Black Lotus - Unarmed Assassin

[Xeraphim]

Now roll it with Newb Gear:

No raid loot

No raid loot

oh, and... no raid loot.

Also not applicable: Epic items, Dragontouched armor, ToD sets, Event items.

Roll it like it's going to begin raiding, but hasn't yet.

Of course, after that you get all the cool nifty goodies that you can possibly throw at this neat little concept(please don't send him to my house, I like being alive).

[valas1750]

Now roll it with Newb Gear:

No raid loot

No raid loot

oh, and... no raid loot.

Also not applicable: Epic items, Dragontouched armor, ToD sets, Event items.

Roll it like it's going to begin raiding, but hasn't yet.

Of course, after that you get all the cool nifty goodies that you can possibly throw at this neat little concept(please don't send him to my house, I like being alive).

???? The hell, lol.
Fine, on your regular assassin build, write it with no epic items, no greensteel, no ToD, no DT armor, no event items, and then dont send it to my house....???

[wiglin]

Overall effectiveness aside. Here is a long term option to think about with lots of epic grind and 2x TR. The biggest issue with a build like this is the lack of hitpoints and low will saves, but if for flavor reasons I was set on an unarmed rogue I would do something like this. Taking 1 ranger over 19 rogue lowers dps against everything except your favored enemy (evil outsider), but gives ranger sprint boost which makes for a nice boost to sneaking when trying to assassinate. Assisinate dc is pretty low for anything high level, but thats not the real focus. It still does 10d6 on a failed save and since it doesn’t work in epic no loss. I chose gear that is very grind intensive and would take a while to obtain. I went with 5 pieces of abishai for the +3 profane to con, You could drop the cloak and bracers and replace them with cape of the roc and bracers of the claw, but hitpoints are so low, I would rather have 20 more hitpoints than 2 more str. That would be a valid option though. What I like about this build is combining the already fast attack speed of unarmed and adding 9 uses of rogue haste boost IV. I show the damage as a smallest to highest spread in best case scenarios vs evil outsiders.

Race: Half-Orc
Class: 18Rogue / 1Monk / 1Ranger
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stats:
Str: 46 +18 (18Base +3Tome +6Item +1Exc +2Enh +2Stance +5Level +3Profane +2Rage +2Yugo +2Madstone)
Dex: 26 +8 (14Base +6Item +3Tome +2Enh +1Exc)
Con: 30 +10 (16Base +2Tome +7Item +3Profane +2Rage)
Int: 20 +5 (12Base +2Tome +6Item)
wis: 14 +2(8Base +2Tome +6item -2Stance)
Cha: 20 +5 (10Base +3Tome +7Item)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saves:
Fort: 32 (10Base +10Stat +4GH, +5resist +1Ritual +2Luck)
Reflex: 35 / 41 (15Base +8Stat +4GH +5resist +1Ritual +2Luck) / (+6 vs Traps)
Will: 18 (8Base +2Stat +4GH +5resist +1Ritual +2Luck -4Yugo)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skills: You can almost max 6 more skills (Hide, Move Silently, Jump, Balance, Spot, Haggle)
37 UMD (23Base +5Stat +4GH +1PL +1SM +3Bunny)
54 Search (23Base +5Stat +4GH +1PL +1SM +15Item +4Boost)
61 Disable (23Base +5Stat +4GH +1PL +1SM +15Item +7Tools +4Boost)
64 Open Lock (23Base +8Stat +4GH +1PL +1SM +15Item +7Tools +4Boost)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feats:
1: TWF
3: Power Attack / Monk: Toughness
6: Monk Past Life (1d8Fist)
9: Stunning Blow
12: Rogue Past Life (+1Skills, Sneak of Shadows Clicky {+5Sneak Attack Hit / +10Sneak Attack Damage for 1 minute x3})
15: ITWF
18: GTWF

Rogue Bonus:
Improved Evasion
Opportunist
Skill Mastery

Ranger Favored Enemy:
Evil Outsider
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Noted Abilities & DC’s
1d8 Unarmed Damage
12d6 Sneak Attack
33DC Assasinate
38DC Stunning Blow
+3Dmg vs Evil Outsiders
9 Action Boosts (Rogue Haste Boost +30% Alacrity for 3 minutes)
Sprint Boost (helps sneak faster for an assassinate)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Damage: 68-182 Regular / Vorpal Criticals: 119-367
18 Str
1-8 Fist
1-6 Wraps
5 Power Attack
8 Goggles (Sneak Attack)
12 Enhancement
2 Shintoa Set Bonus
1-6 Wraps Effect
1-6 Fire (Dragonscale Robe)
2-12 Holy (Bursting Ring)
1-6 Shock (Bursting Ring)
1 Rogue Past Life
1 Monk Past Life
3 Favored Enemy
12-78 Sneak Attack
10 Sneak of Shadows {3minutes}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hit Points: 461
108 Rogue
8 Monk
8 Ranger
180 Constitution
20 Heroic Durability
10 Draconic Vitality
22 Toughness Feat
20 Toughness Item
20 Racial Toughness Enhancement
30 Greater False Life
45 Shroud
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enhancements:
Rogue Damage Boost II
Rogue Skill Boost III
Rogue Extra Action Boost II
Rogue Haste Boost IV
Ranger Sprint Boost I
Orcish Extra Action Boost II
Orcish Strength II
Rogue Subtle Backstabbing II
Racial Toughness II
Ranger Favored Damage I
Rogue Assassin III
Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy IV
Rogue Sneak Attack Training IV
Improved Hide II
Improved Move Silently II
Rogue Dexterity II
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Armor
Helmet: Epic Helm of Frost (Polar Ray (CL:20, 3/3 rest), Greater Cold Resist, Abishai Bonus, +7Cha, +4Resist)
Eyes: Tharne's Goggles (+5Sneak Attack Bonus, True Seeing, +15Search, +15Spot, +1Resist)
Trinket: Bloodstone (+6Seeker)
Neck: Shintao (+6Con, +15Concentration)
Cape: Epic Envenomed Cloak (+7Con, +5Resist, Greater Poison Guard, Abishai Bonus, +2Luck)
Hands: Epic Charged Gauntlets (+6Str, 20d6 on Vorpal Hit, Abishai Bonus)
Bracers: Epic Scorched Bracers (+8Armor, Greater Fire Resist, Firestorm {CL 17/5 Charges}, Abishai, Greater False Life)
Belt: Shroud (45HP, +1Con Skills, +5Dex Skills, Radiance Guard)
Ring1: Kyosho's (+6Wis, +1Str, Holy Burst, Set Bonus: +2 To Hit and Dmg)
Ring2: Morah’s (+6Dex, +1Dex, Shocking Burst)
Armor: Red Dragon Robe (+8Armor Bonus, Superior Fire Resistance, 1d6Fire, Fire Guard, Incineration Guard, +6Int, Toughness)
Feet: Epic Boots of Corrosion (Abishai Bonus, Greater Acid Resist, Disintegration Guard, Blue, Colorless)

[ninjaeli]

SUB-ZERO WINS!

Sorry, memories of a misspent youth playing Mortal Kombat in the arcades came flooding back at reading this.

The only real criticism I can level at this build is that the standard Assassin Rogue with capstone and a Radiance Rapier may out-dps your build due to the higher frequency of sneak attacks gained from the blindness. There's also a substantial increase in SA Dice from the capstone, IIRC.

However, for something a little different, I really like this.

I can still see that Uppercut off the bridge move in my minds-eye

Flawless victory..

[valas1750]

On my dwarven version of this, I have improved trip, stunning blow, and maxed diplomacy for agro (obviously stun is more for DPS, but also useful to get a mob off you). Also sitting at 502 HP with the optimal gear setup, as 18rogue/1mnk/1fighter. When in combat expertise mode (A pre-req for IT), my AC is also able to reach ample levels to "tank" (no means to hold agro but... if defense is a concern for you all), with a switch of some gear of course. Will save is indeed my lowest, but it is high enough when combined with slippery mind and dwarven spell saves enhancements to ward off a good percentage of effects (skill focus? ... bah a waste if you ask me). This build going half-elf paladin dilly for the saves could be a good option as well (though reduces your tactics DC by 3 if not dwarf or warforged)

The trip DC will be plenty high without a vertigo weapon, and as long as a stunning+10 metallic handwraps (preferably with icyburst) are equipped, DC for sb is fine as well at end game.


This character will be marginally less DPS to a regular rogue, but will stun, trip, vorpal, and break all DR's while wielding the same weapon. A case can be said about the benefits of using rad2 rapiers to reduce DPS incoming to group, and I admit that is a great weapon, but I feel this use of tactics is always at least tied, better in most situations, and usable from level 1, no fancy gear required.

Not that Im against weapon switching, but being able to do all of this, at the same time, without needing quick draw and mass twitch skills (which would still lower your DPS for a swing or two for the required weapon switches), is very, very nice. And the only other toon who can vorpal at my speeds is a tempest III ranger (though they significantly reduce their DPS while equipping vorpal weapons, and can not stun adequately with a non-stunning weapon).

Had my similar build, just TR'd... now up to level 8 following my new dwarven build, and loving it. Kill charts aren't everything (but I consistently top them), but I also lower damage done to the group with another combat tactic, that works always on anything with legs.

Oh, and im plenty tough at low levels, and have no DT armor yet, no GS items, and no real other high level twink gear waiting for me.

[krogyy]

...

looks good. i also considered taking a ranger lvl for sprint boosts but, after all, i decided i really wanted a fourth rogue feat. mainly to reach high UMD asap.

half-orcs came out only after i rolled this, i would have gone that route otherwise. how can you say no to more haste boosts?

i didn't consider stunning blow as i though i wouldn't be ablt to reach usefull DCs. maybe after i gather some nice gear TRing into horc sounds promising.

[krogyy]

as a new version of the DPS calculator is released (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=195421) with more accurate attack speed formulas i tought it would be good to update the thread.

instead of the original halfling version i evaluated an half orc one (straightforward modifications) as all other builds in the chart are half orcs.

the results are the following, where i assumed +1 metalline handwraps of greater bane as weapons:



among the build considered it is second best damage vs trash, close to the best vs 100% and absolute best vs raid bosses.

not bad...

[Kinerd]

Hey krogyy, not sure how you got your results. I found:

539.6
393.7
262.4

Which of course are quite different from yours. Here's what I have for the various entries:

Fighting Style: Unarmed
Weapon Type: Unarmed 1-3 levels
<Element> and <Alignment> Burst Effects: 1
Assassin Rank: 3
Weapon Modifier: 5
Strength: 46
Power attack: 8
The Claw set: 4
Shintao monk set: 2
Song: 9
Prayer: 1
Rogue Levels: 19
SA Enhancements: 12
Item: 8
<Alignment>: 7
<Element>: 3.5
Other effects: 10.5
Force ritual: 1
Seeker from item: 10
Number of haste boosts: 7
Haste boost amount: 30%
Double strikes - Insight (Windstance): 2.5%
TWF feat: GTWF

And everything else 0.

Does this match what you have?

[Dark-Star]

Oportunist? And is seeker 10 realistic?

[wax_on_wax_off]

so the percentages i remembered were wrong after all... but the point remains, i lose vs trash (where i have faster vorpals) and gain vs bosses and uncrittables.

I was at lunch so couldn't respond to this post sooner but this is the gist I was expecting too. Handwraps really are very good DPS.

I am curious by what you mean, OP, by "More balanced DPS over different fortification levels with respect to a pure rogue", if you care to elaborate.

Where unarmed DPS comes from is not reliant on criticals so isn't affected by fortification. This gives the unarmed build better in those situations where rogues are usually worst - medium to heavy fortification.

Regarding epic trash, I'd have splashed a level of fighter for proficiency and improved critical: piercing perhaps and just use heavy picks for those situations but you don't need either to do good DPS vs held mobs with heavy picks. Against non-held mobs handwraps are excellent due to their higher AB than any other TWF'ing choice.

When you do DPS calcs vs trash, why not consider holy of greater bane or even anarchic/axiomatic burst? Metalline of greater bane is only needed for bosses.

Everyone who complains of the difficulty of finding appropriate boss beating handwraps, there is shadow crypt (i had to do 14 runs for my devouts) or devil assault which now has a chance to drop BB's.

[Blank_Zero]

Holy ****...I like this a lot!

+1 for the really awesome AND viable idea for Rogues!

[krogyy]

Hey krogyy, not sure how you got your results. I found:

539.6
393.7
262.4

Which of course are quite different from yours. Here's what I have for the various entries:

Fighting Style: Unarmed
Weapon Type: Unarmed 1-3 levels
<Element> and <Alignment> Burst Effects: 1
Assassin Rank: 3
Weapon Modifier: 5
Strength: 46
Power attack: 8
The Claw set: 4
Shintao monk set: 2
Song: 9
Prayer: 1
Rogue Levels: 19
SA Enhancements: 12
Item: 8
<Alignment>: 7
<Element>: 3.5
Other effects: 10.5
Force ritual: 1
Seeker from item: 10
Number of haste boosts: 7
Haste boost amount: 30%
Double strikes - Insight (Windstance): 2.5%
TWF feat: GTWF

And everything else 0.

Does this match what you have?

i used litany, and no seeker item at all :P

for opportunist i put 45% fort instead of 50%, i didn't change 100% fort as you won't have sneak attack anyway in that situation. (but you do have crits so the value is slightly higher there)

frenzied berserk set instead of ravager (that doesn't work with unarmed sadly).

number of haste boost i used 10 as it was the same amount used by the pure rogue in the sheet. (more likely 9 due to AP's costraints)

Quickdraw it's quite important.

i think the difference mainly is in that i put elemental resistance to zero. the only elemental damage done comes from shocking burst on the ring. it is rarely resisted and when it is you can always keep some swap rings with different bursts on them. (even against portals you can use anarchic burst)

but now that i checked again i realized i made some mistakes.
i left the slicing damage of min II in, and had elemental blast instead of a burst...
this lowers the dps quite a bit -.-

anyway here's the numbers so you can check them out:

569.41		Damage Per Second
Black Lotus	Horc	Build
Unarmed	Unarmed	Fighting Style
		Weapon
Unarmed 1-3 levels	Unarmed 1-3 levels	Weapon Type (Green steel)
0	0	Extra Critical Threat Range
0	0	Extra Critical Multiplier
1	1	<Element> Burst Effects
0	0	<Element> Blast Effects
1	1	<Alignment> Burst Effects
0	0	<Alignment> Blast Effects
		
		Weapon Adjustments
0	0	Weapon base damage adjustment
0	0	Weapon critical threat range adjustment
0	0	Weapon critical multiplier adjustment
		
		Scenarios
		Scenario 1
0	0	Fortification
0	0	Damage reduction
0	0	Elemental resistance
		Scenario 2
45	45	Fortification
0	0	Damage reduction
0	0	Elemental resistance
		Scenario 3
100	100	Fortification
0	0	Damage reduction
0	0	Elemental resistance
		
		Prestige Enhancements
0	0	Kensai Rank
0	0	Frenzied Berserker Rank
0	0	Knight of the Chalice Rank
3	3	Assassin Rank
0	0	Ninja Spy
0	0	Tempest Rank
		
		Base Damage
3.5	3.5	Weapon base damage
5	5	Weapon modifier
46	46	Strength
18	18	Total strength damage
8	8	Power attack (Double bonus for THF)
1	1	Litany
2	2	Frenzied berserker set
4	4	The Claw set
2	2	Shintao monk set
0	0	Racial damage enhancement
0	0	Fighter damage enhancements
0	0	Kensai Damage
0	0	Weapon specialization
0	0	Monk True Reincarnation
0	0	Favored enemy
0	0	Ram's might 
0	0	Divine favor
0	0	Divine might
9	9	Song
1	1	Prayer
No	No	Bladesworn
0		Human Versatillity Damage Boost (Check note →)
0	0	Damage from HV
0	0	Damage from Bladesworn (Including strength increase)
53.5	53.5	Total Base
		    
		Sneak attack
No	No	Rogue Capstone
19	19	Rogue levels
12	12	SA enhancements
0	0	Dexterity modifier (Quarterstaff only, from acrobat)
8	8	Item
0	0	Halfling
0	0	Rogue True Reincarnation
10.5	10.5	Assassin bonus
0	0	Ninja Spy Bonus
65.5	65.5	Total
		
		Effects
7	7	<Alignment>
3.5	3.5	<Element>
0	0	Tempest set
0	0	Henshin monk set
65.5	65.5	Sneak attack
0	0	Frenzied Berserker vicious
0	0	Knight of the Chalice EO damage
0	0	Paladin Capstone
0	0	Knight of the Chalice Set bonus
0	0	Ravager Set
0	0	Slicing
10.5	10.5	Other effects (Bane, L-strike average, etc.)
1	1	Force ritual
87.5	87.5	Effects Total Scenario 1
58.03	58.03	Effects Total Scenario 2
22	22	Effects Total Scenario 3
141	141	Total Base With Effects Scenario 1
111.53	111.53	Total Base With Effects Scenario 2
75.5	75.5	Total Base With Effects Scenario 3
		
		Glancing Blows
Yes		Barbarian Capstone
3		Great Weapon Aptitude Rank
0		Kensai Rank
0		Frenzied Berserker Rank
0	0	Base Damage Scenario 1
0	0	Base Damage Scenario 2
0	0	Base Damage Scenario 3
0	0	Vicious / Kotc / capstone / kotc set
0	0	Effects scenario 1
0	0	Effects scenario 2
0	0	Effects scenario 3
1		Number of targets hit by glancings
0	0	Average Damage Per Hit Scenario 1
0	0	Average Damage Per Hit Scenario 2
0	0	Average Damage Per Hit Scenario 3
		
		Critical Hits
0	0	Seeker from item
2	2	Critical threat range
2	2	Critical multiplier
107	107	Base critical damage scenario 1
82.93	82.93	Base critical damage scenario 2
53.5	53.5	Base critical damage scenario 3
87.5	87.5	Effects scenario 1
58.03	58.03	Effects scenario 2
22	22	Effects scenario 3
5.5	5.5	<Element> Burst scenario 1
5.5	5.5	<Element> Burst scenario 2
5.5	5.5	<Element> Burst scenario 3
0	0	<Element> Blast scenario 1
0	0	<Element> Blast scenario 2
0	0	<Element> Blast scenario 3
10.5	10.5	<Alignment> Burst
0	0	<Alignment> Blast
0	0	Natural 20 scenario 1
0	0	Natural 20 scenario 2
0	0	Natural 20 scenario 3
0	0	Total seeker damage scenario 1
0	0	Total seeker damage scenario 2
0	0	Total seeker damage scenario 3
210.5	210.5	Critical Total Scenario 1
156.95	156.95	Critical Total Scenario 2
91.5	91.5	Critical Total Scenario 3
140.9	140.9	Average Damage Scenario 1
110.49	110.49	Average Damage Scenario 2
73.33	73.33	Average Damage Scenario 3
		
		Relevant Attack Data
5	5	Minutes lapsed
Yes	Yes	Madstone
20	20	Base Attack Bonus
5	5	BAB Tier
		Attack speed increases
10	10	Number of haste boosts
30.0%	30.0%	Haste boost amount
15.0%	15.0%	Enhancement (Haste)
0.0%	0.0%	Competence (Acrobat)
0.0%	0.0%	Insight
0.0%	0.0%	Sacred
0.0%	0.0%	Tempest I 
15.0%	15.0%	Total
45.0%	45.0%	Total with boost
		Double strikes
0.0%	0.0%	Competence (Fighter Capstone)
0.0%	0.0%	Insight (Windstance)
0.0%	0.0%	Sacred (Zeal)
3.0%	3.0%	Untyped (Opportunist feat)
0.0%	0.0%	Inspire Recklessness
0.0%	0.0%	Competence (Tempest 3)
3.0%	3.0%	Chance to double strike
		Offhand proc
0.0%	0.0%	Extra offhand proc
0.0%	0.0%	Competence (Tempest 1 / 2)
80.0%	80.0%	Chance to proc Offhand
		Smites
0	0	Extra Smite Rank
0	0	Number of Smites
0	0	Divine Sacrifice Interval
		
		Activations & Feats
No	No	Frenzy activation
No	No	Death Frenzy activation
No	No	Power Surge activation
No	No	Divine Might activation
GTWF	GTWF	TWF feat (TWF, ITWF, GTWF, STWF)
No	No	THF feat (THF, ITHF, GTHF)
Yes	Yes	Quick draw
		
0	0	Loss per minute due to activations
		
		Attackspeed
10		Number of haste boosts used
		Normal
111.32		Haste/ Other
147.51		Haste/ Other/ Boost
682.38	530	Total Amount of Attacks
96146.88	74677.19	Total Damage Scenario 1
75396.66	58560.51	Total Damage Scenario 2
50035.27	38862.35	Total Damage Scenario 3
320.49	248.92	Damage/S Scenario 1
251.32	195.2	Damage/S Scenario 2
166.78	129.54	Damage/S Scenario 3
569.41		Damage Per Second Scenario 1
446.52		Damage Per Second Scenario 2
296.33		Damage Per Second Scenario 3
437.42		Average Damage Per Second
Black Lotus	Horc	Build

clearly i could use much better weapon against trash mobs to pump up the numbers but so can the other builds, save maybe from the THF ones.

[sephiroth1084]

Frawress victolry..

Fixed that for you, Shang Tsung.

[Kinerd]

anyway here's the numbers so you can check them out:

Thanks! I'm going to mimic a cforce post here to see how the various differences interact, adding each change one at a time.

   | None  | Quick | 10 HB | 0 Res | Oppo. |  All
S1 | 528.0 | 534.4 | 567.9 | 528.0 | 536.4 | 590.1
S2 | 389.4 | 394.2 | 418.9 | 403.6 | 408.3 | 465.1
S3 | 265.1 | 268.3 | 285.2 | 279.3 | 269.3 | 312.1

   | Quick | 10 HB | 0 Res | Oppo. |  All
S1 |   6.4 |  39.9 |   0.0 |   8.4 |  62.1
S2 |   4.8 |  29.5 |  14.2 |  18.9 |  75.7
S3 |   3.2 |  20.1 |  14.3 |  4.2* |  47.0

The Extra Action Boost enhancements are incredibly important even without quick draw, it would appear. I had guessed a total of 7 when I ran the numbers before. Also, I noticed you left out the 2.5% double strike chance for Wind Stance, so my "All" numbers are higher than yours.

[moorewr]

I have a 19r/1m, and I love it.

I do normally fight with rapiers, but I still get the wisdom AC bonus, and I can go into wind stance with handwraps or kamas. As noted on page 1, in non-epic I am getting more vorpal rolls because the unarmed attack chain is faster.

My gear is icy raiment, rad2 rapier, bloodstone, etc. Effective AC in non-epic content. I am considering what to do about epics with this char, because there's no room for finesse chars there.

(EDIT: as wax-on says, 18r/1m/1f is tempting.. proficiency for picks v. held mobs..)

[krogyy]

Thanks! I'm going to mimic a cforce post here to see how the various differences interact, adding each change one at a time.

   | None  | Quick | 10 HB | 0 Res | Oppo. |  All
S1 | 528.0 | 534.4 | 567.9 | 528.0 | 536.4 | 590.1
S2 | 389.4 | 394.2 | 418.9 | 403.6 | 408.3 | 465.1
S3 | 265.1 | 268.3 | 285.2 | 279.3 | 269.3 | 312.1

   | Quick | 10 HB | 0 Res | Oppo. |  All
S1 |   6.4 |  39.9 |   0.0 |   8.4 |  62.1
S2 |   4.8 |  29.5 |  14.2 |  18.9 |  75.7
S3 |   3.2 |  20.1 |  14.3 |  4.2* |  47.0

The Extra Action Boost enhancements are incredibly important even without quick draw, it would appear. I had guessed a total of 7 when I ran the numbers before. Also, I noticed you left out the 2.5% double strike chance for Wind Stance, so my "All" numbers are higher than yours.

yeah... haste boost are extremely effective for unarmed combat, not to mention they are lots of fun also.
that's why i went with the kensai set in the halfling version.

if you go wind stance you need to lower strength by 2 as i don't think you can get back the sun stance bonus (no +2 exceptional strength).
at the time i ran the numbers on the halfling version the two stances gave similar results so i went with fire for better to-hit. that said, Horcs hits harder so maybe wind stance is better for them.

[krogyy]

I have a 19r/1m, and I love it.

I do normally fight with rapiers, but I still get the wisdom AC bonus, and I can go into wind stance with handwraps or kamas. As noted on page 1, in non-epic I am getting more vorpal rolls because the unarmed attack chain is faster.

My gear is icy raiment, rad2 rapier, bloodstone, etc. Effective AC in non-epic content. I am considering what to do about epics with this char, because there's no room for finesse chars there.

(EDIT: as wax-on says, 18r/1m/1f is tempting.. proficiency for picks v. held mobs..)

using master touch scrolls is a possible solution for the pick proficiency.
good enough if you use only one or two sets of picks and do not tend to forget casting it after entering the quest or resting at a shrine.

[JoeyWMD]

I'd love to see you be able to pull in the survivability of 17/3 (but we know that gimps the Assassin 3) which is a shame it'd be a really cool concept.
But, that's just me spit ballin...my only thought is why not 18/2, you won't be splashing for evasion but rather the feat. Meaning maybe WF:Bludgeon IC:Bludgeon just a little somethin somethin to boost his damage output or if you want to a second toughness for the improved survivability and still (without a +3 tome) be able to take the SF:UMD. I am a noob to building however, so this may all be just the thoughts of a dreamer

[krogyy]

I'd love to see you be able to pull in the survivability of 17/3 (but we know that gimps the Assassin 3) which is a shame it'd be a really cool concept.
But, that's just me spit ballin...my only thought is why not 18/2, you won't be splashing for evasion but rather the feat. Meaning maybe WF:Bludgeon IC:Bludgeon just a little somethin somethin to boost his damage output or if you want to a second toughness for the improved survivability and still (without a +3 tome) be able to take the SF:UMD. I am a noob to building however, so this may all be just the thoughts of a dreamer

i'd lose 1d6 of sneak attack and a rogue feat. but the extra feat is sure nice as i could pick up I.C: Piercing without dropping SF:UMD.

i mentioned the +3 tome because if one uses it you can drop SF:UMD for I.C: Piercing and still be able to use heal scrolls.

[krogyy]

Epic Brawling Gloves are a boon to this build considering just how fast it attacks.
i added a DPS chart to the first post accounting for them.