Dungeons & Dragons team operating all the members of Team.

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So, yeah, that's obviously a poorly-translated version of the actual statement using Babelfish.   You can find the actual statement in Chinese HERE.  If you happen to be able to read it and do a better translation, I'd sure love to hear from you! 

Thanks Ustice from DDOReports.com for breaking the news on this.

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Alex's Guide To Making A Monk Who Can Rez!

I asked Alex Haddox to put together a quick write-up on how to get Rise of the Phoenix for your monk.  Here it is:

Monks are so much more than pugilists. When properly built with an appropriate blend of Feats and Enhancements they can add more to a party than just DPS. Those players who focus exclusively on the damage output of their monks are missing out on some amazing skills that benefit everyone in the party without reducing their martial prowess.

One such skill of the monk is the ability to raise the dead.

Yes, the monk is one of the few chosen classes with an innate ability to raise the dead. No scrolls or clickies here... Just Ki and a bit of personal health are all that is required. However, to do so the monk must be built properly from the ground up, starting with the base attribute scores.

There are several sets of prerequisite enhancements for the final Rise of the Phoenix enhancement at level 9th. In turn, those enhancements require certain base attribute scores. If the player min-maxed the character build he or she will miss out on the raise dead ability.

The key to the monk is balance. It is the mantra of the class and the pinnacle of enhancements, Rise of the Phoenix, reflects that philosophy. Therefore, the monk searching for the ultimate ability must have balanced attributes. You must have a base twelve (12) score in the three (3) of the four (4) primary monk attributes:

Strength
Dexterity
Constitution
Wisdom

Then one attribute, and it does not matter which, must be at least 14. In this example, I will choose Dexterity as that attribute (I prefer Wind Stance). So when I build this character, I will use the following minimum attributes for the character:

Strength: 12
Dexterity: 14
Constitution: 12
Wisdom: 12

Feel free to adjust to taste, keeping these as a minimum.

Now that you have the minimum attributes to purchase all of the enhancements you need, it is time to start collecting all of the prerequisites for Rise of the Phoenix.

You can start setting yourself up as early as 1st level. Here you can purchase all four (4) base elemental stances:

- Disciple of Breezes
- Disciple of Candles
- Disciple of Pebbles
- Disciple of Puddles

At 3rd level you purchase the one (1) Feat needed for this enhancement series: The Path of Harmonious Balance. The Development Dungeon article "The Way of the Monk" describes the path as the choice of those monks who “seek to be at peace with the world.”

Also at 3rd level you purchase your first cleansing ability enhancement: Lifting the Veil. This ability grants the ability to remove blindness from a party member.

At 4th level you purchase your next cleansing ability: The Receptive Earth. This ability allows you to cure an ally of disease.

At 5th level you pick up another cleansing ability: Restoring the Balance. This ability allows you to remove curses from an ally.

At 6th level you purchase two (2) enhancements. The first is your second level Elemental Stance. Continuing with the example used earlier (Dexterity of 14), this would be Adept of Wind. The other enhancement is Difficulty at the Beginning which grants the ability to cast a Lesser Restoration on your comrades.

When you have acquired all of those enhancements, your next stop is 9th level and Rise of the Phoenix.


Enhancement Point Cost:

(1) Disciple of Breezes
(1) Disciple of Candles
(1) Disciple of Pebbles
(1) Disciple of Puddles
(2) Lifting the Veil
(2) The Receptive Earth
(2) Restoring the Balance
(2) Adept of xxxx (your choice)
(2) Difficulty at the Beginning
(4) Rise of the Phoenix

Total enhancement points spent: 18

The Path to Rise of the Phoenix is not an easy one, but it is well worth the effort. It can mean the difference between a total group wipe-out (TGW) or an easy run with a mere bump along the way. The middle road of the Path of Balance keeps the way smooth and clear.

Alex Haddox
http://www.alexhaddox.com


Thanks Alex!  I've grouped with his monk and had the party saved more than once from this ability.  It takes a lot to do, but might very well be worth it to ya!

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New DDO Community Rep!

Name's Clover Luckyleaf.  Announced by Tolero today on the ddo.com boards!  Clover's been working on a new section called the Gameplay Guides.  Find it HERE.  Congrats Clover (or is it Lucky? ) on joining the DDO team!  Look forward to speaking with you at some point here.

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I leave you today with a word of warning:  If you have a choice of an end reward between a +3 Battleaxe of Parrying and a Wounding Rapier of Puncturing.....take the rapier!  I was in a PUG group this past week where someone took the former rather than the latter, not knowing what they were passing up.  This person mentioned their choices to the group, stated their desire to go for the axe, and numerous people were like:  "DUDE! NO!  STOP!  DON'T DO IT!"  We were too late.  The W/P rapier is maybe one of the most sought-after items in the game.  It's got a nice crit range.  Even if you don't want it, you can sell it for. literally. millions.  Oops! 

Jerry