The Emerald v 2.0 Updated for U12 - Monk12/Fighter6/Paladin2

[Monkey-Boy]

With earth-stance and all that jazz . . . how does this hold up against the Epic LOB?

[Droken]

Selchin,

I was wondering where you got all those enhancement points from. You're missing Touch of Death. Also, you may want to squeeze in Improved Critical: Blunt in there somewhere. With the improved critical damage from Master of Stone, it's really worth it.

Monkey-Boy,

It doesn't. Epic LoB is for a FvS to tank. ;p

[Selchin]

Selchin,

I was wondering where you got all those enhancement points from. You're missing Touch of Death. Also, you may want to squeeze in Improved Critical: Blunt in there somewhere. With the improved critical damage from Master of Stone, it's really worth it.

I have touch of death in there (4th line down on the enhancements list). I got the enhancement points from several places relative to your build. I did not take the greater human adaptability (4 AP) for one thing, or the paladin-only enhancements.

In my build, I actually do have improved critical: blunt, I just missed writing it in the build write up. I've edited the build post to show the Improved Critical. Thanks for pointing that one out.

[vvildfire]

Selchin,

I was wondering where you got all those enhancement points from. You're missing Touch of Death. Also, you may want to squeeze in Improved Critical: Blunt in there somewhere. With the improved critical damage from Master of Stone, it's really worth it.

Monkey-Boy,

It doesn't. Epic LoB is for a FvS to tank. ;p

on my server I have never seen a FvS tank ELOB both tanks my groups run with and completed on have been half elf 20paly all lvl up points in to cha and con with max of the same monk dilt for more healing amp we can getaway with using only scrolls to heal them 400 + non arty scrolls 600+ for arty healers and they shield block and bash only with the 2 intims from HElf its a smooth run. my self I run an emerald and tank normal all the time and im not fully geared yet on Elob I dps or deal with the dogs just completed my AIR/AIR/Earth wraps 2 days ago

[Droken]

In our guild, we just use 1 FvS and instead of two tanks that just shield bash with no dps, the FvS sheild blocks while keeping aggro with divine punishment. FvS has the same healing amp as a monk due to monk dili.

But yeah, even in your scenerio, it's not an AC tank that's tanking, but just an intimitank that's shield blocking. Epic totally destroys any attempts to hold any meaningful AC whatsoever. =(

[korsat]

In our guild, we just use 1 FvS and instead of two tanks that just shield bash with no dps, the FvS sheild blocks while keeping aggro with divine punishment. FvS has the same healing amp as a monk due to monk dili.

But yeah, even in your scenerio, it's not an AC tank that's tanking, but just an intimitank that's shield blocking. Epic totally destroys any attempts to hold any meaningful AC whatsoever. =(

Sorry but what type of fvs can reach enough hps and initimidate skill, have evasion and enough sp for dp(without drinking 20 pots), enough dr and healing amplification to tank elob?

[MRMechMan]

Sorry but what type of fvs can reach enough hps and initimidate skill, have evasion and enough sp for dp(without drinking 20 pots), enough dr and healing amplification to tank elob?

2x shield mastery (25% DR)
27 blocking DR+10/- inherent DR=37 DR
900+ buffed hp (w/ arti)
40+ reflex
0 intim (dp grabs agro after superman anyway)
2x concop and torc (with assassin agro it can be zero pot run easily)
10%/20%/30% amp items, human improved recovery and 3 pallys PLs=450+ heal scrolls-amp isn't an issue...no-fail selfheals and free capstone 150-200pt heals.

We have a couple completionistastic fvs that did a fine job holding agro as long as melee gave some time and didn't go full r3tard. They weren't speed runs by any means but it worked well enough.

[Droken]

Mech is from my guild, the same guild that brought you solo-ToD with 0 pots by a FvS, (Healings), solo-ToD with 0 pots by an Arcane (Agordmils), the first solo VoD on Hard by a melee (Kelida), and the first completionists on the server (Lotusfly and Zoesha. Lotusfly is on his 30th life I think?).

It shouldn't surprise you that FvS from our guild rock ELoB. ;D The guild used to tank everything with a FvS. I actually had to prove to them I wasn't mentally handicapped when I introduced them to Kelida, the first decent melee tank they'd seen.

[korsat]

Mech is from my guild, the same guild that brought you solo-ToD with 0 pots by a FvS, (Healings), solo-ToD with 0 pots by an Arcane (Agordmils), the first solo VoD on Hard by a melee (Kelida), and the first completionists on the server (Lotusfly and Zoesha. Lotusfly is on his 30th life I think?).

I'm really curious how can TOD be done in the shadow part and in the last when you got chained. Tried on my caster and the 1st part is factible (jailer+judje) but not the shadow one... Maybe is there a video around?

By the way I have 3 questions about your build:
Why 12monk/6paladin/2fighter is better than 12monk/7paladin/1fighter that gives you 1 more ac?(tradeoff 1ac for 1 feat I think)
What about 12monk/7fighter/1rogue with paladin dilettante? The 2nd level of rogue worth it only for the 30% scroll increase?
I'm also a bit worried about the loosing of 1 bab after the rogue or arti splash...do you feel any difference in attack speed or any problem to hit? I'm starting to think that if I really want umd for scrolls and shield wands without heavy gear swap then it's better go with cleric dilly and renunce at 3d6 sneak attack of the rogue dilly(like 9 damage/attack when you don't have aggro or the mob is stunned) and keep bab 20 on the original 12monk/6fighter/2pally build.

[Darknark]

. I actually had to prove to them I wasn't mentally handicapped when I introduced them to Kelida, the first decent melee tank they'd seen.

Lol.

I'm really curious how can TOD be done in the shadow part and in the last when you got chained. Tried on my caster and the 1st part is factible (jailer+judje) but not the shadow one... Maybe is there a video around?

Sent you a pm. I want to avoid derailing Kelida's thread . I play on a laptop though... and not a very good one.. so I don't film things. Just screenies.

[Malky]

Epic totally destroys any attempts to hold any meaningful AC whatsoever. =(

Add the fact that even if it worked, an AC tank would also mean less fort debuffs from the fvs crown, hence a longer run as well...

[Droken]

By the way I have 3 questions about your build:
Why 12monk/6paladin/2fighter is better than 12monk/7paladin/1fighter that gives you 1 more ac?(tradeoff 1ac for 1 feat I think)
What about 12monk/7fighter/1rogue with paladin dilettante? The 2nd level of rogue worth it only for the 30% scroll increase?
I'm also a bit worried about the loosing of 1 bab after the rogue or arti splash...do you feel any difference in attack speed or any problem to hit? I'm starting to think that if I really want umd for scrolls and shield wands without heavy gear swap then it's better go with cleric dilly and renunce at 3d6 sneak attack of the rogue dilly(like 9 damage/attack when you don't have aggro or the mob is stunned) and keep bab 20 on the original 12monk/6fighter/2pally build.

I would take arty over rogue personally. I prefer the ranged versatility, and if there are no other arties around, the 1st level buff adds +1 to attack and damage. The 30% to scroll use is actually incredibly good, especially if you enjoy crazy solo challenges or unconventional approaches like our server's All-Melee Epic Chrono the other night lol.

Why not 7 paladin 1 fighter? Because of the enhancement points. If I remember right, it's like 3 points to take that tier. It all breaks down to what you want to be able to accomplish though. 100 AC self buffed is overkill for Hard LoB, but nowhere near sufficient for Epic. Since AC doesn't need to be that high, then hit points would be the better option, aka more feats. If you want to attempt a solo VoD on the other hand, then sqeezing out a few more points of AC would be more desireable.

I haven't noticed any delay in attack speed in a loss of 1 BAB. To my knowledge, it caps at the number of attacks a round you get pretty early on, though I could be wrong.

Why in the world would you ever do 7 fighter unless you're going for the higher level of boosts? In such case, you're looking at the wrong build and should check into a DPS build. I shrug indifferently at short duration things such as boosts and limited duration DPS.

[DrawingGuy]

I have to agree with Droken - 12 monk / 7 pali / 1 fighter/arti does not work on dark monk. You simply don't have the TPs without sacrificing somewhere that would cost you the 1 AP gained anyways. It does, however, work beauitifully on light monk. Light monk has nothing for boss DPS beyond smite tainted which doesn't add much, so you'd take them for the DR and anti-stun. Crafting makes DR bypass no big deal anymore. Another light monk makes the anti-stun no big deal (or simply high AC so you don't care if you're stunned).

My light monk is fun. Dismissing elementals, jade striking devils, saving people SP, anti-stunning the aforementioned raids are all useful. But that is also all better used on a support monk rather than a tank monk that the shadow fade and DPS for hate tanking is oh so useful on. Droken has converted me. Well, that, and a guild mate showing me the DPS difference - Tanking Jailer I may be able to heal fist and AC tank it and take it down to 80% before Judge is dead. The Dark monk with the same gear will have it to less than 50% in the same amount of time. Willing to rely on silver flame pots for that.

[Monkey-Boy]

Add the fact that even if it worked, an AC tank would also mean less fort debuffs from the fvs crown, hence a longer run as well...

The grazes are enough for that to work in Elite.

[DrawingGuy]

Oh, btw, suggested gear update:

Your HP belt should be a minII belt so it gives SS clicky, protection +5 and heavy fort. That saves having to slot heavy fort, so that can be taken off your augment list. (Also means you're not relying on short duration or high UMD debuffable deflection AC). This coincidentally makes my belt swappable with my Ring of the Buccaneer (slotted with heavy fort) in case I want to give up the HP for the Epic Spare Hand belt.

Also if you've purified your belt, a GS charisma goggles would be useful for UMD and Intimidate. Yes, you lose 20 HP, but if you have the to-hit, and the goggles are a difference between 70% or 100% intimidate chance, that's likely a worthy investment.

You'll also need to start carrying Blurs wands/clickies once the update hits as ghostly will be 10% incorporal rather than perma-blur.

[Kobayne]

Oh most certainly. You'll still top 700 HP. That's more than enough for anything that's tankable. I used to use 9 toughnesses in my original Emerald 1.0 build. lol. I could hit over 900 HP, and this was ~before~ the defender stance upgrades! When I posted that build though, I received a lot of criticism because the general consensus was that if I was already not getting hit, there's no point to that much HP. And, eventually I had to agree. When even the freaking Lord of Blades needs to roll a natural 20 to hit you, it really is overkill to have over 700 HP. =D

700 is a good number. It lets you survive a Mighty Stunning Blow, a couple of Whirlwind attacks, and even the aoe blast from the Purple Titan from Master Artificer. I may actually lesser TR Kelida into the 2 ranger version eventually.

A little behind the times, but having come back to the game properly from a long time off, I rolled up Emerald 1.0. It's doing well, although sticking with handwraps I'm starting to feel the lack of dps (@17). Planning to do my first TR into E2.0 when I've ground a bit more gear and got to 20. First time I've concentrated so much on hp and love the buffer, between 540 and 600+ dependant on stance + 3 more levels and 1 more toughness (twd pointless on handwraps and more ac will come with more gear, as will hp - still need gs +45 at least).

Still using clr dille and loving the usefulness, although would like more healing amp for myself - but that will come with E2.

[Droken]

I'm glad you're enjoying my builds. =} I'm working on a couple different ranged variants that use Slayer Arrows, but busy grinding the gear to see if the loss in HP will be an issue.

[MeatSheild]

Has anyone taken this over to beta? I fear for the worst.

[yynderjohn]

Echoing that fear.. was just about to TR to my 36 pt build of this, but not sure now...

[Droken]

Well, whatever happens, happens. I don't like to speculate on what the next patch will bring. When it comes out, I'll make changes accordingly. All it requires is a lesser heart of wood. ;p Before update 12, The Emerald was originally a fighter build. I actually solo'd VoD on Hard as that fighter too. Granted, the current monk version is immensely better, the fighter served its purpose at the time.