Big F'n Stick Build

[The_Phenx]

Tangleroot Normal @ level 4... no cleric... no problem. Used 13 potions thru part 6 finishing part 7 tonight.

Had 2 lvl 4 casters and two lvl 3 ranger hybrids with me... was blurred and bulls strength'd + Bears Endurance.

The only twink gear he had is now level appropriate.. so... build is still very solid.

I should hit 5th tonight and pick up the next attack + glancing blows & next level of Dragonmarks. Will update tomorrow.

[The_Phenx]

All traps no problem... all critters werent either... although it got hairy enough for the warforged to go hide in the river while I recovered from being incapped by a certain large guy with a club, who I then exacted my revenge on.

[Blazer]

I have max ranks in hiding and since I'm warforged it was no problem staying under the water. Pfft, UWA.

[Hasteclicky]

I think he will do pretty much what you want to build him for, but then again it's a cool idea to do something different. you have an abundant fondness for the haste boosts which works well for you, I always forget to use it. But remember the showtime boost consumes your haste boost charge, so they will only stack for 2 of the 5 uses.
When we originally planned this out I didn't figure on you using the dragonmarks since I would wear the madstone boots almost constantly, and they would then be no use in combat. The have saved my dwarf more than once so I'm not complaining that u have them.
Only other thing I would think about is going monk 3 for the fist of light. U generate alot of KI with your attack speed, it would be nice to put it to use....

[The_Phenx]

I have max ranks in hiding and since I'm warforged it was no problem staying under the water. Pfft, UWA.

Lol it was still fun. Wooo stabilized.. then I got to pick them all off from behind casue they were busy trying to kill you.

[The_Phenx]

Approaching 7th level. I have to say he kicks some tail.

I have run with a few Iron monks... a few tempst builds and a few barbarians... He out performs them or = in the dps department at this stage, he does a lot of per hit damage comparatively, and the speed makes a big difference. The survivability is just fine, Hp is no problem with the dragonmarks and heal pots, With a few pots his ac is a 28 at the moment, 32 w uncanny, with 0 items.. lol. Where are my waterworks bracers...

Saves are 9 18 9 with +3 vs traps and +4 to reflex w uncanny

HP are at 80 with only a +2 con necklace. (purposefully not wasting money on twinking)

Stats have climbed to 20 20 14 14 14 8

Power attack effects glancing blows... interesting discovery.

His per hit is (unbuffed) 21-26 pts + sneak + weapon effects.... so somewhere in the 25-50+ range and just getting better.

The most fun so far is cleaving a stack of mobs stuck in a firewall.

[The_Phenx]

7th is amusing lol... picked up more sneak attack damage, and more uses of dragonmarks. Ac is climbing nicely.

8th will bring acrobat I... cant wait..

[RioRussell]

I built a similar style build, and had a question. can you verify for me that power attack works properly with a quarterstaff? I was turning power attack on but wasn't seeing my to-hit go down or damage values go up. bug or 'feature'?

-Riorussell

[Deathseeker]

Approaching 7th level. I have to say he kicks some tail.

I have run with a few Iron monks... a few tempst builds and a few barbarians... He out performs them or = in the dps department at this stage, he does a lot of per hit damage comparatively, and the speed makes a big difference.

Im going down this road as well, but have a question. If at this point you don't have Acrobat yet, what would make him outdo the tempest or barbarians at these early levels? At this point, isnt he a rogue with a quarterstaff? I'd think he'd be far behind a ranger TWF or Barb with THF at this point until he gets the big benefits of Acrobat and Acrobat II. Can you elaborate?

[D'rin]

He has the wind stance, which pre haste spell levels, means he is 10-15% faster than anyone else. Also figure he is going to have about 2d6 in sneak attack damage, couple that with an elemental of pure good q-stick and he will be able to one shot a lot of low level mobs on normal and 2 shot some on hard.

[The_Phenx]

I built a similar style build, and had a question. can you verify for me that power attack works properly with a quarterstaff? I was turning power attack on but wasn't seeing my to-hit go down or damage values go up. bug or 'feature'?

-Riorussell

Power attack verified. Works great.

Just remember the bonuses for it climb as you climb levels.

[The_Phenx]

Im going down this road as well, but have a question. If at this point you don't have Acrobat yet, what would make him outdo the tempest or barbarians at these early levels? At this point, isnt he a rogue with a quarterstaff? I'd think he'd be far behind a ranger TWF or Barb with THF at this point until he gets the big benefits of Acrobat and Acrobat II. Can you elaborate?

See D'rin's post which is 100% accurate.

Wind stance coupled with a +2 holy quarterstaff and power attack.. with first tiers of rouge sped boost rocks.

At lower levels was using a +1 frost quarterstaff.

Seeing nubers like... 22+12+8 on a regular hit... which when jumping into a pile of koolds and cleaving is insta death.

Its not far behind... the actual damage per hit and speed is ahead at this point.

The only problem I've found is on hard and elite level quest 2 or more levels above he has a bit of an issue hitting... so I turn off power attack.

[The_Phenx]

Rumors of Two handed fighting feas working with quarterstaffs are popping up... will be looking for verification today... they didn't used to effect them.

[D'rin]

I really like the flavor of this build. now that they are allowing TWF to affect unarmed fighting my monk will most likely ditch his q-stick for handwraps. And I have all these nice staves to play with. Guess I know what I am going to role now.

[Blazer]

I really like the flavor of this build. {...} Guess I know what I am going to role now.

Ugh, please don't tell him that. Last thing he needs is MORE of an ego with people trying to mimic his builds.

[lord_of_rage]

this build looks wayyy too fun. I might have to roll one up. And see if i like it. I have been looking for a fun halfling build. I have too many barbs and twf melees so l think ill check this out.

[Deathseeker]

See D'rin's post which is 100% accurate.

Wind stance coupled with a +2 holy quarterstaff and power attack.. with first tiers of rouge sped boost rocks.

At lower levels was using a +1 frost quarterstaff.

Seeing nubers like... 22+12+8 on a regular hit... which when jumping into a pile of koolds and cleaving is insta death.

Its not far behind... the actual damage per hit and speed is ahead at this point.

The only problem I've found is on hard and elite level quest 2 or more levels above he has a bit of an issue hitting... so I turn off power attack.

Dont get me wrong, with the announcement on THF affecting Qstaffs I think this style of build will catch fire and I love it. But I'm still challenging you a little bit on the early level greatness of it...the +2 holy qstaff is a function of equipment, not the build. A barb could have an equivalent two hander. Also, at this level, don't the other THF weapons get a level of inherent glancing blows that the qstaff does not? Add this to the Barb rage and Barb BAB advantage and I'm still skeptical that this build, at early levels, is superior in DPS to an equivalently equipped (very key point) barbarian. The sneak attack should disappear the minute you hit something as you are doing enough dps to pull aggro.

But, I'm totally nitpicking just for the sake of discussion...love the concept, am looking at doing this myself once the mod 8 stuff settles out, and think this is a great thread!

[The_Phenx]

Well yep we now have clarification that THF works with staves... this opens up a lot of different possibilities.

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=159786

Obviously things need a bit of tinkering... it works great as is... but...Right now I'm leaning toward loosing the Great cleave and toughness, taking the hit on hit points, and taking the THF and Ithf and picking toughness back up at 18th. The reasoning being that will leave me with cleave for an approach shot, and occasional mob control... and build up the to hit and damage of the glancing blows nicely, should be in the 18-22 range I believe. The loss of toughness is negated by the dragonmarks since they are like having an extra 1500 hp in your pocket, with the ac and saves + evasion it should still be a very survivable build.

Or I could drop both cleaves keep toughness and do the same thing... or drop both cleaves and toughness and take the whole line, its food for thought.

I will have to look at everything. Of course I could splash another monk level in and pick up the feat that hes short and 1 more to the BAB... BUT.. then I run the risk of loosing acrobat III when it releases later on. Ill stick to the original 14/2 plan until We have more knowledge in mod 9 and I can modify then if necessary.

Will post later to the decision... but you can see the ability to change the build aroud for multiple schools of thought.

[The_Phenx]

Dont get me wrong, with the announcement on THF affecting Qstaffs I think this style of build will catch fire and I love it. But I'm still challenging you a little bit on the early level greatness of it...the +2 holy qstaff is a function of equipment, not the build. A barb could have an equivalent two hander. Also, at this level, don't the other THF weapons get a level of inherent glancing blows that the qstaff does not? Add this to the Barb rage and Barb BAB advantage and I'm still skeptical that this build, at early levels, is superior in DPS to an equivalently equipped (very key point) barbarian. The sneak attack should disappear the minute you hit something as you are doing enough dps to pull aggro.

But, I'm totally nitpicking just for the sake of discussion...love the concept, am looking at doing this myself once the mod 8 stuff settles out, and think this is a great thread!

Yes a barb will hit harder earler, Base damage only. The rouge/monk gets 10% alacrity bonus starting at lvl 1 and a 15% rouge boost, and sneak attack damage, Strengths are close, The greatax's doing glancing blows earlier in the BAB progression.

LAter on the barb gets all that rage for damage, which will be offset by the base 30% alacrity bonus the acrobat will get, 48.5% when hasted. Then it goes to 78.5% with rouge boost. Then stack madstone for 98.5%... just silly.

The sneak attack only dissapears if you are soloing really.. if your in a group you just hit diplo and when they turn around you pound them again. Or play with an intimitank, or get a glitterdust cast.. or fight in a firewall... etc.

I'm not necessarily shure what the dps comparison will be, in the end it ought to be pretty silly... .I was just after making a worthwhile quarterstaff user, and I think I have landed on the dot, (with a few tweaks here and there)

[The_Phenx]

Ugh, please don't tell him that. Last thing he needs is MORE of an ego with people trying to mimic his builds.

ROFL onyl an ego with ghin.. and thats cause hes my lil buddy