looking for advice - ranged character

[term1000]

Hey everyone

I'm starting a new character and I want it to be useful as a range attack
I don't like crossbows so I will go with longbow

I thought of 1(2) ranger/ 19(18) fighter
Or pure 20 one of them to be focused on ranged damage

So what's you'r suggestions?

[sirdanile]

Pure ranger or pure fighter.

Elf for both for the damage enhancements and arcane archer (for ranger)

start high strength and dex because of bow strength (can drop this a little for fighter, put more con)

neither will be feat starved, grab more toughnesses with fighter on normal feats, bonus feats grab ranged weapon stuff.

going fighter makes you lose out on a lot so i'd recommend ranger.

[Jay203]

Elf
18/1/1 Fighter/Ranger/Bard
full elven enahancement for dex, bow attack, bow damage
elven arcane archer
fighter kensai 3
bard umd and prereq for arcane archer
ranger bow str (bleh)
fighter haste boost
fighter weapon focus, specialization

yummy :)

[maddmatt70]

Elf
18/1/1 Fighter/Ranger/Bard
full elven enahancement for dex, bow attack, bow damage
elven arcane archer
fighter kensai 3
bard umd and prereq for arcane archer
ranger bow str (bleh)
fighter haste boost
fighter weapon focus, specialization

yummy :)

I have this exact character which I am deleting next mod because I will not get the +25% ranged dps for the ranger capstone. Your only option is pure level 20 ranger OP. If anybody tells you anything different ignore them.

[Jay203]

I have this exact character which I am deleting next mod because I will not get the +25% ranged dps for the ranger capstone. Your only option is pure level 20 ranger OP. If anybody tells you anything different ignore them.

lol, do what you will :P
i'm still thinking about rerolling to take the ranger lvl out
just gotta see how bow str feat will get changed

[eonfreon]

I have this exact character which I am deleting next mod because I will not get the +25% ranged dps for the ranger capstone. Your only option is pure level 20 ranger OP. If anybody tells you anything different ignore them.

Regrettably, I pretty much agree.

Due to the Ranger Capstone, if you want a Ranged Character you pretty much HAVE to go Pure Ranger.

Who knows if things will change but as it looks like right now, Pure Ranger is the ONLY way to go, unless you think something might change before Level 20.

Because you can curently build some Ranged Character that might equal a 19th Level Ranger, but it is pretty much impossible to create anything that can equal a 20th Level Ranged Ranger.

Opinions may vary but that's the way I see it.

However, having said that I think Jay203's Build looks really cool.
Until I saw the Ranger Capstone I would've said it could be made to rival any Ranger.
Now, not so much. :(

[term1000]

It is so hard to decide
That capstone and prestige enhancements takes out the fun in multiclass, makes you less thinking and less freedom

18/x human fighter kensai 3 will give lots of damage and fun stuff to play with, on the other hand 20 ranger will be much less durable and less fun until level 20

I need like everyone here the "fun" factor but those new enhancements ruins it a bit...

back to the draw board

[Talon_Moonshadow]

I have this exact character which I am deleting next mod because I will not get the +25% ranged dps for the ranger capstone. Your only option is pure level 20 ranger OP. If anybody tells you anything different ignore them.

My Ftr14/Rgr2 Archer will prob be deleted. Or transfered to another server where his 1750 favor is valuable. :(
And my Bowbarian never made it past lvl 5. :(

Not sure what to do with my WF Rgr11/Wiz1 Arcane Archer yet. At least he should rock until lvl 20.

IMO best mod 9 char period is Dragon Marked 32pt Elf Rgr 20, w/Tempest III and Capstone.....Improved Crit Pierce, Ranged, and max Stealth and UMD skills.
So good I would argue it's overpowered.

Mines lvl 7 and climbing fast!

[The_Phenx]

20th lvl elven ranger...range focused still kicks tail in close quarters combat when necessary as well... 16dex/str 12 wis to start should be about right for ya.

To those who think it funnels you.. yep it does.. its the best all aorund....can you make something else.. shure... but it wont be as nice. I think a 20th fighter kensai III ranger would be interesting as well, wouldn't fire as fast but would hit harder.

[Blazer]

IMO best mod 9 char period is Dragon Marked 32pt Elf Rgr 20, w/Tempest III and Capstone.....Improved Crit Pierce, Ranged, and max Stealth and UMD skills.
So good I would argue it's overpowered.

Which tier of dragonmarks? Invis only or also taking the displacement?

[Wu_Jen]

I have this exact character which I am deleting next mod because I will not get the +25% ranged dps for the ranger capstone. Your only option is pure level 20 ranger OP. If anybody tells you anything different ignore them.

So will the WF +10% docent stack with the capstone? i.e. +35% ? but not stack with haste right?

[Ollathir]

So will the WF +10% docent stack with the capstone? i.e. +35% ? but not stack with haste right?

Correct. Docent of Quickening is enhancement bonus, Master of Archery competence typed.

[sirdanile]

I could foresee WF fighter 20 being fun, 20% instead of 25% but itll hit WAY higher.

/shrug

[Alizar]

why in the world is no one suggesting a bowbarian with crit II and tempest? I was told the docent doesn't stack with haste spell so not really worth it since your hasted all the time end game.

[Ollathir]

why in the world is no one suggesting a bowbarian with crit II and tempest? I was told the docent doesn't stack with haste spell so not really worth it since your hasted all the time end game.


Well, he was saying he's starting out and there will be no more crit II in Mod 9. Of course who knows, maybe he will have time to level a character before it gets released.

[Uska]

Pure ranger, for now period 32pt elf or drow if you cant do that. I would say arcane archer as the force arrows are stacking with everything else, and you get the twf stuff free so you have that for back up.

[term1000]

so far:
fighter19/ranger1:
pos: damage, action boosts, HP, AC, feats
con: maybe not getting improve precise shoot, evasion, attack speed at level 20

ranger20: just the opposite then fighter19/ranger1

everyone suggest here to take arcane archer
why not deepwood? sniper looks better to me and will get level 3 in mod 9

i'm starting to think about leaving ranged attack and go tempest they got me...

[Talon_Moonshadow]

Which tier of dragonmarks? Invis only or also taking the displacement?

Displacement.
Although I like Invis, it's not worth a feat IMO....but Displacement is very nice. Gotta take Invis feat as a prereq though. Could also take Toughness or Improved Crit Slash.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

why in the world is no one suggesting a bowbarian with crit II and tempest? I was told the docent doesn't stack with haste spell so not really worth it since your hasted all the time end game.

Well I never got mine past lvl5 and mod 9 is getting rid of Crit rage line.......so, mine's dead as far as Im concerned.
But I think everyone's opinion is +25% speed for Rgr20 capstone trumps(kills) all other possible builds.

[Demoyn]

i'm starting to think about leaving ranged attack and go tempest they got me...

This quote is the best statement in this entire thread. You wanted ranged advice? You got it: don't... just don't.

[Emili]

Pure ranger is the epitome of ranging via a longbow or shortbow... plus elves have all the advantages due to you being able to add in enhancements for damage or to hit and pull them back out as the character matures.

1.) Long bows and short bows are slow.... 43 attacks a minute (outside many shot) The 20th level capstone brings this to 54 attacks, While lagging behind the THF barb (at 68 attacks) it is in closer ROA. Again all anyone building melee needs to do is look at tempest to see that ROA rules over maximum punch 90% of the time.

2.) Dex enhancements ... Ranger get up to +3 and another +2 if you're elf. The To-hit of ranged attacks are based off dex.

3.) Rangers get Bow Strength, Manyshot, Precise shot and Improved Precise shot... etc... built in... The only range feat worth anything outside those which a ranger gets for free is IC: Ranged... so 6 feats are left for toughness, etc... Shot on the run? Worthless since mod 3... a dex of 32+ removes this feat from sight. If your dex is below 32 I can tell you will miss a lot more then you think.

4.) Here is the clincher and Favored enemy... is +8 now at level 16 will be +10 at level 20 plus another +3 in damages from ranger favored damage enhancements + another +2 elf longbow/shortbow damage enhancements = +15 on all favored enemies before bow strength + rams + rage spell + madstoned...

5.) Because you get all the ranged and twf feat chains … add in an IC: pierce on top of that and you melee half decent too... you're not just a one-trick pony. All the good ranged characters also melee

6.) Put just enough points in spot and you can see and kill things in the vale or wherever way out of any casters sight or tab orb… the party never sees them but you pick up the outline then the mob way off in the distance…

Now then I do not portray myself as an authority in bow ranging characters… But with three rangers plus two other characters who carry bows I can tell you from the perspective of my builds and somewhat from those of My friend Riftbow (who has had bow using ranged characters of many types – Fighter mixes, Barbarians mixes, Rogue mixes) and he has told me so many times… as he deleted those toons, does not perform as well as his pure ranger.

Just examples:

1.) Ambyre – (Elf ranger 16) is and always was designed for bow usage, and older ranger from mod 2 times… too heavy a dex (36 will reach 38 with a +3 tome) but not too shabby on strength (26 under rams) Sports IC ranged and IC Pierce and finesse – this character will outkill and out dps all my other girls when it comes to bows… I was recently in reaver along with a bow wielding Barbarian/Ranger/Fighter 14/1/1 and received a tell from him because she had killed three times the elementals he had… both characters using WoP bows… His str was 44 in burst and his dex 30 and had crit rage II. Why? Well Ambyre only misses those things when there is a roll of one or (a no-roll move by the mob). I know for a fact dex 30 and dex 36 are a difference in number of hits… see below.

2.) Misbehaven – (Elf ranger 12/rogue 4) Was originally spec’d pretty much melee and the rogue in her sucks up quite a bit of the ranger in her believe it or not. Her Dex sits at 32 her str at 26… this character has both IC:pierce and IC Range… and sits on what I would call the border… She can weild a bow half-decently but misses maybe about 15-25% of attacks Ambyre makes. As such I use a bow then turn to melee with her as quick as I can.

3.) Einin – (Human Ranger 14/Fighter 2) Now mind you this is a tempest, She’s 32str standing and 30 dex however… now she has no bow using feats except those which come with being a level 14 ranger… and she totally sucks with a bow. On an elite end game setting she will miss one of those arrows when many shot is on sometimes all of them. If I kite with her we drop to hitting maybe every 5th arrow or so.

Summary: If I were to reroll Ambyre, I would top her at 36 dex (with a +3 tome) rather then the 38 currently possible and pick up 2 more points in strength. The actual cut off seems to be about 32-34 standing... similar to the strength based builds standing strength targets.

Hint for kiting: Many melee dislike when a ranger kites… attempting to chase mobs down, etc… but this is a cool way of doing it… Kite the mob in the tightest circle you can. The mob instead of chasing you stands still attempting to range or cast at you. Works great for one mob, and even better for multiple mobs as improved precise shot rips through them all just because they’re in close proximity. Plus it allows the melee to wack on a few before you take them down.

[term1000]

Okay, i got the idea of pure ranger and i have two more questions

1: what if i take elf 19fighter/1ranger and have two prestige enhancements?
this should work, arcane ranger as elf (count as ranger prestige enhancement) and kensai as fighter

2) what do you think should better? arcane archer or deepwood sniper
i think deepwood sniper, line them up and shoot with bonus to critical threat and multiplier

thanks for the replies so far

[Arovin]

Okay, i got the idea of pure ranger and i have two more questions

1: what if i take elf 19fighter/1ranger and have two prestige enhancements?
this should work, arcane ranger as elf (count as ranger prestige enhancement) and kensai as fighter

2) what do you think should better? arcane archer or deepwood sniper
i think deepwood sniper, line them up and shoot with bonus to critical threat and multiplier

thanks for the replies so far

As an elf for arcane archer you would need at least one level of spell casting. Either 1 wiz/sorc/bard for spell point enchantment requirement or 1 level cleric or 4 levels of ranger/paladin plus mental toughness feat.

[Uska]

Okay, i got the idea of pure ranger and i have two more questions

1: what if i take elf 19fighter/1ranger and have two prestige enhancements?
this should work, arcane ranger as elf (count as ranger prestige enhancement) and kensai as fighter

2) what do you think should better? arcane archer or deepwood sniper
i think deepwood sniper, line them up and shoot with bonus to critical threat and multiplier

thanks for the replies so far



If your going ranged ranger any splash defeats the ability to get the capstone, and I prefer AA due to the force arrows being ghost touch plus 1d6 force and ability to cast 100% +3 arrows and the fact you can use flame arrow with your force arrows plus whatever bow you have, even though in live the force arrows arent stacking with flame arrow, I do good with my silver bow and force arrows with improved presise shot. Its also pretty sweet to line up a large group of mobs and paralyze the lot of them. or disrupt a whole group of noncorp undead with a disrutpting bow.

[term1000]

As an elf for arcane archer you would need at least one level of spell casting. Either 1 wiz/sorc/bard for spell point enchantment requirement or 1 level cleric or 4 levels of ranger/paladin plus mental toughness feat.

ops... forgot that...
so 1ranger/1wizard/18fighter

two prestige enhancements, the capstone is in question

the damage for ranger is 1d8+5(magic)+2(ram)+11(str)+10(FE)=32

normally with rapid shot you get 53 attacks per minute at level 16 with capstone you get (if it's 25%) 66
+13 attacks which is 13*32=416

fighter kensai adds 9 damage per hit
+4(specialization)+2(fighter enh)+1(fighter str)+2(kensai enhancement)

the damage for fighter kensai is 1d8+5(magic)+11(str)+9=29

TOTAL:

ranger: 32*66=2112
ranger vs non-FE: 22*66=1452
fighter: 29*53=1537

okay, so against favorite enemy that you choose at level 1 the ranger is better but the fighter can cover that with action boost when needed and power surge of kensai and still got arcane archer

i hope i didn't got dumber and forgot more stuff

(that post gave me a headache, but was fun)

what do you say now?