Mini-Me (Another AC Intim Build) 12Monk/6Paladin/2Rogue

[Grieve]

Disclaimer: This is a flavor build.

This build is a spawn of my Max AC Discussion Thread (Found here). The idea I worked on here was to make a build that would have moderate DPS, high AC, high Intim, and high Threat generation. I believe this build is capable of achieving these goals. Comments, questions and critiques are more than welcome and hopefully some forumites will find this build useful.

~Update 6/16/2011~
I am currently using this build on my character Cardan. It is a very solo-friendly build for leveling due to the great AC while leveling and the trap skills. For end game tanking, the threat generation seems to work effectively though I have not tested it verse top geared DPS characters, but the threat generated from a ToD (double or triple strike) while intimidated with an active Divine Rightousness seems to help out quite a bit.

Note: If you want to ignore trap skills, this build can be modified to to have 2 Fighter levels instead of Rogue. This change will allow one to fit in Stunning Fist & another Toughness Feat. Also, changing the race to Half-Elf or Human would be beneficial if player prefers.

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Character - Halfling 12 Monk/6 Paladin/2 Rogue
~Gear Set~
Head: Epic Helm of Mroranan (w/ +6 Dex)
Goggles: Epic Goggles of Time-sensing (w/ +1 exp Str)
Trinket: Epic Gem of Many Facets (w/ +1 exp Dex)
Necklace: Epic Siren's Charm
Cloak: GS HP Smoke II Cloak
Bracers: Epic Scorched Bracers (w/ +2 Good Luck)
Belt: Epic Belt of Mroranan (w/ GFL)
Boots: Madstone Boots / Striding / GS Cha Skills Boots
Gloves: Epic Gloves of the Claw
Ring 1: Epic Ring of Silver Concord
Ring 2: Chattering Ring
Armor: Icy Rainment (Alc dodge rit)
Weapon: Silver-threaded Handwraps (w/ Holy, Holy Burst, or Pure Good)

==================================

~Attributes~ (36-pt Build)
Str: 22 (12 base + 2 tome + 7 item + 1 exp)
Dex: 38 (18 base + 2 tome + 5 lvlups + 3 enh + 6 item + 1 exp + 3 Wind Stance)
Con: 22 (16 base + 2 tome + 6 item - 2 wind stance)
Int: 14 (12 base + 2 tome)
Wis: 26 (14 base + 2 tome + 1 enh + 7 item + 2 exp)
Cha: 18 (8 base + 2 tome + 7 item + 1 enh)

For 34-pt Build, drop Wis by 1.
For 32-pt Build, drop Wis by 2.
For 28-pt Build, drop Wis by 2, Dex by 1, & Str by 1.

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Feats: (11 = 7 feats + 3 Martial Art Feats + Dark Path Philosophy)
Combat Expertise
Dodge
Toughness
Toughness
TWF
ITWF
GTWF
Weapon Finesse
IC: Bludgeon
Power Attack
==================================

Levels:
[01] Rogue (Toughness)
[02] Monk (TWF)
[03] Paladin (Weapon Finesse)
[04] Monk (Dodge)
[05] Monk (Path of Inevitable Dominion: Fists of Darkness)
[06] Paladin (Power Attack)
[07] Monk
[08] Monk
[09] Monk (ITWF & Combat Expertise)
[10] Monk
[11] Monk
[12] Monk (Toughness)
[13] Paladin
[14] Monk
[15] Monk (GTWF)
[16] Paladin
[17] Monk
[18] Monk (IC: Bludgeon)
[19] Paladin
[20] Rogue

==================================

Armor Class
10 Base
14 Dex
8 Wis
9 Dodge (4 Icy + 3 Chat Ring + 1 Dodge Feat + 1 Alc Dodge AC Armor Rit)
8 armor bonus
4 insight
1 size
6 prot
3 Centered
2 Paladin Aura
------------------
65 - standing
------------------
2 Defensive Stance
4 Shield Spell
1 Haste
1 Kobold ship buff
1 House D ship buff
1 House K ship buff
1 +2 Dex Ship Buff
1 +2 Wis Ship Buff
3 Barkskin Pot
------------------
80 - self buffed
------------------
4 AC song
2 Recitation
2 Full Barkskin
------------------
88 - fully buffed
------------------
90 - Yugo Pots
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5 CE
------------------
95 - Situational
------------------
109 - All the Bells & Whistles


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Enhancements:
2-Monk Wisdom I
6-Ninja Spy II
4-Defender of Siberys I
1-Paladin Armor Boost I
1-Rogue Haste Boost I
1-Rogue Skill Boost I
2-Rogue Dexterity I
2-Adept of Wind
3-Master of Thunder
12-Touch of Death (Philosophy Pre-reqs Included)
3-Racial Toughness II
6-Halfling Dexerity II
3-Halfling Luck(Reflex) II
2-Monk Improved Recovery II
2-Improved Tumble II
2-Improved Jump II
2-Improved Intimidate II
1-Improved Disable I
1-Improved Search I
1-Improved Open Lock I
6-Way of the Tenacious Badger III
1-Paladin Bulwark of Good I
1-Paladin Courage of Good I
1-Paladin Focus of Good I
1-Paladin Resistance of Good I
3-Paladin Toughness II
1-Paladin Divine Righteousness
1-Paladin Extra Lay on Hands I
3-Paladin Extra Smite Evil II
1-Paladin Exalted Smite I
1-Paladin Divine Sacrifice I
2-Paladin Charisma I
1-Improved Trap Sense I

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HP:
020 Base
060 Paladin
012 Rogue
096 Monk
120 Con Bonus
040 Enh
044 Toughness Feat
020 Toughness item
030 GFL
010 Agro Favor
045 GS HP Item
-----------
497 Standing
-----------
020 Stance
020 +2 Con Ship Buff
040 Madstone
040 Yugo Con Pot
020 Rage
-----------
637 Buffed

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Intim:
-4 Size
23 Ranks
04 Cha Ability Bonus
05 Enh
02 Feats(CL Favor)
20 Intim Items(EHoM & EGotC)
02 Good Luck
06 GS Cha Skills
-----------
58 Standing
-----------
01 +2 Cha Ship Buff
04 GH
02 Skill Song
-----------
65 Buffed


UMD: (For Shield Wand)
23 ranks
04 Cha Ability Bonus
02 Good Luck
06 GS Cha Skills
05 Seven Fingered Gloves (Hotswap)
-----------
40 Standing
-----------
01 +2 Cha Ship Buff
04 GH
02 Skill Song
-----------
47 Buffed


Concentration: (For Ki Strikes)
11 ranks
06 Con Bonus
02 Good Luck
------------
19 Standing
------------
01 +2 Con Ship Buff
01 Defensive Stance
04 GH
02 Skill Song
02 Madstone
01 Yugo
01 Rage
------------
31 Buffed

Search:
20 Ranks
05 Int Ability Bonus
01 Enh
20 Search Items(Epic Time-Sensing Goggles)
02 Good Luck
06 GS Int Skills
04 GH
01 Int Ship Buff
-------------
59 Self-Buffed
-------------
02 Skill Song
02 Skill Boost
-------------
63 Fully Buffed

Disable:
15 Ranks
05 Int Ability Bonus
01 Enh
23 Disable Items(Epic Utility Vest + Ventilated Bracers)
02 Good Luck
06 GS Int Skills
04 GH
01 Int Ship Buff
-------------
57 Self-Buffed
-------------
02 Skill Song
02 Skill Boost
-------------
61 Fully Buffed

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Saves:
05/02/02 Paladin
00/03/00 Rogue
08/08/08 Monk
08/16/12 Attribute Bonus
02/02/02 Insight
02/02/02 Good Luck
02/02/02 Paladin Aura
00/02/00 Halfling Luck
01/01/01 Alc Rit
01/01/01 Stance
05/05/05 Resistance
----------
37/41/35 Standing
----------
04/04/04 GH
02/02/02 Recitation
03/03/03 Paladin Aura
----------
43/53/44 Buffed

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Threat Mods:
100% Divine Righteousness
25% Defensive Stance
20% Epic Claw Set Bonus
50% Successful Intim

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[Rdonaccount]

Stunning fist is based off of 1/2 monk level, not 1/2 character level.

[Grieve]

Stunning fist is based off of 1/2 monk level, not 1/2 character level.

Actually with U9, Stunning Fist is Based off 1/2 Character level.

[efreet5]

Decent idea, but I don't get the point of making a low hp hate tank. To a "tank" like this one, a grazing hit from horoth would be like a normal hit on a no-ac barbarian. Plus, he'd disintegrate you in one shot. AC is okay in early-mid game, but it truly does suck at the end. Besides, your dps isn't moderate, it's actually quite low, especially with a starting 10 STR. If I'm going to invest all that equipment to make a build work, then it should at least be worthwhile on its own. What I see here is a super high amount of sought after gear making a less than sturdy build look better than it is. Unfortunately, I just don't see the benefits of making this build.

Issues:
-Low starting STR and overall DPS (I just don't see this build holding aggro over a well-equipped barbarian even with all that gear invested)
-Low Hitpoints (A dead tank isn't ever useful and damage spikes can still occur even with high ac, they're just less likely)
-Halflings and intimidate don't work well together. (The ADDITIONAL -4 size penalty that halflings get when trying to intimidate anything makes it extremely unlikely that you'll be able to intimidate any mobs past the mid-game. Your fully buffed intimidate is right around where you'd need it to be to intimidate some of the raid bosses on NORMAL.)
-Gear (Builds should be discussed more on their merits without all of the equipment you have planned for this. I could design a 34 TR 8cleric/6sorc/6wizard and I could write up a sales pitch that makes it look like the best thing since sliced bread and it definitely would be terrible.)

[Phidius]

You're counting the pally aura twice (2 for your own, then 4 from another pally later on).

Also, where are you getting your 4 Insight from?

Keep us updated with how well you can hold aggro with the recent changes to intim. If you can't hold aggro, I'd think it would be a disappointing investment in gear.

[Sequell]

Decent idea, but I don't get the point of making a low hp hate tank. To a "tank" like this one, a grazing hit from horoth would be like a normal hit on a no-ac barbarian. Plus, he'd disintegrate you in one shot. AC is okay in early-mid game, but it truly does suck at the end. Besides, your dps isn't moderate, it's actually quite low, especially with a starting 10 STR. If I'm going to invest all that equipment to make a build work, then it should at least be worthwhile. Unfortunately, I just don't see the benefits of making this build.

I agree with you. This build an example of how poor stat distribution and weak class split can be made up for with nice gear.

To the OP, AC is really meh at endgame sadly . 10 Starting Str is extremely painful. And honestly a halfling intimidator is never a good idea because of size penalties.

[Grieve]

You're counting the pally aura twice (2 for your own, then 4 from another pally later on).

Also, where are you getting your 4 Insight from?

Keep us updated with how well you can hold aggro with the recent changes to intim. If you can't hold aggro, I'd think it would be a disappointing investment in gear.

The 4 later on is based on a full DoS III aura, which is a total of 6, but yes I will remove that since it makes no sense that you would have a DoS III paladin nearby and not tanking.

Edit: I just noticed your comment on the Insight 4. This is coming from the Siren Set Bonus. (Siren's Charm & Gem of Many Facets)

[chodelord]

Unless you get all that epic bling from a past life you should list the "standard" farmable/raid gear you would expect to have at 20 to start your epic grind career

I would take KoC over DoS as it saves you a couple of action points and stance threat doesn't stack with divine righteousness. DoS1 stance is basically immobile, even with tumble you really don't want to use it. Also would highly recommend a couple of rogue enhancements, sneak training 1 and skill boost. Skill boost is a free +2 umd and sneak training 1 is about the best damage enhancement in the game. If you can find a point for halfling reflex 1 that wouldn't hurt either.

Finally you should definitely take PA over CE. w/ Shadowfade maxing AC is less important and power attack is about a 15-25% / hit damage boost over CE.

[CaptGrim]

I'd drop the 2 rogue for 2 fighter and pick up 2 more tougness feats. Or one more toughness and SF:intim. 63 is a bit low for endgame stuff.

Check out the build in my sig.

Its for my hate tank Noheels, it has a slightly lower AC but more DPS, threat, intim, hp etc. All with no CE and PA on at all times. He is even viable in epics because the DPS is good enough to hang with the heavy hitters.

If you don't like it at least it may give you some ideas.

My guess is that, even with all your hate, you'll still lose it at times to heavy DPS with the claw set. The low str and no power attack really hurt your threat via low DPS.

[Grieve]

Decent idea, but I don't get the point of making a low hp hate tank. To a "tank" like this one, a grazing hit from horoth would be like a normal hit on a no-ac barbarian. Plus, he'd disintegrate you in one shot. AC is okay in early-mid game, but it truly does suck at the end. Besides, your dps isn't moderate, it's actually quite low, especially with a starting 10 STR. If I'm going to invest all that equipment to make a build work, then it should at least be worthwhile on its own. What I see here is a super high amount of sought after gear making a less than sturdy build look better than it is. Unfortunately, I just don't see the benefits of making this build.

Issues:
-Low starting STR and overall DPS (I just don't see this build holding aggro over a well-equipped barbarian even with all that gear invested)
-Low Hitpoints (A dead tank isn't ever useful and damage spikes can still occur even with high ac, they're just less likely)
-Halflings and intimidate don't work well together. (The ADDITIONAL -4 size penalty that halflings get when trying to intimidate anything makes it extremely unlikely that you'll be able to intimidate any mobs past the mid-game. Your fully buffed intimidate is right around where you'd need it to be to intimidate some of the raid bosses on NORMAL.)
-Gear (Builds should be discussed more on their merits without all of the equipment you have planned for this. I could design a 34 TR 8cleric/6sorc/6wizard and I could write up a sales pitch that makes it look like the best thing since sliced bread and it definitely would be terrible.)

Thank you for the comments and I will work on modifying the build to fix a few of the issues.

Low Str - Yes, it is an issue, but for this build AC is a primary goal, but the point of AC is to be able to have the enmies on you and not your buddies mitigating the damage the party takes. Also, I haven't tested how well this would work, but with a successful Intim followed by a ToD (most likely double procced) while all hate gen is active should give a nice buffer and the DPS based of fists and attack speed should be reasonable to hold agro.

Low HP - Yes, it is low and in no way was I considering this build for Horoth tanking. The build does have greats saves, Improved Evasion, and high AC to mitigate damage which should give some room for a lower HP.

Halfling & Intimidate - Halfling was chosen for AC reasons and as for the intimidate value, 63 is slightly low and I think would only be an issue in Epic DQ, HoX, and possibly Elite VoD & ToD for Sully. (65 is Sully intim on Elite if I remember correctly)

I do appreciate the comments and will look into what I can do to modify the build. One useful piece of knowledge would be AC break points on bosses.

[Grieve]

Expect an update to the build in a day or two. I will continue to read comments and work on modifications.

I will also work on a non-Epic/Raid gear setup.

[Phidius]

...Edit: I just noticed your comment on the Insight 4. This is coming from the Siren Set Bonus. (Siren's Charm & Gem of Many Facets)

Dang it, I've totally gotten behind on my reading assignments.

Considering how difficult it's been to pull either the shard or seal of the Jidz Tet'ka bracers, I've given up on the other epic items... at least until/if I get the bracers upgraded.

Which is a shame, because with all these different gear combinations, one could spend a lot of time/money on this game if it wasn't such a grind to even get one piece.

[Grieve]

Just an update to the build and I am enjoying playing it quite a bit. The lack of Stunning Fist hurts a bit, but I prefer having trap capabilities on this build since my guy was a rogue for 2 lives prior to this build and it makes leveling quite a bit easier. I am also still in the process of obtaining the last item I need to Epic for my gear swap to the setup listed in my post.