Some Ranger Advice Please

[Monvictis]

Hey all. I'm playing the trial right now and at first I was really enjoying the game and thinking about subscribing. I still may do that but I got a little discouraged when I started looking into the class guides. My impression is that there is not much incentive for pure classes. I find them more appealing as they seem less troublesome development wise and I'm more interested in just playing the game rather than having to spend a lot of time on character building. I'm wondering now though if pure classes are as effective in the higher levels and if they are very desirable for groups. Anyway if I decide to stay I wanted to start working on a ranger. I was reading about the upcoming Arcane Archer and was wondering if I can get that as a pure ranger, or do I need to take some sorcery as well? If so I'd still like some advice on how to get started with that in case I decide to go that route. Thanks.

[Pellegro]

There is nothing wrong with pure classes. In fact, some classes do better if you keep them pure (sorc, probably barb as well).

As for rangers, I'm not sure if there is a casting prereq with Arcane Archer. If you search around the forums (maybe do a search for arcane archer) I'm fairly certain that the devs posted the prereqs at one point. I *think* but am not sure that you could get it by taking a caster feat wihtout a level.

Anyhow, don't hesitate to play a pure classed ranger. Many will argue that there are "better" multiclass builds but whatever build is "better" is based on what quests people are runnign at that time. As new content comes out, some older builds don't look so hot and there are new "best builds".

A pure class ranger will do just fine, and in fact you'll be best poised to take some of hte new enhancement lines, especially Tempest II, which the developers have said will "likely" require 15 levels of ranger.

[Monvictis]

Hey thanks for the response. I feel a little better about the pure class thing now. I did find this list of prereqs for the Arcane enhancements:

Ranger/Elven Arcane Archer I:
Prereqs: Ranger 6 or Elf 9, +6 Base Attack Bonus, Weapon Focus: Point Blank Shot, any one of: Elven Arcanum I, Bard Music of Energy I, Sorcerer Energy of the Dragonblooded I, Wizard Energy of the Scholar I, or Mental Toughness

Being a DDO newbie I didn't know if any of those last skills were available to a pure ranger. They all seem to be for different classes. Also, I'm not clear on the Tempest build. My understanding is that it's focused more on melee two-handed fighting? And I think some of the prereqs are from the fighter class?

Ranger Tempest I:
Prereqs: Ranger 6, Two Weapon Fighting, Improved Two Weapon Fighting, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack.
Benefit: Grants a stacking bonus to dual wield attack speed and a +2 bonus to armor class while dual wielding.

If it's more about melee damage at the expense of ranged than I'd rather not go that route as I enjoy bow fighting more. Maybe the Deepwood Sniper is more suitable for a pure ranger:

Ranger Deepwood Sniper I:
Prereqs: Ranger 6, Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus: Ranged, Ranger Hide 2, Ranger Move Silently 2, Ranger Spot 2.
Benefit: Grants a +1 bonus to Hide, Move Silently, and Spot. Also grants the ability to take an aimed 'sniper shot' with a +4 bonus to hit, +1 critical threat range, and +1 critical threat multiplier.

Another thing I'd like to know are these all distinctive builds that can not be combined? For example can an Arcane archer also be a Deepwood Sniper? If there are any rangers that can explain this to me I'd really appreciate it and thanks again for the response thus far :)

[Qzipoun]

Hey thanks for the response. I feel a little better about the pure class thing now. I did find this list of prereqs for the Arcane enhancements:

Ranger/Elven Arcane Archer I:
Prereqs: Ranger 6 or Elf 9, +6 Base Attack Bonus, Weapon Focus: Point Blank Shot, any one of: Elven Arcanum I, Bard Music of Energy I, Sorcerer Energy of the Dragonblooded I, Wizard Energy of the Scholar I, or Mental Toughness

Being a DDO newbie I didn't know if any of those last skills were available to a pure ranger.

"Ranger 6 or Elf 9, +6 Base Attack Bonus, Weapon Focus: Point Blank Shot" are all available to a pure ranger.

"Elven Arcanum I, Bard Music of Energy I, Sorcerer Energy of the Dragonblooded I, Wizard Energy of the Scholar I" are available to Elven Wiz/Sorc, Bards, Sorc, Wiz (respectivelly)

"Mental Toughness" is available to all casting-capable classes, including rangers

[ChildrenofBodom]

"Mental Toughness" is available to all casting-capable classes, including rangers

You can't get mental toughness on a ranger until they can cast spells though, which is at level 4 if you have an 11 wisdom, if you don't have an 11 wisdom you get spells at 6. So keep that in mind :p

[Arianrhod]

Mental toughness is also a feat, unlike the others which are enhancements. So in practice a pure ranger would have to wait and take it at level 6. It would give more spell points, and make the character eligible for arcane archer (assuming they took point blank shot at 1 or 3), but would also take up one of the ranger's precious few feats.

[Zenako]

Mental toughness is also a feat, unlike the others which are enhancements. So in practice a pure ranger would have to wait and take it at level 6. It would give more spell points, and make the character eligible for arcane archer (assuming they took point blank shot at 1 or 3), but would also take up one of the ranger's precious few feats.

Yup, but that is the tradeoff for getting the other special things from Arcane.

Same thing for the Bard Specials...they often end up taking enehancements (or Feats) that they might not otherwise choose.

Same thing for the Rogue Specials...

The rules are pretty self consistent so far on this type of thing...

If you are lucky and your build already matches the template, very little needs to be done (My Drow Bard who became a Spellsinger had to do almost nothing, since that was how he was being built in the first place.)

[Puke]

Hey thanks for the response. I feel a little better about the pure class thing now. I did find this list of prereqs for the Arcane enhancements:

Ranger/Elven Arcane Archer I:
Prereqs: Ranger 6 or Elf 9, +6 Base Attack Bonus, Weapon Focus: Point Blank Shot, any one of: Elven Arcanum I, Bard Music of Energy I, Sorcerer Energy of the Dragonblooded I, Wizard Energy of the Scholar I, or Mental Toughness

Being a DDO newbie I didn't know if any of those last skills were available to a pure ranger. They all seem to be for different classes.
The pre-reqs, as I understand it, is either Ranger 6 or something that is Elf 9. That is, you can be a 9th level Elf Paladin or Wizard and be able to take this.


Also, I'm not clear on the Tempest build. My understanding is that it's focused more on melee two-handed fighting? And I think some of the prereqs are from the fighter class?

Ranger Tempest I:
Prereqs: Ranger 6, Two Weapon Fighting, Improved Two Weapon Fighting, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack.
Benefit: Grants a stacking bonus to dual wield attack speed and a +2 bonus to armor class while dual wielding.

If it's more about melee damage at the expense of ranged than I'd rather not go that route as I enjoy bow fighting more. Maybe the Deepwood Sniper is more suitable for a pure ranger:

Ranger Deepwood Sniper I:
Prereqs: Ranger 6, Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus: Ranged, Ranger Hide 2, Ranger Move Silently 2, Ranger Spot 2.
Benefit: Grants a +1 bonus to Hide, Move Silently, and Spot. Also grants the ability to take an aimed 'sniper shot' with a +4 bonus to hit, +1 critical threat range, and +1 critical threat multiplier.
Yes, the Tempest is designed to benefit the TWF Ranger. The Deepwood is all bow. The thing you should know though is that attacking with your bow is about 3-times slower than melee'ing with swords.

You can also go straight Ranger and not take any of these enhancements and still do very well. I'm not completely sold on all these enhancements when I reflect upon how expensive they are in terms of what you spend in feats. Tempest requires the Shot-on-the-run chain which is three whole feats. I think Rangers only get five feats (non favored enemy) up to level 14.


Another thing I'd like to know are these all distinctive builds that can not be combined? For example can an Arcane archer also be a Deepwood Sniper? If there are any rangers that can explain this to me I'd really appreciate it and thanks again for the response thus far :)
My understanding is that the above cannot be combined. For one thing, I don't know if you can get all the pre-req feats anyway. Tempest requires Dodge, Mobility, SOTR and Deepwood requires PBS and WF:Ranged. Right there is five and you'd be 14th level.

[Arianrhod]

The pre-reqs, as I understand it, is either Ranger 6 or something that is Elf 9. That is, you can be a 9th level Elf Paladin or Wizard and be able to take this.


Actually, an elf pure wizard would need to be 12th level to meet the +6 base attack bonus requirement. Same with elf sorceror.

[Monvictis]

I decided to try building a pure ranged ranger. Unless I'm missing something I think you will be able to be both an Arcane Archer and a Deepwood Sniper. I think the only prereq feat for DS is Weapon Focus: Ranged. For a pure ranger to get AA the feats are Point Blank Shot and Mental Toughness. (I could be wrong about this just going by something I read on the forum here.) But if this is correct I could take Point Blank Shot, Weapon Foc, and Mental Toughness to get both with one feat left. If I take the IC feat then I don't get Weapon Finesse. What I'm wondering is it worth it to give up Weapon Finesse for both builds? Or would it be more effective to keep it and just have one build with the improved crit?

[Mad_Bombardier]

I think the only prereq feat for DS is Weapon Focus: Ranged. For a pure ranger to get AA the feats are Point Blank Shot and Mental Toughness. (I could be wrong about this just going by something I read on the forum here.) But if this is correct I could take Point Blank Shot, Weapon Foc, and Mental Toughness to get both with one feat left. If I take the IC feat then I don't get Weapon Finesse.The prereqs are listed above. DS is 2 feats and 9 AP spent, AA is 3 feats (2 feats and 1 AP for arcane multiclass).

As for ImpCrit, if you are going to swing or fire a weapon, you take ImpCrit. End of story. But, I'm afraid I don't see the problem. Between L1 and 15, you get 6 "career" feats. Even after taking ImpCrit, you should have 2 to spare.

[Monvictis]

Ah ok I see what you mean about the feats. For some reason when I first did the build I thought I only got 4 feats to choose from. Thanks for the help.

[brshelton]

OOC how did you hear about the game?

[Monvictis]

OOC=Out Of Curiosity? I knew about the game for awhile but hadn't really given much thought to trying it. I've never played PnP D&D but I've played MMO's for the past 5 or 6 years or so. Started with UO then SWG then WoW. I've also tried various betas and trials. I was trying to find something new to try cause I was feelin a little bored with WoW. I think it was on a MMO site I saw an ad for the DDO trial so decided to try it. So far I really like it, the gameplay seems refreshing after all the grinding in WoW.

[tihocan]

I don't remember exactly what Eladrin said on this topic, but I thought class specializations would be exclusive, so you should make sure you can get both sniper and arcane archer.
Also, just be aware that ranged combat is known not to be effective in DDO, and although mod.6 will improve it, you will often be considered the "extra slot for someone we don't really need".
Also, start with a high enough strength (not lower than 14).

[tihocan]

Ah, Mad_B confirmed you cannot have both: http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?p=1502321#post1502321