Not a math guy but I don't think the two monk levels increase DPS more than the rogue capstone.

Deadly Shadow
Cost: 2 AP
Benefits:
· + 2 Intelligence
· 4 additional sneak attack dice (+4d6)

My $0.02:

- Dex builds are a lot harder to mess up.
- Halflings are awesome for DPS.  They can be hard to level because rogues fight with managing aggro through the mid levels.  Halflings will have a tough time avoiding aggro because they are little death machines.
- Elves/drow are a better way to go if you are new to the class imo.
- Rogues are very gear dependent at low levels when doing traps.  Make sure you have the best items for your level.  Maybe consider mechanic for a while, then spec out of it.
- Assassin at end game.  Even if you never use the assassinate ability (I don't).
- The deadly shadow capstone is worth 20.

My 32-point elven rogue Inkdrop was made after the human versatility nerf.  I built him right around when the desert came out.  Despite his age and being a balanced build (not min/max), he is still my best overall character.

If I was rebuilding Inkdrop, I'd start with these stats:
S - 14
D - 16
C - 12
I - 12/14 (forget which you can get to, but I think it's 12)
W - 12
Ch - 12

Ink

Wis isn't as important once you know the trap locations, and +0 vs -1 just doesn't make that much of a difference even when you don't, unless you're planning on cranking out AC gear and pumping levelups into dex, for those times when you draw agro, loose sneak attack, and switch targets to one you don't have agroed. (Been there, done that, and still play it form time to time, but dear god does it show when you're having an off day.)

Depending on your personal reflexes, I'd say drop that over the side alongside a small amount of str to up that con if possible. At least while you're getting used to being on the south end of the agro magnet.

Alot of that "Dear god squishy-rogue" bit crops up due to a new-to-the-class player trying to maximize their non-SA damage by favoring str over con, which is fine, once you've got the system down, but for learning management, you probably want to make it easy as possible for you to keep swinging while your partymembers pull them off you for more SA.

If you've got a pair of str/dex tomes handy:
11/15/16/14/8/14
gets you minimums for twf and power attack, with a pretty easy to gear up UMD score for self healing during those ohshit moments.

12/16/16/14/8/12, you'll want two +1s and a +2 cha. possibly cheaper, if you're a broke bastard like I usually am.

If you really must live up to the "herp derp ima ass-ass-in I does DPS and nothin else", fucking morons I keep running into, by all means, go 16/16/16/8/8/8 

This is approximately what you describe, and has a better dps breakdown than I can provide.  http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=292529

Summary: 19/1 has better dps against 50% fort than any other build on the chart. 

It is true that 19/1 is a much stronger split than 18/2, unless you really, really need that last feat.  It's also likely that horc will be better for you than halfling (guile enhancements are expensive!), but both are good. 

Also, I'm sure you know this, but it's worth working out exactly what skills you want and figuring out how low of an int you can get away with (considering assassinate, also). 

Cheers,
Kernal

Cale wrote on Jun 14^th, 2011 at 8:08pm:


unless you have a divine power clickly   

Cale wrote on Jun 14^th, 2011 at 8:08pm:


The reason to pick elf/drow is the search/spot bonuses.  Well, more the search bonuses.  It was more true when the cost was 1/2/3/4 for enhancements instead of 1/1/1/1 now, so I'll agree that the elf aspect might be a little dated, but they are nice when you are levelliing up.

But drow are very good.  The racial bonuses are to abilities that are nice in a rogue (Dex, Int, Cha), and SR helps tremendously with your will save.  Plus the bonuses to rapiers and short swords.  That crystal cover short sword is pretty nice.

Ink

Cale wrote on Jun 15^th, 2011 at 3:06am:


you still suk @ shourd nub