First TR Paladin/Monk TWF

[CanuckWisdom]

Hello all, sorry for the length

So I'm planning my first TR. Im coming from a sword and shield pal-rogue build who's biggest strength is survivability, and my goal for this life is to create an equally enjoyable, more damage oriented build (TWF) that can maintain the survivability (ac/saves) of my past life.

I'd like to hear input from ya'll, but Im not looking to change my build significantly, just polish it up if need be. Some choices are flavor. For example, I'm not interested in switching away from bastard swords.

What I would like to hear is; mistakes in basic mechanics (i.e. its not possible to take x before y), reorganizing feats (perhaps power attack earlier, or improved crit and ITWF reversed etc), different skill layouts (I think my UMD will top around 25 before buffs), enhancement reorganizing suggestions etc.

I think in the build below I have Force of personality. To replace it, I cannot quite decide, but am considering:
Shield Mastery (have this in my current life, I think its very nice, but with TWF most of the time it will be less useful).

Weapon Focus, I would prefer not to get this as it seems very minimal bonus for a feat, but my unbuffed attack bonus at 20 will be 26-28 (TWF/PA) and I am not sure if that will be too low for elite/epic high lvl content.

Maximize, havn't tried this out before, but between paladin past life, HElf healing amp, 20% from an item (either Leviks bracers or slotting it onto my DT armor) and the ship buff it might be worth while. Problems are I dont have devotion enhancements and I dont think I will want to squeeze anything else out. I most often play in groups, but I don't want to waste time getting back to 20 so I plan on soloing more often to get this character up. Is maximize better than empower healing for a paladin? I have a conc-opp and about 600 SP at 20 right now.

Any other suggestions for this feat slot? (edit) Leaning heavy towards maximize now that I've tried it out on other characters and done the math for self heals with expected healing amp.

My stat layout is based on the gear I have now or intend to have before TRing.

I took the elf faith line so I could save some action points on the rez enhancement (which I love in my current life, but feelin the squeeze on AP). Between this and a GS rez clicky, I think I can still back up resurrect sufficiently.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.9.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Merelye 2nd life monk2 Helf
Level 20 Lawful Good Half-Elf Female
(18 Paladin \ 2 Monk) 
Hit Points: 338
Spell Points: 270 
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 26
Reflex: 21
Will: 23

                  Starting            Ending          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats         Base Stats         Modified Stats
(34 Point)       (Level 1)          (Level 20)           (Level 20)
Strength             16                 22                   22
Dexterity            15                 17                   17
Constitution         14                 16                   16
Intelligence         10                 12                   12
Wisdom                8                 10                   10
Charisma             15                 18                   20

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               6                     8
Bluff                 2                     5
Concentration         2                    10
Diplomacy             2                     5
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                2                     6
Heal                 -1                     1
Hide                  2                     3
Intimidate            2                    28
Jump                  7                    11
Listen               -1                     0
Move Silently         2                     3
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     1
Search                0                     1
Spot                 -1                     0
Swim                  3                     6
Tumble                6                     7
Use Magic Device      4                    16

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Half-Elf Dilettante) Half-Elf Dilettante: Rogue
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Paladin
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 2 (Paladin)


Level 3 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword


Level 4 (Paladin)


Level 5 (Paladin)


Level 6 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Force of Personality


Level 7 (Paladin)


Level 8 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness


Level 9 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting


Level 10 (Paladin)


Level 11 (Paladin)


Level 12 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Paladin)


Level 14 (Paladin)


Level 15 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 16 (Paladin)


Level 17 (Paladin)


Level 18 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 19 (Paladin)


Level 20 (Paladin)
Enhancement: Undying Call
Enhancement: Follower of the Undying Court
Enhancement: Improved Rogue Dilettante I
Enhancement: Improved Rogue Dilettante II
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Charisma I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey 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 Resistance of Good III
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Righteousness I
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Sacrifice I
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Sacrifice II
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite I
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite II
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite III
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Lay on Hands I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Lay on Hands II
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Lay on Hands III
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil I
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil II
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil III
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil IV
Enhancement: Paladin Knight of the Chalice I
Enhancement: Paladin Knight of the Chalice II
Enhancement: Paladin Knight of the Chalice III
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 Toughness I
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness II
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Might I
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Might II
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Might III

With current/expected items, should look something like:

Stats:
Str-28 (9) (likely 30 when ToD rings come)
Dex-23 (6)
Con-22 (6) (likely 24 when ToD rings come)
Int-12 (1)
Wis-16 (3)
Cha-26 (8)

Attack Bonus:
Unbuffed:
-28
w/ Self-Buffs: (Long term/Short)
29 / 32

Hit Points:
498
518 self buffed
As well as two temporary hit point proc items

SP:
~600

AC: Unbuffed
50 TWF
58 With shield

Saves:
38/32/29

42/36/33 with epic Crystal Cove shield equipped.


Thanks for going through my long post, I have lots of thoughts, so I appreciate any constructive input. I have a few more questions though:

Monk animal path, I have chosen the monkey one for the 2 to resists.... does this stack with everything? Perhaps I should take hound for the + to hit to help mitigate my TWF penalties?

Half elf social skills.... are these the same as the regular skills but on a different cooldown timer?

ToD KotC ring... healing amp, exceptional strength, constitution or charisma?

Power attack at 18? Thats when I took it on my current life, I would like it earlier this time around but getting the others early seem rather important too, and not having PA while leveling would help keep my attack bonus up... thoughts?

I decided on 10 Int, instead of 16 dex to start. Will leave me with odd dex, but really its only -1 reflex (and -1 AC in outfit) vs. (23) skill points. I still can't get combat expertise, but I think this is the right move.



Is my UMD at 25ish gonna be useful enough? And I can only get +3 from item swapping a ML 20 trinket. Can still do GH and prayer on top of this.

Im planning Knight of the chalice, but taking Hunter of the Dead until around lvl 13 seems like a good idea?


Anyways, Im quite pumped for this, between the extra feats, saves (monk splash superior to rogue splash for will), stat points (coming from 28pt) and half elf versatility (still have sneak dmg, healing amp and cheaper charisma enhancements) Im very pleased with how this looks; loosing very little from my past life and gaining a lot.

/ramble

Comments?