Pure Monk tank possible (halfling)?

[Laeelin]

I play in a static group, and I'm currently a 14 monk / 2 fighter. We use nothing we don't find ourselves except for a few potions/wands from the vendor - no AH allowed at all. I am a halfling, and cant change that. I'm the closest thing to a "tank" in the group. AKA, I have the best AC, and use intimidate a lot.

I would like to try something different.

I have a couple build that I'm thinking about changing into...

1) Pure Monk - This is my preferred choice, but I would lose 10 points in intimidate. Lacking access to the AH, I don't have good items to help make up for intimidate being a cross class skill.

2) 19 Monk / 1 Rogue - This will give me all the stuff i'm enjoying about monk, and allow me to have UMD and Intimidate both maxed. I just hate to be a 19 monk... feels like a waste, although another level of rogue wouldnt really help this class at all. Adding a level of fighter (18/1/1) for another feat would be another option as well.

3) Staff Build - Acrobat II Staff build - I'd like one of these as a fun change, but just don't see how i can pull it off and still tank.


I'm really leaning towards the second option because i think it would be fun and while it's not a pure monk, it does have the "fun" of having UMD as a class skill.

Any suggestions? Corrections?

Below is the build i'm thinking of, I welcome suggestions/corrections/etc on the build as well.

Thanks

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.9.1
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Level 20 Lawful Good Halfling Female
(19 Monk \ 1 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 260
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 14\14\19\24
Fortitude: 14
Reflex: 20
Will: 15

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             12                    13
Dexterity            16                    22
Constitution         14                    14
Intelligence         14                    14
Wisdom               14                    17
Charisma             10                    10

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               7                    29
Bluff                 0                     0
Concentration         4                    19
Diplomacy             0                     0
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                0                     0
Heal                  2                     3
Hide                  7                    14
Intimidate            4                    28
Jump                  5                    11
Listen                2                     5
Move Silently         7                    12
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                2                     2
Search                6                     6
Spot                  6                     7
Swim                  1                     1
Tumble                7                    10
Use Magic Device      4                    23

Level 1 (Rogue)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Concentration (+2)
Skill: Hide (+4)
Skill: Intimidate (+4)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Skill: Move Silently (+4)
Skill: Search (+4)
Skill: Spot (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+4)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 2 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness


Level 3 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Combat Expertise
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Finesse


Level 4 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light


Level 5 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 6 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge


Level 7 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Stunning Fist


Level 8 (Monk)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


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


Level 10 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 11 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 12 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons


Level 13 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 14 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 15 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Sap


Level 16 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 17 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 18 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 19 (Monk)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 20 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Intimidate (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Halfling Dexterity I
Enhancement: Halfling Dexterity II
Enhancement: Halfling Hero's Companion I
Enhancement: Halfling Hero's Companion II
Enhancement: Halfling Hero's Companion III
Enhancement: Halfling Hero's Companion IV
Enhancement: Lifting the Veil
Enhancement: Way of the Tenacious Badger I
Enhancement: Way of the Tenacious Badger II
Enhancement: Way of the Tenacious Badger III
Enhancement: Way of the Tenacious Badger IV
Enhancement: Fists of Iron
Enhancement: The Receptive Earth
Enhancement: Restoring the Balance
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Shintao Monk I
Enhancement: Shintao Monk II
Enhancement: Shintao Monk III
Enhancement: Rise of the Phoenix
Enhancement: Void Strike I
Enhancement: Difficulty at the Beginning
Enhancement: Adept of Wind
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Storms
Enhancement: Master of Thunder
Enhancement: Adept of Rock
Enhancement: Adept of Rain
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Improved Intimidate I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom II
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom III

[SickCat]

I play in a static group, and I'm currently a 14 monk / 2 fighter. We use nothing we don't find ourselves except for a few potions/wands from the vendor - no AH allowed at all. I am a halfling, and cant change that. I'm the closest thing to a "tank" in the group. AKA, I have the best AC, and use intimidate a lot.

I would like to try something different.

I have a couple build that I'm thinking about changing into...

1) Pure Monk - This is my preferred choice, but I would lose 10 points in intimidate. Lacking access to the AH, I don't have good items to help make up for intimidate being a cross class skill.

2) 19 Monk / 1 Rogue - This will give me all the stuff i'm enjoying about monk, and allow me to have UMD and Intimidate both maxed. I just hate to be a 19 monk... feels like a waste, although another level of rogue wouldnt really help this class at all. Adding a level of fighter (18/1/1) for another feat would be another option as well.

3) Staff Build - Acrobat II Staff build - I'd like one of these as a fun change, but just don't see how i can pull it off and still tank.


I'm really leaning towards the second option because i think it would be fun and while it's not a pure monk, it does have the "fun" of having UMD as a class skill.

Any suggestions? Corrections?

[/code]

With a pure monk (I had a 20 monk tank before the most recent changes to Intim) you'll have a difficult time keeping intim high, but you'll get that 10 Epic DR...I might suggest 18/2 mnk/ftr. You'll get 2 extra feats to possibly use for Toughness, and, of course, full intim. With the intim changes, you're going to find it harder (I did anyway) to have a monk tank. You'll have to balance Con (health), Dex (2wpn ftng, and possibly ToHit) to start, then Dex and Wis for AC if you go that route, THEN Cha if you want more intim...ugh...it's no fun...oh yea, Str so you can hit (if you don't take finesse) and do enough damage to hold agro.

Before, my 18/1/1 dark monk / ftr / rog had enough intim to no-fail Horoth, no AC, but boat loads of heal amp from human, monk, and gear. he had no Str (don't need it to shield block), 10 base Cha (could have bumped this if I wanted to no-fail intim DA or elite dog), no Dex (getting healed with wands/scrolls/free healer procs makes up for no AC)...just Con and Wis. I had 25% incorp and over 400% heal amp with ship buff. I was in top tier mountain stance...judo chop block (or shield block...whatever your fancy)...spam intim. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. You just can't do it like that anymore. He was a great tank...and with one quick change, he was worthless. Enjoy building him out...if you can get it to work, more power to ya