Build request - shortsword specialist

[elg582]

I've been wanting to build a drow shortsword specialist (ninja!) for some time, but I can't seem to get the feats and level progression together to create a viable character.

Here are some things I've tried/considered:

14 Paladin/6 Monk - doesn't come together until 20, too many stats
12 Ranger/6 Monk/2 Rogue - ranger/monk level progression is unfriendly
12 Fighter/8 Monk - limited utility, crappy tank
12 Monk/3 Paladin/5 Rogue - may be short on feats, better unarmed

12 Monk/8 Fighter - better unarmed
6 Ranger/7 Monk/7 Rogue - easier ranger/monk mix
6 Fighter/7 Monk/7 Rogue - tight on skill points

8 Fighter/6 Ranger/6 Monk - This works well as a longsword elf, but they get dragonmarks and can wait on monk levels
13 Rogue/7 Monk - ?

Anything I've missed? Is there some uber combo out there that I haven't thought of? Or even just something fun?

[Rav'n]

The problem isn't your Builds, it's the Short Swrds themselves. There are way better weapons in Game. Take any of those Builds and insert Rapiers... and Bam! Instant Uberness.

I'm not saying "don't use Short Swords", I'm just saying there are better Weapons.

The Exploiter Build, this can be done with Short Swords or Rapiers on a Drow.

[elg582]

The problem isn't your Builds, it's the Short Swrds themselves. There are way better weapons in Game. Take any of those Builds and insert Rapiers... and Bam! Instant Uberness.

I'm not saying "don't use Short Swords", I'm just saying there are better Weapons.

The Exploiter Build, this can be done with Short Swords or Rapiers on a Drow.

Well, I was assuming that the build would take advantage of the ninja spy PrE to be centered with shortswords, which, IMHO, is more valuable than the extra crit range on a rapier.

I've done the exploiter; great build, but it lends itself more to longswords, scimitars or khopeshes (or rapiers, for that matter).

[Sydril]

Drow Dark monk Shortsword Ninja Avenger

This is a relatively gear friendly, new player friendly build that is very survivable and can achieve a very high armor class and decent saves.

Build specific gear included is a +4 insight greensteel shortsword and an icy raiment.

The biggest shortcomings of this build is requiring 6 +2 tomes and having only 450 hit points in the end game, but otherwise it is a fairly solid build both offensively and defensively.


2 paladin 6 monk 12 ranger

14 +2 tome +6 item +2 spell = 24
16 +5 level up +3 enhancement +2 ehnancement +2 air stance +2 tome +6 item= 36
12 +2 tome -2 stance +6 item = 18
11 +2 tome = 13
14 +2 enhancement +2 tome +6 item = 24
13 +1 enhancement +2 tome +6 item = 22


basic AC breakdown

10 base
8 armor bracers
4 dodge icy raiment
1 alchemy ritual
13 dexterity
7 wisdom
3 shield
1 dodge feat
1 two weapon defense
4 insight shroud weapon
5 protection
2 monk centered
1 paladin aura
5 combat expertise
=
65

5 Barkskin
=70


equipment:

body icy raiment
head minos legens
bracers armor 8 or epic sentinels bracers
gloves +6 str
ring 1 +6 wisdom
ring 2 open slot / chattering ring if available
cloak +6 charisma
goggle tharnes or green steel
boots +6 dexterity
necklace silverflame / or greensteel / protection 5
belt con 6 & greater false life
trinket Voice of the master / bloodstone / shimmering arrowhead / bloodrage symbiot


Hit Points:

96 ranger levels
48 monk levels
20 paladin levels
80 con
20 heroic durability
10 draconic vitality
30 greater false life
20 minos legens
10 tier 2 tortoise enhancement
44 toughness feat (toughness 2x)
20 racial toughness
10 paldin toughness
45 shroud item
=
453 in air stance.

Level breakdown

*Ranger feat
** Monk Feat
(class prestige enhancement)

1 Ranger 1 weapon finesse
2 Ranger 2 *Two weapon fighting / rapid shot
3 Monk 1 Power attack / **Toughness
4 Monk 2 **Dodge
5 Monk 3 **Fists of darkness
6 Monk 4 Mobility
7 Monk 5
8 Monk 6 **Combat expertise (Ninja 1)
9 Ranger 3 Spring Attack / *die hard
10 Ranger 4
11 Ranger 5
12 Ranger 6 *Improved two weapon fighting / *Manyshot / Improved crit piercing. (Tempest 1)
13 Paladin 1
14 Paladin 2
15 Ranger 7 Two weapon defense
16 Ranger 8
17 Ranger 9
18 Ranger 10 Toughness (or zen archery to retain fast movement and stance for ranged)
19 Ranger 11 Greater two weapon fighting / Precise shot / improved precise shot
20 Ranger 12 (Tempest 2)


Saves:

Fort +8 ranger +5 monk +2 paladin +1 aura +3 resistance +4 con +6 charisma +1 voice = 30
Reflex +8 ranger +5 monk +1 aura +3 resistance +13 dex +6 charisma +1 voice = 37
Will +4 ranger +5 monk +1 aura +3 resistance +7 wis +6 charisma +1 voice= 27

Saves can be bumped situationally with water stance.

An alternate version of this build could be achieved by exchanging the paladin levels for 2 fighter levels, taking addition toughnesses and lowering charisma a little to bump another stat and possibly add in intimidate.


Enhancements:

Skills:
6
Concentrate max
Spot max
Tumble small aount
Balance max
Umd max
Jump Max

Intim Max
*or*
Move silent Max
Hide Max

[bladepro]

Best Shortsword build i have seen is 12monk/6rogue/2Fighter in a halfling. ninja spy II and assassin I and fighter for extra feats.

[voodoogroves]

Honestly, I'd suggest FVS18/something2 (monk or fighter) as your best bet.

[hcarr]

12 fighter/6 monk/2 rogue on a drow. I did 12 fighter/7 monk/1 wizard (<-seriously fun build) on my dragonmarked halfling ss user


you would be a late bloomer that would be for sure. Mine was a tr and so made sure I took the 6th lvl of monk at lvl 12 so I could use my greensteel shortswords. go str over dex. you have a poor dps weapon to start with dont compound the problem.

for stats
15(all lvl ups) 16 13 11 13 10


feats (doing this quick so number of feats prob off)
all weapon focus
all weapon specializations
power attack
stunning blow
dodge
combat expertise(with +2 int tome)
twf line(+1 dex tome)
2 toughness feats
imp crit

You should run with a 55-65 ac depending on buffs and 500+ hp. Not a good choice for main boss tank. Might be with alot of hate generating gear but doubt that even. I have all the hp gear just missing superior false life and I sit at 569 hp no buffs. Ac I run in the range posted 99% of the time depending on buffs and what i'm running at the time.

[Steveohio]

One you havnt mentioned, is drow 12monk, 6ftr(kensai 1) 2 paladin

You get monk centered bonus to longswords, imp crit, drow +2 atk/dmg, kensai +1atk/dmg, and paladin +1 atk

a 12monk/7rog/1ftr halfling would have insane dps also... if using fists, lol.

[Musouka]

One you havnt mentioned, is drow 12monk, 6ftr(kensai 1) 2 paladin

You get monk centered bonus to longswords, imp crit, drow +2 atk/dmg, kensai +1atk/dmg, and paladin +1 atk

a 12monk/7rog/1ftr halfling would have insane dps also... if using fists, lol.

Don't forget you get the charisma bonus to saves from Divine Grace at Pally level 2.

I currently have the last build listed, just check my signature... if it ever updates from level 17 to 18 like I am... I do use shortswords, and the only reason I haven't switched to longswords is DEX build. The goal with it is to make Assassin II/Ninja Spy I. The only way I have really seen this build be very effective is with the sneak attack damage. Currently am wearing Tharne's Goggles, and averaging around 55 points of sneak attack damage. I know this is going to a little less useful against heavy fort bosses, but I'll still have that 10% chance with opportunist. I also am focusing him on getting TOP AC. If and when I get the right DT enhancements, and possibly a Min II Insight short sword, I'm looking at upwards of 60 AC and higher with buffs. Then there's also the 30 second Imp. Uncanny Dodge +6AC. The downside to all of this, low HP. It's a huge bummer, and will be mediocre at best after a Min II item. Which is why i'm trying to get the AC as high as possible.

[sigtrent]

Well if you want something weird there is this...
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...89#post3256289

You could modify it for drow and focus more on the short swords and more for the undead healing.

I've seen ninja+blur+displacement+wriath from+high AC in action and its pretty impressive from a defensive perspective.

The bottom line is that the short swords are not good DPS weapons. They advantage they have over fists is that they can deliver crit based weapon effects well. So its great in mid level for banishing or the like but you stay centered. Of course for centered to be a bonus you want lots of monk levels but then fists look better and better damage wise.

I think the only thing that makes play sense is to go with a rogue focus and use ninja to get the extra sneak while picking up some defensive advantages. So starting rogue 1 then Monk 6 then finish rogue, possibly with a splash of fighter for feats or paladin for defenses. You get strong sneak attack but also have better defenses than most rogues.

[unbongwah]

14 Paladin/6 Monk - doesn't come together until 20, too many stats
13 Rogue/7 Monk - ?

These are the two options which interest me most. I think Calebro posted a monk 7 / rogue 13 build which looked cool, but I can't seem to find it now.

[OldAquarian]

With U8 - It might pay to go either:

12 Ranger/7 Monk/1 Fighter Tempest II/Ninja I
or even 11 Ranger/9 Monk Tempest I/Ninja I (+Imp Evasion/Touch of Death)

as a Helf with Rogue dilly for Sneak Attack

[sigtrent]

I did up about the only build I could see being better with short swords than it was with other weapons and still delivered decent DPS.

Its the Rogue 13/Monk 7 option and I think overall its quite decent.
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...04#post3440804

[Daggerrr]

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=288811, my take on this

Compared to the Rogue 13/Monk 7, the build adds quite a bit solo power and loses out on some dps. I feel mine is probably a better option if you'll TR (going for lvl'ing fast) but a bit weaker in epic groups.