Would appreciate a little help with my Acrobat.

[Aleoi]

I'm having fun with my monk, but sometimes I feel the need take break from it and play something else, so I'm looking to make an acrobat. I don't have a ton of experience with the game yet though, so I I was hoping to get a few things answered.

1. The non-rogue level

I'm aiming for 19 levels of rogue, I'd go twenty, but I know there isn't really any benefit to doing so. Is monk worth it for the free level, or would something else benefit me a bit more and when is best to squeeze it in? Also, if I do go monk, is concentration really all that important if I only have one level it in?

2. Alignment

Not sure where to go with his one. Lawful if I do go monk, obviously, but not sure where else to go with it. If its not good I can't use some of the hand me downs I have for her, like the pillar of light my monk no longer needs, but I know thats less important in the long run with UMD.

3. Feats

Most are pretty clear, two handed feats, toughness, improved critical. Just asking here in case there is something I'm overlooking.

4. Alternate weapon

What should I haul around for those enemies a blunt weapon is less than effective against?

I'll also welcome any other advice, though keep in mind that unless I stumble upon some guild thats interested, I'll be surprised if I ever end up doing any of the really high end stuff.

Thank you for your time and advice in advance.

[Angelus_dead]

Monk is a fine choice, but so is Barbarian (martial weapons, running speed, and PA). Someone with just 1 monk level has minimal need for concentration. (Technically concentration is not useless for pure rogues, as it could help cast Heal scrolls in dangerous places)

Characters of UMD classes have a tendency to be non-good, so they won't be penalized for Taint of Evil items.

For enemies that resist blunt damage (primarily zombies), have a few sickles (or kama with monk level, or axes with barb level). You'll also eventually want two vorpal blades.

Most are pretty clear, two handed feats, toughness, improved critical. Just asking here in case there is something I'm overlooking.

Oh no, not Two Handed feats. What you want is Two Weapon Fighting, which is much better.

Don't let the Acrobat speed boost trick you into using Quarterstaff as a main weapon: dual wielding still gives many more attacks, and TWF feats with monk unarmed strike is even more than that.

[Aleoi]

Appreciated, but I was aiming to use a staff specifically because I'm not interested in dual wield. Its very effective, but not for me, so I wanted to try messing around with a staff instead.

[Angelus_dead]

Appreciated, but I was aiming to use a staff specifically because I'm not interested in dual wield.

Ok, but with a monk level you'd typically use a single handwrap for a weapon...

[Aleoi]

I kinda have my heart set on staves though. I mean, I get plenty of handwrap action on my monk, so going with those again isn't much of a break from her.

[kelabb]

I tendto have my bard carry a staff, and even built a rogue/paladin who weilded a staff and he was always effective and never complained about. And a staff weilder always LOOKS SO GOOD!

However, you have to face the fact they are sub-optimal and always will be. Sure they will shine against skeletons, if you've got a flametouched or holy staff you will be loved in Delara's Tomb. To help them out though, you need to make sure you take all the THF, Blunt Weapon focus and specialisation and Improved Critical Hit feats. Rogue already has a Rogue Haste enhancement as that will be very important for you. Make sure you key map your Rogue Haste action key somewhere handy (I map it to the letter 'e').

Now to the point... I personally haven't used a Monk splash, but I intend to in the build I am using, mainly for the AC boost it will allow me. I can't advise if there is a Haste like boost as well. If there is, Monk will be good. Fighter also has a Haste boost and that is my usual selection (and it gives you access to all martial weapons!) Be aware though, you can only use 1 Haste action at a time. The Rogue cooldown will also effect the Fighter cooldown.

I'd suggest you keep a flametouched or holy staff, and if it also has acid, cold, fire etc damage as well it would be ideal in most situations. You can also experiment with various longswords you find (I think rogues have proficiency?) again, with suffixes or prefixes that add to the pain and damage caused. Don't worry about buying the fringe weapon, just use your best until you find something better in a chest somewhere.

[Artos_Fabril]

Now to the point... I personally haven't used a Monk splash, but I intend to in the build I am using, mainly for the AC boost it will allow me. I can't advise if there is a Haste like boost as well. If there is, Monk will be good. Fighter also has a Haste boost and that is my usual selection (and it gives you access to all martial weapons!) Be aware though, you can only use 1 Haste action at a time. The Rogue cooldown will also effect the Fighter cooldown.

Rogue haste boost will affect fighter haste boost immensely, as you cannot take both on the same character (in the same way you can't take both rogue and ranger dex enhancements, for instance) Monk would get a slightly faster attack speed due to a portion (1/4th or 1/3rd, depending on which tier) of the boost from wind stance being an insight bonus. So with only one level of monk, you'll end up with a 10% haste from windstance, which stacks with your action boost/showtime and your acrobat alacrity bonus, however of that 10%, 7.5% is enhancement bonus, so that portion will not stack with haste spells or potions. You'll only come out 2.5% ahead fully buffed, and you'll be short a point of BAB versus taking a fighter or Barb level. Which doesn't really matter once you have plenty of divine power clickies or madstone boots, but may be noticeable early on.

Either way, look for a Pillar of Light out of catacombs (end reward, BtA) +1 pure good Q-staff ML2 1 click of CL5 searing Light per rest for a nice starter weapon.

[Aleoi]

I have a pillar of light myself. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't going to regret making my char LG just to be able to use it at low levels, assuming I'm also going monk.

[Angelus_dead]

you'll be short a point of BAB versus taking a fighter or Barb level.

If you are wielding a Quarterstaff then Monk levels provide the same BAB as Fighter or Barbarian.

[Eladiun]

If your looking at Rogue and Staff, if you haven't already take a look at the Big F'n Stick build it may give you some ideas...

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...ight=big+stick

[Aleoi]

It did give me ideas, I have a basic setup in mind for what I want to do. Just a little vague on the effects of alignment for the long run.

[Eladiun]

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=231915

[Aleoi]

Thank you, that helps a bit.

[unbongwah]

Of the Acrobat staff builds I've seen, I prefer the rogue 13 / monk 7 builds to the rogue 19 / monk 1 builds. However, that's based on the presumption that Acrobat III won't be added anytime soon and that Wind II stance and Wholeness of Body are worth sacrificing the extra SAs & rogue feats for the speed boost & self-healing.

[Geonis]

I have actually gone with Rog 17/Monk 3, only level 16 so far, and loving it.

Took Stunning Blow and with weighted staves, it goes off quite often for crit and sneak attack

Character name is Whackin on Khyber if you want to take a peek via myddo.

[Garseya]

[QUOTE=Aleoi;2897124]I'm having fun with my monk, but sometimes I feel the need take break from it and play something else, so I'm looking to make an acrobat. I don't have a ton of experience with the game yet though, so I I was hoping to get a few things answered.

1. The non-rogue level

I'm aiming for 19 levels of rogue, I'd go twenty, but I know there isn't really any benefit to doing so.


Cheat Death is freaking awesome... Maybe I'm just lucky, but on my 20 elf assasin, I'd say the cheat death works over 50% of the time. I can't tell you how many party wipes I have saved from being able to use that. In town, I can hardly /death because I instantly res myself. You dont even get the dialogue box in town. But in a quest imainge this.... You get a dialogue box when you die that's just like a res box.. you can move around as a ghost same as normal, 10 second window from your soulstone.. and to my knowledge no time window, so you can wait for the agro to move away from your soul stone, or take time to put yourself into position to res safley and recover your comrades....

Yes it is a pain to have to wait to 20 to get that... but it is fun.. as someone who's had many rogue builds.. I'd say go pure first just to experience it... or for your Q staff idea .. Lawful good alignment for your monk level or 2... I think monks get extra feats at 1 and 2... so might as well talk 2 levels.. or 1 monk 1 barb/fighter if st build...

The big f'n stick build posted above is a good one.. as is the Krythen build. http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=186007 . though the monk level doesnt come until very late.. I also had a lot of fun with a crazy 16/roge/3wiz/1 fighter build i was trying for permadeath... just goofing around, but had fun till Zircon stunned me!