This is a build for my monk handbook. I wanted this to be gear independent, so I pretty much only assumed basic gear. However, my DPR calculations include a couple extra items just because everyone is used to seeing completely optimized DPR estimates.
The Drunken Boxer: Centered Breath Master of Defense This is a fun build that specializes in defense (to well above normal defender levels) so that it can fight while completely surrounded without a defender. This is very playable from level 1, and it has no weak levels.
It also has a lot of control effects for a monk, with a lot of dazes, stuns and weakening. Ghostwalker combined with Centered Breath CA manufacturing means that it has a lot of stealth capabilities as well.
Damage is in the normal ranges for a monk, which is lower than single-target strikers like a rogue or barbarian. But, after converting DPR for the AoE nature of the monk attacks, this build has intended striker DPR. However, the build also has enough hard control that it can be very useful versus solos and the like even if it doesn't put out a ton of single target damage.
This build is a good base for the "Spiderman" monk that uses a Flying Hook and Bracers of Brachiation to do a decent Spiderman impression.
Race: Human (for +1 to NADS, extra feat, extra at-will) Background: Auspicious Birth (for dexterity to HP) Monastic Tradition: Centered Breath (Sliding enemies synergizes well will many feats and with Ghostwalker) Paragon Path: Ghostwalker (for concealment while CA and nice control powers) Level: 16
AC: 36 (+2 AC if enemy grants CA) Fort: 29 Reflex: 34 Will: 30 The build will also always have concealment and/or a defensive stance up, for an additional +2 to 4 (equivalent) to all defenses.
HP: 111 Surges: 8
Feats 1: Versatile Expertise (to hit is essential) 1 (human): Unarmored Expertise (+2 to AC) 2: Superior Implement Training: Accurate Dagger (to hit is essential) 4: Weapon Profeciency: Parrying Dagger (+1 to AC) 6: Superior Will (+1 to will and save on daze and stun at beginning of turn) 8: Improved Defenses (+2 to all NADs) 10: Deadly Draw (Gives CA versus any enemies I slide using FoB, which enables PP features and other feats to function constantly) 11: Starblade Flurry (+1 FoB Target, which helps to pull more targets into burst range) 12: Uncanny Dodge (Enemies don't get +2 to hit if you grant CA) 14: Defensive Advantage (+2 to AC versus enemies granting CA) 16: Implement Focus: Dagger (+2 damage)
At-Will Powers: Five Storms, Steel Wind, and Crane's Wings
Assumed Equipment: +4 Feyweave Cloth Armor, +4 Neck, +4 Accurate Dagger, +1 Rhythm Blade Parrying Dagger (or Shielding Blade), and Rushing Cleats to increase FoB slide distance (or Boots of the Fencing Master for even more defense)
Recommended Equipment: Bracers of Brachiation+Flying Hook (for Spiderman feel) or ki weapon wrist razors, Dragonshard of the Mage, Ring of the Dragonborn Emperor,
With +4 Accurate Dagger, Paragon Dragonshard of the Mage, Ki Weapon Wrist Razors, and Ring of the Dragonborn Emperor to hit: +22, or +24 with CA (and you always should have CA with this build), versus 28 reflex = 75% to 85% hit rate. Five Storms Damage: 1d8+19 FoB Damage (3 targets): 8 damage At will DPR with 85% hit rate = 20.85 damage per target and +8 damage to three targets As Five Storms is a party friendly 3x3, 28.85 dpr (assuming at least one hit) is equivalent to a single target DPR of 41.83 DPR. This slightly exceeds intended striker DPR of 38.
In my experience in LFR, this estimate is actually quite a bit under what the build actually does in real play. The 1.45 multiplier for party friendly 3x3 area attacks assumes that you have no mechanism to move creatures around into the burst on the following turn, and Center Breath monks DO have this sort of mechanism through Starblade Flurry. Especially if they use the "Play Stupid" strategy, this build will typically be targeting significantly more than 1.45 creatures per turn.
AC 36 versus 21 to hit, means the build will be hit on a 15 or higher WITHOUT any of the builds many situational modifiers or defensive stances. With those conditional modifiers (e.g., +4 equivalent AC if and the enemy grants CA) taken into account, only 19 or 20s should hit. Once one of the two defenses stances kick in, you will only be hit on a 20, and these won't be criticals.
Fortitude 29 versus 19 to hit, means the build will be hit on a 10 or higher without any of the builds many situational modiers or defensive stances (which provide up to another +4 to fort defense). This is the build's worst defense.
With that said, higher level creatures, elites and solos will still be able to hit this character's best defenses, but they will still need to roll well to very well do it. Even then, Iron Dragon Defense will reduce most of the damage off the first hit.
I made a similar barbartian, mc centered breath monk, ghostwalker with deadly draw a while ago. It is a very effective item independent combination.
I saw that. It was creative to combine Ghostwalker with a barbarian.
This current build isn't trying to break a lot of new ground, just show a relatively refined version of this fun concept for monks.
I am currently playing a mid-paragon version of this build, and it most definitely does what it advertises. My DM actually asked me to tone the defensiveness down a little, because trying to balance encounters to be challenging for the group was requiring special focus on debilitating my monk or circumventing his ridiculous defenses.
I obliged, for the sake of enjoyment, by dropping a few defensive feats for utilities, and changing my superior implement proficiency to iron ki focus with a ki dagger offhand. Ended up with stealth training and persistent tail, for those instances that you dont need to move (such as keeping artillery locked down). Its very handy to be able to follow them on their turn.
Like the build! It's almost exactly what I'm playing. However my DM is happy for me to have a staff in one hand and a dagger in the other (the CB allows this) so I'm going with a Staff of Ruin and - when I can find one - a Rhythm Dagger. I am only 5th level so far but loving how he is working out.
Have you considered using a Mountain Ki Focus instead of an Accurate dagger? This would trade +1 attack for extra forced movement and +1 AC and reflex (assuming you have a Rhythm Blade dagger). Granted, lowering attack also risks not getting the shield bonus, but considering many of the powers are burst/blast, the likelihood of hitting at least once per round is pretty good.
I am both orderly and instinctive. I value community and group identity, defining myself by the social group I am a part of. At best, I'm selfless and strong-willed; at worst, I'm unoriginal and sheepish.
Have you considered using a Mountain Ki Focus instead of an Accurate dagger? This would trade +1 attack for extra forced movement and +1 AC and reflex (assuming you have a Rhythm Blade dagger). Granted, lowering attack also risks not getting the shield bonus, but considering many of the powers are burst/blast, the likelihood of hitting at least once per round is pretty good.
My feelings on the issue are as follows:
This build is about balacing your capabilities as a striker with your defensiveness. If you're gimping your ability to do your job, your defenses eventually start to become a moot point. If I were going to lose the +1 hit from the accurate dagger, I would fill the gap with an iron ki focus for the deadly/forceful properties, affording you the same control as the mountain ki focus and similar damage to the accurate dagger. Keep in mind that the chessmaster feel of a centered breath monk affords you the ability to get yourself out of dangerous situations in which you might need the shield bonus from mountain, as well.
As an aside, being nigh-impossible to hit, let alone kill, sucks some of the risky fun out of being a melee burst/blaster to me, but some people dig it.
Superior implement proficiencies for this build should just be a matter of preference, as they all provide very functional and potentially flavorfol (aside from accurate) bonuses.
Have you considered using a Mountain Ki Focus instead of an Accurate dagger? This would trade +1 attack for extra forced movement and +1 AC and reflex (assuming you have a Rhythm Blade dagger). Granted, lowering attack also risks not getting the shield bonus, but considering many of the powers are burst/blast, the likelihood of hitting at least once per round is pretty good.
Most of the forced movement of the build comes from FoB, which lacks all keywords and it isn't clear whether FoB is an attack power. You would need FoB to be an implement power and be an attack power for Mountain Ki Focus's forceful property to affect FoB. Therefore, Mountain Ki Focus doesn't modify the slide on FoB. Other than that, Mountain Ki Focus is just a +1 shielding bonus, and you get that by attacking with a shielding blade. If you want to use a ki focus, you could use an accurate ki focus on a shielding blade or while hold a shielding blade. That would raise ac by 1 without lowering attack. I will modify the build as a result, as it really doesn't matter for the build whether I'm using a +4 Ki Focus or +4 Dagger.
I didn't do this in the original build because later on I was wanting to take Nimble Blade, which would require you to attack with a dagger. If you're allowed to use ki focused weapons as implements, then this isn't an issue, but I was trying to avoid anything with rules ambigiouty.
This build is about balacing your capabilities as a striker with your defensiveness. If you're gimping your ability to do your job, your defenses eventually start to become a moot point. If I were going to lose the +1 hit from the accurate dagger, I would fill the gap with an iron ki focus for the deadly/forceful properties, affording you the same control as the mountain ki focus and similar damage to the accurate dagger. Keep in mind that the chessmaster feel of a centered breath monk affords you the ability to get yourself out of dangerous situations in which you might need the shield bonus from mountain, as well.
As an aside, being nigh-impossible to hit, let alone kill, sucks some of the risky fun out of being a melee burst/blaster to me, but some people dig it.
Superior implement proficiencies for this build should just be a matter of preference, as they all provide very functional and potentially flavorfol (aside from accurate) bonuses.
I agree with some of your overall feelings. However, monks don't play like other strikers, as no other striker is at its best when it's surrounded. When you are surrounded by multiple higher level enemies, and/or elites, defenses matter. While playing this build at level 10, I went from 100% health to dying, while stunned (save ends), while immobilized (save ends) while slowed (save ends) in just over one round. I think I also had ongoing damage as well, but I'm not 100% on that one. I did save the rest of the party this way by getting the caster to drop a sustainable immobilize damaging cloud, but it hurt. This build can and does get hit because it frequently takes as many or more attacks than a defender would.
Accurate implements increase your damage more than a deadly property does. The forceful property, as previous stated, doesn't affect FoB.
Have you considered using a Mountain Ki Focus instead of an Accurate dagger? This would trade +1 attack for extra forced movement and +1 AC and reflex (assuming you have a Rhythm Blade dagger). Granted, lowering attack also risks not getting the shield bonus, but considering many of the powers are burst/blast, the likelihood of hitting at least once per round is pretty good.
Most of the forced movement of the build comes from FoB, which lacks all keywords and it isn't clear whether FoB is an attack power. You would need FoB to be an implement power and be an attack power for Mountain Ki Focus's forceful property to affect FoB. Therefore, Mountain Ki Focus doesn't modify the slide on FoB. Other than that, Mountain Ki Focus is just a +1 shielding bonus, and you get that by attacking with a shielding blade. If you want to use a ki focus, you could use an accurate ki focus on a shielding blade or while hold a shielding blade. That would raise ac by 1 without lowering attack. I will modify the build as a result, as it really doesn't matter for the build whether I'm using a +4 Ki Focus or +4 Dagger.
I didn't do this in the original build because later on I was wanting to take Nimble Blade, which would require you to attack with a dagger. If you're allowed to use ki focused weapons as implements, then this isn't an issue, but I was trying to avoid anything with rules ambigiouty.
This build is about balacing your capabilities as a striker with your defensiveness. If you're gimping your ability to do your job, your defenses eventually start to become a moot point. If I were going to lose the +1 hit from the accurate dagger, I would fill the gap with an iron ki focus for the deadly/forceful properties, affording you the same control as the mountain ki focus and similar damage to the accurate dagger. Keep in mind that the chessmaster feel of a centered breath monk affords you the ability to get yourself out of dangerous situations in which you might need the shield bonus from mountain, as well.
As an aside, being nigh-impossible to hit, let alone kill, sucks some of the risky fun out of being a melee burst/blaster to me, but some people dig it.
Superior implement proficiencies for this build should just be a matter of preference, as they all provide very functional and potentially flavorfol (aside from accurate) bonuses.
I agree with some of your overall feelings. However, monks don't play like other strikers, as no other striker is at its best when it's surrounded. When you are surrounded by multiple higher level enemies, and/or elites, defenses matter. While playing this build at level 10, I went from 100% health to dying, while stunned (save ends), while immobilized (save ends) while slowed (save ends) in just over one round. I think I also had ongoing damage as well, but I'm not 100% on that one. I did save the rest of the party this way by getting the caster to drop a sustainable immobilize damaging cloud, but it hurt. This build can and does get hit because it frequently takes as many or more attacks than a defender would.
Accurate implements increase your damage more than a deadly property does. The forceful property, as previous stated, doesn't affect FoB.
With the slide bonus interpretation (which probably by RAW is true, but feels iffy) those 2 ki focus options do lose a lot of ground.
I also have gotten myself into situations in which my monk has dropped in one round, maybe 2, but that doesn't detract from the points I made. Playing something with a little risk and a lot of reward (CB monk with zone-damaging controllers) really kicks the fun factor up a notch for me, and just going unconcious once or twice isn't the end of the world. When the DM is on fire, he's on fire, and no striker you play will be immune to high-teens rolling (though this certainly is more resistant to it).
Didn't want to derail this with a "I do it this way nah nah nah" post. This build is freaking awesome, and I recommend anybody who is sick of AP nova-ing with a killswitch try out one of these in a zone-heavy party. It can really challenge the way you approach tougher encounters.
Have you considered using a Mountain Ki Focus instead of an Accurate dagger? This would trade +1 attack for extra forced movement and +1 AC and reflex (assuming you have a Rhythm Blade dagger). Granted, lowering attack also risks not getting the shield bonus, but considering many of the powers are burst/blast, the likelihood of hitting at least once per round is pretty good.
Most of the forced movement of the build comes from FoB, which lacks all keywords and it isn't clear whether FoB is an attack power. You would need FoB to be an implement power and be an attack power for Mountain Ki Focus's forceful property to affect FoB. Therefore, Mountain Ki Focus doesn't modify the slide on FoB. Other than that, Mountain Ki Focus is just a +1 shielding bonus, and you get that by attacking with a shielding blade. If you want to use a ki focus, you could use an accurate ki focus on a shielding blade or while hold a shielding blade. That would raise ac by 1 without lowering attack. I will modify the build as a result, as it really doesn't matter for the build whether I'm using a +4 Ki Focus or +4 Dagger.
I didn't do this in the original build because later on I was wanting to take Nimble Blade, which would require you to attack with a dagger. If you're allowed to use ki focused weapons as implements, then this isn't an issue, but I was trying to avoid anything with rules ambigiouty.
With the slide bonus interpretation (which probably by RAW is true, but feels iffy) those 2 ki focus options do lose a lot of ground. .
It may feel iffy, but the RAW is pretty clear. For forceful to affect FoB, you need two conditions to be met.
1) FoB needs to have the implement keyword, which it doesn't. 2) FoB needs to be an attack power, which you DM may legitimately rule it is based on the RC, but by RAW FoB currently isn't an attack.
If either condition isn't met, then forceful doesn't apply to FoB.
