New Tempest Build for Comparison

[Brother_Tuck]

To give some background before any negativity and flames come on, I personally think that saves are important for the higher level content as well as HP and the Tempest enhancement is meant more for a front line attacker. I did not plan this build to be a main tank or a pure DPS build as I have plenty of the uber items to give him to make him very effective on most every quest.

Now for the build. I made him a dwarf and LG to take advantage of the higher CON and the free dwarven axe feat as I have some nice axes for him. In addition, I will be using a set rapiers (W/P, smiting, banishing) and multiple disruptors and many greater banes (DWAs and rapiers/SS). I planned on adding levels of Paladin for the boost to saves and Fighter to get extra feats. At 16 he will be 13/1/2. I did not plan on STWF as a feat and did not think it will be given as a free feat for rangers. Since there is no discussions on Tempest II, I did not give this any thoughts but if I need additional levels of ranger after 16 I will add, but otherwise my plan was 15/3/2 ranger/fighter/paladin for the extra feats and enhancements. I might go to 14 ranger for 4th level spells but not sure yet.

Stats are as follows (I used 6 +1 tomes on after rolling him up):

Str 15 +2 tome, +4 for lvls, +6 item, +1 enhancement = 28
Dex 14 +1 tome, +6 item, +3 enhancement = 24
Con 17 +1 tome, +6 item, +2 enhancement = 26
Int 8 +1 tome, + item as needed = 9 +
Wis 8 +1 tome, +5 ring = 14
Cha 14 +1 tome, +6 item, +1 enhancement = 22

Saves are:

Fort 14 +8 for CON, +6 for CHA, +5 item = 33
Reflex 8 +7 for DEX, +6 for CHA, +5 item = 26
Will 4 +6 for CHA, +6 for CHA, +5 item = 21
(note: I plan on taking the Feat that allows me to add my CHA modifier for my Will save instead of my WIS modifier)

In order to get the Tempest enhancement (which adds 10% attack speed for melee which stacks with Haste and +2 to AC while dual weapon fighting) you need to have the requirements:
- 6 lvls of Ranger, Feats - Dodge, Mobility & Spring Attack

Feats are/will be:

1st Dodge
3rd Toughness (to unlock the enhancements)
6th Mobility
9th Spring Attack
12th Improved Crit - Piercing
15th Weapon Focus - Piercing
Ftr 1 Use CHA mod for Will Save instead of WIS mod


Enhancements:

Dwarven Toughness IV
Dwarven Con II
Dwarven Axe Attack II
Dwarven Axe Damaged II
Dwarven Spell Resist (+ to saves vs. spells)
Ranger Dex III
Ranger Favored Damage
Ranger Favored Attack
Paladin Toughness
Paladin Cha I
Fighter Str I
Item Defense

UMD - 9 (basic ranks) +6 CHA mod, +3 UMD Skill focus = 18
- With the Head of Good Fortune = 20
- With the Seven fingered Gloves = 22 ( I would swap out UMD Skill focus)

HP = Around 373 at 14th lvl 407 at 16th lvl (unbuffed with a GFL item)
AC = 38 TWF (unbuffed) 51 maxed out with raid gear and self buffs
- 10 base AC
- 10 Armor bonus - +5 mith bp
- 5 dex bonus
- 1 dodge
- 2 dodge (Chaosgarde)
- 5 protection item
- 2 Tempest enhancement
- 2 Dwarven armored mastery
- 1 Paladin aura

Other items I can add:
- KDS +1
- Chattering Ring +3
- Barkskin +5 (self cast)
- Haste +1 (pots)
- Greater Heroism +2 (planar girds)

This is my current build so please post any comments, questions or suggestions. Thanks for any input...BT

[catpower]

This build looks pretty solid.

I can only think of a couple of things to mention:

You can also use ranger skill boost to bump up your umd. The first level adds +2 and only costs one AP.

The misc bonus you are seeing is your pally aura.

If it was me, I'd stick with imp crit slash given your axe enhancements and all. Oh and I'd probably choose Weapon Focus over Spec, but that's just me. I know you'll already have a high to hit esp. with axes, but more doesn't hurt on elite.

Thanks again for sharing the build and enjoy your little chopper!

[jmonty]

i would drop the pally level and put the charisma into str, but if you are dead set on the saves, then that looks great.

[Brother_Tuck]

This build looks pretty solid.

I can only think of a couple of things to mention:

You can also use ranger skill boost to bump up your umd. The first level adds +2 and only costs one AP.

The misc bonus you are seeing is your pally aura.

If it was me, I'd stick with imp crit slash given your axe enhancements and all. Oh and I'd probably choose Weapon Focus over Spec, but that's just me. I know you'll already have a high to hit esp. with axes, but more doesn't hurt on elite.

Thanks again for sharing the build and enjoy your little chopper!

Thanks for the input Cat. I meant focus but forgot what it was called when I wrote this up. I plan on taking the imp crit - slashing at higher lvls but I wanted the imp crit - piercing earlier so I can take advantage of my smiting, banishing, W of P rapiers where my vorpal, disruptor and + elementals of maiming/pure good are all axes for the damage.

Also Monty I already took the levels of Pally for the improved saves and the higher cha is for UMD and my will save as well. If I took more str at start up I would suffer in my stats in other areas.

I like my ranger having versatility as well and UMD will allow me to rez at a higher rate once I can get all the gear I need. My plan was once I got 1750 I would use the +2 tome in str and even it out at 28 and therefore rounding out most of the stats I need....NOW if I can get any +3 tomes (con/dex/cha) then it will only be gravy. But thats just my op..not necessarily saying its the best build for everyone or the best out there....just one I have tinkered with for ALONG time and finally with the Tempest, thought I should finally make him. Basically its a remake of my original character from headstart who is a Ranger/Rogue build.

[catpower]

It's definitely gonna be a fun build to play and I agree that the 2 levels of Pally are well worth it. The bonus to saves is really, really nice especially with evasion.

Heck, I'm tempted to take 2 levels of rogue with Alethe, my 14 pally when the cap goes up although they keep saying that the following mod is going to bring some changes to paladins so I may wait.