Maxing out my DPS. And I do mean Maxing out !! Need some suggestions :)

[msfjoseph]

***updated build on Page 3***


Hey guys, here's the thing.

I want to build a Human Dark Monk. And I don't want it to be "balanced" like what everyone else is recommending. I want it to be the best a Human Monk could ever be in the DPS department, regardless if I end up with 0 AC and 0 Saves. And regardless if Barbs will always out-DPS me. Don't ask why, I just want to do this :)

So anyway here's my take on it.

Stats (32-point):

STR - 18 Base +5 Level Up +4 Tome = 27 when naked.
+6 enhancement +3 exceptional = 36 geared, unbuffed.
+6 titan psionic +2 madstone clickie +2 madstone trigger +2 rage pot +2 yug pot = 50 geared, with clickies on.

DEX - 14 Base +4 Tome = 18 (just to be able to get Wind Stance)
CON - 16 Base (dump the rest here)
WIS - 8
INT - 8
CHA - 8


Feats:

TWF/ ITWF / GTWF
Power Attack / Power Critical
Weapon Focus / Improved Critical Bludgeoning
The rest on Toughness.


Equipment:

Tharne's Goggles/Bracers (+Sneak Attack)
Oremi's Necklace/Ring (+Ki Generation)
Knot's Belt/Ring (+Damage)

Epic Cape of the Roc (+Exceptional Str)
Epic Bloodstone (+To Crit)

Madstone Boots
Gloves of Titan Grip

+5 Vicious Handwraps of Pure Good. Upgraded with:

Icy Burst (Risia Games)
Shock Burst (TOD Ring 1)
Acid Burst (TOD Ring 2)
Fire Damage (Oremi Set)
Force Damage (Stone of Change)

There seems to be no Headgears or Robes that could help with my DPS so Ill just be grabbing an Epic Spiked Turban for the Saves and a Deathblock of Heavy Fort from the Auction House.


Non-STR-based Self Buffs:

Human Versatility IV (Damage)
Heroism Potion


Just to note, end-game defenses are around 500+ HP, 30+ AC, and 20+ Saves. No too bad really. Can still tank Raid Bosses on Normal when WF Barbs aren't online. Never tried on Hard / Elite as no one would let me LOL.

If I missed out on any good DPS loot, pots, clickies and just about anything that does not require the help of another player, please let me know.

Thanks !! :)

[rimble]

Redo without the +4 tomes, that's just dumb. Go Max DPS, but do it within the realm of reality at least. Since you're assigning 32-points I assume this isn't a TR with all that stuff banked up already. You'll even need 'just' a +3 Dex tome for ITWF and GTWF.

The Epic Red Dragonscale Robe will provide additional DPS in the robe slot. You'll get that before your two +4 tomes anyways.


and just about anything that does not require the help of another player, please let me know.

What? Then take out the raid loot, the epic items, and anything more than a +2 tome.

[t0r012]

Halfling guile will get you more total damage (if only situational) than going human and getting only +1 more Base damage with the 18 vs. the 16.

[Impaqt]

Interesting. How do you plan on taking ITWF and GTWF while you level up?

[Bacab]

if you want a max-dps MNK...go Warforged or Halfling...

BTW do not count on +3 Tomes...much less +4 TOmes to qualify for feats...

[blitzschlag]

Interesting. How do you plan on taking ITWF and GTWF while you level up?


i hope he exchanges power critical and weapon focus for em later on ^^

[rimble]

i hope he exchanges power critical and weapon focus for em later on ^^

Ouch...I didn't even get that far, heh...

[rest]

Is it April already?

[Bacab]

Oh there is a reason people will not let you tank raid bosses...

you can not hold aggro...and being fleshy...you get healing cursed

[msfjoseph]

Im already level 20. So I don't need to worry about getting ITWF and GTWF as early as possible to help with leveling.
All I have to do is Lesser Reincarnate (unless my research is incorrect, I'll get the +2 before level 15 giving room for ITWF and the +4 by level 15 giving room for GTWF)

And, as previously stated, I want it to be a HUMAN monk. The race gets priority over the max DPS. Don't ask. It's a stubborn personal preference thing.

Also, I don't really want to be "realistic" since I'm already there (my current Base Dex is already 16 due to a +2 tome). I'm now shooting for the "unrealistic" because I have nothing else to do (TRing or creating a new toon is not my cup of tea)

Thanks for the Dragonscale Robe advice. That would be something to look forward to :)

[Delacroix21]

Next Update also has an Epic Bracer/Epic Glove combo that has a +4 to damage and +20% threat enhancement, just to help out.


I will keep my own opinions about the build silent, but at least that set should be figured into your "gearing" as the next update is but a month away.:D

[MsEricka]

Not having wind stance 4 is hurting your DPS due to lost attack speed. Not having ITWF and GTWF is hurting your DPS due to lost double strikes.


+5 Vicious Handwraps of Pure Good

Seriously?


Just to note, end-game defenses are around 500+ HP, 30+ AC, and 20+ Saves.

Almost any well built 32 point monk can achieve this with an AC that's 20 to 30 points higher.

[FaSo]

Im already level 20. So I don't need to worry about getting ITWF and GTWF as early as possible to help with leveling.
All I have to do is Lesser Reincarnate (unless my research is incorrect, I'll get the +2 before level 15 giving room for ITWF and the +4 by level 15 giving room for GTWF)

And, as previously stated, I want it to be a HUMAN monk. The race gets priority over the max DPS. Don't ask. It's a stubborn personal preference thing.

Also, I don't really want to be "realistic" since I'm already there (my current Base Dex is already 16 due to a +2 tome). I'm now shooting for the "unrealistic" because I have nothing else to do (TRing or creating a new toon is not my cup of tea)

Thanks for the Dragonscale Robe advice. That would be something to look forward to :)


I PRAY that you dont meen +4 tome by lvl 15, my lvl 20 clr has seen ONE drop in meny epic von6's and TODs

Gl :D

and i would go with WF if you want to be a tank, or halfing if u want to do more damage without agro

but thats just me

thanks

faso

[sirgog]

You could add DPS by removing your robe for Epic Red Scale, and your helm for a Shroud guard such as Disintegration, or even a lower damage guard like Steam Guard.

You'll be a much weaker toon (due to having no fortification), and noone will want you in groups, but your DPS will be marginally higher.

How much are you prepared to weaken your character to add more DPS?

[theb]

Why do you have toughness feats if you are going for offense?

Monk feats can be used to take power attack, stunning fist, and the first tier of two weapon fighting. Going warforged opens bonuses to power attack. Compensate for the low to-hit by using tactical feats instead of regular attacks. Take stunning blow, sap, and slicing blow (which does damage directly-a must for your build concept), instead of toughness.

You don't need to balance offense and survivability like those experienced players are saying.

Don't be a p*%&#.

[butlerfamilywa]

Ok, tell ya what, I'll post you the STR/CON WF DPS monk that I was working on.. and we can throw some tweaks in there for it to be human...

(32 Point Build) (However, TR 3x as Monk = +3 Damage, and Monk Past Life = 2d14 In Earth Stance)

Base Stats:
18 STR
14 DEX
16 CON
08 INT
08 WIS
08 CHA

STATS:
44 STR Standing: 18 + 5 level + 4 Tome + 7 Item + 3 Exceptional + 4 Fire Stance + 1 Litany +1 Human + 1 Boat
50 STR Raged: 44 + 2 Rage + 2 Yugoloth + 2 Madstone (56 Strength with Titan Gloves Clickie)
26 DEX: 14 + 3 Tome + 7 Item + 1 Exceptional + 1 Litany
28 CON Standing: 16 + 6 Item +3 Tome + 1 Exceptional + 1 Litany + 1 Human
36 CON Raged: 28 + 2 Rage + 2 Yugoloth (-5% Melee Attack Speed) + 4 Earth Stance IV
10 INT: 8 + 2 Tome
16 WIS: 8 + 6 Item + 2 Tome + 1 Exceptional + 1 Litany - 2 Stance
18 CHA 08 + 6 Item + 2 Tome + 1 Exceptional + 1 Litany


GEAR LAYOUT

Helmet: GreenSteel ~ 45 Hitpoints, +6 Dex Skills, Displacement 3x/Day, 20% Permanent Blur
Necklace: Shintao Cord ~ Con +6, Concentration +15
Trinket: Litany Of The Dead ~ +1 All Stats, +1 To Hit, +1 Damage
Cloak: Epic Cape Of The Roc ~ Feather Falling, Exceptional Str +1 +2, Empty Yellow (Fear Immunity)
Belt: Epic Belt Of The Mroranon ~ Str +7, Heavy Fort, Toughness, Empty Yellow (Greater False Life)
Ring1: Calitomes' Ring ~ Cha +6, Exceptional Dex +1, Shocking Burst
Gloves: Epic Spectral Gloves ~ Ethereal, Dexterity +7, Attack Bonus +4, Empty Yellow (Resistance +4)
Boots: Madstone Boots ~ Striding 20%, Madstone Rage Clicky/Proc Source
Ring2: Kyosho's Ring ~ Wis +6, Exceptional Strength +1 (Holy Burst)
Bracers: Epic Jidz-Tet'ka ~ Armor Bonus +8, Will Save +5, Exceptional Wis +1, Empty Colorless (Exceptional Cha +1)
Armor: Epic Red Dragonscale Docent ~ Armor Bonus +9, Superior Fire Resistance, Eternal Fire, Fire Guard, Incineration Guard, Empty Colorless, Empty Blue (Exceptional Con +1 & Good Luck +2)
Goggles: Tharne's Goggles ~ Sneak Attack Bonus +5, True Seeing, Spot +15
Weapons: +1 Seeker +10 Handwraps of Stunning +10 (ML 20) ~Good Luck Finding These!~


I didn't plan any of this gear to be defensive.. You can stack Blur, Displacement, and Shadow Fade all together, for your protection.

Power Critical, and Weapon Focus: Bludgeon makes no sense on a Monk. AFAIK The feat does not affect Crit damage, and +1 to hit is useless.

1: Power Attack
1: (Human) Toughness
1: (Monk) Dodge
2: (Monk) Toughness
3: Past Life: Disciple of the Fist (Toughness if you DON'T TR, add 22 hps)
3: (Path) Path of Inevitable Dominion
6: Stunning Blow
6: (Monk) Two Weapon Fighting
9: Toughness
12: Improved Two Weapon Fighting
15: Greater Two Weapon Fighting
18: Improved Critical: Bludgeon

3x Toughness... Wah! ;)

HIT POINTS:
180 Monk, Level 20
180 Con Modifier
20 Heroic Durablity
10 Draconic Vitality
22 Toughness Feat
22 Toughness Feat (2nd)
22 Toughness Feat (3rd)
22 Toughness Item
20 Animal Path IV
30 Human Toughness
30 Greater False Life
45 Greensteel Hitpoint Item
---------------------------
603 Hit Points (625 4x Toughness)

20 Rage
40 Yugoloth Potion
40 Madstone Proc
40 Earth IV Stance
----------------------------
743 Raged/Tanking (765 4x Toughness)

Monk Serenity
Human Adaptability Strength I
Human Greater Adaptability Constitution I
Human Improved Recoverry II
Static Charge
Way of the Patient Tortoise IV
Monk Ninja Spy II
Touch of Death
Fists of Iron
Porous Soul
All-Consuming Flame
Monk Improved Recovery II
Void Strike I (Had to put a point somewhere, and its fun to charm a mob)
Winter's Touch
Grandmaster of Mountains
Grandmaster of the Sun
Racial Toughness III
Monk Jump II
Monk Tumble II

I don't want to see complaining about the +4 & 2 +3 tomes.. he said he was up for grinding them, since he doesn't want to TR ect...

[Thorzian]

replace epic bloodstone seeker with epic marilith chain.. seeker 10 vs 8. then put the epic jerky in the trinket spot.

take holy burst on the tod ring on a +5 holy of bleeding handwrap ... holy out dps' vicious and bleeding out dps' pure good...with icy burst/force ritual/shock burst on the other tod ring (most end game mobs are acid resistant).

tr once and get earth/fire/wind stances all to highest level then use fire stance for faster ki generation as the ki strikes and touch of death will up the dps more then the attack speed of wind stance. but you will still need the top tier of the electric attack for max dps. the reason you tr is for the past life monk feat.. this will move your base damage from 2d10 to 2d12. though another potion is to splash rogue or fighter in here for the haste boost and still keep the 2d10 that a non tr'd monk would have at 20.

take elegent crane as opposed to patient tortise.. more ki generation.

i dunno where this guy gets 2d14 from.. the chooseable feat is a one time only 2d12 max. i do agree with him about power critical and weapon focus.. there are better options (toughness if nothing else.)

*edit.. sorry i didnt see that tring isnt for you.. thats ok though all the rest of my advice still stands

most importantly.. keep the ki generation fast and the attacks on cooldown..especially touch of death.

[Timjc86]

Don't forget three monk TRs for +3 damage, 3 rogue TRs for +3 sneak attack damage, and +3 fighter TRs for +3 to-hit.

Edit: And at least 1 TR of all the other classes so you can nab Completionist for another stacking +2 strength.

[Bacab]

I do not think a MONK would like to wear an Epic Marilith Chain armor. Would it not remove the ability to flurry of blows?

BTW to OP...seriously atleast Lesser Reincarnate your toon to have 17 DEX and get ITWF or GTWF.

Or is this really just a silly attempt at posting a horrible monk build and troll up some comments?

[zealous]

+5 Vicious Handwraps of Pure Good. Upgraded with:

Change pure good to greater bane, gain 11 damage/attack.



Acid Burst (TOD Ring 2)

Change to holy burst, generally gain 3.5+ damage/attack.


Also add dodge feat to qualify for ninja spy, generally add 10.5 damage/attack, subject to fortification.

[butlerfamilywa]

replace epic bloodstone seeker with epic marilith chain.. seeker 10 vs 8. then put the epic jerky in the trinket spot.

Monks cannot wear Epic Marilith Chain. Sorry.


but you will still need the top tier of the electric attack for max dps.

No, you will not. Tier 3 Earth, Tier 4 Earth, Fists of Iron, Earth/Earth/Earth Finisher = highest dps you can run boss.
ALSO, there is no reason to take Wind IV. You will be hasted while doing anything endgame anyways.


the reason you tr is for the past life monk feat.. this will move your base damage from 2d10 to 2d12. ~~~~ i dunno where this guy gets 2d14 from.. the chooseable feat is a one time only 2d12 max.

Earth Stance, while wearing the Jidz'Teka (sp) Bracers = 2d14


take elegent crane as opposed to patient tortise.. more ki generation.
Which you won't need with a 70+ Concentration, Fire IV stance, and the Monk Capstone.

[zealous]

No, you will not. Tier 3 Earth, Tier 4 Earth, Fists of Iron, Earth/Earth/Earth Finisher = highest dps you can run boss.
ALSO, there is no reason to take Wind IV. You will be hasted while doing anything endgame anyways.

Wind strike IV > Earth strike IV > Earth strike III. (21>17>12)

ALSO, FoI/EEE finisher is only good if you autocrit.

ALSO, you can spam more than 4 attacks/cooldown cycle.

ALSO, there are other quite notable benefits to wind IV, which will be of utmost importance if trying to maximize dps.

[FluffyCalico]

Toughness does not make more DPS. Any feat that adds any DPS at all would provide you with more DPS than toughness. You might die more but you said max.

[epochofcrepuscule]

Toughness does not make more DPS. Any feat that adds any DPS at all would provide you with more DPS than toughness. You might die more but you said max.

Well, by max he didnt mean max.

Several points to back this up...

-Must be human

-no stunning blow

-no stunning fist

-no real guards

thats just from the top of my head.... and no offense to the OP but...

a dex build that can stun mobs will out dps you on anything but names... even then it might if its a halfling

[msfjoseph]

Ok guys, maybe i wasn't being crystal clear... or maybe i am missing out on some facts (just started playing DDO last April, so there may have been things that are common knowledge to you all but not to me... yet)

A few pts I considered: (please correct me if I'm wrong)

No stunning feats because you can't stun bosses and mobs can be vorpaled instead (by other members of the raid). Also, as long as one guy in the raid can consistently stun, a 2nd guy with stun is redundant and useless. Same thing with Sap.

Vicious and not holy because holy doesn't work on neutrals. Don't worry that's just my generic max DPS HW. I could just swap it out for Holy when up against Evil mobs and bosses. Same thing with Pure Good. Just to be generic. Can swap it out with Banes when necessary. And again, same thing with the Acid TOD ring. Yeah I will be TODing till my hair falls out.

No guards because in most cases I won't be tanking and won't really be taking any hits to trigger them anyway (hence Tharne's Goggles). But yes, same with my HW, they are swappable when the situation calls for it.

Lots of Toughness because there simply is nowhere else to go.

Power Critical because it adds to confirming crits. What's wrong with that? Or does this not stack with items? Don't know how to verify this. Same thing with Weapon Focus... does this not stack as well?



I PRAY that you dont meen +4 tome by lvl 15, my lvl 20 clr has seen ONE drop in meny epic von6's and TODs

No no no I meant when I eat the +4 tome as a level 20 toon, then Lesser Reincarnate, I can rely on the tome to get me to 18 Dex by level 15 while leveling at the Airship :)

[FluffyCalico]

Ok guys, maybe i wasn't being crystal clear... or maybe i am missing out on some facts (just started playing DDO last April, so there may have been things that are common knowledge to you all but not to me... yet)

A few pts I considered: (please correct me if I'm wrong)

No stunning feats because you can't stun bosses and mobs can be vorpaled instead (by other members of the raid). Also, as long as one guy in the raid can consistently stun, a 2nd guy with stun is redundant and useless. Same thing with Sap.

Vicious and not holy because holy doesn't work on neutrals. Don't worry that's just my generic max DPS HW. I could just swap it out for Holy when up against Evil mobs and bosses. Same thing with Pure Good. Just to be generic. Can swap it out with Banes when necessary. And again, same thing with the Acid TOD ring. Yeah I will be TODing till my hair falls out.

No guards because in most cases I won't be tanking and won't really be taking any hits to trigger them anyway (hence Tharne's Goggles). But yes, same with my HW, they are swappable when the situation calls for it.

Lots of Toughness because there simply is nowhere else to go.

Power Critical because it adds to confirming crits. What's wrong with that? Or does this not stack with items? Don't know how to verify this. Same thing with Weapon Focus... does this not stack as well?




No no no I meant when I eat the +4 tome as a level 20 toon, then Lesser Reincarnate, I can rely on the tome to get me to 18 Dex by level 15 while leveling at the Airship :)

Too much there to comment on it all so will give you 3 big ones and let others hit on the others.
1) "Holy doesn't work on neutral" while true 98-99% of the mobs are hit by holy :)
2) " Nothing else to take for DPS besides lots of toughness feats", please read over some other builds you will see only THF fighters run out of things to take.
3) If you need power crit to help you confim a crit you are doing something very wrong.

[Bacab]

Lemme letya know something...

Good luck on that +4 Tome...

To lesser extent...based off of your build...Good luck on that DEX tome.

+3 and 4 tomes are a LOT harder to come by than you think.

The MORE STUNNERS in a quest/raid the BETTER.

With your reasoning...there is no reason to have more than one DPS. I mean if ONE GUY DOES DPS...ITS REDUNDANT TO HAVE 2 GUYS TO DO DPS!

I really do not want to make fun of you...

But please go read some monk forums/builds and maybe you will understand the game a lot more.

Oh...to power crit...end game...everyone is hitting on a 2 or better roll. So baisically, it does nothing for you.

This is how bad Power Critical is...you will use Skill focus Heal more than Power Critical.

Toughness is ok...but only take one...and THEN after all the needed damage dealing Feats are taken (like stunning fist etc) then start stacking Toughness.

Seriously LR to have like a 15 DEX and then eat that +2 TOME and get I2WF G2WF.

Your build just kinda lacks focus.

I challenge you to read the monk forums for 2 hours and then look at your build.

The following people have the best monks/monk builds...

Arkat, ANthios, Hydro, Quijonsith

I am not trying to be condescending...I am really trying to help you out.

If I/we were trying to be mean, we would not even respond to your post.

Nothing wrong with human btw.

[WolfSpirit]

-
Where to Start? Whew!
Well lets go here...
When someone who has been playing for a number of years (as noted in the right corner of every post) Give REAL good advice, you should not just toss it away with a dissmissive comment. You have gotten a couple awesome and experienced players in DDO commenting in your thread here, you would be very Wise to take a pencil and then take some notes.
THEN swallow the pride, and Reincarnate your Character into a more useful Incarnate and still have superb DPS.
-

Ok guys, maybe i wasn't being crystal clear... or maybe i am missing out on some facts (just started playing DDO last April, so there may have been things that are common knowledge to you all but not to me... yet)

A few pts I considered: (please correct me if I'm wrong)

-

No stunning feats because you can't stun bosses and mobs can be vorpaled instead (by other members of the raid). Also, as long as one guy in the raid can consistently stun, a 2nd guy with stun is redundant and useless. Same thing with Sap.
-
Why is it new players don't seem to take feats/abilities that are ACTUALLY useful? And even come up with silly reasons why not to?
ok.
Now HOW are you depending on other to do things that you are able to do? Why?
Don't you want to be the one doing the killing? Don't you want to be the one stunning consistently?
Let me get some understanding here, every raid you've been in, there is one guy running around with an amazing Stun Ratio and all he does is run around stunning Mobs for everyone else to kill?
Never seen it, not once.
Also, Your going to let everyone else in the raid do ALL the work by vorpaling or stunning and your going to do what? Watch? Wait for the magical stunning guy to stun something near you?
Please tell me I've missunderstood you there, I don't mind being wrong or corrected. I can admit when I'm wrong, please tell me I'm wrong!
-

Vicious and not holy because holy doesn't work on neutrals. Don't worry that's just my generic max DPS HW. I could just swap it out for Holy when up against Evil mobs and bosses. Same thing with Pure Good. Just to be generic. Can swap it out with Banes when necessary. And again, same thing with the Acid TOD ring. Yeah I will be TODing till my hair falls out.
-
If you want to be Generic, set your thoughts to the fact that (as pointed out several times before) 98% of monsters you WILL encounter in this game are Evil.


No guards because in most cases I won't be tanking and won't really be taking any hits to trigger them anyway (hence Tharne's Goggles). But yes, same with my HW, they are swappable when the situation calls for it.

-
With the AC displayed in your build, your ALWAYS taking hits!!! Which is fine, there are many builds like that. But don't rule out yet another option with validity with such a silly statement.


Power Critical because it adds to confirming crits. What's wrong with that? Or does this not stack with items? Don't know how to verify this. Same thing with Weapon Focus... does this not stack as well?
-
Don't really need to answer this as it was handled by a great source above... Ok I will.
There are Many Feats in this game that are there for filler. They have an effect, but that effect is so small that its not worth the Feat slot. Power Critical is one of them. You should be having NO trouble Confirming a critical, without help, nearly without fail. Making Powercritical, a Fail. Unneeded. Same with WepFoc, if your hitting on a 2, and a 1 is automiss, What is that +1 doing? +1 is nice, but its only +1 in a FEAT slot. Its one of those Feats thats often taken as a pre req for Prestige Enhancements and reserved for that. UNLESS your having trouble hitting monsters often, then it becomes an option. Its not super terrible, but there are better options, such as Stunning Blow...
-


No no no I meant when I eat the +4 tome as a level 20 toon, then Lesser Reincarnate, I can rely on the tome to get me to 18 Dex by level 15 while leveling at the Airship :)
-
Been playing for YEARS consistantly and NEVER seen a +4 tome. (much less getting one in the Stat Required) And only pulled a handful of +3s (ONE from Reaver Raid on Elite and 4 via Shroud 20ths.)
-
I know this Post was a bit... Harsh. And I'm not trying to offend you (though I'm sure I have)
I'm sure your a good player and great person. Don't take it as a personal attack. (Though I'm sure you have)
I'm trying to open your eyes just a crack to the craziness of your "Max DPS and I mean MAX"
You have a casual way of tossing away awesome advice given by VERY experienced players that have come and given advice.
-

[msfjoseph]

Hey guys... I meant no offense on anyone. And for the record, I am not dissing anyone's advice.

All replies here are being noted and will, at one point, be tested. Oh and I am not really "defending" my build and saying that it is the way it should be done (if I did I wouldn't start this thread). I am just telling you guys what was going on in my head when I built this character so that I could get more specific feedback on the specific ways of thinking that I screwed up in.

For example, just saying "Power Critical sucks, don't use it" and saying that "Power Critical is no longer relevant at end game because you will easily be confirming crits anyway" is worlds apart for my learning process. And I would more highly appreciate the latter type of replies.

And to those who have been pressing for me to LR due to my apparent relying on +4 Tomes, this is NOT my current build. I started DDO with an 18 STR 18 DEX build then as soon as I pulled a +2 Dex tome I LRed into an 18 STR 16 DEX 14 CON build, which is my current build. When I pull a +3 Dex tome in the future I will LR again into an 18STR 15DEX 15CON build (and use Human Adaptability Con to even it out). And then, in the off chance I actually pull a +4 Dex tome, I will LR again into a 14 DEX build.

[rimble]

And to those who have been pressing for me to LR due to my apparent relying on +4 Tomes, this is NOT my current build. I started DDO with an 18 STR 18 DEX build then as soon as I pulled a +2 Dex tome I LRed into an 18 STR 16 DEX 14 CON build, which is my current build. When I pull a +3 Dex tome in the fure I will LR again into an 18STR 15DEX 15CON build (and use Human Adaptability Con to even it out). And then, in the off chance I actually pull a +4 Dex tome, I will LR again into a 14 DEX build.

Why bother, though? By the time you get the +4 Tome the landscape would have changed so much...Half-Orcs will be here, all Monk PrE's...I mean, unless something incredibly fortunate happens to you, you're planning a build that's over a year away (based on me making some unfounded guesses on your playtime/style)...

I learned LONG ago...build for TODAY, don't build for what might be...

[Thorzian]

Monks cannot wear Epic Marilith Chain. Sorry.
.

yer gonna have to tell me why not. the thread was about dps.. not evasion. and the chain neg levels good... not lawful. any non wf can wear that stuff.

[riexau]

yer gonna have to tell me why not. the thread was about dps.. not evasion. and the chain neg levels good... not lawful. any non wf can wear that stuff.

It will leave you uncentered, and thus you lose the monk unarmed attack animations and attack speed.

[SINIBYTE]

<snip>
STR - 18 Base +5 Level Up +4 Tome = 27 when naked.
DEX - 14 Base +4 Tome = 18 (just to be able to get Wind Stance)
</snip>


Not one.. but TWO +4's... come on now.

[Reos]

I think people have misunderstood the OP a bit. It sounds to me like he's going for a particular flavor of character (maybe he's into in-game roleplay?). Whatever his reasons, he put forward some constraints that he wants to work within, i.e. Human, 32-pt build, etc. Obviously he doesn't want to make the "ultimate" dps machine (I don't even know what is, thf barb?). He wants to get the most DPS out of the preconceived parameters he set forward. I think people saw the thread's title and immediately started filling in the gaps with their own assumptions, no offense to anyone here, since it's all very good advice.
Maybe people are just more fanatical in the monk forum? Saw a post in the pally forum some time ago where a guy wanted to build a twf drow paladin with extremely low hp because he wanted to "die a lot". Didn't really explain his reasons, but then again, no one criticized his bizarre choice, they just offered more ideas on how to lower his con attribute.

Just my two copper.

[Thorzian]

It will leave you uncentered, and thus you lose the monk unarmed attack animations and attack speed.

ya, that just hit me.. sorry for being stupid there guys. i hadnt even considered centered... /shame

[butlerfamilywa]

And then, in the off chance I actually pull a +4 Dex tome, I will LR again into a 14 DEX build.

Again..

With the way that you're talking about playing this character (Level 20, LR's to swap stats around)

Get a +3 Dex tome, and LR to 14 Dex.

26 DEX: 14 + 3 Tome (17 Dex for GTWF) + 7 Item (Epic Spectral Gloves) + 1 Exceptional + 1 Litany

There is an even stat layout for you. 26 Dex isn't anything to scoff at as far as your reflex save goes. +8 to your Reflex.

Reasons:

+1 Tome @ Level 3
+2 Tome @ Level 7
+3 Tome @ Level 11
+4 Tome @ Level 15

With that in mind, and your last 2 feats coming at level 15 & 18, you cannot use a +4 Tome to get you 17 Dex. (Which is the required number for Improved & Greater Two Weapon Fighting)

14 Dex, +3 Tome @ Level 13 = 17 Dex. Take ITWF & GTWF @ Level 15 & 18. (If your level 20 LR'n to change your stats)

Can you tell me any other reason why you're wanting to hit 18 Dex base other than wanting Wind Stance IV?

Electric damage is not so great, a lot of monsters in game are immune to it.
Abbot ~ Demon Queen & Epic Demon Queen ~ Sorjek to name a few bosses as well.

[msfjoseph]

He wants to get the most DPS out of the preconceived parameters he set forward.

Thank You. You nailed it :) Hopefully the rest would understand this.

And for the nth time... NO, I did NOT build around a +4 tome !! How many posts would it take for people to understand that what is laid out in the first post is simply what I could have done if, and after a +4 comes my way !!

And @butlerfamilywa: Yeah Wind Stance IV is the only reason I want Dex 18. I figured that with all those additional elemental damage, a double striking hit every 10 attacks would deal more average damage than the +2 damage per hit being brought about by Fire Stance.

But yeah, when I get Litany and Spectral, I will try your build out. Thanks :)

[Teharahma]

You give me a headache.

And I only get that with the biggest of noobs, yes that makes you special.

Hi Welcome

Edit;

Join date March 2010 ?
No chance you have a +4 tome, let alone 2.

[butlerfamilywa]

Thank You. You nailed it :) Hopefully the rest would understand this.

And for the nth time... NO, I did NOT build around a +4 tome !! How many posts would it take for people to understand that what is laid out in the first post is simply what I could have done if, and after a +4 comes my way !!

And @butlerfamilywa: Yeah Wind Stance IV is the only reason I want Dex 18. I figured that with all those additional elemental damage, a double striking hit every 10 attacks would deal more average damage than the +2 damage per hit being brought about by Fire Stance.

But yeah, when I get Litany and Spectral, I will try your build out. Thanks :)

I agree, out of the 126 swings that a monk gets per round (1% miss chance) 124 swings. 10% proc, only 12.4 (same as your crit amount at 19-20), will get you an extra hit.. I can see that as helpful.

My main thing is however, Fire Stance is where 99% of your KI comes from.. not Crane (only helps when you crit), and the +1 ki from the henshin doesnt help all that much either. (1 ki, per hit, at 110 or so a min, 4x tods a min = 200 ki outgoing every min), henshin off sets that by 1/2, but where is the ki coming from to utilize the other ki strikes, as well as the other 100 ki needed for maxing out your ToD?

Hence why I said to bypass Wind IV stance, 10% is helpful, but the lack of KI you'll run into on boss fights, IMO, isn't worth the bonus'

[msfjoseph]

Join date March 2010 ?
No chance you have a +4 tome, let alone 2.

OMG more +4 bashing!! Either you skipped reading what I just said (which is noobish), or you didn't understand it all (which is even MORE noobish). Read the other posts I made and not just the first. Then read them again. And again. And for the love of god please read them a few more times. Then read them again for juuuust a few more. Maybe then you'll finally get it.

@butlerfamilywa: I see. Good point. Ok will try Fire Stance out. Am also currently reviewing all topics you post in LOL. Hope you don't mind. Thanks a lot !! :)

[butlerfamilywa]

HAHA Careful, I got some pretty crappy posts out there *cringe* lol...

Actually, I have sever ADHD... When I focus on something, im just ZOOM on it, until I get bored with it

[butlerfamilywa]

As far as the amount of strikes you can use, its 6... a Ki strike has a 6 second cool down.

I personally use Touch of Death, Earth 3, Earth 4, FoI, Finisher, Fist of Darkness, stunning fist, then back to Touch of death and repeat... , I click a lil slower than most, then I just repeat the sequence,

[msfjoseph]

I would like to necro this thread just to post a funny little screenshot:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/MsfJoseph/DexTome.jpg

That +4 is sitting on my bank, got it from a past Tower of Despair 20th completion. Beside it is a +3 from a Reaver's Fate 20th. Both are DEX. I also almost had a +3 CHA from a Vision of Destruction 20th but gave it up for Tharne's. Didn't really need CHA anyway.

This means that I have actually pulled a freakin surplus of tomes that most of the people in this thread seem to write off as "dumb to even think about". Now I see who the dumb ones really are.

I did learn a few things from this thread. Amidst all the wisecracks, a select few have stood up and given solid advice. I've also "matured" a little over time and realized the value of Saves. Still too lazy to TR though :)

My current plan after this Lesser Reincarnate is:

18 STR
14 DEX
16 CON
8 WIS
8 INT
8 CHA

TWF, ITWF, GTWF, Power Attack, IC: Bludgeoning
Dodge, Stunning Blow, the rest on Toughness

GM Fire, Wind, Earth Stance, Touch of Death,
Ninja Spy, Adaptability STR / CON, Racial Toughness, Patient Tortoise

Tharne's Set
Oremi's Set (Holy Burst)
Frenzied Berseker Set (Shock Burst)

Madstone Boots
Titan's Grip
Head of Good Fortune w/ Eldritch Ritual (Saves)

Water Guard GS Helm
Resistance Cloak
Deathblock Heavy Fort Outfit

+5 Holy Handwraps of Pure Good w/ Force and Icy Burst

AC is still negligible, but Saves are now 30+ unbuffed, 40+ buffed.
HP can now get to 600+ unbuffed 700+ buffed for effective Horoth hate-tanking.
Yes I HAVE done it a couple of times with smooth success. So no use telling me otherwise.

Suulomades tanking (both in TOD and VOD) can be a pain for the designated healer (considering the WF option), but definitely not impossible. Done this on Hard countless times when the are simply no available WF around.

On the DPS department, I steal boss aggro regularly even after I completed my Tharne's Set. Even when the Barb tank has had his time gathering aggro. So no problem there.

Am still gunning for the new Claw set though (to replace Titan's Gloves and Tharne's Bracers).
Will get the Adv Pack as soon as my TP gets delivered by Cust Support :)

What I'd like to always have around are outside sources of increased DPS. So far the only ones I know of are Guild Buffs, Yugoloth Potions, and Rage Potions. If anyone's got other ideas, let me know.

[SINIBYTE]

Max DPS would require a TR for the increase from 1d10 to 1d12.