The Whirling Tempest (12 Ranger / 7 Monk / 1 Rogue)

[DrylondS]

This build is a work in progress. Revision 1 - 7/2 It is not newbie friendly, requiring 36 build points and several +3 and +4 tomes. This build is inspired by the exploiter, but redesigned to offer a playstyle that would be more fun for me. It is almost certain that this build is NOT as powerful as the exploiter, while performing many similar functions.

Whirling Tempest
Level 20 Lawful Neutral Elf Female
(12 Ranger / 7 Monk / 1 Rogue)

Stats
Strength 17 (42 = 17 base + 5 levels + 4 tome + 7 item +3 exceptional + 2 rams + 2 sun stance + 2 rage)
Dexterity 16 (32 = 16 base + 5 enhancements + 4 tome + 7 item)
Constitution 12 (24 = 12 base + 4 tome + 6 item + 2 exceptional)
Intelligence 13 (22 = 13 base + 3 tome + 6 item)
Wisdom 14 (28 = 14 base + 2 enhancements + 4 tome + 6 item + 3 exceptional - 1 baphomet)
Charisma 8 (16 = 8 base + 3 tome + 6 item - 1 baphomet)

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 3
+3 Tome of Charisma used at level 11
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 11
+4 Tome of Strength used at level 15
+4 Tome of Dexterity used at level 15
+4 Tome of Constitution used at level 15
+4 Tome of Wisdom used at level 15

Level Progression
Rogue, Monk, Ranger, Ranger, Monk, Ranger, Ranger, Monk, Ranger, Ranger, Monk...etc

This alternating progression is more of a pain in the ass to level, but pays dividends at 20 because of higher skills. Take UMD/disable/search on ranger levels, concentration/balance on monk levels.


Feats (in order taken)
Dodge
Power Attack (monk bonus)
Favored Enemy: Undead
Mobility
Toughness (monk bonus)
Spring Attack
Path of Inevitable Dominion (monk path)
Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Least Dragonmark of Shadow
Improved Critical: Piercing
Lesser Dragonmark of Shadow
Combat Expertise (monk bonus)
Extend Spell

Skills
52 Balance (20 ranks + 11 dexterity +2 ninja spy + 15 item + 4 greater heroism)
51 Concentration (23 ranks + 7 constitution + 15 item + 4 greater heroism + 2 enhancements)
56 Jump (4 ranks + 16 strength +2 enhancements + 30 clickie + 4 greater heroism)
38 Tumble (4 ranks +11 dexterity +2 enhancements + 15 item + 4 greater heroism) *this is just for fun - all flips*
63 Disable Device (23 ranks + 6 intelligence + 15 item + 7 tools + 3 reaver bracers + 4 greater heroism + 5 skill boost)
59 Open Lock (15 ranks + 11 dexterity + 15 item + 7 tools + 2 good luck + 4 greater heroism + 5 skill boost)
59 Search (23 ranks + 9 wisdom + 15 item + 2 good luck + 4 greater heroism + 5 skill boost)
48 Use Magic Device (23 ranks + 3 charisma + 5 item + 6 shroud crafted + 4 greater heroism + 2 good luck + 5 skill boost)
42 Haggle (7 ranks + 3 charisma + 15 item + 6 shroud crafted + 4 greater heroism + 2 good luck + 5 skill boost)

Enhancements
Rogue Haste Boost I
Ranger Skill Boost I
Ranger Skill Boost II
Ranger Skill Boost III
Ranger Skill Boost IV
Elven Dexterity I
Elven Dexterity II
Extra Dragonmark Use I
Extra Dragonmark Use II
Extra Dragonmark Use III
Way of the Patient Tortiose I
Way of the Patient Tortiose II
Monk Improved Recovery I
Monk Improved Recovery II
Adept of Wind
Racial Toughness I
Racial Toughness II
Ranger Favored Damage I
Ranger Favored Damage II
Ranger Favored Damage III
Ranger Tempest I
Ranger Tempest II
Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Monk Jump I
Monk Jump II
Monk Tumble I
Monk Tumble II
All-Consuming Flame
Ranger Dexterity I
Ranger Dexterity II
Ranger Dexterity III
Monk Wisdom I
Monk Wisdom II
Ninja Spy I

Spells
Ram's Might
Resist Energy
Barkskin
Protection from Energy
Neutralize Poison
Cure Moderate Wounds

Using shortswords this build utilizes (almost) full base attack bonus, with 100% TWF offhand proc rate. I will alternate between Wind Stance for 5% double strike, and Fire Stance for increased strength and ki generation.

Here are some initial roughshod estimates for important benchmarks.

Attack Bonus
20 base
11 strength
5 weapon
4 greater heroism
4 spectral gloves
2 shintao monk
46 self buffed

Hit Points
158 levels
20 heroic
10 draconic
30 greater false life
140 constitution
20 rage
22 toughness feat
20 racial enhancements
10 monk enhancements
20 toughness item
45 shroud item
40 yugoloth potion
535 self buffed

Armor Class (in AC gear)
10 base
2 monk
1 dodge feat
4 icy raiment dodge
1 alchemical dodge
3 chattering ring dodge
11 dexterity
10 wisdom (in ocean stance)
4 insight (greensteel weapon)
5 protection
5 barkskin
8 armor bracers
3 tempest II
5 combat expertise
1 haste
73 self buffed AC

Saves (fort/reflex/will)
13/15/9 levels
7/11/8 attributes
5/5/5 resistance
4/4/4/ greater heroism
29/35/26 self buffed

Ideal Gear
Weapons: Greensteel, Epic Stings, whatever else...
Armor: Icy Raiment, Enlightened Vestments (banishing)
Bracers: Epic Jidz-te'tka / Epic Bracers of Deftness / Ventilated Bracers / Tharne's Bracers
Gloves: Epic Spectral Gloves / Titan's Grip (clicky)
Belt: Epic Belt of Mroranon
Ring 1: Kyosho's Ring
Ring 2: Epic Ring of Baphomet (dps) / Chattering Ring (tanking)
Necklace: Shintao Cord
Trinket: Epic Bloodstone
Boots: Madstone / Boots of the Innocent / Epic Dustless / Epic Kundarak Delving
Cloak: Greensteel 45hp, +5 protection
Goggles: Tharne's Goggles
Helmet: the coolest looking ninja mask you can find


Some notes...
1) With the attack speed changes I will expect to use fire stance mostly, with the Epic Jidz-Te'tka, the additional +25% incoming healing should prove very useful as well as the +2 strength.

2) This build has formidable defense against melee and ranged attacks. 72 armor class is significant on its own, but the builds true defense comes from the combination of shadow fade and displacement. With extend spell and extra dragonmarks I have 5 uses of 4 minute displacement per day...thats 20 minutes of displacement per shrine, which STACKS with the +25% incorporeal miss chance from shadow fade.

3) This build provides useful self healing with full UMD, wholeness of body, and +45% incoming healing in fire stance.

4) My listed "ideal gear" is a pretty tall order. I certainly don't have all of it. This is simply my target for the current state of the game. I have most of these items, and should be able to work around what I'm still missing fairly easily.

Please provide constructive feedback, bearing in mind. I KNOW this will deal less damage than an exploiter using Khopeshes. I think this build will be more entertaining to play however, with all the monk active combat abilities. It should "feel" more engaging than the simple boost -> auto-attack dps the exploiter provides.

Leorwen
(currently) 18 ranger/1 monk/1 rogue
<Ransack> of Khyber