Ultimate loot grinder

[Planehopper]

EDIT to add: This has gotten off topic so I won't be responding to any more concerns/questions/posts around epic gear. The topic is as per the title, about a build request for the ultimate loot grinder build. Suggest that if there is a desire to further discuss epic shop pricing that a separate topic be created or necro one of the past threads to discuss.

Couldn't agree more. Thank you, mrm3ntalist and Chad, for explaining the hows and whys of the epic store. I believe your explanations certainly do it justice and more than cover what needs to be covered in this topic.

If anyone has any questions or concerns about the epic store, please create a new thread. This thread is in a character building forum about a specific type of build. Please stay on that topic.

[Egg Shen]

Lol, sooooo, about my ultimate loot grinder concept....

I've never played a str based two hander before. So, given that I'm going at least 18 monk levels for max speed and 3 levels of rogue for chests, what else should I be considering? Divine champ seems like a good possibility. But just maxing monk for more Spell Resistance and extra AC seems okay, too.

Does knockdown work okay in higher level areas? I'm picturing knocking things down and then turning on power attack to really let them have it.

Should I be considering northlander hewing? Seems questionable at 7 attacks, but pretty sweet at 8 attacks. Of course. I'll only have 8 attacks when hasted, so maybe not worth it.

Any tips for a STR based quarterstaff monk would be appreciated.

[Theodore01]

Any tips for a STR based quarterstaff monk would be appreciated.

Flurry is much better that PA. One weapon is a solid choice. Any class that adds some damage to your staff (AK,WoD,...)
And lock/trap-picking slows down your looting/per minute rate very very much.

Yes, blazing aura works well on weapons. (edited)

[chad878262]

Monk 20/Divine Champion 10 could work as well. Divine Wrath being an activated ability gives a nice +5 damage for 5 rounds every 5 minutes, more if you have a positive CHA modifier. Also could go Wisdom as I believe Blazing Aura applies to weapons, not just fists (though I am not certain about this, maybe someone else can verify).

[Egg Shen]

Hmmm. I hadn't considered just bashing the chests and using a heal kit to mitigate the damage from the epic traps. Seems extra lame, but on this guy, it's pretty much perfect! Saves me from a nasty Xp penalty as well. Great idea!

I'll have to read up on the feats mentioned. Gotta RCR.

*Edit* Would monk 18/fighter 12 be worth consideration? Lots of good damage boosting in the fighter line of feats, no?

[AC81]

Just with a wisdom monk 30. Strength monks suck. You can't cash in loot if you're a corpse. Either that or a DR Barbarian. It really isn't hard.

[Egg Shen]

wisdom monk can't carry much. barbarian is slow. While I agree that as far as optimized characters for pve/pvp go, my ultimate looter guy aint much to behold, but he isn't totally inept at combat is he?

He'll have mid-high 40's AC depending on gear and/or buffs. Mid-high 40's AB. Damage in 25 - 32 range with 7 attacks per round. A pretty reliable knockdown (I'm hoping). Decent saves. Expose weakness.

I can't imagine I'll be getting murdered on loot runs, will I? Not trying to solo bosses with this dude.

[AC81]

A barbarian has Fast Movement. I have a wisdom monk with 13+3 strength and have never had a problem being encumbered. It's up to you though. I personally think you're putting too much emphasis on "fast character=good loot grinder". Better off with something that cleaves through mobs super fast or avoids them entirely. Maybe a hasted, invisible warlock?

[Archaos]

By the way, a loot obsessed Monk makes sense only if they follow Waukeen.

"Waukeen – Merchant Monk Guild (LN)

- This order is much more like a guild. They have huge richly designed monasteries that also double as warehouses and shop fronts. Many of the monks make their own good but a lot just make money from buying cheap and selling at a higher price. They are becoming more popular in big cities. Many favor the nunchaku weapon and carry very artistically crafted and magically enhanced versions.
- May multiclass as Goldeye as long as monk level is higher. Receives 300gp bonus at first level. Monks of this order receive an extra Flurry of Blows attack every 4 levels but only used with nunchaku."

http://www.candlekeep.com/library/articles/monks.htm

Also you can do well with a STR Monk, only if they're a Sacred Fist. You need the Cleric buffs if you go STR-based.

[Egg Shen]

Being loot obsessed has very little to do with the god that you follow, imo. It could be an aspiration if you follow Waukeen, sure, or a character flaw if you worship somebody else. You could be using the gains to fund illicit activities for Bane or the One-Eyed God. Really just limited by your imagination, no? And the entire concept of grinding the same chests over and over and over again (every six hours) is pretty OOC, so I'm not too fussed about it personally.

And I'm also not at all interested in a character that does any buffing. Bleh.

As for being obsessed with being fast, you're probably right, AC81. I want to spend as little time as possible on this endeavor. Warlock is a possibility, I suppose...hmmm.

[Sun Wukong]

Monk 20/Divine Champion 10 could work as well. Divine Wrath being an activated ability gives a nice +5 damage for 5 rounds every 5 minutes, more if you have a positive CHA modifier. Also could go Wisdom as I believe Blazing Aura applies to weapons, not just fists (though I am not certain about this, maybe someone else can verify).

Blazing Aura works with all weapons, tested some half-a-year-ago in stock NWN2.

As for Quarterstaff using Monk, you could also consider making use of Northlander Hewing to increase your damage per hit. As a single class character your monk would get 8 attacks, which would be 5 attacks with Northlander Hewing active. I think the extra damage you do per hit would far off-set the loss of three attacks.

Thus the biggest problem at low levels will be your AC, but as long as you keep buying those potions of Cat's Grace and Owl's Wisdom, you can have +4 points of AC. Hence I would leave both dexterity and wisdom at 14 or 16 at character creation.

[aaron22]

there is survival to being so fast. it will often be your emergency get away. wisdom is the way to go though. go orc and you have the strength you need. the wis you want. and the RP fit. an orc that pillages.. unheard of

[Egg Shen]

I'm sure it doesn't work, but has anybody tested fiery fists to see if they work with monk weapons? It would be nice if they did since there's currently not a lot of love for monks interested in using something other than their fists.

Also, I don't think a monk ends up at 8 attacks. They top out at 7, I believe. Unless there is bugginess I don't know about, which is possible. Haven't played a monk in a looong time. But northlander hewing was something I was interested in.

I don't really understand the feat though, mechanically. I know you get 2/3 attack rounded down, 2 less AB and 2 less AC, but more damage. However, I don't know how the extra damage is calculated. Would need to know that to know if it's worth it. I've got some throwaway feats currently, which could easily become NH.

[chad878262]

flurry of blows and greater flurry has a bugged extra attack at the end of the attack sequence.

[Egg Shen]

Oh yeah!! Forgot about that. So Northlander hewing seems like a decent option to me, especially after a successful knockdown. When hasted, he'll still have 6 attacks per round which seems pretty sweet to me.