Tempest Trapmonkey for new players

[C-Dog]

...Most builds in the forum seem to be quite outdated...

Just because they are "old" doesn't mean they are obsolete. You'd have to compare the last update on the current enhancement trees vs. the dates on the build to tell, and even then often it's not a big enough change to break the build (often it even just makes it better!).

...so I was wondering if this version of the Trapmonkey is still viable?

Sure! Nothing much has changed here, still solid.

2-weapon fighting is not the FotM, but it's strong enough to get you to 30, and the trapping is as solid as any.

As for this specific version, understand that there are dozens of tweaks you can make to suit your own preferences and playstyles. Touched on possible variations recently in a diff thread, here:

o https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post6395268

... I vaguely remember Paletrappers being quite good and lots of people seemed to like Warlocks but I don't know if that's still a thing (or even better than this build)...

Apples and orangutans (and then platypuses). The playstyle is very diff for each of the 3 you are looking at - do you want a melee, or a classic caster, or a medium-range blaster caster? All 3 can trap the same (tougher on a 'lock, but doable), all 3 can have great DPS, all 3 have decent survivable ('locks more so on that point).

[nghiarr]

I'm basically looking for a fresh character with no previous lifes and 32 points to comfortably get to 30 and use as a base to get established/farm some gear or tokens for the Reincarnation hearts if that's still an option. Maybe even using it as a base to start looking into getting completionist.
I feel like Trapmonkey has always been the go to character build for a solid solo character which is why I looked here first. Surprised to hear that two weapon fighting isn't as popular anymore, are two handed weapons actually better now and you'd just replace the TWF feats with the THF ones instead?
Paletrapper I just threw in there in case the melee Trapmonkeys aren't up to par anymore and Warlock I just remember being super popular last time I played the game.

[unhappymeal]

Disclaimer: this build may be based on a bug. Poster accepts no responsibility for future nerfs. Player discretion is advised.

While testing Strikethrough, it seemed that Great Weapon Aptitude (GWA) bonuses applied to other melee combat styles, not just Two Handed Fighting. For a bear druid, there appears to be no conflict between taking THF and Natural Fighting feats. However the THF/TWF/SWF feats are mutually exclusive - meaning taking one feat locks out the other two - with one exception. A ranger can take the THF (or SWF) feat before they are auto-granted TWF at level 2. In the past, THF+TWF would be pointless, as glancing blows didn't apply while dual-wielding. [Which begs the question of why they were mutually exclusive in the first place.] But Strikethrough can apply to all melee attacks AFAIK.

Also historically it's better to use 2H weapons at low levels before switching to TWF later on. That's even more true now; THF+GWA is 100% Strikethrough (20% base + 60% THF + 20% GWA) at level 2 with 2x STR modifier to damage. That's significantly better than TWF early on. So this build is designed to have good 2H DPS at low levels (1-5), then switch to TWF when it takes Knight's Training but still being able to (ab)use GWA bonuses.

Other recent changes: Spring Attack is now actually, well, a spring attack. For a ranger that's handy because you don't get anything like Abundant Step. Finally Scion of the Ethereal Plane just got nerfed - it's now a flat +6d6 sneak attack bonus - which is a bummer but the silver lining is you don't need to invest in Hide skill to max it out anymore. Since this isn't intended to be a stealth-focused build - and with only INT 14 there's only so many points to go around - I dropped those skills.

F2P Tempest Trapmonkey (U45)
18/1/1 Ranger/Barbarian/Rogue
True Neutral Human


Level Order

1. Rogue           6. Ranger         11. Ranger         16. Ranger
2. Barbarian       7. Ranger         12. Ranger         17. Ranger
3. Ranger          8. Ranger         13. Ranger         18. Ranger
4. Ranger          9. Ranger         14. Ranger         19. Ranger
5. Ranger         10. Ranger         15. Ranger         20. Ranger


Stats
               28pt     32pt     Level Up
               ----     ----     --------
Strength        16       16       4: STR
Dexterity       14       14       8: STR
Constitution    14       16      12: STR
Intelligence    14       14      16: STR
Wisdom           8        8      20: STR
Charisma         8        8      24: STR
                                 28: STR

Skills
         Rg Bn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn
          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
         ------------------------------------------------------------
Concent   2     2  2  2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Disable   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Search    4     2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Spot      4     1  2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
UMD       4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Open Lo   4  1           1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  20
Swim      4  1                                                         5
Balance   4                                                            4
Jump      4                                                            4
Tumble    4                                                            4
Heal      2           1                                                3
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         44  7  9  9  9  9  9  9  9  9  9  9  9  9  9  9  9  9  9  9


Feats

 1        : Dodge
 1 Human  : Two Handed Fighting
 3        : Precision
 6        : Knight's Training
 9        : Improved Critical: Slashing
12        : Spring Attack
12 Swap   : Mobility replaces Two Handed Fighting
15        : Empower Healing Spell OR Stunning Blow
18        : Quicken Spell OR Stunning Blow
21 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic   : Two Weapon Defense OR Stunning Blow
26 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
27 Epic   : Epic Damage Reduction OR Watchful Eye
28 Destiny: First Blood OR Elusive Target
29 Destiny: Dire Charge OR Deific Warding
30 Epic   : Epic Reflexes OR Epic Fortitude
30 Legend : Scion of: Arborea OR Ethereal Plane

 3 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Undead
 7 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Construct
12 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
17 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Elemental


Enhancements (80 AP)

Tempest (46 AP)
Shield of Whirling Steel, Tempest, Graceful Death, Deflect Arrows, Whirlwind
Improved Reaction II, Whirling Blades
Improved Parry III, Improved Dodge II, Whirling Blades, Sprint Boost I
Storm Dancer, Improved Mobility II, Whirling Blades
Storm Tempest, Elaborate Parry III, The Growing Storm III, Whirling Blades
Dual Perfection, Evasive Dance III, Cuts: A Thousand Cuts III, Whirling Blades, Dance of Death III

Deepwood Stalker (31 AP)
Far Shot, Sneak Attack, Exposing Strike, Advanced Sneak Attack, Mark of the Hunted
Stealthy III, Increased Empathy III
Survivalist, Melee/Range Power Boost III
Survivalist, Thrill of the Hunt III, Favored Hunter III
Survivalist, Killer III, Merciful Shot

Human (3 AP)
Damage Boost
Improved Recovery

Leveling Guide
Hum0 Damage Boost; Hum1 Improved Recovery; Hum1 Action Surge: Strength I
Hum1 Action Surge: Strength II; Hum2 Great Weapon Aptitude I, II, III
FB0 Die Hard; FB1 Extra Rage I, II, III
Occ0 Weapon Bond; Occ1 Extend Rage I, II, III
Hum0 Strength; FB1 Power Rage I
Reset All Trees
Human: Damage Boost, Strength
Improved Recovery
Great Weapon Aptitude III

Tempest: Shield of Whirling Steel, Tempest
Improved Reaction II, Whirling Blades
Improved Parry III, Whirling Blades, Haste Boost III
Storm Dancer
Tem3 Whirling Blades; Tem2 Improved Dodge I, II
Tem0 Graceful Death; Tem4 The Growing Storm I, II, III
Tem4 Storm Tempest; Tem4 Whirling Blades
DS0 Far Shot; DS1 Stealthy I, II, III
DS1 Increased Empathy I; DS2 Melee/Range Power Boost I, II, III
Reset Human
Tempest
(none)
(none)
Improved Mobility II
(none)
Dual Perfection, Cuts: A Thousand Cuts III, Whirling Blades, Dance of Death III
Hum0 Damage Boost; Hum1 Improved Recovery; DS0 Sneak Attack
Tem0 Deflect Arrows; DS2 Survivalist; DS0 Exposing Strike
DS3 Survivalist; DS3 Thrill of the Hunt I, II
DS3 Thrill of the Hunt III; DS3 Favored Hunter I, II, III
DS0 Advanced Sneak Attack; DS4 Killer I, II, III
DS4 Merciful Shot; DS4 Survivalist
DS1 Increased Empathy II, III; Tem3 Strength
Reset Tempest
Deepwood Stalker: Mark of the Hunted

Tempest: Shield of Whirling Steel, Tempest, Graceful Death, Deflect Arrows, Whirlwind
Improved Reaction II, Whirling Blades
Improved Parry III, Improved Dodge II, Whirling Blades, Sprint Boost I
Storm Dancer, Improved Mobility II, Whirling Blades
Storm Tempest, Elaborate Parry III, The Growing Storm III, Whirling Blades
Dual Perfection, Evasive Dance III, Cuts: A Thousand Cuts III, Whirling Blades, Dance of Death III



Destiny (24 AP)

Legendary Dreadnought
Legendary Tactics III, Extra Action Boost III, Strength
Strength
Critical Damage III, Haste Boost III
Volcano's Edge
Advancing Blows, Devastating Critical
Master's Blitz

Twists of Fate (8 fate points)
Balanced Attacks (Tier 3 Primal)
Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)

EDIT: 32pt build also has the option of starting CON 14 INT 16 which gives enough extra skill points to max out Open Lock plus put any leftover points into, say, Heal; or invest in Hide+Move Silently if you want to keep stealth.

For level 1, just use a quarterstaff. For levels 2-5, use your favorite 2H weapon(s). Like a falchion from Keep on the Broderlands or a Carnifex from Delera's Tomb. At level 6 we take Knight's Training which is a good point to switch to TWF, although really you could stick with 2H weapons until level 12 if you want. Tempest is a decent tree but it doesn't get really good until tier-5 opens up, IMO.

Barbarian vs Fighter - As always, this boils down to +10% runspeed vs an extra feat (plus any tier-1 Enhancements you want). Personally I'd rather have the permanent runspeed bonus, but you can take fighter at level 5 to grab Knight's Training a level sooner.

Maximize vs Empower Healing - Some people prefer Maximize because it provides a bigger boost to Cure spells than Empower Healing: +150 vs +75 Spellpower. I prefer Empower Heal because it's more spell-point-efficient and it works with Epic Destiny (ED) healing abilities like Rejuvenation Cocoon and Renewal.

How does this hold up against a 18 Monk/1 Rogue/1 Barb. I presume Monk is slightly tankier/more CC and Ranger more damage and self-healing?

[Stoner81]

How does this hold up against a 18 Monk/1 Rogue/1 Barb. I presume Monk is slightly tankier/more CC and Ranger more damage and self-healing?

Not doable.

You can't have Monk and Barbarian levels at the same time due to alignment restrictions.

Stoner81.

[C-Dog]

Not doable...

But besides that?