The Way of the Ninja

[sigtrent]

I think at this point its more of a flavor thing... perhaps good in mid levels where the weapon effects like banishing and smiting have some real potency to them or its a stat damage type build. But then why not just go rogue? You need to be doing ki strikes to make it work out well and it precludes the best of them.

Weapon monks do get double procs on strike effects so that's something.

I can sort of see this for Drow, going hard into the shorts sword bonuses, but that's really more a flavor thing. It needs something else in the mix to make it work, something that makes short swords themselves more attractive, or the second tier allowing rapiers or kukri's into the mix.

It wouldn't make for a bad build and I've taken enhancements mostly for flavor but I think it needs some more jazz to make it exciting like some of the prestige enhancements are.

[Aerendil]

I think at this point its more of a flavor thing... perhaps good in mid levels where the weapon effects like banishing and smiting have some real potency to them or its a stat damage type build. But then why not just go rogue? You need to be doing ki strikes to make it work out well and it precludes the best of them.

Yep, exactly. Shortswords for *Monks* will be a filler for either the early levels when handwraps haven't come into their own, or later on if they haven't Devouts or metalline of PG handwraps but do have an equivalent piercer.

But for a *Rogue*? This is pure gold. Granted, you're limited to using SSs only, but that's a small price to pay for Wind stance haste and a self-25% blur. Hence my build idea of the Scorpion Ninja Rogue.

Weapon monks do get double procs on strike effects so that's something.

Yep, but so do handwraps. I constantly see double-procs when I hit a ki strike with handwraps.

I can sort of see this for Drow, going hard into the shorts sword bonuses, but that's really more a flavor thing. It needs something else in the mix to make it work, something that makes short swords themselves more attractive, or the second tier allowing rapiers or kukri's into the mix.

Yep, exactly. The Rogues will still have their SA bonus dice.
But for the pure Monks? Handwraps will always outshine shortswords unless they get super-uber ability in tier II or III (which I don't see happening).[/QUOTE]

[geoffhanna]

I was thinking Drow 13/6/1 FvS/Mnk/Rog-you could even possibly fit in the future Scorpion Wraith Pre with Ninja Spy.

I was thinking 12monk/8fvs: abundant step and 4th level divine spells.

That also gets the FvS +2 WIS bonus IIRC?

But, sadly, the last thing I need right now is yet one more alt. This one might have been pretty cool.

[Yaga_Nub]

I am going to make a Drow 12 Monk/6 Ranger/2 Paladin and if I decide I don't need the Divine Grace then I'll LR to a 13 Monk/6 Ranger/1 Rogue.

Purely for favor. I'm not worried about UBAH DPS or whatever all you number crunching, min/max ghey boys worry about. The game is more interesting when it's a challenge.

[Calebro]

I'm just planning on swapping Light for Dark and rearranging a few AP on my monk7/rogue13, then if they make Touch of Death work on weapons as it originally did, possibly LR to monk9/rogue11.

*edit:
And I'm REALLY hoping that they do change that, because Dark Path m9/r11 would still have the same SA as my Light Path m7/r13 does now, and still have Crippling Strike and Improved Evasion, but would also have +1bab, more HP and ToD