Challenge Farmer

[EllisDee37]

I spent some time.running labor shortage and buying time today, I would say the build made those runs very easy. I farmed enough for T1 bracers but figured I would post here before exchanging any more mats. Are the other challenges as easy and straight forward as these quests or is it just a matter of jumping in, making mistakes and learning to get more efficient with runs? What quests are easiest to run for stalker ring mats? Thanks for the build idea it has been a refreshing change of pace

They're all pretty easy/straightforward. The least easy ones are still easy:

Colossal Crystal
Cons: Annoying in that you might not get good Circle of Power spawn locations, meaning you need to reset. This is especially problematic if you're going for multiple colossals since you just have to live with the second (and third) spawn points no matter where they end up being. Also annoying in that if you only do one colossal, if your carrier dies you fail the run for 0 mats.
Pros: It's very easy to complete, and has a very high rate of return in terms of mats per minute.

The Disruptor
Cons: It's stressful having to abandon your extractors to hunt down the giant skeleton when he appears. Also, all kobold island challenges have pretty bad mats per minute.
Pros: The giant skeleton appears on the minimap making him easy to find, and if you buy and place magefire cannons next to your smalls, they can defend all by themselves while you kill the disruptor. Better mats per minute than running something else and converting the parts.

Moving Targets
Cons: If you don't know the map really well, it's super annoying to hear "so-and-so moved to some place you have no idea where" every few minutes. Even if you do know the map, it can be super annoying when they move all the way across the map from you.
Pros: It's trivially easy to get completions and decent parts returns even if you only ever kill the two bosses who never move. Even better, once you learn the map a little, this challenge gives the best parts per minute in rushmore mansion, and also the most parts per run of any challenge. Sure, a full run takes like 45 minutes, but if you're looking for quantity, it's nice to get like 1500 mats in one single run. (5 epic tokens in the same time it takes to run EN Devil Assault twice.)


To clarify: I run all challenges directly, without substituting any using parts conversions, because they're all very easy to complete. In every case, running a challenge directly is better parts per minute than running something else and converting the parts.

[Swimms]

(5 epic tokens in the same time it takes to run EN Devil Assault twice.)

It looks like you need epic parts to trade for tokens and you need to be 20+ to enter the epic level content? Is that correct? If so are you just farming it on some other character (and not this lvl 16 challenge farmer) as they run up from 20 to 30?

Thanks

[EllisDee37]

It looks like you need epic parts to trade for tokens and you need to be 20+ to enter the epic level content? Is that correct? If so are you just farming it on some other character (and not this lvl 16 challenge farmer) as they run up from 20 to 30?

I dualbox epic challenges with my Epic Challenge Farmer (pale master) parked at center for incomings and devashta and run torches with my collectable farmer (swashbuckler) on my dualbox account.

Similarly, for heroic challenges I run torches with this monk and park my level 15 dualbox opener in the center for incomings and devashta.

[Swimms]

I dualbox epic challenges with my Epic Challenge Farmer (pale master) parked at center for incomings and devashta and run torches with my collectable farmer (swashbuckler) on my dualbox account.

Similarly, for heroic challenges I run torches with this monk and park my level 15 dualbox opener in the center for incomings and devashta.

Silly question, why do you need the dualbox with this monk, from what I can tell he/she does just fine solo?

[C-Dog]

Silly question, why do you need the dualbox with this monk, from what I can tell he/she does just fine solo?

You don't on many, but those particular challenges need you to be in 2 places at once - 1) out in the tunnels scouting for crystals, clearing mobs, and placing/moving torches, and also 2) back in the center defending the kobolds returning w/ crystals against the big attacks there. If you only had 1 alt, you'd have to abandon 1 task to run to do the other - not a winning formula.

By dual boxing, all you have to do is Alt+Tab and you have a character where you need them - and (perhaps) one more suited for the job. Big DPS for the mid-guard role, high movement speed for the outer runner, win.

[peng]

To be clear, if you can't, or don't want, to dual box, all challenges can be run for mats solo, but in those specific challenges, a dual box setup can help. For example, in extraplanar palace, I try to get a line set up with plenty of crystals to clear when nearing the goal, so kobolds can keep picking them up while I kill devashta. However, just the other day I had to run to start with a nearly empty line to kill her, or risk all my kobolds dying.

On the other hand, dual boxing will increase dungeon scaling, meaning more, tougher spawns.

[EllisDee37]

Silly question, why do you need the dualbox with this monk, from what I can tell he/she does just fine solo?

Dualbox is wholly unnecessary; the monk is 100% capable all by himself to handle all challenges. DDoor and/or Abundant Step easily gets him back to center in the blink of an eye for handling devashta, who he can easily and quickly beat into a bloody pulp.

However, since I actually have the dualbox opener just sitting there, why not use her, y'know?

[Swimms]

Dualbox is wholly unnecessary; the monk is 100% capable all by himself to handle all challenges. DDoor and/or Abundant Step easily gets him back to center in the blink of an eye for handling devashta, who he can easily and quickly beat into a bloody pulp.

However, since I actually have the dualbox opener just sitting there, why not use her, y'know?

Makes perfect sense to me, I failed my first two challenges last night (Picture Portals and Colossal Crystal, one run each) but I believe it is just a matter of getting a little more comfortable with the layout of both quests. I noticed in the colossal crystal quest video you summon a hire to guard the progenitor carrying kobold, my guy died carrying the crystal to the teleporter but that MAY have been because I did not take the time to pick up a security ward crest before trying to escort him back . Kobold Island and the Extraplanar palace quests seem trivial in comparison but I am sure it is just a matter of learning the ropes a bit.

[Stoner81]

I spent some time.running labor shortage and buying time today, I would say the build made those runs very easy. I farmed enough for T1 bracers but figured I would post here before exchanging any more mats. Are the other challenges as easy and straight forward as these quests or is it just a matter of jumping in, making mistakes and learning to get more efficient with runs? What quests are easiest to run for stalker ring mats? Thanks for the build idea it has been a refreshing change of pace

Ellis has tutorial videos available which show him running the challenges with an extensive breakdown on how to the run them, here is the link ---> https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/429624

Stoner81.

[Stoner81]

Feather Falling is for lava caves when you want to jump from the first bridge down to the western bridge. It's also kind of nice to soften the blow at the end of the long fall down the stairwell to the mother spider in rushmore's mansion. Really any feather fall swap in any slot will do the trick. A jump swap is unnecessary, but it seemed like a flavorful thing to include. (The build has 33 Jump without any augment or item.)

Hey Ellis have you tried that jump with just Slow Fall enabled and using Abundant Step after jumping off of the edge?

Stoner81.

[C-Dog]

Ellis - thoughts on the recent (U40) Monk nerf? Obviously a hit, but how big of one to this build? Devs imply ~10% loss of DPS - accurate w/ this build?

o U40 unarmed damage nerf announcement

I guess since CC is running right now - can this build still solo, and how much more difficulty to do so?

[Yamani]

Ellis - thoughts on the recent (U40) Monk nerf? Obviously a hit, but how big of one to this build? Devs imply ~10% loss of DPS - accurate w/ this build?

o U40 unarmed damage nerf announcement

I guess since CC is running right now - can this build still solo, and how much more difficulty to do so?

This build was originally created before handwraps where even weapons. So yes it should do fine for it's intended purpose of challenge farming. Also for CC it would be better to grab 1-2 more players even ellis ran with a few to get better runs in. Of course he used his wizard instead.

P.S. Ellis is taking an extended break/left the forums.

[Stoner81]

Ellis - thoughts on the recent (U40) Monk nerf? Obviously a hit, but how big of one to this build? Devs imply ~10% loss of DPS - accurate w/ this build?

o U40 unarmed damage nerf announcement

I guess since CC is running right now - can this build still solo, and how much more difficulty to do so?

It should be perfectly fine, the DPS on the Monk in the challenges was always good and with certain wraps it's crazy good, losing a little bit won't hurt much it just might take a little longer to kill bosses but I highly doubt it will be massive amounts of difference, 1 or 2 seconds maybe at most.

Stoner81.

[C-Dog]

Like this guy a lot, thanks (again!) for the build!

Updated August 18th, 2017
...
Enhancements (64 of 64 AP)

Shintao (33 AP)

• Bastion of Purity, Protection from Tainted Creatures, Iron Hand, Argent Fist
  1. Difficulty at the Beginning, Deft Strikes III, Ki Shout
  2. Lifting the Veil, Smite Tainted Creature, Iron Skin III, Unbalancing Strike, Conditioning III
  3. Restoring the Balance, Jade Strike, Dismissing Strike, Constitution
  4. The Receptive Earth, Constitution
  5. Empty Hand Mastery

Human (19 AP)

• Damage Boost, Dexterity, Saves Boost
  1. Dragonmark Focus: Orien III, Improved Recovery
  2. Lesser Dragonmark: Dimension Door
  3. Improved Recovery, Heroism
  4. Improved Recovery, Greater Heroism

Henshin Mystic (11 AP)

• Riddle of Fire, Ki Bolt, Sounding Staff
  1. Negotiator III, Way of the: Patient Tortoise
  2. Contemplation III

Ninja Spy (1 AP)

• Basic Ninja Training

This was all pre-Falconry (July '18), which (for 12 AP) can give Wis-to-damage/etc., and a lot of monk builds* seem to prefer Falconry for just that reason (usually ~around~ 30 AP worth).

(* e.g. this or this or this. One summary of Str/Dex/Wis diffs here.)

My "monk experience" consists of this (pre-Falconry) build - could you (or anyone*?) suggest a Falconry split on AP, or would that not be much of an improvement? A rough assessment, or just "the highlights" of Falconry would be fine, from there I can use existing builds to ballpark a reasonable AP split.

(* remembering the purpose & limits of this build - Level 16 Challenge farmer, so only 64 AP, no Lvl 18 Feat, etc.)

[unbongwah]

The original build is ancient; it didn't even use DEX to damage because it predated the last monk pass. I'm not sure how many human Enhancements you need, but you could ditch Henshin and Ninja to focus on just Shintao and Falconry.

[Stoner81]

Toying with the idea of replacing my Brawling Gloves with a crafted pair with the following :

Strength +8, Insightful Combat Mastery +3 with Insightful Strength +3

AFAIK Combat Mastery and Insightful Combat Mastery stack with Stunning to boost Stunning Fist DC's up a notch or 3

I also had a look at making a new Charisma swap item for UMD with Persuasion on it but it seems that can't be made any more *cries*.

EDIT - Persuasion can be made still I'm just a numpty. As for the gloves I'm not making them now since I have switched to Falconry for WIS to-hit and damage. So I'm now looking at Doublestrike of Armour Piercing with Insightful Accuracy (though the insightful bonus is kinda pointless but there is nothing else worth having).

Stoner81.

[Paisheng]

Toying with the idea of replacing my Brawling Gloves with a crafted pair with the following :

Strength +8, Insightful Combat Mastery +3 with Insightful Strength +3

AFAIK Combat Mastery and Insightful Combat Mastery stack with Stunning to boost Stunning Fist DC's up a notch or 3

I also had a look at making a new Charisma swap item for UMD with Persuasion on it but it seems that can't be made any more *cries*.

Stoner81.

I was not aware that combat mastery stacks with stunning; insight mastery of course. Still if you have on other equipment and/or can put on your gloves insight stunning rather than insight combat mastery it will be a higher number -- and apply to most monk special attacks. Only your trip would be left out and most monks aren't using trip anymore unless they are a strength build (which is pretty rare).

[Stoner81]

I was not aware that combat mastery stacks with stunning; insight mastery of course. Still if you have on other equipment and/or can put on your gloves insight stunning rather than insight combat mastery it will be a higher number -- and apply to most monk special attacks. Only your trip would be left out and most monks aren't using trip anymore unless they are a strength build (which is pretty rare).

IIRC Combat Mastery is a Tactics bonus which stacks but I could be wrong.

EDIT - Looks like I am indeed wrong but it's hard to tell for certain. Insightful Combat Mastery may stack with Stunning but I don't think it stacks with Insightful Stunning. I may just make it and see what happens.

Stoner81.

[Djjinni]

IIRC Combat Mastery is a Tactics bonus which stacks but I could be wrong.

EDIT - Looks like I am indeed wrong but it's hard to tell for certain. Insightful Combat Mastery may stack with Stunning but I don't think it stacks with Insightful Stunning. I may just make it and see what happens.

Stoner81.

Combat Mastery is a catch-all buff to all 'tactical' attacks, mostly intended to benefit builds that use multiple types.

So for example on using a Stun, you would gain Stun DC equal to the higher of your Combat Mastery *or* Stunning bonus, with Insightful Mastery/Stunning stacking on those but also acting the same way - using the higher of the two.

[Stoner81]

I have been having a play around with enhancements thanks to Falconry and starting stats and I think things have gotten very VERY interesting to say the least (assuming 36pt build)...

STR = 14
DEX = 15
CON = 14
INT = 8
WIS = 18
CHA = 8

Now AP's are stupidly tight but I think we have a winner here...



If we have any racial AP's to spend then it gets even better

We lost 5 Heal Amp since we lose the last Human Recovery but get 15 from Falconry so we only lose 5 but we gain WIS for to hit and damage, +6 PRR and Sprint Boost! On a MONK! *mind blown* (I assume SB works on Monks) and an extra Dragonmark use for a total of 6. We also lose 9 Melee Power which is a bummer but I can't see it being that bad since we have so much WIS that it should help offset the loss? We also lose 9 PRR from the Henshin cores and a few hit points from Patient Tortoise (20HP to be specific).

We have 14 starting STR so we can still take Cleaves and Power Attack (nothing else to spend it on). We get to keep enough DEX for the TWF fighting line of feats. All 4 of the curatives for +4 to-hit and damage. More WIS just feeds everything now so better DC's on Stunning Fist, Quivering Palm etc.

I really can't see a downside on this...

EDIT - On a side note I have finally upgraded my Archon beaters which require a Soul Gem: Essence of the Destroyer, these can be gotten from Buying Time and using Trap the Soul on Jarilith and Ice Flensers. The new ones are miles ahead of the old ones!

EDIT - Just pulled the trigger on this and somehow I have managed to get Conditioning from Falconry for +5% HP which means I have lost just 5HP in total and still gotten everything else. I could have used the 2AP for the last Improved Recovery but I figured that -5 Heal Amp is not a big deal so went for raw HP instead but either one is good depending on what you want. I might switch back yet depending on how things work out.

Stoner81.