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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dannyalcatraz" data-source="post: 4068606" data-attributes="member: 19675">I stand by my builds as Dex builds- here's why:1)  As I've stated earlier in this thread, there are far more ways to boost Str than there are Dex.  In each case, the initial distribution of relevant stats is Dex first (to 18+), Wis second (to 16+), Str third (whatever is left).  Without boosts from other sources, they have no meaningful inherent bonuses to their attack & damage.Potions are an ablative resource- once they're gone, they're gone.  If you're deep in a massive dungeon, you might run out of those in the first day or so's worth of combats.  Were I playing this PC in the campaign I'm in currently, I'd have had only 3 opportunities in the past few months (18 sessions or so) to restock.The Kensai build was fortunate enough to have a Str bonus (the Gith didn't) so could qualify for Power Attack (which is a feat that is almost too good to pass on if you're qualified for it).  While the PrCl has a Str boost, its conditional upon making a die roll, and subsequent attempts during the day require increasingly higher rolls.2)  Each build is based upon getting the most out of Combat Reflexes, leading to Feat choices- Hold the Line, Stand Still, Deft Opportunist, etc.- that make no sense if your Dex isn't your primary stat.  Emphasizing AoOs means you're hoping to add up effects on your foes via piling up the number of attacks, not upon scoring any one strike in particular.  Stand Still even subs an effect for damage- you're trading it off for imobilizing your foes.  IOW, you're keeping your foes from running by or off while you pick away at your chosen foe.3)  Your critique of the Kensai build ("if you take twice as many fighter levels as monk levels") was already answered a few posts ago- had the PC been played in a campaign as opposed to a one-shot, all future levels would have been Monk or Kensai, and the Armor would have been dropped in favor of Dex and AC boosters....and its combat effectiveness would not decline one whit.(Heck, if the Kensai had been in a campaign, her equipment distribution would probably have been quite different- how many parties do you know that would let the Monk have the +3 Greatspear they found?)The Githzerai build had only 2 "warrior levels" (specifically, PsyWar)- all of the rest were Monk or Monk PrCl levels.  FWIW, its sole Str booster was the psionic power Expansion.****An aside:One of the features of the Githzerai build was the DCv1 feat, Pole Fighter, which allows a Monk to choose any one particular kind of polearm- say Polaxe, Greatspear, Bec De Corbin, etc.- and use it as a Monk weapon.A buddy of mine who is out of state pointed out to me that Eberron has a suite of feats that do the same, but only for a Feat-specific weapon (I have no idea what each one is called).  According to him, the Feats allow a Longsword, a 2-bladed sword and- most relevant- the Longspear as Monk weapons.  The feats themselves use identical language & prereqs as the DCv1 feat.So, should one choose (and be allowed to use) the relevant Longspear feat, you could build the Kensai or Githzerai build with a Longspear and be able to Flurry- at reach- while piling up the AoOs.This results in the following changes: The Gith's damage would drop a little (1d12 to a 1d8), and the Kensai would drop the XWP: Greatspear in exchange for this feat, dropping 1d6 base damage per strike in exchange for the FoB.</blockquote>

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