Goals:
Self heal melee
Solid avoidance/mitigation
Ranged option
Abuse doublestrike and increased attack speed of quarterstaves

Weapon profile: Sireth
3.0[1d10] base + 1.5[1d10] A Dance with Flowers + 0.5[1d10] Improved Power Attack + 36 STR + 6 Thief-Acrobat +8 enhancement + 10 Power Attack + 4 Artifact (Planar Conflux) +2 Ram's Might + 5 Competence (Dream Visor) = 98 average base damage
Crit Profile: 14-18/x3, 19-20/x5

Human 8 Ranger/6 Monk/6 Rogue
1 Rogue 1: (Human: Power Attack) Cleave
2 Monk 1: (Monk: Two Handed Fighting)
3 Monk 2: (Monk: Toughness) Dodge
4 Monk 3: (Monk: Fists of Darkness)
5 Monk 4
6 Ranger 1: Great Cleave
7 Monk 5
8 Monk 6: (Monk: Zen Archery)
9 Ranger 2: Improved Two Handed Fighting
10 Ranger 3:
11 Ranger 4:
12 Ranger 5: Improved Critical: Bludgeon
13 Ranger 6:
14 Ranger 7:
15 Ranger 8: Greater Two Handed Fighting
16 Rogue 2:
17 Rogue 3:
18 Rogue 4: Empower Heal Spell
19 Rogue 5:
20 Rogue 6:
21 Overwhelming Critical
24 Master of Forms
27 Improved Critical: Ranged

Shintao (14)
1 Bastion of Purity
6 Defensive Strikes
3 Iron Skin
1 Protection from Tainted Creatures (+5% heal amp)
1 Iron Hand (+5% heal amp)
2 Elemental Ki Strike: Fist of Iron

Thief-Acrobat (32)
1 Acrobat
2 Staff Training I
3 Acrobatic III
2 Staff Training II
6 Quick Strike III
6 Haste Boost III
2 Staff Training III
2 Strength I
2 Staff Training IV
2 Strength II
2 any filler
2 Staff Training V

Ninja Spy (15)
1 Ninja Training I
3 Acrobatic
2 Agility
1 Ninja Training II
2 Sneak Attack Training I
2 Sneak Attack Training II
2 Ninjutsu: Wave of Despair
1 Shadow Veil
2 Sting of the Ninja

Arcane Archer (7)
1 Arcane Archer
2 Conjure Arrow
3 Energy of the Wild III
1 Morphic Arrows

Human (12)
1 Damage Boost
2 Human Adaptability: STAT
1 Skill Boost
2 Human Adaptability: STAT
2 Improved Recovery I
2 filler
2 Improved Recovery II

Epic Destiny: Legendary Dreadnaught

Twists:
Primal Scream (tier 1)
Rejuvenation Cocoon (tier 1)
A Dance of Flowers (tier 1)

PRR:
14 augment
50 Defense Strikes + Iron Skin
15 artifact (Planar Conflux)
----
79 PRR = 35% damage reduction

Doublestrike:
7.5 Insightful (Master Wind stance)
03 Artifact (Flawless Black Dragon set)
25 Morale (Quick Strike) - 83% uptime
---
35.5
15 Enhancement (Lightning Mace) - 15% of the time
---
50.5% Doublestrike

Dodge:
6 Monk levels
3 Acrobatic enhancement
2 Uncanny Dodge (passive)
8 Adamantine Cloak of the Wolf
5 Defensive Strikes (Shintao)
3 Dodge feat
---
27% Dodge (cap is 27% with this build)

Healing Amp:
20% human
15% shintao
05% paladin past life
10% ship
30% gear
= 207% Healing Amp

Positive Spell Power:
80 Halcyon Boots
75 Empower Heal Spell
45 Heal Skill (23 ranks + 8 epic levels + 4 Greater Heroism + 8 WIS bonus + 2 Good Luck)
---
200 Positive Spell Power

Weapon: Sireth / Pinion
Quiver: EE Quiver of Poison
Trinket: Planar Conflux of +3 STR
Belt: Girdle of Giants' Brawn (green: 35 HP, yellow: 20 Vitality)
Bracer: 30% healing amp of Superior Parrying
Gloves: EE Nether Grasps
Chest: Black Dragon (blue: Good Luck)
Hat: EE Black Dragon +8 CON (green: 14 PRR, yellow: +2 insightful CON)
Goggles: EE Dream Visor (yellow: +1 exceptional all stats)
Back: Adamantine Cloak of the Wolf
Feet: Halcyon Boots (yellow: , colorless: +2 Insightful DEX)
Neck: Pendant of the Stormreaver (yellow: )
Ring1: Seal of House Avi'thoul +7 WIS
Ring2: Ancient Band (heavy fort, +7 resist)

18 STR (16 points) + 7 level ups + 5 tome + 5 primal scream + 8 item + 3 insightful + 1 exceptional + 2 yugo + 2 ship + 2 profane + 2 Thief-Acrobat +2 Ram's Might + 1 human adaptability =  58
15 DEX (8 points) + 4 tome + 8 item + 2 insightful + 1 exceptional + 2 ship + 2 yugo +4 stance = 38
15 CON (8 points) + 4 tome + 8 item + 2 insightful + 1 exceptional +1 human adaptability + 5 Primal Scream + 2 yugo + 2 ship - 2 stance = 38
8 INT (0 points) + 4 tome + 1 exceptional + 2 ship = 15
12 WIS (4 points) + 4 tome + 1 exceptional + 7 item + 2 ship = 26
8 CHA (0 points) + 4 tome + 1 exceptional + 2 ship = 15

HP:

025 Heroic Durability
015 Improved Heroic Durability
010 Draconic Vitality
036 Rogue 6
048 Monk 6
064 Ranger 8
080 Epic
020 Vitality item
035 False Life item
030 Toughness feat
050 Legendary Dreadnaught
020 Yugoloth HP portion
392 +14 CON bonus
----
825
020 Barbarian Past Life x2 (optional)
----
845

F/R/W Saves:

02/05/02 Rogue 6
05/05/05 Monk 6
06/06/02 Ranger 8
04/04/04 Epic 8
14/14/08 CON/DEX/WIS bonus
01/01/01 Competence (Eldritch Ritual)
04/04/04 Morale (Greater Heroism)
02/02/02 Luck (Augment)
04/04/04 Insightful (Superior Parrying)
07/07/07 Resistance (augment)
01/01/01 Sacred (Blessing of the Three Dragons)
00/00/-4 Yugo STR potion
-----------
50/53/36

Feedback welcome.

Munkenmo wrote on Jul 5^th, 2013 at 7:57am:

Great suggestion.  I'm actually going to swap out Hamstring since it's not working as I had thought.  Apparently it's only OP for old school devil raid bosses.  I've updated the build.

There's also the option of keeping the build at 24% Dodge (26% cap) and choosing Least Dragonmark of Passage for Dimension Door 3x/rest.  I could easily scroll Dimension Door, but I'm far too lazy to farm the AH for Dimension Door scrolls.  I'll probably take this option while leveling up and swap to Dodge once I've hit level cap.

Carpone wrote on Jul 4^th, 2013 at 7:47pm:


Iron Skin, not Iron Fists.

Can this build reach a meaningful Stunning Blow DC?

Also, I see Master of Forms but not Grandmaster of Forms.

Carpone wrote on Jul 5^th, 2013 at 9:48am:


is it a monk feat?  if so could you rejig the order of levels and drop toughness altogether?

With Ninja Training II forcing you to use DEX as a damage bonus on bows, I'm not going to pursue a hybrid melee/ranged toon.  I'm not counting on Turbine to fix it anytime soon.  So here's a straight-up melee staff build I'm testing on Lamannia:

Goals:
Self-healing
Best damage avoidance and mitigation
Amazing saves
Abuse doublestrike and increased attack speed of quarterstaves
Excellent melee damage

Human 9 Monk/6 Paladin/5 Rogue
1 Rogue 1: (Human feat: Power Attack, Level feat: Cleave)
2 Monk 1: (Martial feat: Dodge)
3 Monk 2: (Martial feat: THF, Level feat: Force of Personality)
4 Rogue 2:
5 Paladin 1
6 Paladin 2 (Level feat: Great Cleave)
7 Monk 3: (Monk feat: Path of Light)
8 Monk 4:
9 Paladin 3 (Level feat: Improved Two Handed Fighting)
10 Monk 5:
11 Monk 6: (Martial feat: Toughness)
12 Paladin 4: (Level feat: Improved Crit Bludgeoning Weapons)
13 Monk 7:
14 Monk 8:
15 Monk 9: (Level feat: Master of Forms)
16 Paladin 5:
17 Rogue 3:
18 Rogue 4: (Level feat: Empower Heal Spell)
19 Paladin 6: (Class feat: Unyielding Sovereignty)
20 Rogue 5:
21 Overwhelming Critical
24 Greater Two Handed Fighting
27 Grandmaster of Forms

Shintao (12)
1 Bastion of Purity
6 Defensive Strikes
3 Iron Skin
1 Protection from Tainted Creatures (+5% heal amp)
1 Iron Hand (+5% heal amp)

Thief-Acrobat (34)
1 Acrobat
2 Staff Training I
3 Acrobatic III
2 Staff Training II
6 Quick Strike III
6 Haste Boost III
2 Staff Training III
2 Strength I
2 Staff Training IV
2 Strength II
2 No Mercy II (filler)
2 Staff Training V
2 Vault

Ninja Spy (11)
1 Ninja Training I
3 Acrobatic
1 Agility
1 Ninja Training II
2 Sneak Attack Training I
2 Elemental Ki Strike: Fist of Iron
1 Shadow Veil

Knight of the Chalice (14)
1 Hunter of the Dead
2 Extra Remove Disease (filler)
2 Exalted Smite I
1 Courage of Heaven
6 Divine Might III
2 Vigor of Life

Human (8)
1 Damage Boost
2 Human Adaptability: STAT
1 Skill Boost
2 Human Adaptability: STAT
2 Improved Recovery I
=79 AP, 1 AP unallocated

Epic Destiny: Legendary Dreadnought
1: Extra Action Boost (2), Strength (2)
2: Momentum Swing (3), Improved Power Attack (2), Strength (2)
3: Lay Waste (2), Critical Damage (3)
4: Lightning Mace (2)
5: Advancing Blows (2), Devastating Critical (2)
6: Master's Blitz (2)

Twists:
Rejuvenation Cocoon (tier 1)
A Dance of Flowers (tier 1)
Primal Scream (tier 1)

PRR:
14 Augment
50 Defense Strikes + Iron Skin
15 Artifact (Planar Conflux)
----
79 PRR = 35% damage reduction
15 Grandmaster Mountain Stance (optional)
---
94 PRR = 39% damage reduction

Doublestrike:
10 Insightful (Grandmaster Wind stance)
03 Artifact (Flawless Black Dragon set)
25 Morale (Quick Strike) - 83% uptime
---
38
15 Enhancement (Lightning Mace) - 15% of the time
---
53% Doublestrike

Dodge:
06 Monk levels
03 Acrobatic (Ninja Spy)
08 Adamantine Cloak of the Wolf
03 Dodge feat
01 Uncanny Dodge
05 Defensive Strikes (Shintao)
---
26% Dodge (cap is 26% in this build)

Healing Amp:
10% Human
10% Vigor of life (knight of the chalice)
05% Paladin past life
15% Shintao
30% Gear
10% Ship
----
= 208% Healing Amp

Positive Spell Power:
80 Halcyon Boots
75 Empower Heal Spell
43 Heal Skill (23 ranks + 8 epic levels + 4 Greater Heroism + 6 WIS bonus + 2 Good Luck)
---
198 Positive Spell Power

Gear:
Weapon: Sireth
Quiver: EE Quiver of Poison
Trinket: Planar Focus of Prowess of +3 STR
Belt: EE Girdle of Giants' Brawn (green: 35 HP, yellow: +2 insightful CON)
Bracer: 30% healing amp of Superior Parrying
Gloves: EE Nether Grasps
Chest: Black Dragon (blue: Good Luck)
Hat: EE Black Dragon +8 CON (green: 14 PRR, yellow: 200 SP)
Goggles: EE Dream Visor (yellow: +1 exceptional all stats)
Back: Adamantine Cloak of the Wolf
Feet: Halcyon Boots (yellow: +2 insightful CHA, colorless: Vitality)
Neck: Pendant of the Stormreaver (yellow: +7 CHA)
Ring1: Seal of House Avi'thoul +2 DEX
Ring2: Ancient Band (heavy fort, +7 resist)

Stats:
16 STR (10 points) + 7 level ups + 5 tome + 5 primal scream + 8 item + 3 insightful + 1 exceptional + 2 yugo + 2 ship + 2 profane + 2 Thief Acrobat + 1 human adaptability + 2 ED = 56 + 12 sacred (Divine Might) = 68
15 DEX (8 points) + 4 tome + 8 item + 2 insightful + 1 exceptional + 2 ship + 2 yugo +4 stance = 38
15 CON (8 points) + 4 tome + 8 item + 2 insightful + 1 exceptional +1 human adaptability + 5 Primal Scream + 2 yugo + 2 ship - 2 stance = 38
8 INT (0 points) + 4 tome + 1 exceptional + 2 ship = 15
8 WIS (0 points) + 4 tome + 1 exceptional + 7 item + 2 ship = 22
16 CHA (10 points) + 4 tome + 1 exceptional + 7 item + 2 insightful + 2 ship + 2 yugo = 34

Weapon Profile: Sireth
Damage: 3[1d10] base + 1.5[1d10] A Dance With Flowers + 0.5[W] Improved Power Attack + 10 Power Attack + 5 Competence (EE Dream Visor) + 4 Artifact (Planar Conflix) + 43 STR + 6 Thief Acrobat + 8 enhancement + 5 Advancing Blows +2 Divine Favor = 110 average base damage
Crit Profile: 14-18/x3, 19-20/x5 (Legendary Dreadnaught)

HP:
025 Heroic Durability
015 Improved Heroic Durability
010 Draconic Vitality
060 Paladin 6
072 Monk 9
030 Rogue 5
080 Epic 8
020 Vitality item
035 False Life item
030 Toughness feat
050 Legendary Dreadnaught
020 Yugoloth HP portion
392 +14 CON bonus
----
839
020 Barbarian Past Life x2 (optional)
----
859

F/R/W Saves:
05/02/02 Paladin 6
06/06/06 Monk 9
01/04/01 Rogue 5
04/04/04 Epic 8
14/14/12 CON/DEX/CHA bonus (Force of Personality)
01/01/01 Competence (Eldritch Ritual)
04/04/04 Morale (Greater Heroism)
02/02/02 Luck (Augment)
04/04/04 Insightful (Superior Parrying)
07/07/07 Resistance (augment)
01/01/01 Sacred (Blessing of the Three Dragons)
12/12/12 Divine Grace
00/00/-4 Yugo STR potion
-4/00/00 Yugo CHA potion
-----------
57/61/52
00/04/00 Uncanny Dodge (15 seconds every 180 seconds)
00/00/02 Still Mind (vs. enchantments)
-----------
57/65/54

The only complaints I have about this build from my testing on Lamannia: Too many damned buttons.  It's going to take some time getting acquainted with the flow of button mashing.  Also, the scrolling combat text is always lagged because you're attacking so often.

Feedback welcome.

kierg10 wrote on Jul 7^th, 2013 at 10:33pm:

Just Rejuv Cocoon which heals for ~100/tick on this toon. CLW doesn't heal for shit, and the triple monk finisher is too slow.

Carpone wrote on Jul 4^th, 2013 at 7:47pm:



you inspired me carpone, i have rolled up one of these (first life only), intending to have capped by update 19 to see how well the doublestrike will work.  you decided to remove the ranged option (because of a relatively small damage difference between STR and DEX) in favour of paladin saves, but i think that's the extra versatility that's needed for this.  can't squeeze arcane archer in before update, but it's not that far to cap a first lifer.

p.s. i'm guessing empower heal works on scrolls?  i only turn it on spell by spell as opposed to turning it on globally so i don't know if i've ever tried it on a divine

Carpone wrote on Jul 4^th, 2013 at 7:47pm:


i'm thinking that a 16 cleric/2 monk/2 rogue quarterstaff clonk (with 50 PRR at level 2) may work pretty well as well...may steal some of your ideas in raid healing (with enough devotion mind you) there's only a handful of times i use mass heal, and with all the level bonuses etc etc if i use radiant servant i bet i could get by with just mass cure critical...

FoM + Force of Personality is overkill, since Otto's Dancing Sphere is the only thing to really worry about.  That's easily taken care of with a Gust of Wind scroll or clickie.  Replace it with Magical Training.

Yes, Defensive Strikes is gone.  It was fun to build around it while it lasted, but it was too good to be true.  1 AP in Shintao for 5% heal amp is about as far as I'll go for a THF build now.

Toying around with 6 Ranger instead of 6 Paladin.  Even with the DEX as dmg bug for bows with Ninja Spy, Manyshot is awesome for setting up an initial Blitz stack.  Plus, the 75 positive spell power from tier 1 Deepwood Stalker is equivalent to Empower Heal Spell feat.  Ram's Might is a poor substitute for Divine Might though.

9 monk/6 rogue/5 druid.

Just tested it on Lamannia and it was surprisingly effective. One of my favourites was 30% doublestrike action boost for 20 seconds, 30 second cooldown. Unlimited uses. Out of the druid tree. Couple that with haste and damage boost in LD, I was cranking out some gnarly crits and sweet doublestrike damage. I meant to write down what enhancements I took, but I wanted to get back to live and farm some with a guildie.

I went druid primarily because I'm not a pally fan, and because of shilelliegh/rams might. I don't have any hope of ever pulling a sireth because fuck CITW, and  the Stout Oak Staff is pretty cool and sick damage. with all the bumps from acrobat and LD.


If anyone is interested in how I built the character, lmk and I can post it up and check lamma enhancements.

rest wrote on Jul 31^st, 2013 at 12:38am:


When something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Turbine will be all over this real soon. See: Defensive Strikes.

rest wrote on Jul 31^st, 2013 at 10:07am:


Also if you actually run in Dreadnaught and the switch it to work like a standard boost then the CD should only be 20 seconds. Only thing I could see then is that you'd have a delay even with Quickdraw...you can only hit so many keys in between swings in the attack sequence.