Dwarf Monk, need help choosing 1 of 3 builds

[Steve]

No, a negative modifier will lesson the duration.

[Rudolph]

h okay, so regardless of charisma modifier (even if negative), its still a base of 30 seconds with 10 Divine champion

Is that what it means? I would have thought 'plus' a negative Charisma modifier would mean subtraction...

[TheKai]

No, a negative modifier will lesson the duration.

Ah okay. Adjusted my build accordingly!

[Svabodnik]

Then the trade-off between Divine Champ. 6/Fighter 4 and Divine Champ. 10 would summarize as follows:

DC 6/Ftr 4:
1 combat feat
+4 Fort, +1 Ref, +1 Will
1 round of DR and +3 attack/damage/saves every 5 minutes (assuming 6 CHA)
+2 attack, +4 damage always (as you'd be taking this for Weapon Spec./Mastery)

DC 10:
2 DC-specific feats
+4 Fort, +3 Ref, +3 Will (including Sacred Defense)
3 rounds of DR and +5 attack/damage/saves every 5 minutes (assuming 6 CHA).

To be honest, I'd stick with the first, but I can see arguments made for the second.

EDIT: Gave the fighter option 1 more feat for some reason.

[TheKai]

Then the trade-off between Divine Champ. 6/Fighter 4 and Divine Champ. 10 would summarize as follows:

DC 6/Ftr 4:
1 combat feat
+4 Fort, +1 Ref, +1 Will
1 round of DR and +3 attack/damage/saves every 5 minutes (assuming 6 CHA)
+2 attack, +4 damage always (as you'd be taking this for Weapon Spec./Mastery)

DC 10:
2 DC-specific feats
+4 Fort, +3 Ref, +3 Will (including Sacred Defense)
3 rounds of DR and +5 attack/damage/saves every 5 minutes (assuming 6 CHA).

To be honest, I'd stick with the first, but I can see arguments made for the second.

EDIT: Gave the fighter option 1 more feat for some reason.

Thanks for the detailed comparison. Its such a hard decision! Worth mentioning though, the 2 DC specific feats will be Great Wisdom, so +1 AC, +1 AB, +1 DC to all the monk abilities such as quivering palm and stunning fiest, and also +1 round duration for fiery fist and blazing aura. So it comes with some hefty benefits.

[Hammer_Song]

I’d always build a monk 30 on this server. The 10 extra SR alone is worth it. Easier 1-30 playability as you hit all your key abilities earlier, you also don’t need to worry about juggling 2/3 monk levels for intuitive attack. People always say monk 30 ab is too low - I’ve built two and they could both solo all server bosses except White, and that’s with one being a suboptimal dwarf! Tbh, I’m waiting for ‘balance changes’ to come knocking on the monks door soon.

[Steve]

Shut your mouth Hammer!!

[Hendrak]

One of the better monk builds i have observed went for FoF 3 with CON and Fast healing 3. And then went STR for AB and DMG. I guess also had Northlander Hewing but with the coming balance chance (which is a wise decision) its not that appealing for this way. Maybe Fighter dip too for W.Spec. Unarmed and Imp.Critical.

General weaknesses of Monk builds which you may want to balance out if you build them: Low Reflex saves, Low STR-> few healing kits, SelfHeal, HitPoints, eventually Fort saves.

Also you shouldnt neglect AC. 50+ AC without buffs is a good point to have a tanky monk which can always solo at least some content.

Monk 16 for adamantine fists with STR or Weapon finesse; or Monk 20 for intuitive strike are good stops for mainly monk builds.

[Steve]

I've have played the split Monk 23 / FotF 3 / Fighter 4 up to 30 many years ago. Very capable build, but argument can be made it isn't better than Monk 30.

Fist of the Forest does grant interesting RP angles (that whole "play your Sheet" thing, you dig?).

Right now I've been playing the Monk 20 / Divine Champion 10 and it's awesome. I like high Saves and Steadfast, plus lots of Epic Wisdom feats is the shizznizzle.

[Arn]

What do people think of wisdom Monk 20/DC 6/SD 4? I know the HiPS isn't necessary, but it could help against insta-death spells, maybe?

[Steve]

In my opinion, adding SD and this HiPS will stretch the build in terms of focus, and Abilities and Skills, which might just make the outcome mediocre in both HiPs and Intuitive Attack.

Thus, my suggestion to you is Monk 20 / Assassin 10. This build I've also played to great, great success. You get far worse Saves but HiPS + Death Attack and Gr. Flurry is just stupid fun to play. Play it as a Halfling and it's awesome.

[TheKai]

I've have played the split Monk 23 / FotF 3 / Fighter 4 up to 30 many years ago. Very capable build, but argument can be made it isn't better than Monk 30.

Fist of the Forest does grant interesting RP angles (that whole "play your Sheet" thing, you dig?).

Right now I've been playing the Monk 20 / Divine Champion 10 and it's awesome. I like high Saves and Steadfast, plus lots of Epic Wisdom feats is the shizznizzle.

I had a great back story for FoF when I originally thought of monk

[Deathgrowl]

Alas, the forgotten monk25/sd5. No one does that anymore. Or monk20/fighter4/sd6, which is slightly better.

[TheKai]

Alas, the forgotten monk25/sd5. No one does that anymore. Or monk20/fighter4/sd6, which is slightly better.

I saw this build on the builder but my dwarf is more upfront and in your face vs hipsing

[Arn]

Alas, the forgotten monk25/sd5. No one does that anymore. Or monk20/fighter4/sd6, which is slightly better.

What do you take with the Fighter levels? Unarmed weapon specialization, etc.? And I assume the build takes Epic Dodge?