Code: Select all
Start + Race+Level+Tome+Gear=Total
STR 16 -- +5 +3 +7 31
DEX 15 -- -- +3 +7 25
CON 15 +2 -- +3 +6 26
INT 10 -- -- +3 +2 15
WIS 14 -- -- +3 +6 23
CHA 8 -2 -- +3 -- 9
Feats are the more interesting part. In no particular order:
Toughness
Power Attack
Stunning Fist
2-Weapon fighting
Improved 2-Weapon fighting
Combat Expertise (whirlwind pre-req)
Dodge (whirlwind pre-req)
Mobility (whirlwind pre-req)
Spring Attack (whirlwind pre-req)
Whirlwind Attack
Whirlwind attack is quite expensive at 5 feats, but it does a lot of AE damage now for a monk, more than Cleave followed by Great Cleave would, and most of the pre-req feats give a dodge bonus. My AC is sitting at a mediocre 44 at level 16, but my dodge chance is 13%. That 13% might not sound like much, but it works even in elite boss fights, where AC, blur, etc, usually don't. Stance-wise I mostly use wind stance, because I just like the hasted attack rate.
I've found it's always best to build offense first, defense second, and utility with what's left over, unless it's a special-purpose toon like a trapper or bard, and even then offense remains important. This whirlwind build gives up about 10% single-target offense, but the AE offense is pretty nice, and may even overcome the lack of G2WF vs a single target if I spam WW.
