Final (5th) life build suggestions.

[Daine]

Looking for suggestions for my melee's final life.

Previously he's been: 20 Ftr, 20 Ftr, 20 Barb, and will soon finish 2Mnk/18Druid.

Current tomes are: +3 Str, Dex, Int, Cha / +4 Con, Wis

The few things I've decided on are Human, Shintao, 20 Monk, GmoF.

I've read through the awesome The Book of Syncletica: New Monk Guide and its given me plenty of ideas but it's only one source. Any suggestions, pointers, warnings, twists or outright builds are welcome.

EDIT: I've posted a tentative build further down in the thread for those that wish to help me out or just comment

[domandi]

It's kinda hard to answer your question tbh.

Since you say it's the final life, what do you want it to do?

You seem set on Monk, so that's a start.

You also say you want shintao and gmof. Both solid choices.

You have linked a solid thread with information.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but why would you want someone else to tell you how to make your last life toon? Go with the concept you have and change it accordingly. Have fun with it. Play with it and make it your own. If you have any specific questions, I am sure people would be happy to answer them.

Not sure what else to say. I wish you luck and fun gaming. =D

[Daine]

You're right, I could have been more specific, ideas are still forming...

Currently thinking of starting stats: 16/14/16/8/16/8

Will hunt down a +4 dex tome with a righteous vengence to get 18 dex. Other grandmaster stats have at least +3 tomes.

Level ups in Str.

Thinking of taking 3 grandmasters plus capstone and not taking GM sun which would give me the versatility to be situationally useful. My thoughts were Mountain Stance when I need to tank, Ocean stance when fighting stunnable mobs and Wind stance for the everything else. I've only ever taken a monk to level 11, so I'm really a monk newb wondering if this is ok, or if ditching sun stance will leave my yellow bar empty while I charge about madly slaughtering at a furious pace? Basically is ultimate wind stance sustainable?

I ran with precision for the first time ever on my melee druid life and enjoyed it, but I have 2 ftr past lives for an extra +2 to attack so I'm thinking back to pure melee means power attack and cleave, both seem valid for monk, even if my strength will never be uber. I'm just a little worried about end game EE and the horror of actually missing a strike! As Shintao requires me to choose between cleave and precision (amongst others I've disregarded) and I've had good experiences with both, any monks with experience of both with words of wisdom for me?

Edit: Oh and with handwraps all the way, I got over my shield obsession with my first ftr life, now it's time for me to break the weapon obsession, at most a heal amp gs shuriken for switches/levers and out of combat heals.

[nivarch]

You're right, I could have been more specific, ideas are still forming...

Currently thinking of starting stats: 16/14/16/8/16/8

Will hunt down a +4 dex tome with a righteous vengence to get 18 dex. Other grandmaster stats have at least +3 tomes.

Level ups in Str.

Thinking of taking 3 grandmasters plus capstone and not taking GM sun which would give me the versatility to be situationally useful. My thoughts were Mountain Stance when I need to tank, Ocean stance when fighting stunnable mobs and Wind stance for the everything else. I've only ever taken a monk to level 11, so I'm really a monk newb wondering if this is ok, or if ditching sun stance will leave my yellow bar empty while I charge about madly slaughtering at a furious pace? Basically is ultimate wind stance sustainable?

I ran with precision for the first time ever on my melee druid life and enjoyed it, but I have 2 ftr past lives for an extra +2 to attack so I'm thinking back to pure melee means power attack and cleave, both seem valid for monk, even if my strength will never be uber. I'm just a little worried about end game EE and the horror of actually missing a strike! As Shintao requires me to choose between cleave and precision (amongst others I've disregarded) and I've had good experiences with both, any monks with experience of both with words of wisdom for me?

Edit: Oh and with handwraps all the way, I got over my shield obsession with my first ftr life, now it's time for me to break the weapon obsession, at most a heal amp gs shuriken for switches/levers and out of combat heals.

On stances:
3 GM stances is expensive.
GM air has enough ki-gen most of the time, especially in GMoF since you can get up to +2 passive ki-gen in the ED (1 from level 5 innate, 1 from enlightment 3) plus the active ki-gen on the level 1 innate, means it's usually fine.
If you really want to charge fast while in combat you can swap to fire stance, the difference between lesser and GM fire stance is 0,3 ki per hit, not bad but is it wort all the AP?
If you need to charge faster while not in combat (to charge EiN), you need Master water. It is also nice to have to increase your EiN DC. Usually you won't really need to increase your SF DC (but your mileage may vary depending on twists, wisdom, equipment...). I don't really think GM water is worth the 4 AP.

Earth stance is a different subject. It's the only stance that will allow you to really tank. You'll really need at least Master to be worth it. And Master to GM bonuses are quite good, so I'd say go for it if you plan to tank. You could live with master tho.
Earth also gives you an attack usable on any enemy, which is very useful.

You can also consider Void IV on a light monk, but I don't know if it's still that good or not

On precision/Cleave:
My first question would be, do you want improved sunder or not?
On a dark monk I couldnt live without it, on a light monk it's not as important. However I've seen that recently less and less melee seem to carry it (harder to fit in when you want OC I guess) and it's a very nice party wide DPS increase.

If you want improved sunder, you'll have to take power attack meaning it's one less feat to take cleave. Making it maybe more appealing.
Otherwise if you don't want improved sunder, precision is really nice. The 5% to hit by itself makes up for most of the damage loss from PA (and the increased ki-gen will reduce this difference some more) ; and the fortification bypass can bring even more DPS, especially against bosses.

This is really up to you tho, I like precision better than PA, but I think it's close enough to make both of them viable.

Finally last thing to consider regarding feats is : do you want overwhelming critical ? If you do, then cleave it is

On stats:
16 base wisdom + 4 tome = 20 wisdom.
No level up in wis means no vorpal strike. While it's a shame, you can definitely live without it...
... However I'd seriously consider 3 more wisdom to get it

If you go for vorpal strike, you'll have to make some calculationson how to best allocate stat points and level ups Maybe your combination is the best, maybe you can find a way to get slightly more, I'm not sure.

[ripperj]

I suggest you do ONE more life after this one; another monk life. Play around this life, try somethings out, see what works for you, when you're set, tr into a monk and grab the monk past life because it is awesome!

[Daine]

I suggest you do ONE more life after this one; another monk life. Play around this life, try somethings out, see what works for you, when you're set, tr into a monk and grab the monk past life because it is awesome!

I wasn't quite sure about where I wanted to go with the toon when I started as druid, but I'm tired of TRing him and want to play end game with guildies on a stable character. I've been thinking about how my druid past life is a bit of a dud, though it has been loads of fun to play!

My first 2 levels were monk. I'm currently level 17, I was planning on banking at 18 till TRing. If I take my next three levels as monk so that I'm 5mnk/15drd and then use a +5 lesser heart, I'll be 10monk/10druid with first level as monk. Will that work to give me Past life Monk when I TR?

I know some die step increases from gear dont stack, but does Past Life: Disciple of the Fist die increase stack with everything?

[Daine]

If you go for vorpal strike, you'll have to make some calculationson how to best allocate stat points and level ups Maybe your combination is the best, maybe you can find a way to get slightly more, I'm not sure.

Thanks for your post. I do want vorpal strikes, I want the whole monk experience

So I have to jiggle about stats a fair bit to get most of what I want and accept that you can never have it all. Here's a new idea that gets me into 2WF faster though with enough reduced strength that I have to dismiss any feat that is str based, I realise now why folks talk about dex and str monks or balancing those stats...

Stats: 15/15/16/8/16/8
Level ups: 3 wis, 3 str

FEATS:
1: [Monk] Stunning Fist, [Human] Toughness, Dodge
2: [Monk] Precision
3: [Monk] Light Path, Past Life: Monk (will use +5 heart to get this)
6: [Monk] TWF, Mobility
9: ITWF
12: IC: Bludgeoning
15: GTWF
18: Spring attack
21: Vorpal Strikes
24: Improved Martial Arts

I guess it's time to start playing with Ron's Excellent Character Planner and look at enhancements now. Lots of food for thought on stances...

[nivarch]

Thanks for your post. I do want vorpal strikes, I want the whole monk experience

So I have to jiggle about stats a fair bit to get most of what I want and accept that you can never have it all. Here's a new idea that gets me into 2WF faster though with enough reduced strength that I have to dismiss any feat that is str based, I realise now why folks talk about dex and str monks or balancing those stats...

Stats: 15/15/16/8/16/8
Level ups: 3 wis, 3 str

FEATS:
1: [Monk] Stunning Fist, [Human] Toughness, Dodge
2: [Monk] Precision
3: [Monk] Light Path, Past Life: Monk (will use +5 heart to get this)
6: [Monk] TWF, Mobility
9: ITWF
12: IC: Bludgeoning
15: GTWF
18: Spring attack
21: Vorpal Strikes
24: Improved Martial Arts

I guess it's time to start playing with Ron's Excellent Character Planner and look at enhancements now. Lots of food for thought on stances...

For enhancements, you can use http://ddo.motd.ru/planner. In my opinion it works better than ron planner for enhancements (ron planner works great to plan a character completly).

Just one last thing, have you considered Half Elf ?
You take 2 feats which are not "the best" (2% dodge is not bad, but is expensive for a feat slot). Half elf could let you get 3d6 sneak attack which is 10.5 damage per hit on a mob with 0 fort (that's about as much damage as gaining ~16 strength...).
But you would have to accept being ugly

[Daine]

Just one last thing, have you considered Half Elf ?

But you would have to accept being ugly

My monk/druid is helf for the sneak attack, in wolf form with natural fighting and all the other sneaky adds, it really adds up, the whole build was based on wolf sneak attacks. Thankfully I was able to stay in wolf form and not show others my hideous face. If I play party heals I'm sure to go to water ele form and then stoneskin myself just to be sure they wouldn't see my true face and mistake me for an aberration and start attacking, lol!

His other past lives he looked like a strong solid man in his 30's and I want to bring him back to that for his final life, I don't know how they could have botched helves so well but they deserve an award for it! Human is my splash for flavour really, thankfully it also ends up helping me get all the dodge and off hand strikes I want as well.

Oh and thanks, I'd forgotten about that planner, I've got to trim down my browsers DDO bookmarks, I'm losing things in the list; probably should eat an int tome myself.

[Zorth]

Paladin.

[Daine]

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.14.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Good Human Male
(20 Monk) 
Hit Points: 332
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 15\15\20\25\25
Fortitude: 17
Reflex: 16
Will: 20

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             15                    21
Dexterity            15                    18
Constitution         16                    20
Intelligence          8                    11
Wisdom               16                    26
Charisma              8                    11

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 2
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 2
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 2
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 2
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 2
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 2
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 6
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 6
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 6
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 6
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 6
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 6
+3 Tome of Strength used at level 10
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 10
+3 Tome of Constitution used at level 10
+3 Tome of Intelligence used at level 10
+3 Tome of Wisdom used at level 10
+3 Tome of Charisma used at level 10
+4 Tome of Constitution used at level 14
+4 Tome of Wisdom used at level 14

Level 1 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Barbarian
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Fighter
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Fighter
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Monk
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Stunning Fist
Feat: (Human Bonus) Toughness
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Improved Concentration I


Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Precision
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Way of the Elegant Crane I
Enhancement: Monk Wisdom I


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Disciple of the Fist
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light
Enhancement: Lifting the Veil
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I


Level 4 (Monk)
Ability Raise: WIS
Enhancement: The Receptive Earth


Level 5 (Monk)
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Restoring the Balance


Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Mobility
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Shintao Monk I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II


Level 7 (Monk)
Enhancement: Monk Improved Recovery II


Level 8 (Monk)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Adept of Wind
Enhancement: Adept of Rain


Level 9 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Difficulty at the Beginning
Enhancement: Adept of Rock


Level 10 (Monk)
Enhancement: Rise of the Phoenix


Level 11 (Monk)
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II


Level 12 (Monk)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons
Enhancement: Master of the Sea


Level 13 (Monk)
Enhancement: Shintao Monk II
Enhancement: Master of Stone


Level 14 (Monk)
Enhancement: Master of Thunder


Level 15 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Ten Thousand Stars
Enhancement: Adept of Flame


Level 16 (Monk)
Ability Raise: WIS
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery III


Level 17 (Monk)


Level 18 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack
Enhancement: Shintao Monk III
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Mountains


Level 19 (Monk)
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Oceans


Level 20 (Monk)
Ability Raise: WIS
Enhancement: Monk Serenity
Enhancement: Grandmaster of Storms

OK I have a basic plan, comments and criticisms welcome

[ripperj]

I wasn't quite sure about where I wanted to go with the toon when I started as druid, but I'm tired of TRing him and want to play end game with guildies on a stable character. I've been thinking about how my druid past life is a bit of a dud, though it has been loads of fun to play!

My first 2 levels were monk. I'm currently level 17, I was planning on banking at 18 till TRing. If I take my next three levels as monk so that I'm 5mnk/15drd and then use a +5 lesser heart, I'll be 10monk/10druid with first level as monk. Will that work to give me Past life Monk when I TR?

I know some die step increases from gear dont stack, but does Past Life: Disciple of the Fist die increase stack with everything?

10mnk/10dru will get you the monk past life, and it does stack with all othe die step increases

[DrakHar]

Paladin.

Wow. You sure did read the OP.