Drunken Stick (Yet Another Staff Build)

[unbongwah]

This is mostly theory-crafting / thinking out loud, rather than an actual build.

Concept: a druid elemental-form build which uses staves

Class breakdown: druid 13 / monk 6 / rogue 1. This basically reverses the druid / rog split of my Horcrobat.

• The rogue splash provides +15% atk speed w/staves (4 APs in Acrobat) and +2d6 SA (3 APs in Assassin), as well as UMD (and trap skills if you want them)
• Monk 6 provides +2d6 SA and Shadow Veil (12 APs in Ninja), +5% heal amp (1 AP in Shintao), and a bunch of staff & caster bonuses (up to 32 APs in Henshin)
• Druid 13 provides lvl 7 spells & one elemental form; Nature's Warrior provides Vengeful Hunter, Double Strike action boost, and Fatal Harrier (14 APs); Season's Herald provides caster bonuses & SLAs, if you can afford the APs

Primary stat: either STR or WIS, depending on whether you want to focus on melee DPS or caster DCs

Elemental form: naturally, whether you choose Fire or Water depends on which elemental dmg you want to emphasize. Note that Creeping Cold & Ice Storm have no saves, so they're more useful to STR-based druid builds; but Henshin provides Fire Spellpower bonuses. Also, Body of the Sun (fire elem) is a Fort save, not Reflex; so even with lousy DCs, it'll still do half-dmg.

Feats: Power Atk, Cleave, and Great Cleave are the obvious must-haves. From there, it largely depends on whether you're going for STR, in which case you should focus on melee DPS (e.g., THF chain, IC:Blunt, Overwhelming Crit); or WIS, in which case you want the usual metamagics.

Need to mull this over some more...

[kuro_zero]

Using vet I tried rogue acrobat speed bonus with a trinket of melee of alacrity and saw no bonus to attack speed, unlike the old acrobat enhancements so I pretty much killed the idea of splashing 1 rogue.

For myself I'm pretty adamant about 17druid in order to get both elemental forms and level9 spells. I like the versatility of having both forms if in content that are immune to your chosen element. Mantle of Ice is amazing for the -4 reflex save when hit by cold (sleet storm works for this) allowing earthquake's amazing CC to land and stay in your ice storm/sleet storm (for blind effect sneak dmg) / and storm of vengeance.

Regenerate and mass regen are great, but best is the vigor/mass vigor stacking before a big fight.

17 Druid/3monk is my split, light path for healing curse and -25% SP finisher. Feats are PA, cleave, gcleave, emp healing, max, quicken, adept and master of forms, and Dodge. n for heal amp and GH clickie.

There is the problem of WIS or STR base. STR opens up overwhelming critical in epics, while WIS makes earthquake viable at higher levels. If there were more staves that alllowed WIS to hit/dmg that would be ideal but only one I know of is Stave of the Seer.

Currently leveling one now with a sorc PL for the +1 evo DC (earthquake) and its working well. Getting reflex save to a respectable level is giving me headaches however.

[cru121]

Using vet I tried rogue acrobat speed bonus with a trinket of melee of alacrity and saw no bonus to attack speed, unlike the old acrobat enhancements so I pretty much killed the idea of splashing 1 rogue.

I have rolled a vet 4 test rogue/monk/druid. I have taked human action boost and used it as timer.
Without any other enhancements, I could swing slightly less than 27 times during the action boost.
With Thief Acrobatics 3, I have observed an attack speed increase to ~30-33.
With Haste pot, it was around 36.

Now this was not a scientific test, and my 3yr old was pestering me while I counted the hits, but I believe it stacks. The Thief Acrobatics speed bonus is not mentioned in the effects/combat log, because it's situational (only with qstaves).


To the OP: I like it. I am thinking of rolling one, as a human, strength based. While planning feats, I have noticed that BAB requirements are pretty restricting. Also (on a human) 10 int was necessary to fit in UMD, Concentration, Spellcraft, Heal (along with some basic Balance, Spot, Open Lock). Starting with a druid level and postponing Rogue to level 13 allowed me to pick up the right skills and fit in the important feats early.

feats I am thinking of: 1 Empower Healing, Quicken, PA/Cleave/GCleave; Improved Crit, THFx3. This leaves me with the lvl 6 monk feat and the level 15 feat free during heroic levels.

As a variant, there's also 15 druid/5 rogue, which loses monk goodies (which are great) and picks up heal (also great). But I like the monk variant more I think.

[kuro_zero]

I have rolled a vet 4 test rogue/monk/druid. I have taked human action boost and used it as timer.
Without any other enhancements, I could swing slightly less than 27 times during the action boost.
With Thief Acrobatics 3, I have observed an attack speed increase to ~30-33.
With Haste pot, it was around 36.

Now this was not a scientific test, and my 3yr old was pestering me while I counted the hits, but I believe it stacks. The Thief Acrobatics speed bonus is not mentioned in the effects/combat log, because it's situational (only with qstaves).

Hmmm I'll have to do some more testing but basically I was looking for 25% attack speed like a fully stacked Fatal Harrier which is easily noticeable increase over just Haste.

feats I am thinking of: 1 Empower Healing, Quicken, PA/Cleave/GCleave; Improved Crit, THFx3. This leaves me with the lvl 6 monk feat and the level 15 feat free during heroic levels.

Recommend maximize if only for Creeping Cold and Greater Creeping Cold. No-save DoT, fire and forget without the stacking non-sense, and outstanding damage. If going 6 monk I recommend taking Master of Forms for the +1 Crit Mult in earth stance.

[unbongwah]

Now that builder's been updated, I finally got around to throwing together a hypothetical build:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 04.19.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Neutral Half-Orc Female
(6 Monk \ 1 Rogue \ 13 Druid) 
Hit Points: 300
Spell Points: 712 
BAB: 13\13\18\23
Fortitude: 17
Reflex: 14
Will: 16

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             18                    25
Dexterity            12                    14
Constitution         16                    18
Intelligence          8                    10
Wisdom                8                    10
Charisma              6                     8

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Stunning Blow


Level 2 (Druid)


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Power Attack


Level 4 (Monk)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Improved Sunder


Level 5 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Path) Path of Harmonious Balance: Fists of Light


Level 6 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell


Level 7 (Monk)


Level 8 (Monk)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness


Level 9 (Druid)
Feat: (Selected) Great Cleave
Feat: (Druid Wild Shape) Wild Shape: Wolf


Level 10 (Druid)


Level 11 (Druid)


Level 12 (Druid)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Master of Forms
Feat: (Druid Wild Shape) Wild Shape: Bear


Level 13 (Druid)


Level 14 (Druid)


Level 15 (Druid)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons
Feat: (Druid Wild Shape) Wild Shape: Winter Wolf


Level 16 (Druid)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 17 (Druid)


Level 18 (Druid)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Healing Spell
Feat: (Druid Wild Shape) Wild Shape: Dire Bear


Level 19 (Druid)


Level 20 (Druid)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Druid Wild Shape) Wild Shape: Water Elemental
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Riddle of Fire (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Porous Soul (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Staff Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Way of the Patient Tortoise (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Static Charge (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Staff Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Quick Strike (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Quick Strike (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Quick Strike (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Fists of Iron (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Contemplation (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Contemplation (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Contemplation (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - All-Consuming Flame (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Staff Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Lighting the Candle (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Winter's Touch (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Staff Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Void Strike (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Staff Specialization (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Henshin Mystic (Mnk) - Every Light Casts a Shadow (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Thief-Acrobat (Rog) - Acrobat (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Thief-Acrobat (Rog) - Thief Acrobatics (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Thief-Acrobat (Rog) - Thief Acrobatics (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Thief-Acrobat (Rog) - Thief Acrobatics (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Bastion of Purity (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Protection from Tainted Creatures (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Iron Hand (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Restoring the Balance (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Ki Shout (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Iron Skin (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Iron Skin (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Shintao (Mnk) - Iron Skin (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Ninja Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Ninja Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Shadow Veil (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Sneak Attack Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Acrobatic (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Acrobatic (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Acrobatic (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Sneak Attack Training (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Ninja Spy (Mnk) - Agility (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Nature's Warrior (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Extra Wild Empathy (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Aggravate (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Aggravate (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Aggravate (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Vengeful Hunter (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Vengeful Hunter (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Vengeful Hunter (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Action Boost: Double Strike (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Action Boost: Double Strike (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Action Boost: Double Strike (Rank 3)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Fatal Harrier (Rank 1)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Fatal Harrier (Rank 2)
Enhancement: Nature's Warrior (Drd) - Fatal Harrier (Rank 3)

As is often the case, I run outta APs before I run outta things I want; in this configuration, I don't even have any HO enhs. I want at least 32 pts into Henshin for Staff Specialization (+1 crit range & multiplier); and I thought I'd give Void Strike a go, the idea being to alternate between it and Fists of Iron for DPS, Imp Sunder + Stunning Blow for stuns, with the occasional light finisher for heals or buffs.

Builder doesn't have the stance feats yet, so I added Master of Forms manually. Was leaning towards Master Earth Stance for +1 crits & PRR (boosted w/Iron Skin). If I decided to go Wind instead for moar doublestrike, I'll add GM of Forms at 18 or 24.

[whereispowderedsilve]

Very nice I Like it a lot! :P! !

Now that's outta the way, how can I persuade you to consider updating: https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...obat-II-Builds

Especially the Horcobat one?(https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post4779337) :P! ! !

PPPPLLLLEEAASSSSEEE!!!111 ! Super thanks in advance! Cheers!!

[unbongwah]

I haven't yet figured out how to tweak the Three-Ring Circus builds. Still, a few changes worth noting:

• Don't need Dodge for Ninja anymore and Toughness is less of a must-have than it was before. That said, I dunno what monk bonus feats to take instead; maybe Imp Sunder and CE if I can make the feat spread work?
• You no longer need to go dark path for Shadow Veil-nee-Fade. So I'm thinking of swapping to light for the free heals & buffs.
• Definitely want Master of Forms and possibly GM, depending on whether Earth or Wind stance.
• Think I want the same AP layout on monk as this build. Can't take Nature's Warrior, tho, so more Assassin and/or Acrobat makes sense. Not sure if Staff Training from Acro + Henshin is (still) stacking, tho.
• I'd probably try to squeeze in max Heal skill + Emp Heal feat for everyone's favorite: Rejuvenation Cocoon.

[dwwithers]

So I've been looking at the build for quite some time now and am starting to really like it. When I start building it in the planner I come up with some questions.
1. When I spend the stat points you spent in the planner I come up with 6 left over, where would you recommend putting them?
2. What spells are you looking at for this guy? Are they manly buffing and no save types?
3. What do you recommend for skills?
4. Does it matter in what order I take the enhancements? I know to take the Thief-Acrobat ones first, but then where and do I fill that tree up or bounce around taking what ever I like?

[unbongwah]

1. When I spend the stat points you spent in the planner I come up with 6 left over, where would you recommend putting them?
2. What spells are you looking at for this guy? Are they manly buffing and no save types?
3. What do you recommend for skills?

To answer in reverse order: the primary skills on this build are Concentration, UMD, and Heal (which now boosts Pos Spellpower); b/c of all the APs I spent on melee and feat shortage, I had nothing left for Herald / caster DPS, so SPs are primarily for buffs, heals, Sleet Storm, and maybe the occasional Ice Storm; and after you put enough pts into INT to max out the skills you need, it's up to you what to do with those extra stat pts.

[dwwithers]

Thanks for the quick response. I'm off to the planner to see about building this guy, wish me luck with the enhancements, because I never know which ones to pick. I always feel that I'm missing something.

[unbongwah]

I always feel that I'm missing something.

That's because you are. There's never enough resources to go around for everything you want. I'd intended to invest in more caster DPS on this build; but between the featshortage and lack of APs, I finally decided that would spread things a bit too thin.

[dwwithers]

That's because you are. There's never enough resources to go around for everything you want. I'd intended to invest in more caster DPS on this build; but between the featshortage and lack of APs, I finally decided that would spread things a bit too thin.

So I know to start with Acrobat first for the weapon speed but where do I go from there? Do I fill up the Henshin tree or do I head over and work on the Ninja Spy tree, or do I bounce around. I get them almost done and see one that I missed that I should have taken earlier. Any pointers?

[kuro_zero]

So I know to start with Acrobat first for the weapon speed but where do I go from there? Do I fill up the Henshin tree or do I head over and work on the Ninja Spy tree, or do I bounce around. I get them almost done and see one that I missed that I should have taken earlier. Any pointers?

My thinking is start minimal AP in Thief Acrobat for the +atk speed with staves (which, from further testing, cru121 is correct and does stack but the bonus is a touch underwhelming) From there I would move over to Ninja Spy and get Shadow Fade as soon as possible (its that good) before concentrating on Henshin for the Staff line and the Tier 5 bonus. After that Nature's Warrior for Fatal Harrier and wrapping up in Thief Acrobat for (if stacking) staff lines or racial tree.

I'm preparing to LR my Drunk Stick into the same class split, but human for bonus feat and extra skill points, racial heal amp (very handy with only heal over times) and enough INT to cover the rogue skills.

EDIT* Got around to LRing my Drunk and at lvl 12 (1Rog/6Mnk/5Dru) I have 11 AP in Ninja Spy for Shadow Fade, 1 AP in Shintao (Heal Amp), and rest in Henshin for the staff mastery. Remaining AP gonna work on Nature's Warrior for fatal Harrier then racial for heal amp and GH clickie if I can afford it (doubt it lol)

[dwwithers]

I'm preparing to LR my Drunk Stick into the same class split, but human for bonus feat and extra skill points, racial heal amp (very handy with only heal over times) and enough INT to cover the rogue skills.

If going human, what bonus feat did you take? I'm looking at a 12 int, maybe a bit higher. If I'm not focusing on traps at all, then 12 should be high enough.

[kuro_zero]

If going human, what bonus feat did you take? I'm looking at a 12 int, maybe a bit higher. If I'm not focusing on traps at all, then 12 should be high enough.

Maximize for greater creeping cold, icestorm, firewall, and vigor.

Especially useful for vigor - cast a full meta'd vigor (max+emp heal) then stack unmeta'd ones on top to increase the duration. You get full meta'd strength for the duration.

As human w/o concentrating on trap skills you can get away with base 8 + tomes. Druids get 4+INT which is enough for CC UMD, concentration, heal and spellcraft once tomes kick in.

[dwwithers]

My build is almost complete and I have followed fairly close to what is posted above and now have moved into epic levels. What do you guys recommend for levels 21 and beyond?

[kuro_zero]

My build is almost complete and I have followed fairly close to what is posted above and now have moved into epic levels. What do you guys recommend for levels 21 and beyond?

21: Overwhelming Critical

24 feat there's some options. You can go for Grandmaster forms for +PRR in earth and/or extra doublestrike in air. If you have the tomes you could do some stat ups in CON and go with Epic Toughness. Precision is solid choice as well against constructs/undead.

26 (Destiny): Positive Spell Power

27: Blinding Speed or Epic Damage Reduction

28 (Destiny): Another one with options. Personally I'm torn between Elusive Target or Perfect Two Weapon Fighting for the 5% doublestrike. PTWF working with 2-handers probably not WAI and may be fixed so Elusive Target is the "future proof" option. There's also Cold spell power if you use those spells alot.

*EDIT My build doesn't have stunning blow. If you do than Tactician for lvl 28 Destiny feat is the way to go.

[dwwithers]

21: Overwhelming Critical

24 feat there's some options. You can go for Grandmaster forms for +PRR in earth and/or extra doublestrike in air. If you have the tomes you could do some stat ups in CON and go with Epic Toughness. Precision is solid choice as well against constructs/undead.

26 (Destiny): Positive Spell Power

27: Blinding Speed or Epic Damage Reduction

28 (Destiny): Another one with options. Personally I'm torn between Elusive Target or Perfect Two Weapon Fighting for the 5% doublestrike. PTWF working with 2-handers probably not WAI and may be fixed so Elusive Target is the "future proof" option. There's also Cold spell power if you use those spells alot.

*EDIT My build doesn't have stunning blow. If you do than Tactician for lvl 28 Destiny feat is the way to go.

Well I was close on what I took. Here is what I did

21: Overwhelming Critical
24: Grandmaster of Forms
26: Destiny Positive Spell Power
27: Blinding Speed
28: Tactician (Since I did take stunning blow) but I really like Elusive Target

If anyone is interested or just wants to see the build I will post it.