katana but he’s one of my favourites Disadvantages ? I cant think of any

 

First off monks are like blades - they don't shine until mid to late game, so try to keep your patience up when you start one.

The monk is much like a fighter, only he's highly magic resistant, faster, immune to almost any effect (beneficial or harmful), able to heal himself and can stun enemies (Stunning Blow) or potentially kill them in one blow (Quivering Palm). He may also hide in the shadows.
The monk's fists do crushing (bludgeoning) damage, the least resisted damage type in the game, and he can do 1d20 per hit at higher levels - higher than any fighter can do without the benefit of anything other than a weapon and weapon proficiencies. He has fighter HLA's in ToB.

In contrast to fighters though, he has the THAC0 progression of a cleric. He may not wear armour (though he can reach very low AC) and he may only wield one hand thief-class weapons. He may not use helms.

Summing that all up you get a fighter adept at killing magic-users, who can Hide in the Shadows and has some nasty special abilities.

I've used a monk through SoA before, and it was only when I got to level 16+ that I realized his prowess - he was going around killing anything in sight all by himself, and just about everything he killed exploded.
I only had problems from enemies who could cast imprisonment, and when I needed to hit certain somethings who were immune to my fists.

 

Yes, it's easier to complete the Underdark than Irenicus's Prison with a monk.

 

The hardest part about the beginning of the game with a monk is your offense isn't great enough yet to make up for your even worse defense. And with the hit points of a cleric, you'll go down a lot easier.

Later on, when your fists level up, your offensive power (plus hide in shadows to get the first hit in) allows you to kill most things before they damage you too seriously, so the lack of armour isn't such a big deal.

So early on, make sure to load up on healing potions, and I had to rest often, so I suggest the same. Once you get the Ioun stone of Regeneration (which Monks CAN use for head gear), then you can start worrying less about health.

 

Not to mention that after you get those guantlets off the Sahanguin King you make your fists a truly deadly weapon.

 

Anyone clocked it solo monk?