Possible edit on a build

metalheadbeta

I spotted the 'Gentle Fist' build on the forums and thought it could fit for a character I've been messing around with, and I made some edits to the build and I'd like some opinions on it.
(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Hybrid)
v3.44:37

Super Stats
Level 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Master (Str: 8, Dex: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Covert Ops Training (Str: 3, Dex: 3, Con: 3, Int: 3)
Level 9: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 12: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 15: Martial Focus (Str: 5, Dex: 5)
Level 18: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)
Level 21: Physical Conditioning (Str: 5, Con: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Vicious Strikes
Level 1: One Hundred Hands (Rank 2, Flaming Fists)
Level 6: Smoke Bomb Lunge (Nailed to the Ground)
Level 8: Personal Force Field (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 11: Form of the Master
Level 14: Steadfast
Level 17: Field Surge (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Dragon Uppercut (Rank 2, Chi Flame)
Level 23: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 26: Burning Chi Fist (Rank 2, Righteous Fury)
Level 29: Backhand Chop (Chi Flame)
Level 32: Force Shield (Rank 2)
Level 35: Open Palm Strike (Rank 2, Chi Flame)
Level 38: Devastating Strike (Rank 2)
Adv. Points: 36/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Stoic Flight (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35:

Specializations
Strength: Swole (2/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (3/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (1/3)
Strength: Overpower (2/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Upper Hand (2/3)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Strength Mastery (1/1)

Devices

metalheadbeta

Since I forgot to mention, I'm wanting this to work with Chi Flame instead of Demolish

jaazaniah1

Assuming that you want this to be a DPS build? If so, you don't want PFF, since it will drop the amount of damage you do considerably, and if you don't have PFF you don't need Field Surge. You have essentially 3 single target attacks (Dragon Uppercut, BCF and Open Palm Strike). Probably don't need all 3. Dragon Kick with Rush is nice for its stun and energy. Note too that you can have both Demolish and Chi Flame through One Hundred Hands.

If your goal is to be a tough DPS you could drop 1 power with 4 adv points and take a 2nd (defensive) passive like Invulnerability and have a 2nd build set up for that. If you want the look of having some kind of Chi energy field protecting you pick up an aura and slot it in the combat slot. Don't be hung up on mechanics. Think more about the effect you want and then how auras might make that happen.

Here's 1 way to be a more straight forward dps build. You could swap in BCF instead of Dragon Uppercut. You could also use Way of the Warrior in place of Unstoppable.

(Unnamed Build) - Freeform (Hybrid)
v3.44:37

Super Stats
Level 6: Strength (Primary)
Level 10: Dexterity (Secondary)
Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)

Talents
Level 1: The Master (Str: 8, Dex: 10, Con: 10, Rec: 10)
Level 6: Martial Focus (Str: 5, Dex: 5)
Level 9: Acrobat (Dex: 5, Con: 5)
Level 12: Physical Conditioning (Str: 5, Con: 5)
Level 15: Covert Ops Training (Str: 3, Dex: 3, Con: 3, Int: 3)
Level 18: Impresario (Dex: 5, Rec: 5)
Level 21: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)

Powers
Level 1: Vicious Strikes
Level 1: One Hundred Hands (Demolishing Strikes, Flaming Fists)
Level 6: Smoke Bomb Lunge (Nailed to the Ground)
Level 8: Form of the Master
Level 11: Unstoppable (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 14: Steadfast
Level 17: Conviction (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 20: Dragon Uppercut (Rank 2, Chi Flame)
Level 23: Resurgence (Rank 2)
Level 26: Fiery Embrace
Level 29: Backhand Chop (Chi Flame, Brutal Strike)
Level 32: Force Shield (Rank 2)
Level 35: Dragon Kick (Spectral Dragon Tail, Dragon Rush)
Level 38: Devastating Strike (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Adv. Points: 36/36

Travel Powers
Level 6: Stoic Flight (Rank 2, Rank 3)
Level 35:

Specializations
Strength: Swole (3/3)
Strength: Physical Peak (2/3)
Strength: Brutality (2/2)
Strength: Juggernaut (1/3)
Strength: Overpower (2/3)
Vindicator: Aggressive Stance (2/2)
Vindicator: Merciless (3/3)
Vindicator: Focused Strikes (3/3)
Vindicator: Mass Destruction (2/3)
Warden: Fortified Gear (3/3)
Warden: Ruthless (2/2)
Warden: Upper Hand (2/3)
Warden: The Best Defense (3/3)
Mastery: Strength Mastery (1/1)

Devices

metalheadbeta

PFF was more for the sake of theme with the character, but I can give this build a try as well.

jaazaniah1

I get the idea of the theme. It's perfectly cool. Some people are okay with having a dps character that does not do so much dps because there are other factors at work for them. OTOH, sometimes they then find out that their theme is hampering their build in other ways that are also important to them (like also wanting to do a lot of damage). Only you can know what balance will make you happy. Fortunately the game is pretty easy and you can solo most any leveling content with almost any build.

The reason I mentioned a dual passive build is that it can allow you to do a lot of damage when you want, but can also allow you to be tougher when you need to be (you can even get a complete or partial 2nd set of gear that has more con so you will be tougher). Just slap on an aura that gives you that Chi flame protection field feel and you will be golden.

Note: a lot of players when they first get into this game take a large number of attacks that overlap. Eventually a fair number of them realize they are really only using 1 attack most of the time (e.g. the one that does the most damage). Other attacks should ideally fill different roles (AoE, utility (buffs/debufs), CC.) so you can get the most out of a limited number of power slots.

Just noticed that the version I posted above did not have one change I thought I had made. Use Rising Knee (Flowing Strikes, Focused Energy) instead of Backhand Chop.

flowcyto

Yea, keeping Force Shield in there to at least have a force field for when you block can help cover that part of the theme w/o having to take something like PFF + Field Surge. Jaaz's edit is good, though I wouldn't get the Flaming Fist adv on 100Hands here (it'd prob be better for the rest of the build to keep it applying Chi Flame like normal, instead of Clinging Flames). Note also that you are still taking a Dex focus here (you prob already knew that, but just making sure).