Dark Monk 12, Tempest 1, pally splash rough sketch

[Rasmus]

Hey everyone, I have been working on a monk. Of course now that she is level 18 I realized that if I did almost the exact same build but went Drow instead of Human, she might be even better than before. The build has many various flaws, this I know. I plan on keeping her using short swords. Also, I plan on keeping the skill points as is - I understand most if not all of you will disagree with it, but so far its exactly like how I want. I also know the saves is still rather low with a 12 cha by level 20, but as I look at the build, I think I will be okay without taking fighter for the two feats.

If I do decide to stick with pally, yes a +6 charisma item is involved in her gear along with all the basics that I can come up with.

Either way, please feel free to let me know what you think, any and all advice is welcome, so far, as a human her build has become better than I ever imagined.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.09.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Good Drow Male
(2 Paladin \ 12 Monk \ 6 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 318
Spell Points: 154 
BAB: 17\17\22\27\27
Fortitude: 21
Reflex: 19
Will: 16

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

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                    31
Bluff                 0                     1
Concentration         6                    29
Diplomacy             0                     1
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                0                     1
Heal                  2                     4
Hide                  2                     8
Intimidate            0                     1
Jump                  7                    29
Listen                2                     9
Move Silently         2                     4
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     1
Search                0                     3
Spot                  2                     6
Swim                  7                    27
Tumble                n/a                  17
Use Magic Device      n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Monk
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Mobility


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Inevitable Dominion: Fists of Darkness
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 4 (Monk)


Level 5 (Monk)


Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Power Attack
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack


Level 7 (Monk)


Level 8 (Monk)


Level 9 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Piercing Weapons


Level 10 (Monk)


Level 11 (Monk)


Level 12 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Power Critical


Level 13 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Aberration


Level 14 (Ranger)


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave


Level 16 (Ranger)


Level 17 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead


Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 19 (Paladin)


Level 20 (Paladin)
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost II
Enhancement: Drow Weapon Attack I
Enhancement: Drow Weapon Attack II
Enhancement: Drow Weapon Damage I
Enhancement: Drow Weapon Damage II
Enhancement: Follower of Vulkoor
Enhancement: Static Charge
Enhancement: Ten Thousand Stars
Enhancement: Way of the Faithful Hound I
Enhancement: Way of the Faithful Hound II
Enhancement: Way of the Faithful Hound III
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery III
Enhancement: Monk Ninja Spy I
Enhancement: Monk Ninja Spy II
Enhancement: Adept of Wind
Enhancement: Master of Thunder
Enhancement: Adept of Rock
Enhancement: Master of Stone
Enhancement: Adept of Flame
Enhancement: Master of Bonfires
Enhancement: Paladin Focus of Good I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
Enhancement: Improved Jump I
Enhancement: Improved Jump II
Enhancement: Improved Tumble I
Enhancement: Improved Tumble II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom II
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness I

Thank you in advance to EVERYONE who even reads this let alone post feedback.

[elg582]

First of all, what stat are you putting your level-ups into? I don't see how you're going to qualify for gTWF without putting at least 1 level point into DEX or banking a +3 tome, and if you're doing that, you're not spending your build points well; DEX is cheaper than STR on drow, so start them at 15/15, put all levels into STR, and you come out with an extra build point.

I would also drop WIS to 12 and put those into CHA or, if you're set on trying to have AC, INT and take combat expertise. Swap cleave, weapon focus, or power critical for it, and the other 2 for toughnesses.

Also, your level progression is going to make early levels a huge pain. No TWF until 14? You can frontload a couple of ranger levels, or just take TWF early and swap it out at 14.

I've designed shortsword ninjas before, but usually much less monk; 14 paladin/6 monk and similar (Zeal beats the pants off of tempest).

[Arvess]

you are missing improved critical and instead have power critical. power critical only improves your confirm roll while improved crit widens your crit range. swap those

i took slicing blow on my SS monk just to try out and found that i liked it more than i thought i would. it was a free attack that would help drop my target's con. since i had vampiric fury short swords, it worked out rather well.

don't know what benefit 2 pally would bring.
if i we going thru this build, go 6 monk for the ninja spy and then ranger for tempest then back to monk for ninja 2. take undead fav enemy early as its what you will be fighting most often. by 18 you passed the undead levels and are battling outsiders, humans and complacency.

[Rasmus]

I put my 4th level ability score increase into Dex, and then every ability score increase into Str after that.

I started with a 14 Wis because most if not everyone I spoke with told me if I was going to make a monk, I needed 14 Wis at level 1.

About the Power Critical, Dark Monks get Improved Critical: Short Sword for free.

Lastly, I was planning on taking my TWF Feats early on, then when I hit 14 swap them out, if not, I think I should be fine with handwraps through my monk levels, I have a little bit of gear to back it up on her.

Thank you very much for the input everyone!

EDIT: Also, I am going to have to try out Slicing Blow, it always looked fun, but with so few people I know using it I honestly thought it wasn't worth it. If it works out for me, i will keep it, if not I can live without.