Originally Posted by
Cetus
All good questions, yes I have played a pure fighter extensively prior to deciding on the 18/2 split - they are very close in DPS and defenses, but I am firmly set on 18/2 as being the superior build. Here's why:
Pure fighter capstone: The main draw is 15% doublestrike. Outside of part 1 of shroud, I don't miss the 4 extra action boosts at all - and even in part 1 of shroud, draconic reinvigoration makes them last.
So, it's 15% doublestrike and +2 str/int (KTA) vs. +1 19/20 crit multiplier, 1.5W from dance of flowers, 2d6 sneak attack damage from ninja spy, +2 melee power (extra feat from 2 monk), fists of iron (+3 W, +1 threat, +1 multiplier every 3 seconds), adept + master strikes of the enduring (when worked in with fists of iron, can use the triple earth finisher for 2 multiplier as well).
As far as defenses go, yes the pure fighter can take advantage of the stalwart hitpoints and heavy armor PRR - however, my monk version has roughly 18% more dodge than I did on the pure fighter.
My PRR atm is about a 143 with blitz (however, this is tentative gear - I only have 38 sheltering atm, no insightful sheltering). A pure fighter would probably have at most 10% more mitigation from PRR, but I have about 18% more dodge.
The evasion is ABSOLUTELY noticeable. The red named casters and all the mephits casting their **** on me was essentially ignored. I'm running like a high 70's reflex save and it's awesome for this stuff.
Sorjek:
It's a mixed result with him, sometimes it goes smoother if I get lucky with dodge and footwork. About 30% of the time I can survive a hit from his sword - but I'm usually about 100-200 hitpoints away from making it when he one-shots me. That's just a simple hitpoints/PRR thing that I can account for with gear that I have not sorted out yet.