Elven TWF Pally/Monk build - suggestions/improvements wanted :)

[VveX]

I've have never played a Pally or a Monk so far, and consider myself a noob in this respect. Rolled this build yesterday and it's been surprisingly fun so far (soloing Korthos/Harbor so far although it's more of a Monk than a Pally at this point :P)

Anyway, this is not built with endgame in mind, the main goal here is to get Paladin Past Life under my belt and TR. I do intend to do a fair amount of Shroud Farming starting at ~18 though (may keep on doing that even at 20 hoarding ingredients for my future TR's toon since it seems KotC Pally is well suited for that.)

Other than that the main goal is to quickly farm XP, mostly by soloing (and have fun doing it too ). This is the reason for the Rogue splash, I wanted high UMD for scrolling/wanding Invisibility, Haste, Teleports etc., all the little things that make soloing much quicker. The 3 Monk levels are for Evasion, MA feats and Light Path finishers (might respec to Dark at some point just for fun). Longswords and Elf because I wanted to stay Centered for various benefits (stances, movement, finishers) so the Elf racial longsword enhancement come in handy here.

The grey areas to me are:

1. Pally enhancements - what I've put in is my best effort based on descriptions, but the truth is I've no idea which enhancements are really important and which work better than others etc. So all you pro Pally's suggestions are requested - keeping in mind the mian goals of the build (solo XP + Shroud).

2. Concentration - how high do I need to go there to keep all the benefits of the Monk splash? Again, I''ve no experience with Monk. (The reason I ask is I might consider dropping 2 points off of Int if it turns out I don't need Conc, it's still early enough to reroll).

3. Any other suggestions, especially with respect to making the build Shroud-efficient.

Thanks a lot

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Elven Pally/Monk
Level 20 Lawful Good Elf Male
(16 Paladin \ 3 Monk \ 1 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 312
Spell Points: 215 
BAB: 18\18\23\28\28
Fortitude: 21
Reflex: 21
Will: 19

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    21
Dexterity            16                    18
Constitution         11                    12
Intelligence         11                    12
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             15                    18

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 4
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 4
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 4
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 4

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               7                     8
Bluff                 2                     4
Concentration         2                    15
Diplomacy             2                     4
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                6                    14
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  3                     4
Intimidate            2                     4
Jump                  7                     9
Listen               -1                     1
Move Silently         3                     4
Open Lock             7                     8
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     1
Search                0                     3
Spot                 -1                     1
Swim                  7                     9
Tumble                7                     8
Use Magic Device      6                    27

Level 1 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Haggle (+4)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Skill: Open Lock (+4)
Skill: Swim (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+4)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Force of Personality


Level 2 (Monk)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 3 (Paladin)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 4 (Monk)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness


Level 5 (Monk)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light


Level 6 (Paladin)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Whirling Steel Strike


Level 7 (Paladin)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 8 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 9 (Paladin)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting


Level 10 (Paladin)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 11 (Paladin)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 12 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Paladin)
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 14 (Paladin)
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 15 (Paladin)
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 16 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 17 (Paladin)
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 18 (Paladin)
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 19 (Paladin)
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 20 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Haggle (+0.5)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Paladin Saves Boost I
Enhancement: Paladin Saves Boost II
Enhancement: Paladin Saves Boost III
Enhancement: Paladin Saves Boost IV
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Attack II
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Aerenal Elf Melee Damage II
Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey I
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Paladin Courage of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Courage of Good II
Enhancement: Paladin Bulwark of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Bulwark of Good II
Enhancement: Paladin Resistance of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Resistance of Good II
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Sacrifice I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil II
Enhancement: Paladin Knight of the Chalice I
Enhancement: Paladin Knight of the Chalice II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Paladin Energy of the Templar I
Enhancement: Paladin Energy of the Templar II
Enhancement: Paladin Charisma I
Enhancement: Paladin Charisma II
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness I
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness II
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness III
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness IV
Enhancement: Rogue Improved Trap Sense I
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Might I
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Might II
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Turning I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Turning II
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Turning III

[Hobgoblin]

dont need concentration at all.

imo you either go to 18 pally for kotc 3 or deep splash the monk. In this build i would say you should either go 2 monk or 2 rogue. i would also increase your con by 1 and and decrease your int down to 8.

have you considered drow?

hob

[VveX]

Deep splash monk as in 14/6 or 12/8? Agaoin I've no clue what works and what doesn't

I was actually thinking of 14/6 Pally/Monk, but would hate cross-classing UMD. Maybe I will try to work something out, see what exactly it is that I absolutely have to scroll (Invisibility certainly).

Dropping Int looks good to me, probably to 9 not 8 though (I stil want to have 2pt/level for UMD).

As I said I am not trying to min/max for endgame (not gonna happen on this toon), just trying to make it good enough for comfortable Shroud farming.

18/2 Drow KotC 3 Pally/Rogue would probably work best for the purposes stated in my OP, but the Monk Splash is there in part to keep it fun while solo grinding XP. Is there such a big difference between KotC 3 and 2 as to make this idea gimped?

[Tobril]

A 18/2 or 20 KoTC would do a lot better for shroud grinding.

I feel that 2 rogue will benefit you a lot more than 16 paladin, and the difference between 15 and 16 paladin is almost nothing.

Dark path will net you nothing unless you reach 9th level in monk.

A little concentration is nice for a high enter-the-dungeon ki level, but isn't absolutely necessary.


If you're really serious about soloing: http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=270442

The linked build has solo'd a lot of tough content and still does decent enough while raiding.

[RhapsodieInBlue]

I'm doing 14 paladin/6 monk

Kotc2/Shintao 1...

Shintao for the off timer smite via ki. Not exactly as good as exalted smite, but still will sting when you double strike someone evil in the face with it.

level 6 monk also gets you level 2 wind stance, and level 14 pally gets you zeal and enough SP to keep it stacked all the time.

15%ish double strike with smites is pretty wicked, plus when it hits with the offhand too it's nice.

Right now the build is at 6 paladin kotc 1 and 4 monk. I use a +2 Shocking Burst of Pure Good in the main hand and a seeker 10 longsword in the offhand. I only have improved twf so the 60% proc chance is fine for me not to use offhand for anything other than a buff for my double strikes.

So far I have seen 2 150 damage + (burst/pg/bane damage) exalted smite 1 double crits, and of course with a 19-20 weapon you'll see the big numbers a lot, especially once I get improved crit.

I'm liking the build almost as much as my 20 monk

[VveX]

@Tobril

looked at your build and there are some ideas I might borrow

I am not too concerned about self-healing and AC though, I'll probably be zerging through most of the content, and wands/scrolls will be good enough for that. I don't mind bringing a cleric hireling (or grouping, actually ) for tougher stuff. That's why my build is more DPS and less survival oriented than yours.

I am definitely looking to get the Torc and conc opp on this toon for his future lives though.

I figure 14 Pally levels is what I absolutely want to have. At level 18 I am gonna be 14/3/1 and at that point I can go either Rogue or Pally (or even Monk if I think it makes sense then).

2nd level of Rogue seems like a good idea, put some sp's Open Lock and it keeps the option of +3 LR'ing into either a 18/2 or 14/6 build open (only if I find I am really screwed though, would like to avoid that obv.)

I am a little bit lost as to all the Pally enhancements though. I can see different builds take different lines, between Exalted Smites, Dviine Might etc. what would be the important ones for my build (keeping the Shroud in mind)?

[Tobril]

A few observations…


Longswords are crummy dps. The only reason my build
uses them is for the fists of light ability. This implies
self-healing and a lot of survivability.

You need to have a really good reason to not have 18 paladin
levels in order to qualify for the tier III PrE’s. This is one of those
“trust me, you’ll believe it when you see it” situations.


Since your focus seems to be more DPS, I would recommend
a 18/2 paladin/rogue. This would give you full UMD and enough
open locks for most situations. (including shroud doors for the puzzle-inept)

This would also allow you to take KoTC III. There is not much
out there that will out-dps one of these against harry and a large
portion of high level quests. Using a hireling or party your goal
will be to kill things really fast to mitigate damage taken.

I have a 20 KoTC and can attest to the high dps they output
against evil outsiders. (and undead, but that’s a bug that will probably be fixed someday)

Weapons-wise I would stick with rapiers or scimitars if you want
to take advantage of the elf enhancements and save a feat that
some builds use for khopesh.

You can still have decent self healing via a combination of your
cure spells, devotion enhancements, ardour potions/items, and
torc+concordant opposition mana.


Regarding enhancements…

You’ll want the biggest level of both exalted smite and divine sacrifice that
you can afford and are elegible to acquire.

Divine might is also really useful. You should be able to pretty easily
qualify for II or III. IV is generally out of reach except for drow or characters
with +4 tomes.

Fill out the divine sacrifice first and then pick up as much exalted smite
as you can. You’ll use them both. The divine sacrifice will always be
available, whereas you’ll run out of the exalted smites from time to time.

It’s pretty easy to change into any of the PrE’s, so I would recommend
trying them all at least once so you can see how each one performs.

[VveX]

Thanks Tobril a lot of good info/advice. I'll be sure to chew on it.

I guess if I just wanted to breeze through the levels and then TR the build wouldn't matter that much. However, the intention of grinding Shroud may just skew me towards 18/2. Main reason for picking Elf+longsword has been the Monk splash, if I drop that then Human with khopeshes or Drow with rapiers would certainly be better.

I am a bit concerned about getting bored grinding quests for XP and I figured the Monk splash would add some flavor/coolness factor to the build to keep me interested (as I have never played one before). Not sure what i'll decide in the end, but I feel I have enough info now to go by .

Cheers.