Skills

The Monk gets fewer skill points and proficiency in skills than some classes. As with any class, more ability points in INT can improve your skill points by a bit. But have more than one better reason to use INT than for more points (such as taking Combat Expertise).

The Monk has a handful of class skills that can benefit you.

• Balance. Try for at least 10 points here to help you get back on your feet quickly should you be knocked down (and resist being knocked down in some cases). Use gear to supplement this number: you're no good when you're prone. You'll need to add points to this skill to qualify for the Single Weapon Fighting feats if you are fighting with kamas or shortswords.
• Concentration. Essential. This defines how much ki (your attack energy) you can store at any given time. Unless you use a ki attack, you’ll have that stable pool. The stable ki pool is equal to your Concentration skill. Your ability to perform ki attacks (like spell casting) is based on your available ki.

• Jump is important. As a Monk, you can reach areas and escape from foes that many fighters cannot. Spend at least 10 points in this skill, at least 20 if you are a stealthy Monk. Buffs, items and potions will improve this as well. While points beyond 40 in normal play make no difference, players that use stealth get a -20 penalty to Jump, so adding this to maximize stealth jumps can be considered. Remember that, when wearing the Jidz-Tet'ka in Wind Stance, you gain a +10 Insight bonus to Jump, which stacks with potions and spells that give Enhancement bonuses.
• Tumble: Spend at least 1 point in Tumble to help you roll away from damage. You may consider more points here, as Tumble can help you bypass deadly traps as it may also increase your Reflex save while tumbling based on your class training. Tumble also reduces the damage you gain from a high fall.
• If you want a really impressive-looking escape and have the skill points to burn, kick this up to 20-25 and find some Tumbling +10/15 boots to allow you to backflip and somersault with an effective 32-35 score. In stealth, Tumble takes a -20 penalty.
• Diplomacy is a useful Monk class skill in two ways. In some quests, good diplomatic skills can determine whether you can pass by an enemy, save allies, or be forced to fight (often with bonus experience points awarded). Also, you can use this in combat to make an enemy go after another target for 6 seconds--a great way to magnify any Sneak Attack damage you have, provided the enemy has another target to consider (otherwise, the skill won't work).
• Most Monks can’t afford the high points for the cross-class skill of Intimidate, but generating sufficient threat to keep an enemy’s attention is possible through gear, Monk stance or both. A score of 26 (11+15 from an item) on Intimidate for a Monk using gear, granted feats or Monk stances (more on these later) is impressive, but not critical, especially when using Greater or Ultimate Mountain Stance. While the class tree enhancements Way of the Tenacious Badger (in the Henshin class tree) and Exemplar in the Shintao Monk class tree also add a few points to this skill, you should try the Shintao tree enhancement "Ki Shout," an Intimidate effect that uses your Concentration skill as a check, instead.
• Use Magic Device. You'll likely have very few skill points for this cross-class skill. If you must choose wands and scrolls (a consideration for Dark Monks), Half-Elf dilettante abilities give you caster levels as if you were a different class (such as a Cleric) that allow use of these items with a high chance for success, without UMD. Unless you really know what you're doing from playing other classes, avoid UMD. A Monk needs these points elsewhere to be a better fighter, not a gadgeteer. See this chapter on a discussion on this skill.