The Mirror - Feedbacks would be nice :)

[Khelden]

Hello guys,
I've been really interested in the monk class lately, but I really dislike pure builds so I was looking for a splash build which would not be totally gimped. I was looking for very good survability 1st, something which would allow me to solo a good portion of the content, without being a spellcaster nor a very common build which everybody and their whole family have as an alt. Then it would have to do "acceptable" DPS ==>This is NOT a DPS build<==. A good exemple for this is that this build gets pAtk at level 12 only. I've made this build keeping in mind: Survability, Utility. The goal is to use handwraps [2d6, not great, not too bad, just ok] along with great kamas. Also, I did not want this to be one of those build which seems really amazing, then you look at all the gear and realize you'll have to plan your next 5 years on farming everything. So here is the result, my first build (and I would really appreciate any comments):

The Mirror
Lawful Good Human 12Monk/2Pal/6Ranger

Why?
-6 Ranger: Dex enhancement, favored enemy, tempest [10% attack speed], devotion [+20% healing], free TWF feats, good buffs.
-2 Paladin: Charisma enhancement, Toughness enhancement, Aura of good, Smite Evil (not often, but it can be useful), Divine Grace (add your charisma mod. to all saves)
-12 Monk: Well, this is a monk build...
-Human: Human versatility, healing amp, +1 skill is useful to max balance/hide/move silently and +1 feat. Halfling would prolly be a good choice too, but I don't like how they look.

Leveling:
1-2: Monk
3-4: Paladin
5-10: Ranger
11-20: Monk

If you startout as a veteran, it gives 24AC, 11/11/9 Saves, 11 AB & Ability to use wand of cure moderate wounds/bull strength, eagle splendor, owls wisdom [+2 all saves & +4 AC]/etc. These wands might be abit expensive for a new player, just use the cure light wounds if you cannot afford them. I had no trouble soloing devil assault at lvl 4 with this build & vendor stuff...

***The planner below says 1Monk, 2-3Paladin, 4-9Ranger, 10-20Monk... It was my first idea. However, I've decided to go 1-2Monk, 3-4Paladin to get evasion earlier, I've found the build to work better this way.***

Stats:
STR: 12[30] = 3 tome + 5 lvls + 6 item + 2 Rage + 2 Rams = 30
DEX: 16[30] = 2 tome + 2 enh. + 6 item + 3 Stance + 1 enh = 30
CON: 14[20] = 2 tome + 6 item - 2 Stance = 20
INT: 8 [8]
WIS: 14[24] = 2 tome + 2 enhancements + 6 item = 24
CHA: 14[24] = 3 tome + 1 enh. + 6 item = 24

I've tried to make it the most new player friendly, using only a +1 tome for GTWF.


Saves:
Base: 16/16/10
Attributes: 5/10/7
Resistance: 5/5/5
Charisma: 7/7/7
G. Hero: 4/4/4
------------
Total: 37/42/34

[HV]: 5/5/5
Total: 42/47/39

The build can probably hit higher saves using exceptional boosts and a party :P


AC
------------
10 Base
Dodge:
1 Dodge feat
4 Icy raiment dodge
1 Alchemical dodge
3 Chattering ring dodge

Stats & class:
7 Wisdom
10 Dexterity
3 Centered
1 Aura of good

Items:
4 Insight
8 Armorbracers
5 Protection
3 Shield potion
3 Barkskin potion
1 Haste potion
-------------
64 AC
5 [HV]
-------------
69 AC


HP
164 Base + 20 Hero + 10 Draconic + 30 GFL + 120 Con + 22 Helm + 88 Toughness + 30 Enh + 45 GS = 529

Enhancement total of +70% Healing effect. This allow this build to self-heal with cure serious wound properly.


Character planner[b]

[b]Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

The Mirror
Level 20 Lawful Good Human Male
(2 Paladin \ 12 Monk \ 6 Ranger)
Hit Points: 342
Spell Points: 123
BAB: 17\17\22\27\27
Fortitude: 22
Reflex: 22
Will: 17

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(32 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 12 18
Dexterity 16 20
Constitution 14 14
Intelligence 8 8
Wisdom 14 16
Charisma 14 16

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 3
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20)
Balance 3 17
Bluff 2 3
Concentration 6 26
Diplomacy 2 3
Disable Device n/a n/a
Haggle 2 6
Heal 2 3
Hide 7 28
Intimidate 2 3
Jump 4 15
Listen 2 3
Move Silently 7 28
Open Lock n/a n/a
Perform n/a n/a
Repair -1 -1
Search -1 -1
Spot 2 9
Swim 1 4
Tumble 4 6
Use Magic Device n/a n/a

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge
Feat: (Human Bonus) Mobility
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness
Enhancement: Human Versatility I


Level 2 (Paladin)
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil I


Level 3 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Finesse
Enhancement: Paladin Charisma I


Level 4 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense I


Level 5 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I


Level 7 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance I


Level 8 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Charisma I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Versatility II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I


Level 10 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I


Level 11 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion II


Level 12 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 13 (Monk)
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey II


Level 14 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness
Enhancement: Adept of Wind
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom II


Level 15 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ten Thousand Stars
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery II


Level 16 (Monk)


Level 17 (Monk)


Level 18 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey III


Level 19 (Monk)


Level 20 (Monk)
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Human Versatility III
Enhancement: Human Versatility IV
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery III
Enhancement: Master of Thunder




Note
This build is using 4 Toughness. 3 of them are Monk class bonus, so they can be traded for the feats which applies to this condition. I think it could be useful to swap one of the toughness for Stunning Fist in the early levels, but this build not being wisdom-oriented lack the DC at higher levels and 5% handwraps usually do the job. Also, it might be an idea to swap the last toughness for another feat, I was thinking of Improved Critical: Slashing for the Kamas if I find myself using them more than expected, or Quick Draw to swap wands and weapons.

[Bacab]

Looks fun, just not sure what it's purpose in a party will be.

It's not great DPS. It can not Intimitank. It can not nuke. It can not heal (others). It can not do traps.

Would be a tough MOFO to kill though. Looks like a solo build. Though I do think you could maybe push its DPS fairly high with a few changes in feats and stats. But if you did that, you would lose some survivibility.

[Kriogen]

You started with STR 12 and puting level up points into STR. Thats a mistake. And a big one. You are wasting stat points.

[drsmooth]

Tempest and Handwraps are not a good pairing :)

[Khelden]

The main goal of this build is to use kama's effect, I was actually thinking of swapping the imp. critical: bludgeoing with imp. critical: slashing to be more viable with effects like smiting. In groups, he could play the role of a support. However, this is mainly a solo build.

The best would probably be a dual vorpal kama build. 10% attack speed from ranger, 20% from monk [12.5% enhancement, 7.5% insight].

Also, the reason why I'm starting with 12 str is because the needs for the stat is only 13 for pAtk. Also, the build would not get any buff in str from his enhancements, unlike dex, wisdom and charisma. Also, adding the strength would give some added damages to bypass DR when vorpal just doesn't fire ;)

Bacab, I would like to hear your ideas on how to improve the DPS of the build. Its survability at the moment is fairly insane... I had never thought it would be possible to solo quests like Devil Assault at lvl 4, nor Taming the Flames. So if the DPS can be increased alot by sacrificing abit of survability, I think the build would still be quite viable, and prolly even better :)

I had also considered 6 rogue instead of 6 ranger, 3d6+6 sneaks, 20% attack speed boost, intimidate, UMD [with medium charisma it can be handy]... But I really think the ranger buffs are better for solo.

[Sillk]

If your Dexterity and Strength are both going to end up at 30, I'd change Finesse for something else.

What I'd suggest is start with a 15 dex, take a +2 tome at level 7, and use those points for Strength. And also use Int as a dump stat, 14 is too high. I didn't see Combat Expertise as a feat you were planning, so I wouldn't go higher than Int 10 (and probably Int 8!), and use those points for Strength, Dexterity or Constitution.

[Khelden]

If your Dexterity and Strength are both going to end up at 30, I'd change Finesse for something else.

What I'd suggest is start with a 15 dex, take a +2 tome at level 7, and use those points for Strength. And also use Int as a dump stat, 14 is too high. I didn't see Combat Expertise as a feat you were planning, so I wouldn't go higher than Int 10 (and probably Int 8!), and use those points for Strength, Dexterity or Constitution.
Well, as I said, I went really with the "no tome above +1" since they are ~2-3mil on my server... Not given to everybody heh ;) But yes, it would be a good idea to take -1dex+2str.

I took weapon finesse for low-leveling purpose. I wanted to be able to solo as many quests as I could really early, with weapon finesse, dex gives AB but also Reflex and AC.

Also, I don't get the int? The build is set at 8 int =/

[sigtrent]

I think you could do the same thing better....

Drop ranger 6 for fighter 6...
A. tempest doesn't work with hand wraps and kamas are pretty lame weapons
B. The only good ranger buff at 6 is Rams Might and yours will have a short duration and not much mana to back it up with.
C. Mobility and spring attack cancel out the free TWF feats you get from ranger.
D. Fighter 6 would give you 4 feats to work with (5 if you also drop dodge)
E. Fighter attack boost is more versatile for you than Tempest speed boost is
F. Fighter gets you +2 strength, and the option of kensei

Plan on using the update 5 monk using longswords feat
That would be better than the Kama's

Take Monk 3 earlier as fists of light is really handy when leveling up

[Sillk]

Stats:
STR: 12[30] = 3 tome + 5 lvls + 6 item + 2 Rage + 2 Rams = 30
DEX: 16[30] = 2 tome + 2 enh. + 6 item + 3 Stance + 1 enh = 30
CON: 14[20] = 2 tome + 6 item - 2 Stance = 20
INT: 8 [8]
WIS: 14[24] = 2 tome + 2 enhancements + 6 item = 24
INT: 14[24] = 3 tome + 1 enh. + 6 item = 24


Also, I don't get the int? The build is set at 8 int =/

I see the issue here. Your build has Int listed twice in the text portion of your build. Int 8 & Int 14. I think the second is intended to be Cha.... which you also probably don't really need so high, since you're not a sorc, Favored Soul, or Paladin (2 levels gives you AC, but not much else to consider such a high Cha).


DEX: 16[30] = 2 tome + 2 enh. + 6 item + 3 Stance + 1 enh = 30


Well, as I said, I went really with the "no tome above +1" since they are ~2-3mil on my server... Not given to everybody heh ;) But yes, it would be a good idea to take -1dex+2str.

It looks like you are intending to use a +2 Dex tome. I'm suggesting you start with a 15 Dex and use the tome at level 7 (and you CAN get them from the DDO store). Drop Cha to 8 and use these points to increase your Strength. You won't need Weapon Finesse at all, and could take something like Toughness for more HP.

[Khelden]

I see the issue here. Your build has Int listed twice in the text portion of your build. Int 8 & Int 14. I think the second is intended to be Cha.... which you also probably don't really need so high, since you're not a sorc, Favored Soul, or Paladin (2 levels gives you AC, but not much else to consider such a high Cha).
WHOOPS!
Sorry heh, my mistake... As for charisma, it gives higher Saves... Not AC. The AC comes from dex & wisdom

[Fedora]

Its survability at the moment is fairly insane... I had never thought it would be possible to solo quests like Devil Assault at lvl 4, nor Taming the Flames.

Devil's Assault at lvl 4?!?! That's as a Pal/Monk 2/2?? Geez, my level 7 Paladin with a cleric hirling got toasted in that quest. Admittedly he is somewhat gimped since he was my first toon, and I think I went 3-4 lvls on a path before I realized it was a mistake. But still.... lol :)

[Cyr]

Tempest does not work with handwraps. Do not let the character in my sig fool you. It was only built in that manner to qualify for monk past life feat while allowing me to use my GS rapiers while leveling to good effect. That said this is not at all a horrible build. It has some nice points to it. The high healing amp with great saves and decent leveling AC is respectable. You are right the dps on the build will lower then norm though.

Some thoughts from 'similar' builds I have seen.

* Fighter splash for ranger works here.
*Handwrap dps is very good particularly if you go darkside. There is a lot to suggest this as a possibility here and only use kama's when you need to vorpal.
*This type of build is very gear intensive.
*Epic end game makes AC useless. This makes dps >> AC at end game. However, if your main goals for this toon are to level and TR you have picked an excellent build archetype for this.
*Rogue splash is a viable alternative to pali here. It adds 6.5 sneak attack damage per hit and gives UMD as a class skill. You lose some self buff AC and some saves for this choice. Your saves are very high now though. You will also find that you are missing +3 to those saves in reasonable terms right now. +1 from a resistance ritual and +2 from good luck (which with the epic upgrade option for this is more and more reasonable in more gear setups). Oh UMD as a viable option is very nice for a toon with huge healing amp btw.
*Your Charisma is high right now. I would highly recommend dropping it by four and putting that into str.

Hopefully something here helps you out.