Arcane Archer Build Suggestions

[Timjc86]

I was mulling over some ideas for my first 32 point build once I hit my 1750 favor before too much longer and this was kind of appealing to me so I figured I'd get some suggestions. Basically I want to make a ranger / wizard. I am torn though in how to split up those levels.

I guess I should preface this by saying I intend for this to be a mostly ranged class although situational melee would be a possibility with weapon finesse. Essentially I have played caster classes to maybe 6ish (I know, whoa, look out!) and always give up in frustration due to being completely helpless and useless once I'm out of mana. So the idea here is to combine some decent bow effects with at the very least some nice buffs and maybe some magic stopping power as well.

I figure I would at the very least go 2 Ranger for rapid fire*, wands, etc. 6 Ranger is pretty enticing for Manyshot but then until they raise the level cap I'd be missing out on some nice spells (Greater Heroism, Flesh to Stone, Disintegrate, etc).

*Does rapid fire's speed increase with BAB or Ranger levels?*

The next big milestone would be Ranger 11 for Precise Shot, ITWF, etc. but at this point I'm limited mostly to buffs as far as useful Wizard spells (and maybe a Knock here and there?).



So I just figured I'd throw that out there and see what you all think and maybe get an angle or two I hadn't thought of.

I guess my main questions are:
-What should the level split be?
-In what order should I progress said levels?
-Will watering down a pure caster hurt spell DCs to the point that I can't really do much with my spells anyway? and thusly,
-Should I just toss this idea and try to muscle through the beginning levels again as a pure caster?

[Sargoth]

Most people i have seen take this build have done so to make a self buffing ranger type....self shield, blur, haste, etc. Not so much the standard caster.

If you are just looking for something to do when you run out of SP and are considering ranged weapons...you could always go for a repeater build spellcaster. The problem with this is you really need to collect a nice set of repeaters prior to building the toon or you will stop having fun with him around 7ish.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

I've done the self-buffing Rgr type. Either with 1 or 5 lvls of Wiz. it's nice, and rgr11 is good.

Another option would be rgr2/Wiz14. For a combat focused caster. Maybe an elf with this build and a couple other ranged feats. Rapid shot. Multi shot and Impr Crit ranged will make a good archer.

I don't see a real benifit to a more equal split build.

[Tharris]

I only just picked up one last level of Wiz to make my Arcane Archer (15ranger/1 wiz). I took the free extend feet, so Barkskin/rams etc last for 30 mins. For other non ranger buffs, I carry wands ( all the arcane wands I can use). And as I am making my own arrows, there is now plenty of space left in my inventory.

This is a heavily ranged combat build, but has a full set of big 5 melee weaps, and can go into dual vorpal weilding flavour if needed.

Next level will be back to ranger, so I can get my BAB to 16 and fire 4 arrows during multishot times.

Just my 2 C.P

[krud]

Neato is a ranged caster, elf 1rgr/15wiz. I originally planned on more ranger levels, but soon found out to remain effective as a caster it was better to take the rest wizard. If you go with elf you don't even need the ranger level to be effective with a bow, but the cure, remove disease, and neutralize poison wands do come in handy (plus the wizard wand enhancements work with cure wands). Two levels of ranger is good for rapid shot, but you do limit your access to the highest level spells, and your spell DCs are going to be lower.

Here's part of an old post describing my strategy when level cap was 10 or 12. The strategy is still valid:
"Starting as a ranger makes the early quests a lot more enjoyable. I could solo all the newbie quests on normal without dying anymore, and didn’t feel useless when I run out of mana. Think of him as a ranger with low con through the first 3 levels. You can wield a 2-hander without detriment to AC since you got your shield spell, but keep a small shield and one hander ready for when you run out of mana. At least with a 14 str you have a good fighting chance, and if the cleric is ever having a tough time keeping up with heals break out a wand and help him out.
Things start to get fun when you hit level 4 and get your web spell. Web, shoot bow, kill, but don’t target anything that’s not stuck or already engaged by the tanks. I usually kept web, and either bull strength or cat grace on my spell bar. Pretty much stays the same though the mid levels, except you get a few more fun spells to play with. Any frost/acid/shock/pure good longbow + flame arrows will do great thru the mid levels (d8 + d6flame + d6elemental +4str + 2arrows = 9-26dps, not too shabby for a squishy mage type). Above 8th level your damage numbers and to hit just won't keep up, plus you really don't want to draw aggro with your bow. This is where I switched to effect only bows (cursespewer, giants roar (shaken effect), destruction, etc). I also respecced my 1st level ranger feat to precision (+4 to hit, 1/2 damage) to increase my to-hit and decrease aggro. Many times I get 0 damage but the effects still go off, win/win. "

Lately i've been using a paralyzing bow of shattermantle. Really works well in the vale when I get bored of FoD/banishing everything, plus it saves lots of mana. My typical to-hit when self-buffed with greater heroism and haste is +29 using +3 houseD arrows. With a divine power clickie I can get +37.


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 2.80
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Neato
Level 16 Chaotic Good Elf Male
(1 Ranger \ 15 Wizard)
Hit Points: 88
Spell Points: 1179
BAB: 8\8\13
Fortitude: 7
Reflex: 11
Will: 9

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Stats Modified Stats
Abilities (Level 1) (Level 16)
Strength 14 14
Dexterity 16 18
Constitution 10 10
Intelligence 16 23
Wisdom 10 10
Charisma 8 8

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: whatever
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons: respec to precision @ lvl8

Level 2 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Extend Spell

Level 3 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell

Level 4 (Wizard)

Level 5 (Wizard)

Level 6 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Heighten Spell
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness

Level 7 (Wizard)

Level 8 (Wizard)

Level 9 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Mental Toughness

Level 10 (Wizard)

Level 11 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Maximize Spell

Level 12 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Spell Penetration

Level 13 (Wizard)

Level 14 (Wizard)

Level 15 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Quicken Spell

Level 16 (Wizard)
Enhancement: Elven Arcanum I
Enhancement: Elven Arcanum II
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II
Enhancement: Elf Ranged Attack I
Enhancement: Elf Ranged Attack II
Enhancement: Wizard Improved Empowering I
Enhancement: Wizard Improved Heightening I
Enhancement: Wizard Improved Maximizing I
Enhancement: Wizard Energy Manipulation I
Enhancement: Wizard Energy Manipulation II
Enhancement: Wizard Elemental Manipulation I
Enhancement: Wizard Elemental Manipulation II
Enhancement: Wizard Elemental Manipulation III
Enhancement: Wizard Force Manipulation I
Enhancement: Wizard Force Manipulation II
Enhancement: Wizard Spell Penetration I
Enhancement: Wizard Spell Penetration II
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar I
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar II
Enhancement: Wizard Energy of the Scholar III
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence I
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence II
Enhancement: Wizard Intelligence III
Enhancement: Wizard Wand Mastery I
Enhancement: Wizard Wand Mastery II


The above build is a 28pt build.
For 32pt you can go with one of the following:
18int, 12str.
12con, 12wis
10str, 18int, 12con. <-- i would use this if I made a pure wizard and take precision as my lvl9 feat

If you want to stay mostly ranger 5wiz/11rgr is probably as far as you should go with wizard. You get self displacement and haste, plus some other buffs. But really the wizard levels would be more for flavor, as you can accomplish most of the wizard abilties with umd or dragonmarks, or just a splash of wizard. One wizard level will still get a free extend feat and wands for flame arrows.