stats/feats for a Hling Ninja Spy with CE+Imp Trip

[GlassJaw]

I'm coming back to the game after a long hiatus and I've never played a Monk before. I've done a lot of reading on the class and builds and I want to build a Halfling Ninja Spy (Dark path) for fun.

I'll probably go Crane or Tortoise and focus on Water stance to boost my Wis. I'll also be taking the Halfling sneak attack enhancements to make use of Unbalancing Strike.

Base Stats:

(I have access to +3 tomes from the store.)

S 14 (all level-ups)
D 16
C 13
W 15
I 11
Ch 8

A +3 Int tome will give me a 12 Int at level 3 and 13 Int at level 7 to meet the req's for CE. I also want enough skill points to throw some into Hide and MS.

Feats:

This is where things get tricky. A halfling monk gets 10 feats. I would like to take Combat Expertise and Imp Trip to boost my AC when needed but also take advantage of Unbalancing Strike. But Improve Sunder would also be nice to lower Fort saves of enemies.

Here's what I'm thinking:

TWF/Imp TWF/Gr TWF
Stunning Fist
Power Attack
Imp Crit
Toughness
Combat Expertise
Improved Trip
Dodge (for Ninja Spy)

That's 10 but no room for Improved Sunder. Is it worth dropping something for Imp Sunder?

Thanks!

[smithj_2020]

Well since you want CE and Imp trip there is nothing else you can drop for Imp Sunder, those would be te only 2 to drop I would say Imp trip for sunder.

I have a Halfling Dark Monk and to me Imp sunder just isn't worth it, I use a feat for a feat that is already there and only gives 4 extra and I run mostly epics or just high level elite and the Imp sunset rarely lands (if ever), I would say less than 10% (alot less actually); that bein said alot of builds use it and it can be helpful,

PS my monk has a 36 str.

[t0r012]

IMO since you seem to want to be running a tactics based monk I think you would be better off going dwarf and light path. Drop the IMO trip, CE and int.
Pick up stunning blow.
Without a vertigo item It is unlikely your imp trip is going to work on much beyond an arcane mob which your stuns or plain old trip will take care of. I just don't think it imptrip is worth the 3 build points on a stat starved class like monk.

Dwarf tactics enh plus not having a penalty to a prime stat is a better choice than halfling with a prime stat penalty just for a couple extra SA damage with an exceptionally high AP cost and only a situationally and limited use ability like unbalancing strike.

Light path with its other tactics like kukan do , dismissing strike , tomb of jade will give you plenty enough tactics at your disposal with stunning blow , stunning fist and plain old trip.

[Potta]

I have a Halfling Dark Monk and to me Imp sunder just isn't worth it, I use a feat for a feat that is already there and only gives 4 extra and I run mostly epics or just high level elite and the Imp sunset rarely lands (if ever), I would say less than 10% (alot less actually)

The important part of Improved Sunder always lands. The fort reduction is far more valuable against trash than -10% fortification.

[CodyGenX]

Ive got a tactics based Kensai with all the bells and whistles (well except his last figh life for another +1 tactics). I can honestly say Improved trip is a complete waste of time without a vertigo item, and even then its pretty worthless. I love improved sunder and wouldnt trade it for anything. The fort debuff raises your stunning and ToD in tu.rn raising your dps.

[GlassJaw]

Does Unbalancing Strike make trip more viable? Trip is based on the target's Balance check and Unbalancing Strike gives the target a -10 penalty to Balance.

I was planning on taking Unbalancing Strike anyway because it makes the target vulnerable to sneak attack damage.

[smithj_2020]

The important part of Improved Sunder always lands. The fort reduction is far more valuable against trash than -10% fortification.

IMO the feat isn't worth it for me to take, I don't need it against trash with a 50 SF DC it always lands and with a 40 QP and ToD and Alch wraps I destroy trash, but like my post said its valuable to some builds but not mine, it's my opinion