Annotated Playthrough Venture Cave Monk - Revision history

Zayyeh at 10:39, 25 July 2016

2016-07-25T10:39:06Z

Flap at 13:20, 4 February 2014

2014-02-04T13:20:46Z

Sidestepper at 19:50, 20 June 2012

2012-06-20T19:50:51Z

Sidestepper at 21:43, 19 June 2012

2012-06-19T21:43:15Z

Sidestepper at 21:37, 19 June 2012

2012-06-19T21:37:06Z

Sidestepper at 21:35, 19 June 2012

2012-06-19T21:35:15Z

Sidestepper at 17:37, 19 June 2012

2012-06-19T17:37:36Z

Sidestepper at 17:36, 19 June 2012

2012-06-19T17:36:17Z

Sidestepper at 17:33, 19 June 2012

2012-06-19T17:33:43Z

Sidestepper at 17:33, 19 June 2012

2012-06-19T17:33:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:39, 25 July 2016
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		+	{{Deprecated}}
		+
	This is a detailed how-to on the Monk class, set in the Venture Cave with no exotic preps. Monks are a complicated class that deal half damage in exchange for only taking half damage from physical attacks. They use their superior healing to tilt the odds in their favor. This advantage starts out weak but eventually becomes dominant. For example, a 1st level Monk heals at a rate of 2 per tile, which is the same rate that a 2nd level monster heals (which is what you should be fighting at 1st level). However, a 8th level Monk taking on a 9th level monster heals 16 hp/tile versus the monster's 9/tile.		This is a detailed how-to on the Monk class, set in the Venture Cave with no exotic preps. Monks are a complicated class that deal half damage in exchange for only taking half damage from physical attacks. They use their superior healing to tilt the odds in their favor. This advantage starts out weak but eventually becomes dominant. For example, a 1st level Monk heals at a rate of 2 per tile, which is the same rate that a 2nd level monster heals (which is what you should be fighting at 1st level). However, a 8th level Monk taking on a 9th level monster heals 16 hp/tile versus the monster's 9/tile.

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 [[File:GooBlobSurveymvc.JPG]]
-I pick up the BYSEPS rune and examine this Goo Blob that I found.  BYSEPS permanently reduces monsters' resistances every hit.  I decide to regen fight this guy, using BYSEPS as a more efficient alternative to the opening fireball spike that I've been using.  The truth is, I think I'm ready to start fighting 6s instead of 5s, but I decide to take what I have.
+I pick up the BYSEPS rune and examine this Goo Blob that I found.  BYSEPS permanently reduces monsters' resistances every hit.  I decide to regen fight this guy, using BYSEPS as a more efficient alternative to the opening fireball [[spike]] that I've been using.  The truth is, I think I'm ready to start fighting 6s instead of 5s, but I decide to take what I have.
 [[File:GooPrepsandopportunitymvc.JPG]]

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 [[File:Warlock-2mvc.JPG]]
-Hmmm, a possible target.  The Warlock is one of the worst possible matches for a Monk, since it's powerful magic attack ignores our resistance, but I think that I can pull this off.  I realize that I can just barely beat him if I build up two stacks up burning on him before starting combat.  That will cost me 12 squares of space, but that's okay.  I need to explore anyway, and it's not like there's anything else that I can spend my mana on right now.
+Hmmm, a possible target.  The Warlock is one of the worst possible matches for a Monk, since its powerful magic attack ignores our resistance, but I think that I can pull this off.  I realize that I can just barely beat him if I build up two stacks up burning on him before starting combat.  That will cost me 12 squares of space, but that's okay.  I need to explore anyway, and it's not like there's anything else that I can spend my mana on right now.
 [[File:Warlock-2mvc.JPG]]

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 [[File:Zombie9mvc.JPG]]
-Found the last 9, and it's a Zombie.  I could take me in straight combat, but I'd rather use my Slayer Wand.  Sure, fighting him now would give me 4 more xp than using the wand, but the resources that I save can be leveraged into something even better.
+Found the last 9, and it's a Zombie.  I could take him with regen combat, but I'd rather use my Slayer Wand.  Sure, fighting him now would give me 4 more xp than using the wand, but the resources that I save can be leveraged into something even better.
 [[File:TripleburnTormetmvc.JPG]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:37, 19 June 2012
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	The first strike glyph is marginal for Monks, who don't really have the damage output to leverage it. I'm not going to convert it right away (10% damage is literally nothing at first level), but I'm also not going to pick it up either. Who knows, I might need that inventory space.		The first strike glyph is marginal for Monks, who don't really have the damage output to leverage it. I'm not going to convert it right away (10% damage is literally nothing at first level), but I'm also not going to pick it up either. Who knows, I might need that inventory space.

−	Also, I would normally have picked up those powerups right away. I left on the map for illustrative purposes. Unlike items and glyphs, there is no advantage to not picking them up right away.	+	Also, I would normally have picked up those powerups right away. I left them on the map for illustrative purposes. Unlike items and glyphs, there is no advantage to not picking them up right away.

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:35, 19 June 2012
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−	This is a detailed how-to on the Monk class, set in the Venture Cave with no exotic preps. Monks are a complicated class that deal half damage in exchange for only taking half damage from physical attacks. They use their superior healing to tilt the odds in their favor. This advantage starts out weak but eventually becomes dominant. For example, a 1st level Monk heals at a rate of 2 per tile, which is the same rate that a 2nd level monster heals (which is what you should be fighting at 1st level). However, a 8th level Monk taking on a 9th level monster heals 18 hp/tile versus the monster's 9/tile.	+	This is a detailed how-to on the Monk class, set in the Venture Cave with no exotic preps. Monks are a complicated class that deal half damage in exchange for only taking half damage from physical attacks. They use their superior healing to tilt the odds in their favor. This advantage starts out weak but eventually becomes dominant. For example, a 1st level Monk heals at a rate of 2 per tile, which is the same rate that a 2nd level monster heals (which is what you should be fighting at 1st level). However, a 8th level Monk taking on a 9th level monster heals 16 hp/tile versus the monster's 9/tile.

	Monks benefit proportionately more from physical resistance effects and attack boosters (both percent and base attack) than other classes. These should be high priorities, and you should play as an orc or a human to get the most out of the class.		Monks benefit proportionately more from physical resistance effects and attack boosters (both percent and base attack) than other classes. These should be high priorities, and you should play as an orc or a human to get the most out of the class.

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 I don't think that finishing the Meatman will quite level me up, but I am still not used to the new xp formula and am not sure.  I decide to go ahead and use my mana on the Wraith now rather than risk not getting to use it at all before the ding.
-[[http://www.qcfdesign.com/wiki/DesktopDungeons/index.php?title=File:Wraithexplodemvc.JPG]]
+[[File:Wraithexplodemvc.JPG]]
 It turned out that the Meatman left me one point short, so my caution wasn't necessary.  I level up off of a Goblin, and use my fresh mana pool to detonate the Wraith.  Killing off the top level monsters earlier is a huge deal, and not just because of the bonus xp.  It means you get to fight them when it is still possible to recover.  At the end game, the map is mostly explored, and you are committing your resources to the boss.  Any high level monsters left have to be ignored, meaning that you lose out not just on the bonus xp, but ALL of the xp.
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 But first I triple fireball the Tormented One.  BTW, this was a minor mistake.  Since I knew that I wasn't going to be regen fighting anymore, I should have explored the entire map first.  There's probably still some good stuff out there!
-[[http://www.qcfdesign.com/wiki/DesktopDungeons/index.php?title=File:Popprepper3mvc.JPG]]
+[[File:Popprepper3mvc.JPG]]
 I then empty out my health bringing all of those 6s and 7s down to one hit territory.  I basically just created 20 xp worth of popcorn out of thin air.  I couldn't have done that if I had decided to fight the Zombie-9 instead.

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 [[File:MeatmanFineswordmvc.JPG]]
-A lot of stuff happened here.  I found another two more mana powerups, putting me at 16.  I decided to go back and finally buy that mana pendant from the beginning of the game, putting me at 18 mana, which enables a triple fireball.  I went ahead and converted BYSEPS, since it looks like I'm going to be using my mana for damage spikes instead of melee efficiency from now on.  I then found the Fine Sword, which will be great for regen fighting that Meatman-7.
+A lot of stuff happened here.  I found two more mana powerups, putting me at 16.  I decided to go back and finally buy that mana pendant from the beginning of the game, putting me at 18 mana, which enables a triple fireball.  I went ahead and converted BYSEPS, since it looks like I'm going to be using my mana for damage spikes instead of melee efficiency from now on.  I then found the Fine Sword, which will be great for regen fighting that Meatman-7.
 [[File:MeatisMeatmvc.JPG]]

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 I also find Pactmaker.  I don't have any gods to generate piety with, but I can at least cash in those sparkles for a few points of Body Pact.  I also find the Venom Ward, which is a terrific item.  It's small, makes poison go away (huge deal for Monks), and has a great gold/conversion ratio if it turns out that you don't need it.  The only reason I don't buy it right away is that the 65 CP won't actually do anything for me unless I also convert something else.  May as well wait.
-[[http://www.qcfdesign.com/wiki/DesktopDungeons/index.php?title=File:GooBlobSurveymvc.JPG]]
+[[File:GooBlobSurveymvc.JPG]]
 I pick up the BYSEPS rune and examine this Goo Blob that I found.  BYSEPS permanently reduces monsters' resistances every hit.  I decide to regen fight this guy, using BYSEPS as a more efficient alternative to the opening fireball spike that I've been using.  The truth is, I think I'm ready to start fighting 6s instead of 5s, but I decide to take what I have.

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 The final contestant is always a little stronger than you, but the arena has enough blackspace that you should always be okay.  I end up gaining 12 xp from the fights, which is nice, but not quite as good as it sounds.  By picking up xp 'out of the ether' like this, I have also reduced the window of opportunity for gaining bonus xp from monsters already on the board.  I'll still come out ahead, but that's an important effect to keep in mind.
- I will sometimes hold off on the tournament until all of the higher level monsters are gone.  Not only does this let me maximize bonus xp, but the tournament itself is also worth more, since the contestants are always equal to your current level.  This is risky, because Hitball requires an investment of resources that you may not be able to spare that late in the game.  You also pay an opportunity cost for not having that 30 gold earlier in the game.
+I will sometimes hold off on the tournament until all of the higher level monsters are gone.  Not only does this let me maximize bonus xp, but the tournament itself is also worth more, since the contestants are always equal to your current level.  This is risky, because Hitball requires an investment of resources that you may not be able to spare that late in the game.  You also pay an opportunity cost for not having that 30 gold earlier in the game.
 [[File:PactmakerVenommvc.JPG]]