Tag Archives: builds

Monastery Mentor for Modern

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I have been asked for a deck list or two for Modern that is focused around the card Monastery Mentor. Guess some people have them, i don’t at the moment but i plan to get some. Personally, i just feel like they are amazing in all formats. The fact there there isn’t already a ton of modern lists online floating around is a testament to how focused everyone is on other formats.

My head goes right to a red/white token list with a heavy burn sub theme.

 

4 Monastery Swiftspear
4 Young Pyromancer
4 Monastery Mentor

4 Path to Exile
4 Lava Spike
4 Collateral Damage
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix
4 Boros Charm

You could go a little more control like me i like Mardu control.

4 Young Pyromancer
4 Dark Confidant
4 Monastery Mentor

4 Bitterblossom

4 Thoughtseize
4 Path to Exile
4 Lightning Bolt
4 Lightning Helix

4 Lingering Souls

Even something a little more out of the box now that i have learned that one of my favorite cards “Disciple of the Vault” is legal. And attack from a few angles.

4 Memnite
4 Disciple of the Vault
4 Arcbound Ravager
4 Monastery Mentor
3 Tasigur, the Golden Fang

4 Mishra’s Bauble
4 Conjurer’s Bauble
4 Chromatic Star
2 Krark-Clan Ironworks
2 Trading Post

3 Bitterblossom

If it was me i would lean more towards the first deck at least until i knew that people were main decking a lot of token hate and even then i might just start to main deck more cards like Intangible Virtue and other anthem effects that are one sided.

Okay need to bounce, food before spring fling over on the twitch channel.

<3s

My Undead Monster?

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This is my current take on the Melee Wizard. Right now most of my gear is laughable, this is another guy that got to 20/22 and just stopped getting played much. I knocked out his third life as a rogue/figher to make soloing to cap fast and easy and for the most part it was.

How much of this do i really need to explain? 17 wiz is for Power Werd Killz, if you can live with out it then you might only need between 12 and 15 wizard levels. For me i want Otto’s and Power Werd Stun so 15 is my personal minimum for a melee caster.

Main defenses are miss chances, Wrath form, Blur/Displacement and Hps. I think i can work in a 30 -40 PRR with the right items and what not and i want to max out my dodge. Think right now it is like 8% with only feats to add to dodge.  It is also worth saying i took all the ways to get Radiant Forcefield effect. I didn’t love the idea of a triggered cast based on my live total but then i tried it and i dig it. Sure it cuts down on incoming damage so you can heal up but it is also a HUGE VISUAL CLUE! And that is huge when you are playing a super busy character, it is easy to lose track of your HPs in the thick of things.

Things that might be confusing. That one point in Int on the EKnight tree, that was an messup. I was trying to spend the 30 points for the top tear when i realized that i just didn’t have the points for it and the dwarf/Pm lines i wanted, went to hit cancel and hit Cool Cool instead…. I was too cheep at that moment to bother fixing it. I will clean it up later.  Why didn’t i nab that last level in the dragon mark? Think i will when i fix that Int point, but really the thing i thought was most important in the dwarf tree was Con to damage then the forcefield after that i wanted to get into the Class PREs and i just didn’t have extra points to take the ranged grapnel.  Lastly i really like how just those few points really sang in the Assassin tree. That is a lot of dps for not a lot of points, a really great return.

Well i hope to get some time on this character soon. But i feel that he will always feel behind until i gear him out really well and i am not sure how motivated  i am to do that right now.

 

<3s

 

 

Viable Thrower….

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One of the builds i have wanted for a while is a good thrower build. So much so i have laid out 3 or 4 different throwing builds over the years. But i have rolled up exactly 0 of them…. Why? They just weren’t viable. And while i have a few different ideas now that might be more do able, but Tobril pointed me at one of Distributed’s recent builds.

Shurikens, pew pew! – Over on the Vault. Go a head and take a quick look. I will be here when you get back.

First impression is Wow this is really close to my latest “build” (12mnk, 4{6} ftr, 2 rgr or rog) but his works while i keep mentally ruling my builds out for not being dps enough.

Long story short i am really debating on burning my 20 heart to pick up another melee past life say ranger on Samius then TRing to try this build. Sure i would have a ton of useless gear (aka my caster gear) but it would be a change of pace, right?

But i guess none of my builds are doing anything except getting to or staying staying over level 20 until i get my Epic Hearts….

Pew Pew Pew

<3s

Complete and Total Indifference

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So U19 is right around the corner and some of my friends are so excited that they took the week off to rock it hard. Me I am just not all that excited and also I have a trip to Phoenix for work that will cause me to miss out on the first week high drop rates. I think at least some of my apathy for this update is due to the enchantment pass and the build shake up.

Cut to people asking me about build advice? Long story short; I don’t have answers. Yet.

But I will.

So I have been looking at builds (Vault, main forums, emails, etc) and I have been looking at the ddowiki for details of the enchantment pass. And I see a nice trend where we might have a lot of multiclass builds running around.

On the other had I see a lot X monks, 5+ fighter, 2 druid builds using axes centered builds and o wonder how many other really solid builds or out there…

But something that I don’t know if everyone has noticed or not yet but Helfs get a arcane spell fail reduction line which is real nice. I could see a heavier armored arcane tank make a come back at least for me. And that makes me happy.

Guess the point is please keep asking me those questions helping you will drive me to look at things and that might get me excited about the change. Maybe.

<3s

More Rogue?

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If you are a regular reader here you know that I have become quite taken with my rogue. In my attempt to cram as much good stuff as I could into the build I had to give up a lot of stuff and as I play it and fall in love with it I wonder if I would like more specialized builds….

So today I am just going to do with you all something I did with Tobril last night while I cleared the nGH zone like a boss and Tobril played Neverwinter like a bitch, aka throw out ideas and see what sticks.

A bigger non-sneak attack dice based build i.e. a STR based build. Maybe something using the Acrobat Pre and a massive stick like a 12/6/2 rog/arty/monk or 12/7/1 rog/monk/ranger? Think the later has been done before but might be good.

I wouldn’t be apposed to a dwarf twf focused dps build. Maybe with ranger or fighter splashed? I could see a 12/8 or 12/6/2 build going less Int and more Str and using the mechanic PRE class to make up for the lesser skill points.

Just remembered something from Lam and dwarfs… Throw your Weight Around…. “Axes: You may use your Constitution modifier to determine the damage you deal with battle axes, dwarven waraxes, hand axes, greataxes and throwing axes.”

The 2 issues I have with my rogue now are low HP and low first number weapon dice. Could a MAX con dwarf two weapon fighting with axes handle both of these issues? Maybe????

Also if you are a long time reader you will remember how much I liked the X/9 rog/monk life I did on Samius. He had fairly good stunning fist DCs, could I make a monk/rog fist build with DCs that land in EE and still have massive amounts of sneak attack dice?

The thought of taking my current build at 20 and lessering out all the twf feats and going ranged all the time is a possibility. Doing so could make room for the rest of the bow feats I am missing hopefully making up for a slower rate of fire with damage vs GTWF… Problem with that is swapping for Assassinating, which is 90% of my fun at the moment.

Speaking of why I like the rog now vs other attempts right now hinges on being a ninja and sneaking around and then assassinating people. Could I really maximize that feeling more then I am? IDK, I am a INT/dex rog now. I can’t really go more INT then I am now and meet the prereqs for Imp Sneak Attack. Maybe if I was a Halfling… But then I would be trading even more HP out…

Other then that dwarf idea (I think a lot of people will try making that Throw your Weight Around work), I think the rest of these plans are not for me… Wonder if an axe thrower with Throw your Weight Around and whirling wrists on an Arty would work…. Never mind that.

Anyway leave comments and ideas in the “you know” what section.

❤

Change in Plans, Time to Make some NEW Decisions….

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Due to a schedule conflict and a number of people sending in messages saying (xp weekend should be this week) plans are shifted to TR Train this weekend, aka no time for double TR Doctor Jones!

*While Writing Update*
DDO Bonus Days brings you +15% Heroic and Epic XP, now through Wednesday, May 22nd! #DDO #TonsofXP

Glad we (you and I) talked a few things out with my double TR plan and thanks to everyone that sent in your XP weekend guess is off.

So today I am trying to decide on a few things, like what build do I want to land on and how can I turn salvage the TR train if I am wrong now and right before and the bonus xp weekend is in fact in the following weekend… (Which we now know the 17th starts the xp weekend)

So Tonight I will TR/ first level gear up Java and gear layout for levels 2-6, there is not a lot of gear changes between 6 and 8. More or less prep the weapon upgrades and basic gear swaps like level 5 gear and low level trap stuffs.

So for build this life, could say “F it” and do another druid life, but we talked though all that and I think I will stick to the plan of trying the Juggernaut build for a while.

Which means I need to pick a version of the build I think I will like the most, the Pally splash or the Ranger splash.

Pally = Higher saves with less work
Ranger = More burst dps and sprint boost…. Sprint boost….

Okay that was not that hard. Sprint Boost…. Sorry I’m back. Lets copy the planed build and get a forum link if you haven’t seen it already.

Juggernaut Ranger
Level 20 Lawful Neutral Warforged Male
(2 Monk \ 2 Ranger \ 16 Artificer)

Strength 16 25
Dexterity 15 20
Constitution 17 23
Intelligence 13 18
Wisdom 11 16
Charisma 6 10

Level 1 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot

Level 2 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Power Attack
Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Toughness

Level 4 (Artificer)

Level 5 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Great Cleave

Level 7 (Artificer)
Level 8 (Artificer)
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Quicken Spell
Level 9 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Manyshot
Level 10 (Artificer)
Level 11 (Artificer)
Level 12 (Artificer)
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons (Or Bludgeoning)
Level 13 (Artificer)
Level 14 (Artificer)
Level 15 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Mithral Body
Level 16 (Artificer)
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Precise Shot
Level 17 (Artificer)
Level 18 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Precision
Level 19 (Artificer)
Level 20 (Artificer)
Feat: (Artificer Bonus) Improved Precise Shot

Thinking about what gear Java already has and I think I will lean more towards the un-centered style but I will need to look at what Bow/XBows at his disposable because I don’t think he has any…

Well think that’s a plan, unless I decide when TRing tonight to do druid at the last sec… Could happen.

<3s

What a Night

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430 rolls around and I am practically running to my truck to get away from work, it was like 70 fahrenheit, hmm 21-22 celsius for not Americans, aka amazing. So back to working on the green house, if it would just stay like yesterday for the next few months I wouldn’t need a green house but the forecast says amazing again today then rain on Sat and SNOW on Sun…

Any way yesterday I needed supplies. TO THE HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE! I start in the lumber department, getting one of those little trollies for holding wood I start to load it up. I need a base to sit on the ground so I can build the walls for the not curved walls. Presser treated 2×4 about 16 foot long will do nicely (I am not sure how to convert that for metric peoples… other then fucken long). Then two 1x6s 10footers for the curved walls to run along the ground, these are so I can have an place to attach the plastic. Then I start hunting up 2x3s 7footers so I can actually frame the walls. Add in a few flexible brackets so I can bend them over the former trampoline frame to give the top of the walls some structure and screws and I am ready to head home.

Get everything loaded up and it dawns on me that the bed of my truck is like 8 feet and I am going to have a lot of hang over on these boards. But I use my bungy cords very creatively and I think we will be okay. But I still have 9+ feet of board hanging over the back. Now this will sound strange but a few years back a friend of Tobril and I bought us matching Lucha Libre Masks. They are super bright pink and I just so happen to keep mine in my truck. What better way to let people know that I have a LONG load? Nothing!

We make the drive home hoping that no one runs into us or that a nasty bounce doesn’t break my boards in half but we make in home in one piece and I get some work done until dinner happens.

After dinner I am done with not playing DDO and I long on my Rog and start rocking a few levels. I take MnaSidhe’s advice and use the fighter bonus feet for Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons and waited on toughness until level 3. Over all I am really digging this guy. I am almost lvl 4, I feel slow with out big striders or the monk/barb speed but I can deal for now.

After an hour or so of play time Comic Book men had recorded watched it and slept like a baby. Well a nightmare having getting up more then once to piss baby anyway.

Tonight? More of the same I think, see what I can make happen before the rain and snow locks me in my basement to play ddo all weekend long. Yeah, it is the rain and snow fault that I will be gaming all weekend….

<3s

Mcplunderer Gurobo

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People paying attention know that I have been mulling over making a rogue for a while now thanks to seeing how amazing they can be when a good player is behind them. So I have done what I always have done let my mind wonder, ask twitter and looked at the forums for rogue builds. And while I got some good replies I got a lot more information that was opposed to what i felt i wanted to do. Also i wanted to get away from using a monk shell, i know it is amazing and i really liked my 11/9 rog/monk life on Samius but i want something different…

Anyway I have a work in progress for the build I TRed (an unloved Clr) into last night. Yes I am leveling this guy with a fairly rough plan and hoping that my instincts are simi close on this one.

Before I post the build and show the changes that have been made even as early as this morning, I want to say for some reason I am super excited about this side project. More so then Java even who I am super pleased with and really liked how is turning out. The last project I was this excited over was Darth Samius my DPS project.

The build:

Bowassin (Working Title)
18 Rogue 1 Artificer 1 Fighter Helf Assassin/AA
Str 14, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 16, Wis 8, Chr 8
+2 tomes for all stats, +3s for some maybe +4s in a few… All level ups currently in Int but there is some possible room for a few points in Dex if decide to max ranged dps (Not currently planned)

Skills: I think this build has like 12+ish points a level most levels think I can work in all the different skills I want as a rogue.

Leveling order:

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Half-Elf Dilettante) Half-Elf Dilettante: Ranger
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Fighting

Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Toughness

Level 3 (Artificer)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons

Level 4 (Rogue)
Level 5 (Rogue)
Level 6 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot

Level 7 (Rogue)
Level 8 (Rogue)
Level 9 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Weapon Fighting

Level 10 (Rogue)
Level 11 (Rogue)
Level 12 (Rogue)
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Improved Evasion
Feat: (Selected) Rapid Shot

Level 13 (Rogue)
Level 14 (Rogue)

Level 15 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Manyshot
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Opportunist

Level 16 (Rogue)
Level 17 (Rogue)
Level 18 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Rogue Bonus) Slippery Mind

Level 19 (Rogue)
Level 20 (Rogue)

Epic Feats:
Precision
Improved Sneak Attack (need to play with dex to be able to take this)

Feat Comments:

Again like most of my AA builds my feat order is to work in AA as soon as possible. In this case we are looking at level 7 or 8 depending on if I want to take AA or Assassin first.

Also the “rogue bonus feats” I am not sure what ones to take OR the order to take these feats but this is my best guess.

Finally I can move Precision up in the feat list at anytime if I am willing to move Manyshot up into post 20 level area, which right at the moment I am not willing to do but if I starting hitting heavy forted guys stopping my sneak attacks I will move as needed. Right now I hope Black Dragon armor from 14-20 will cover most fort bypass needs.

Projected Enchantments:

Rogue Damage Boost I
Rogue Damage Boost II
Rogue Haste Boost I
Rogue Haste Boost II
Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Acid Arrows
Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Explosive Arrows
Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrows
Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Burst Arrows
Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Slaying Arrows
Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Terror Arrows
Improved Ranger Dilettante I
Improved Ranger Dilettante II
Human Adaptability Constitution I
Human Greater Adaptability Intelligence I
Human Improved Recovery I
Human Improved Recovery II
Human Versatility I
Human Versatility II
Rogue Subtle Backstabbing I
Racial Toughness I
Racial Toughness II
Racial Toughness III
Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +2 Arrows
Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +3 Arrows
Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +4 Arrows
Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +5 Arrows
Elven Arcane Archer I
Rogue Assassin I
Rogue Assassin II
Rogue Assassin III
Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy II
Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy III
Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy IV
Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Rogue Sneak Attack Training II
Rogue Sneak Attack Training III
Rogue Sneak Attack Training IV
Improved Hide I
Improved Hide II
Improved Move Silently I
Improved Move Silently II
Artificer Energy of Creation I
Fighter Toughness I
Rogue Wand and Scroll Mastery I

Now there is a little play here, not a ton but some. I could pull Haste boost 2 and some human versatility for Improved Ranger Dilettante 3 for 8 points of bow strength.

Goals/Thoughts:
I want a high DC Assassin guy, DC 10 + Rogue Level (18) + Int Modifier (base/lvl ups +4 tome 25+ 1 enchantment + 8 item +3 item +1 item +ship = 40 or +15) + EMG 45 + 6 Shadowdancer Stealth == 51 fairly easily. Add in Yugo pots as needed.

Massive burst DPS Sneak attack + Manyshot aka make the tank work at the moment this build has 13d6 of sneak attack dice + that possibly Improved Sneak Attack and who knows what from Shadowdancer…

I don’t have any real long-term gear plans or destiny plans other then Stealthy.

So there you go my rogue build, feel free to comment via the comments/email/twitter or whatever.

<3s

Random Thoughts

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So lately I have been wondering about the next project. You know the one that is still in the edge of my brain just poking is head up long enough for me to go hmmm and then it is gone again… I have a few thoughts noting real clear but as always I like to share with you my thoughts at every level of my process so get ready for a real good look at my brains….

Tobril has been going on and on about the WF Arty build the Juggernaut. And while I really like it a lot I just don’t know if that is something I need once I have the main account arty built/leveled to epics. But I have been thinking that I could maybe TR one of those unloved clrs that I was thinking about making into a bowonk and making a dual weilding halflling version. How BA would it be to try to heal via the marks and a clr past life feat on a two fighting Halfling the dps would be so qute… Okay maybe not my best plan but still might be worth a char slot and a vet 2 test?

At the same time I have been watching the rogues that the HoDW have been bringing to the party on the weekends and I have been super impressed. Makes me want to give one of them a try… Maybe a Halfling two fighting using the marks/past life feats?

Okay maybe not…

I have another epic level clr that I don’t want to TR but I am not sure if I want to take the time to get him ready and able to heal in EEs. I have talked about healzyounot a few times he is more or less a healbot but I think I could find a feat for him to lose and pick up the mark of finding feats and with his simi high Chr I think he could be healbot/chest buffer… That could work with the feats granted for epic levels.

The other thing I have been debating is 2 more TRs on Samius for Druid lives turns out that a stacking +6 to all stats on your summons are good depending on what your summons are…

Well sorry I don’t have a more exciting post for you all today. I fully expect to have a few stories from game this weekend.

Speaking of weekend have a good one and see you on Monday. Also if you missed it, Lessah and I got a new Cocktail hour recorded and out yesterday. So if you haven’t heard it yet go do so.

<3s

Looks like Fat Halflings are Okay by You

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Step two: build layout. Again looking at using a 18/2 wiz/rog PM mostly because I love me some removal spells here are some basic plans. Starting with Stats.

Keep in mind these are 36 point builds on a Fat Halfling Race (aka Dwarf)

Plan A
14 Strength
10 Dexterity
16 Constitution
18 Intelligence
08 Wisdom
12Charisma

Plan B
14 Strength
08 Dexterity
16 Constitution
18 Intelligence
08 Wisdom
13Charisma

Plan A vs Plan B: A has one less Chr but 2 more Dex meaning that there is no starting dex penalty to skills or AC (wanking motion to show how impressed I am with the new AC system) but Plan B will have +1 to Chr skills at odd tome levels ie +1 and +3 so more UMD and Intim aka both good things. Guess my Open lock and ninja skills will eat a -1.

Leveling layout, again this is with the plan of leveling to 20 as a PM.

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Insightful Reflexes

Level 2 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Empower Spell

Level 3 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Berserker’s Fury

Level 4 (Wizard)
Level 5 (Wizard)
Level 6 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Arcane Prodigy
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Spell Focus: Necromancy

Level 7 (Wizard)
Level 8 (Wizard)
Level 9 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Completionist

Level 10 (Wizard)
Level 11 (Wizard)
Level 12 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Maximize Spell

Level 13 (Wizard)
Level 14 (Wizard)
Level 15 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Arcane Initiate

Level 16 (Wizard)
Level 17 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Heighten Spell

Level 18 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell
Level 19 (Wizard)
Level 20 (Wizard)

Feat order might look a little out of order but what this layout does is allows us to take PM2 right at 14 and at the same time allows us to skip using Vamp form as the last thing you want to do at level 14 is start using a form that explodes when shot by a laser beam.

Also with just a little tweaking (swapping the Focus Feats) or none at all I could go AM and not PM until 20 when Lich form (aka the good one) kicks in. Tomorrow if I have time I will talk a little about maybe trying out AM for leveling up and why I am leaning that way at least until 20.

Finally the Main stat number, Int. Now this is not all fleshed out. Like I could take the epic +1 stat feats post 20 but for the most part this is everything I have or plan to get easily.

INT:
18base
+6level ups
+3enhcancements
+3tome
+2ship
+2yugo
+1litany once i get one (I like the raid)
+3insight robes
+8int goggles or ring
+2lich (going to assume PM at 20 for now)
+2completionest
+6 wizard destiny
+2 int twisted in from 2 other destinies
+1 int twisted Echoes of the Ancestors: Arcane (Magister)
+1 exp slotted some place easy
——
50 int normally running around with just yugo pot

+ 1-3 house D pots as needed (yeah right)
+1 when I find a +4 tome
+2 Store pots
+2 capstone if I go to pure at 20

I could go drow and have +2 more Int or Human and get +1 more. But really until Turbine makes an Int based Gnome I just like the Fat Halfling look. I mean have you seen their beards?

Well those are my thoughts atm, feel free to comment below.

<3s