Anyway -- think for that one I will do a mostly Monk toon. I realize the best combo prolly would be the Monk/Cleric/SD. That will be a build I will do just for me (especially since we do have a variety of Monk/Cleric builds around). So .. for that house char, I think it would be fun to see what a mostly Monk type character could do. Am still messing around with possibilities in my head.
Like Monk 35/SD 5. That's the mostly pure one...the 5 SD levels allowing me to get Epic Dodge.
Or a slight variation .. Monk 34/SD5/Rogue 1..the last one as a dump for UMD. or Monk 33/SD5/Rogue 2..start off with Rogue (for skill points) and end with the Rogue level for skill dump. Either way I'd probably see if I can also go for SC V, which would give me my 50% conceal.
If not, I may try to go for a caster class which would give me it. Like:
Monk 28/Wiz 7/SD 5. Or Monk 28/Bard 7/SD 5. Or .. Monk 26/Assassin 9/SD 5. The Assassin class can cast Improved Invisibilty, but I have no idea how many castings or how long it lasts. The others it last for 1 Turn/level.
What it amounts to is this: I want Epic Dodge with the 50% Self Conceal. Just wondering if the strongest char would be the Monk/SD with the Self Conceal V feats (if it is even possible) or the Monk/SD/Some sort of Caster build which will give me that 50% concealment..
Opinions welcomed!
Thanks!
Joe
Erm, Monks get Empty Body which gives them 50% concealment. It's undispellable, too. I'm not sure if the Monk/SD/Caster that has II is sensible
Anyway, have you tried the search engine? _________________ "Ever notice how wizards think all life in the Realms dances on their hands and lasts from day to day only because they work constantly to keep us all alive? How do they think we survive when they're in the bathroom?"
~ Volo
Er, yes, I've checked the Epic Builder search engine. None had exactly what I was looking for.
Is a 20+ level Monk/5 SD/ (another class here) possible to optain both Epic Dodge and SC V? Just wondering.
Still debating on the Cleric levels for Improved Invis/Res/Rez/Heal, etc stuff or just go more Monk instead.
As for either Assassin's Improved Invisibility or the Monk's Empty Body for it's concealment .. aren't both very limited on times per day you can use it and for duration?
I know the Improved Invisibility spell (either via Trickery Domain for Clerics or the spell for Wiz/Sorc's) last for Turns.
Thanks,
Joe
Quote: Posted 03/29/06 13:50:27 (GMT) -- JettaJoe
Er, yes, I've checked the Epic Builder search engine. None had exactly what I was looking for.
Okay, good.
Quote: Is a 20+ level Monk/5 SD/ (another class here) possible to optain both Epic Dodge and SC V? Just wondering.
I don't see why it wouldn't be; try Monk 30/SD 5/HS 5 (I like putting HS everywhere ). You get 4 bonus feats, that's not many, but with an elf it just might be enough. If not, well, lower Monk levels to get Epic SD bonus feats, I guess
Quote: Still debating on the Cleric levels for Improved Invis/Res/Rez/Heal, etc stuff or just go more Monk instead.
I'd probably stick with the Monk.
Quote: As for either Assassin's Improved Invisibility or the Monk's Empty Body for it's concealment .. aren't both very limited on times per day you can use it and for duration?
Yeah Empty Body's one round per level IIRC. II works as the spell, but it uses your Assassin level for caster level.
Quote: Thanks,
Joe
Yup _________________ "Ever notice how wizards think all life in the Realms dances on their hands and lasts from day to day only because they work constantly to keep us all alive? How do they think we survive when they're in the bathroom?"
~ Volo
Quote: Posted 03/29/06 13:50:27 (GMT) -- JettaJoe
Er, yes, I've checked the Epic Builder search engine. None had exactly what I was looking for.
Is a 20+ level Monk/5 SD/ (another class here) possible to optain both Epic Dodge and SC V? Just wondering.
First, don't bother with SCV - you have Empty Body, which does the same thing for 1 round per monk level, 2 times per day. With 30+ monk levels, that's 60+ rounds, will be more than enough for most situations.
Second, if you go dex-based, I highly recommend some fighter levels for WS/EWS to boost your damage output. So Monk 30/Fighter 5/SD 5 would work well, can get Epic Dodge and WS/EWS for some damage potential, plus the 6th attack per round. Human or Dwarf work with no XP penalty.
Quote: Still debating on the Cleric levels for Improved Invis/Res/Rez/Heal, etc stuff or just go more Monk instead.
If you want to go with Cleric and go Wisdom-based, I recommend stopping at 6 or 9 monk levels and using kamas. As long as potions are available, you don't really need the healing (unless you are on a rest-restricted server). As noted above, monks don't need II thanks to Empty Body, and it wouldn't last long anyway with low caster level (neither would the other buffs). If you want to use buffing spells to decent effect, you need a lot of caster levels, which is why I recommend only taking 6-9 monk levels in such a build.
Quote: As for either Assassin's Improved Invisibility or the Monk's Empty Body for it's concealment .. aren't both very limited on times per day you can use it and for duration?
You can use it 2 times per day, for 1 round per level. You don't want to activate it immediately after resting, but you can activate it at the start of combat and it will usually last the battle. So as long as you rest after 2 significant battles, you have enough. With your high AC as a dex-based monk, you may not want to bother activating it every battle (i.e. don't waste it on weaker mobs).
Also, II can be dispelled by dispel magic, Mord's disjunction, see invisible, invisibility purge, or true seeing. Empty body is unaffected by any of those.
Also, II can be dispelled by dispel magic, Mord's disjunction, see invisible, invisibility purge, or true seeing. Empty body is unaffected by any of those.
TM
I repeat, True seeing won't help vs the concealment part of II. Invisibilty purge might, but I have never tested it.
Also, Monk/Cleric's is a sure winner, but it's a lame build, but even built poorly it gets quite tough at 40. _________________ I see the fear you have inside, you can run but never hide. I will hunt you down and tear you limb from limb.
I run the Pre-Epic Builders guild. Join and share your experience.
Thanks for the advice all .. keep 'em coming!
HS, eh? Interesting. Haven't considered that one before. It does have possibilities. Me needs to ponder more on it.
In the meantime, I think I have narrowed it down to these possibilities. Which do you think would be the strongest toon?
Monk 30/Fighter 5/SD 5. Pro's: WS/Higher AB/High Monk Speed. Cons: No UMD or other associated Rogue-type skills.
Monk 32/SD 5/Rogue 3. Basically the Rogue levels for various skill dumps, including UMD. The obvious weakness here is damage dealing without Fighter levels.
Monk 29/Rogue 10/SD 1. I use Rogue for my path to Epic Dodge-dom and use the SD level for the cheesy HIPS. The good part about this is I can get some (albeit minor) sneak damage. And I can still load up on the UMD too.
Monk 25/Rogue 10/Fighter 5. Kinda a variation of the first build, except again I use Rogue on me way to Epic Dodge and this time I get UMD.
And this one I just thought of, prolly a bit feat starved, but what they hey..will throw it out anyway:
Monk 28/WM 7/SD 5. Duel wield kama's and let the extra crits help out with damage, and still gain Epic Dodge.
Ok, what do y'all think?
Thanks!
Joe
Quote: Posted 03/30/06 11:26:07 (GMT) -- JettaJoe
Monk 30/Fighter 5/SD 5. Pro's: WS/Higher AB/High Monk Speed. Cons: No UMD or other associated Rogue-type skills.
Solid, basic build.
Quote: Monk 32/SD 5/Rogue 3. Basically the Rogue levels for various skill dumps, including UMD. The obvious weakness here is damage dealing without Fighter levels.
Weaker in general melee, still not enough skillpoints to be the rogue for the party. Unless you know of some specific items you want UMD for, I wouldn't pick this one.
Quote: Monk 29/Rogue 10/SD 1. I use Rogue for my path to Epic Dodge-dom and use the SD level for the cheesy HIPS. The good part about this is I can get some (albeit minor) sneak damage. And I can still load up on the UMD too.
If you go this route, I would go ahead and pump Rogue to 14 levels. You don't lose any Monk feats, and pick up 2 more sneak dice and a Rogue bonus feat (Crippling Strike), plus some more skillpoints. At this point, your sneak damage is 7d6 (significant with IKD and 7 attacks per round), and you have enough skillpoints to not need another rogue in the party. Your main weakness will be against sneak-immune enemies.
Quote: Monk 25/Rogue 10/Fighter 5. Kinda a variation of the first build, except again I use Rogue on me way to Epic Dodge and this time I get UMD.
Another solid one. You get the extra attack and EWS to deal with sneak-resistant mobs, and decent sneak damage on top for the rest. Probably the best in straight out combat of the ones listed. No HiPS, but does not depend on HiPS so won't be as bad off if you run into something with True Sight.
Quote: And this one I just thought of, prolly a bit feat starved, but what they hey..will throw it out anyway:
Monk 28/WM 7/SD 5. Duel wield kama's and let the extra crits help out with damage, and still gain Epic Dodge.
I wouldn't bother with this one - you are right about being feat-starved, plus the low crit range from kamas combined with low str and low base damage means even with the crits you won't be doing much damage. With a normal kama, you will only do 1-6, or a max of 18 on a crit. Even with say a +7 kama, you will only do 1-6 + 7 = 8-13, or 24-39 on a crit. Compare that to the one above (M25/F5/Ro10), that has 1-20 + 6 (EWS) + 5d6 sneak = 12-56 on a normal hit, and 19-82 on a crit. And that's with no damage from gloves.
). You get 4 bonus feats, that's not many, but with an elf it just might be enough. If not, well, lower Monk levels to get Epic SD bonus feats, I guess 
The obvious weakness here is damage dealing without Fighter levels.