double TR to monk build

[Blackmac66]

So I have been waiting and waiting to decide what build to try next and just keep plugging away at finishing all the ED's while I decide.
I have heard from a few not to bother with TR's and just ETR. I am guessing mainly to keep all the progress open?

However, I am ready to move on to another build and down the road rebuild the one I am currently playing later.

I have read some of the monk planner posted here, and wondering what the pros/cons are with going dex Halfling rogue monk quarterstaff build?
The guide suggests 2 rogue and human, strength. I get the extra feat and skill points, but Halfling appears to have nice compliments too.

Looking at the enhancement trees, I also wonder if I should go 4 rogue and 16 monk for more of the quarterstaff tree in acrobat.

First monk build, so bare with me if this is a no brainer for monk specialists.

Thanks

[Saekee]

The two main ingredients for staff users are 1) rogue acrobat's staff speed increase and 2) expanding its crit profile. #2 can be achieved by tier 5 of Henshin or Acrobat OR 14 Pally Holy Sword.
You do not need to combine monk with rogue for staff BUT the staff hit and damage bonuses stack from both trees.
Until people were able to make holy swords out of sticks of wood...wonderfully intuitive...it was common to see combos of monk/rogue/third class, sometimes using druid with the idea o tossing shillelagh on the wooden staves (only) and other buffs, or pally for saves, fighter for feats.
In any event, since you wish for past life:monk, nice cuttoff points will be 9 (improved evasion) or 12 (abundant step, though the pole vault of tier 5 acro is similar). Quivering palm can be used with weapons, so that is level 15.

In general more monk means AC bonuses and run speed; more rogue = better skills and sneak attack damage. Quickstrike in the acrobat tree has a faster cooldown btw. 6 monk makes shadow veil available.

[elcagador]

So I have been waiting and waiting to decide what build to try next and just keep plugging away at finishing all the ED's while I decide.
I have heard from a few not to bother with TR's and just ETR. I am guessing mainly to keep all the progress open?

However, I am ready to move on to another build and down the road rebuild the one I am currently playing later.

I have read some of the monk planner posted here, and wondering what the pros/cons are with going dex Halfling rogue monk quarterstaff build?
The guide suggests 2 rogue and human, strength. I get the extra feat and skill points, but Halfling appears to have nice compliments too.

Looking at the enhancement trees, I also wonder if I should go 4 rogue and 16 monk for more of the quarterstaff tree in acrobat.

First monk build, so bare with me if this is a no brainer for monk specialists.

Thanks

Dex based halfling gives you more defenses with better reflex saves for evasion and some sneak dmg at the cost of damage boost, extra feat and few heal amp from human, and few dmg points from being dex based instead str. I would go human even if dex based because you can get dmg boost and 10 heal amp for just 3 ap and extra feat and skill points.

I like balanced builds for soloing, so I would go 12 Monk / 5 Rogue/ 3 paladin, why?, 12 Monk for henshin mystic, master stances, run speed, abundant step, imp evasion; 5 rogue for thieft acrobat, trap skills, umd, sneak dmg; 3 paladin for sacred defender stance with +25 prr and mrr, extra saves plus divine grace that gives charisma mod to saves.
Epic destiny Legendary dreadnought, twists: rejuvenation cocoon, A dance of flowers, brace of impact or hail of blows or sense of weakness, etc.

Ap something like: henshin mystic 36 ap; thieft acrobat 21 ap; ninja spy 11 ap; human 3 ap; shintao 1 ap; sacred defender 8 ap.
stats: 17 + lvl ups dex for dmg and reflex saves, 16 con for hitpoints and fortitude saves, 14 int for skills, 12 cha for saves and umd

Feats: Thf feats, dodge, precision, cleave, power attack (require 13 str after tomes), great cleave, ic bludgeon, grand master of forms, overwhelming critical, Imp martial arts, Ptwf, epic reflex or fortitude, pthf

[Saekee]

Just to add--if going dex, make sure for at least 3 rogue and take shadow dodge toggle. It adds 6 dex and 3 dodge (lowers fort though). If a stealthy dex halfling is your desire than I would do 9 monk/9 rogue/2 whatever and plan to be in wind stance with its lower CON or 12 monk.

[Blackmac66]

Thanks for all the advice so far!

I never thought of mixing in Pal. Makes sense.
I will have to put some thought into that.

Whichever route I take, I would assume rogue is crucial at first level. Leaning toward the human for the skill points etc. but never played a Halfling.

If I mix in pal, when is it best added?

[Saekee]

Thanks for all the advice so far!

I never thought of mixing in Pal. Makes sense.
I will have to put some thought into that.

Whichever route I take, I would assume rogue is crucial at first level. Leaning toward the human for the skill points etc. but never played a Halfling.

If I mix in pal, when is it best added?

I suggest just playing around with the planner! The sooner you get in, say, 6 levels of monk, the better, since shadow veil is one of the best defenses in the game. If you are interested in being stealthy, it is also very handy!

Paladin will boost saves based on charisma, which means that you probably will not benefit much until later levels. Divine might boosts str also so a dex-based halfling will not benefit from pally as much (plus the high dex really buffs your evasion anyway). I would probably do 3 druid levels and go for its enhancement Fatal harrier, although I am not sure if it stacks with other speed boosts.

[elcagador]

Thanks for all the advice so far!

I never thought of mixing in Pal. Makes sense.
I will have to put some thought into that.

Whichever route I take, I would assume rogue is crucial at first level. Leaning toward the human for the skill points etc. but never played a Halfling.

If I mix in pal, when is it best added?

Paladin levels can wait till high levels, where defenses start to matter more. For leveling order I would go something like: Rogue, Monk x3, Rogue x2 (so can use dex to dmg with staffs at lvl 6), Monk x6, Rogue, Monk x3, Paladin x3, Rogue. You also want to take 12 monk levels before lvl 18 if want to take grandmaster of forms at that level, so can take other feats at epic levels.

For stats (36pt): 17 dex+lvl ups, 10 str+3 tome for power attack, 14 int, 16 con, 8 wis, 13 cha