Druid-Wolf-Monk-Celestia

[Syllph]

Question: If Ninja Spy makes short sword a Ki weapon, then it works with Celestia, right?

If so concept:

Celestia, Brightest Star of Day. Short Sword.
Druid 9 / Monk 9 / fgtht 2. Faster attack speed, massive DS, ToD [TOD probably doesn't work with Short Swords in wolf form, if so not monk 9], and Ki - short swords. (This build is not new by any means. Just clarifying )

Wolves get innately faster attack speed, innate x3 crit on a 17-20 with IC, and 18% DS with Natural Fighting.
Celestia seems like a natural choice (sorry for the pun) over any handwraps.

I'm probably missing something.

[ThreeEyedBob]

And you only need 1 Celestia since the offhand does nothing in animal-form. So a Celestia pluss a nice shield should put the combo way over any handwraps.

[Charononus]

Question: If Ninja Spy makes short sword a Ki weapon, then it works with Celestia, right?

If so concept:

Celestia, Brightest Star of Day. Short Sword.
Druid 9 / Monk 9 / fgtht 2. Faster attack speed, massive DS, ToD, and Ki - short swords. (This build is not new by any means. Just clarifying )

Wolves get innately faster attack speed, innate x3 crit on a 17-20 with IC, and 18% DS with Natural Fighting.
Celestia seems like a natural choice (sorry for the pun) over any handwraps.

I'm probably missing something.

You don't get the weapon modifier from epic weapons, deadly weapons will be the only way to boost a wolf beyond 1[w]

[Syllph]

You don't get the weapon modifier from epic weapons, deadly weapons will be the only way to boost a wolf beyond 1[w]

Still, you get the bonus Unarmed Strike damage from 9 monk levels, with Monk PL there's more and with the ED even more. I tested this with Grave Wrapping the 9/9/2 wolf form, but I'm not sure if/how all this applies to short swords.

The +1w does transfer to wolf form

I had 5.0[1d10] + xxx // x3 17-20 With Grave Wrapping in Wolf in GmoF

[Shattered.likeness]

And you only need 1 Celestia since the offhand does nothing in animal-form. So a Celestia pluss a nice shield should put the combo way over any handwraps.

However, adding a shield to the combo will make you uncentered in animal form, thus negating any bonuses from monk stances, you can't refill your ki (meaning no Touch of Death), and you lose 6 points of AC, fast movement, and the featherfall toggle.

[Syllph]

However, adding a shield to the combo will make you uncentered in animal form, thus negating any bonuses from monk stances, you can't refill your ki (meaning no Touch of Death), and you lose 6 points of AC, fast movement, and the featherfall toggle.

Agreed, instead I would suggest adding something like +10 Stun/ +10 vertigo in the offhand. something that doesn't do direct damage but adds to tactical DCs.

[Kareena]

I thought TOD was only applicable when using handwraps? You can't use it with SS's.

[Charononus]

Still, you get the bonus Unarmed Strike damage from 9 monk levels, with Monk PL there's more and with the ED even more. I tested this with Grave Wrapping the 9/9/2 wolf form, but I'm not sure if/how all this applies to short swords.

The +1w does transfer to wolf form

I had 5.0[1d10] + xxx // x3 17-20 With Grave Wrapping in Wolf in GmoF

That must be a monk thing then as when I put a gs or alchemical weapon in my pure druid (lvl18 atm) there is no change in the wolf's weapon mod.

[Syllph]

I thought TOD was only applicable when using handwraps? You can't use it with SS's.

Ahh. I didn't know that. Like i said, this whole idea is speculation, trying to see if this is possible.

[DeafeningWhisper]

I thought TOD was only applicable when using handwraps? You can't use it with SS's.

Works with unarmed, in wolf form you can have a 6 feet greataxe in each hand while holding a spear in your teeth and your attacks are still unharmed.

[Kareena]

Works with unarmed, in wolf form you can have a 6 feet greataxe in each hand while holding a spear in your teeth and your attacks are still unharmed.

Yesh thats crazy.

I'd test it personally Ocean, but if what DW says is true I could see this as being viable.

[DeafeningWhisper]

Yesh thats crazy.

I'd test it personally Ocean, but if what DW says is true I could see this as being viable.

I use stunning fist on my winter wolf build with a Dreamspitter in my hands, works fine.

[IronClan]

Works with unarmed, in wolf form you can have a 6 feet greataxe in each hand while holding a spear in your teeth and your attacks are still unharmed.

Sure but I wouldn't be surprised if TOD doesn't get lost in translation. Safe to assume you've tested it?

That said the other "strikes" do work with weapons, like the added damage strikes.

[DeafeningWhisper]

Sure but I wouldn't be surprised if TOD doesn't get lost in translation. Safe to assume you've tested it?

That said the other "strikes" do work with weapons, like the added damage strikes.

Not yet, a few lvls away from been able to do so, have run into a few drunks who use it, got my holy burst ring waiting in my Tr bank right now.

As soon as I can equip it I'll give confirmation.

[Syllph]

Ok! This will be loads of fun. Now i get to run CitW more! .... oh wait.

[FuzzyDuck81]

Tested the other day with a monk i dont use much any more & am respeccing to a druid thingy, and though you won't be centered with the shield, doublestrike bonus from shield mastery feats plus the PRR boost DOES still apply.. and the burst effect from ToD rings will also apply, even when using a sword & board in wolf form too. Incidentally since its midway through a multi-LR respec i also tried bastard sword with 2hf & see if glancing blows apply when changed, no luck there.
As such, my own plan for a druid/fighter is 3x natural fighting, both shield mastery feats (plus twist in legendary shield mastery from sentinel) for a large doublestrike chance & some PRR, cleave/great cleave/OC, 2 ToD rings with bursts for more damage, a nice weapon in main hand & a seeker+10 shield with some nice guard effect, armour will ultimately hopefully be dragonscale full plate (its not metal so no loss of druid powers & fighter levels mean i'll be proficient, more PRR & AC for durability) & on top of that will be a half elf with rogue dilly for extra sneak attack damage... is gonna take some work to get there but should be rather effective at melee dps as well as being self sufficient & able to assist with party healing too :D

[ChoW]

Question: If Ninja Spy makes short sword a Ki weapon, then it works with Celestia, right?

If so concept:

Celestia, Brightest Star of Day. Short Sword.
Druid 9 / Monk 9 / fgtht 2. Faster attack speed, massive DS, ToD [TOD probably doesn't work with Short Swords in wolf form, if so not monk 9], and Ki - short swords. (This build is not new by any means. Just clarifying )

Wolves get innately faster attack speed, innate x3 crit on a 17-20 with IC, and 18% DS with Natural Fighting.
Celestia seems like a natural choice (sorry for the pun) over any handwraps.

I'm probably missing something.

I have a fairly similar build (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=384488&highlight=dronker) that avoids the use of shields and adds in cleave instead.

It's quite true that Celestia would make an excellent primary-hand weapon along with a synergystic off-hand. The biggest hurdle you will face is overcoming the UMD. As a Druid/Monk/Fighter, you are restricted to Lawful Neutral alignment and therefore will have to bypass the UMD requirement that Celestia (http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Celestia,_Brightest_Star_of_Day) has (A rather hefty 32, difficult on a build that has no UMD as a primary skill).

[xaerr]

I was a lawful good Drow Ninja spy with some kensei-shortsword splashed in wielding a celestia.
most dark monk attacks dont work with short swords, so you have all this extra ki lying around and ninja doesnt give as much sneak attack damage as rogue. Maybe if they fix ninja i will go back, but its working great on my rogue right now.

[Silex_Molior]

Quick question for a random, knowledgeable person:

Why do people take "Improved Crit: Bludgeon" for Wolf form attacks?
Aren't they piercing attacks?

[moriedhel]

Quick question for a random, knowledgeable person:

Why do people take "Improved Crit: Bludgeon" for Wolf form attacks?
Aren't they piercing attacks?

Because it includes improved crit: unarmed which is what the wolf/bear natural attacks are considered as being

[Silex_Molior]

Because it includes improved crit: unarmed which is what the wolf/bear natural attacks are considered as being

Ahh, ty.

[Syllph]

I have a fairly similar build (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=384488&highlight=dronker) that avoids the use of shields and adds in cleave instead.

It's quite true that Celestia would make an excellent primary-hand weapon along with a synergystic off-hand. The biggest hurdle you will face is overcoming the UMD. As a Druid/Monk/Fighter, you are restricted to Lawful Neutral alignment and therefore will have to bypass the UMD requirement that Celestia (http://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Celestia,_Brightest_Star_of_Day) has (A rather hefty 32, difficult on a build that has no UMD as a primary skill).

Wow... I hadn't even noticed the good. Good call, yeah 32 is not so easy.

[Syllph]

I was a lawful good Drow Ninja spy with some kensei-shortsword splashed in wielding a celestia.
most dark monk attacks dont work with short swords, so you have all this extra ki lying around and ninja doesnt give as much sneak attack damage as rogue. Maybe if they fix ninja i will go back, but its working great on my rogue right now.

that's the beauty of wolf. You can have a short sword and still use Stunning fist, as long as you're in wolf-mode.