Announcement

**DerekKnight** · 07-13-2004, 12:36 AM

Well, currently lvl 36 (800 out from 37). Nearing that point where my wallet starts smoking =/

Anyways, here's my gear.

Mrc. Capt. Doublet
Mrc. Capt. Headgear
Ochiudo's Kotes
Impact Knuckles
Spike Necklace
Garnet Rings x2
Beetle Earrings (the +1s are sold out atm)
Federation Kyahan (I think)
Purple Belt
Martial Slacks

I think that's all the slots.

At lvl 40, the choices, of course, open up. Jujitsu Gi (given), Brown Belt, Snipers, etc.

However, my question is, which path to take? I'm not too impressed with the Kotes to be honest. Especially not for 500k on my server. Snipers go for 400k ea currently as well. With me being a self admitted STR whore (=D) I'm puzzled.

Do I need these Kotes? Can I sell them back, and pick up Ogygos' Bracelets (STR+5, DEX/AGI-3 I think) or go with Battle Gloves? How many Snipers? One? Two? Brown Belt worth it when it's probably replaced by my Lifebelt at 48 anyways?

Obviously, there's a bunch of choices there. Just trying to make the right one for me (Hume Male). I'm leaning towards a good mix of STR and Accuracy to be honest.

Does anyone have anything to add? Suggestions? Comments? =)

I'm loving the job thus far. Hope to keep kicking ass.

**garic** · 07-13-2004, 05:24 AM

Greetings,

I too am going down the monk road now. Since im not even past lvl 20 as mnk now im probably not qualified to answer any questions about the job, but one thing i do know is that i will be getting the Kote as soon as i can. Yea the pricing on our server isn't very good but it has to be worth it IMO. I have heard that eventually you wont notice the Kote having any effect vs your AF gloves, but if/when this happens you can easily get your money back, so buying the Kote (though im waiting on it to drop in price some) seems like a worthwile investment no matter how you cut it. However, if you have them already and say they arent worth it im puzzled.

As to the other questions there are many threads pertaning to this topic. Throw a few searches around and im sure you can find what you are looking for.

**Rising Tornado** · 07-13-2004, 11:43 PM

hi! /waves

some thoughts in no particular order are:

i've heard it said by people that as you level further, past a certain point, the attack bonus from the Kote is seen in diminishing returns.
that is, at the level when you can first equip them, they offer a considerable bang for the buck, so to speak, but past level 60~ish, the advantage they offer is less noticable of a difference.

that said, i have not gotten that high myself, and not everyone above 60 holds that opinion.

the big difference between the Kote and the AF gloves is in the specific bonus.

i read of people/s Boost macros where they will switch to their AF gloves before boosting, because they have a bonus adding to the boost effect (thus raising attack), but since boost only affects your very next hit (or weaponskill), they then switch to the Kote after boosting.

either way, i'm level 40, and i use the Kote.
i spent over 500k for them (they were less than 400k when i first could equip them, if i remember correctly)

at 40, i traded in the Martial Slacks for the Jujitsu sitabaki (a few levels late, but it didnt really matter).
i bought the Jujitsu Gi as well.

i still use the Federation Kyahan, as they offer an attack bonus i like, and i am not in a rush to grab the Fuma Kyahans until i am ready to get the Brown Belt as well
(this means about 400k total i need to save for those).

I got Mythril Knuckles at 32, and a few weeks ago, bought Mythril Knuckles +1. i like them.

the path to take.... thats something i hadnt decided on with much solidity myself, before just tonight.

my LS mates were discussing the ability Counterstance, which kind of sucks just by itself, unless you're also using Cross Counters, a ridiculously priced end-game weapon.

however, there are other equps which offer additional bonus to Counter.
i observed (as the only monk in our linkshell) that the counter ability (the inherent one we have long before the counterstance skill) could be quite a formidable force if you could really crank up the % frequency that it activates.

this really started me thinking along a line i hadn't before:
i wondered two things:

1) i wonder what the total end cost would be to get your final monk all of the +countering equipment, thus maximizing every possibility to enhance the Counter ability,

2) i wondered what the end result would be in terms of the % of time it would activate.

someone in the linkshell who's pretty experienced said she believed it wouldnt get the innate countering percentage not much beyond maybe 40% of the time.

that was somewhat disheartening; however, all it means for sure is that i'm now intrigued enough to research it all and find out for sure, myself.

I am really impressed by counter. if it were possible to get it to activate 50% of the time or better, it would dramatically change the nature of battle (at least when soloing).

just as some paths of monk are to max out the +haste gear, like brown belt (black, eventually), fuma kyahan, etc etc, for a fast hitting monk,

another concievable path is to fully specialize in the counter aspect.
it just wont work if you do it halfheartedly.
in order for it to be a viable path, you have to dedicate yourself to equipping yourself fully without cutting any corners.

a Counter monk wont be wearing AF or haste or attack gear.
a Counter monk is going to end up wearing the Rasetsu armor and cross-counters.

the frustrating part is that most +counter items come with a hit in evasion or defense. you counter their hits more often, but if you do take a hit, it hurts more.

still, ive become rather intrigued by the idea, and i think i may pursue it when the time comes.

whats funny about all this expensive equipment i have purchased since hitting 40 (been farming, not leveling, for a couple months now), is that i leave most of it at home anymore when i farm.

i'll leave town with my Kote on, my boots, my earrings, and my spike necklace. maybe a ring. oh yeah, cant leave home without my cool Hachimaki.

anyway, having done gobbie bag #2, i get to leave town with maybe 7/40 slots occupied, and i have a lot more carrying room ^^

it all started when i left my knuckles behind one day, thinking "this means one extra slot".
pretty soon, it was just me, my underwear, and the soft Tahrongi breeze while i hunted air elementals and such.

i get examined a lot, running around Tahrongi in my Elvaan long-johns, boots and red gloves XD

**Dano** · 07-14-2004, 02:17 AM

well.. you've forgot the relics, there's one piece that enhance counterstance

and there's the ultimate weapon for monk (spharai), which enhance counter too, but to how much extent, no one knows.

**DerekKnight** · 07-15-2004, 08:53 PM

Well, currently I'm like 2.5k from lvl 40. My last pt where I hit lvl 39, I was doing some very respectable damage. I was quite proud. Anyways, I've taken a bit of a break to farm and fish for the gil for the equipment I want. Sure, it may be overkill, however, I want to take good care of my MNK. MNKs are Fairy seem to be few and far between, and I'm making mine count.

Sniper Ring x2 (@ 400k ea)
Brown Belt (380k)
Jujitsu Gi. (170k)

Yeah, it's the standard stuff right now for lvl 40, but at total, it'll run me around 1.35 million for the equipment.

I think farming and such is fun for this personally. It's made me think of new ways of making gil. To be truly successful, it helps to dabble in a lot of different things to come together as a whole, and a whole lot of gil =)

I'm having a ton of fun so far, and it's going to get even better. =)

**Rising Tornado** · 07-15-2004, 11:28 PM

Excellent!
its great to see another person with such a positive attitude toward farming.

a lot of people (understandably so) grumble and complain to no end about it, but i see every bit of it as part of playing my character. i'm not racing to beat anyone to level 75. i'll get there when im ready.

in the meantime, people who have rushed past me lack many of the things ive gotten:
mog safe expansion #2, gobbie bag expansion #4
(yeah, i spent 150k to get those both done last night), rank 5, lots of fame in all the cities, great gear, etc.

**DerekKnight** · 07-16-2004, 05:58 AM

Yeah, I totally understand the grumbling about farming itself. I used to farm different mobs all over as my WAR, and I got tired of it. It got old, quick. Which is when I pursued over avenues for gil. Crafts. ^^ When you really sit down and look at it, the game does throw a lot of gil at you, and ways to make it, outside of drops, and NM drops. You just need some time and effort. However, people find whatever whats for them, and that's all good for me. ^^

Personally, the only thing I lack really is the last Mog House expension, which I'm hoping to open the quest this Sunday. Fame, quests, and etc I had tons of fun doing, and hope to do even more of them in the future. Instead of doing them with my WAR, I want to do it with my MNK. =)

Anyways, I'll definitely get the gear I need, just a short matter of time.

Edit: Anyone know the original names of the H2H weapon skills in Romanji? i.e. Asuraken, Rangeki (I think) and etc?

**Rising Tornado** · 07-16-2004, 04:35 PM

Anyone know the original names of the H2H weapon skills in Romanji? i.e. Asuraken, Rangeki (I think) and etc?

i'm afraid i don't.

**DerekKnight** · 07-20-2004, 01:14 PM

Woot! I got the item form Molbolger today for the Brown Belt...only problems left are Dodo and nue ;_;

**Rising Tornado** · 07-20-2004, 04:37 PM

from what i hear, you have the most troublesome item out of the way. congratulations, and good luck!

**DerekKnight** · 07-20-2004, 06:49 PM

=( Man, was able to pop both Nue and Dodo, but neither dropped for me. Depressing.

**DerekKnight** · 07-24-2004, 07:15 AM

Well, currently lvl 43 now. Wearing around 2 milion in gear and proud of it. =) It's kind of funny to arrive to a party with a black tunic and staff and see "xxxx examines you." from the party before putting on the Gi, Claws, and headgear.

After Gustav though, I've hit a wall. Crawler's Nest ;_; When going through this place again as my WAR, it really wasn't bad. Currently, at least on that day, it was HORRIBLE. Grossly overcamped...just disgusting.

Anyone know of any alternative lvling routes at 43 on up besodes CN Soldier Crawlers/Hawkers? I'm sure it's not bad at good times (and now during the Summerfest hubbub) but man...it's not looking great.

Equipment goals for lvl 50-60:
Enkelados' Bracelets
Cross-Counters
Masters Sitabaki
Kung Fu Shoes (maybe)
Specticles.

Should be fun if I can ever reach that lvl =)

**Wrath** · 07-24-2004, 05:26 PM

You can do Desert Beetles in Altepa at that level.

**DerekKnight** · 08-05-2004, 11:14 PM

Well, little bit of a progress report ^^

Currently lvl 54 now, and I've updated my equipment link in my sig. I just had a great night of progress with AF items.

MNK AF2 was completely SOLOED by myself! I was amazed. I invied into the location of the tent flap. Here's where I was amazed. I uninvised, and spawned rhe NMs expecting to die, then reraise and grab the flap. Thing is, they did NOT aggro upon their spawn! I realized this, and quickly reinvised. I then looked around for the Tent flap again and managed to get the Key Item without any aggro at all! WOOT!

My LS and I then hit up CN for a coffer key/skill up party. Took on a Helm Beetle. One beetle...one key!! =O

So we headed to Beadueax (sp) for a key for our WHM and myself. After a bit of time, we got 3 (!!) straight key drops!

On a whim, I hit up CN again to camp for a coffer in the rumble room, and sure enough, it was right there! =) I got the items for Dark Spark and warped on out!

So, in one night: AF2 Done, AF3 started, CN coffer/key Get, Beadueax key get! I also have my GC key from before, so I'm all done for keys!

Rock. On. =)

Announcement

My Journey into the World of MNK

My Journey into the World of MNK

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