Playable from level 1 - 40 PvM

This is a build idea that came to me while I was working around the house this weekend. A falling 2x4 got me thinking: it'd be a challenge to build a high AC, high AB, Epic Dodge Monk with Damage Resistance. From that, I bring you:

Tempered Steel

Classes: Monk 9/SD 5/DwD 26
Race: Dwarf
Alignment: Lawful

Stats (start/finish)
Str 14
Dex 18/32
Con 14
Int 12
Wis 8
Cha 6

1 Monk 1 Dodge
2 Monk 2
3 Monk 3 Weapon Finesse
4 Monk 4 (Dex: 19)
5 Monk 5
6 Monk 6 Mobility
7 Monk 7 (Hide: 10, Move Silently: 8 )
8 SD 1 (Dex: 20)
9 SD 2 Toughness
10 SD 3
11 DD 1
12 DD 2 (Dex: 21), 2 Wpn Fighting
13 DD 3
14 DD 4
15 DD 5 Ambidexterity
16 DD 6 (Dex: 22)
17 DD 7
18 DD 8 Imp 2 Wpn Fighting
19 DD 9
20 DD 10 (Dex: 23)

21 Monk 8 Wpn Focus: Kama
22 SD 4
23 SD 5
24 DD 11 (Dex: 24), Imp. Crit
25 DD 12
26 DD 13
27 DD 14 * Epic Wpn Focus, Great Dex I (25)
28 DD 15 (Dex: 26)
29 DD 16
30 DD 17 Great Dex II (27)
31 DD 18 * Epic Prowess
32 DD 19 (Dex: 28)
33 DD 20 Great Dex III (29)
34 DD 21
35 DD 22 * Armor Skin
36 DD 23 (Dex: 30), Great Dex IV (31)
37 Monk 9 (Max Tumble, Hide, Move Silently)
38 DD 24
39 DD 25 Epic Dodge
40 DD 26 (Dex: 32) * Epic Toughness I

AC 32 HP 470 BA 27
AB: 40/37/34/31/28/25 & 40/37
Saves: Fort 25/Reflex 32/Will 22
Skills: Max: Disc, Tumble, Hide, Move Silently, +10 left over

Someone smarter than me can probably figure out how much DR 26 levels of Dwarven Defender provide.
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"Where there is life, there is hope." - Grover

Edited By griphook on 09/27/05 19:22

Nice build, Kaliban. His DR is 18/-. It was a good idea to use the symmetry offreed by a 9/5/26Combo. Gets great saves, too. He appears like he might take some time to mature. Perhaps by stopping with DwD 22, you can devote some more resources to Monk levels, raise your AC, speed, get Epic Dodge much earlier, and pick up some SR on top of it. You only lose 3/- DR and Epic Toughness.

Also, gotta love the hitpoints this Epic Dodging Dwarf gets. Tempered Steel, indeed! Well done.
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Edited By grizzled_dwarflord on 07/18/05 04:07

Quote: Posted 07/18/05 04:05:45 (GMT) -- grizzled_dwarflord

Nice build, Kaliban. His DR is 18/-. It was a good idea to use the symmetry offreed by a 9/5/26Combo. Gets great saves, too. He appears like he might take some time to mature. Perhaps by stopping with DwD 22, you can devote some more resources to Monk levels, raise your AC, speed, get Epic Dodge much earlier, and pick up some SR on top of it. You only lose 3/- DR and Epic Toughness.

Also, gotta love the hitpoints this Epic Dodging Dwarf gets. Tempered Steel, indeed! Well done.

Thanks Grizz. I was pleased with how he turned out. I agree - he definitely takes some time maturing. He doesn't get Epic Dodge until level 39, so you had better be a patient player (or play on a fast-level PW). The original version I sketched out was Monk 10/DD 25/SD 5 - that permitted Epic Dodge at level 27 or 30 I think, then a final monk level late in life to maximize tumble. But I really wanted the build to maximize his DwD AB and DR so pushed for that last final bonus feat level of Dwd (26). The Monk 9/SD 5 synergy comes of course from the instruction you gave me on my Kama Fury build.

You have good points that going with more Monk would make the build a little more playable, definitely qualify for Epic Dodge earlier, and definitely alter the flavor from this posted version of Tempered Steel. Perhaps I'll write up a Monk 13/DwD 22/SD 5 version.....perhaps I'll name it..................... Surgical Steel!

Thanks,
Kaliban.
_________________
"Where there is life, there is hope." - Grover