Arcane Archer/Spellsinger

[Arovin]

Looking for some feedback on my new Arcane Archer. I know she will not have the Ranger Cap stone for the ranger speed buff but I am hoping the extra utility (Buffs, Traps and UMD) along with the ability to be a backup healer with the extra spell points will make me more rounded then a pure DPS ranger.

One concern with the build is that I split Jump and Concentration. Should I focus on one more than the other? I am hoping to spend my time avoiding being hit then having to depend on concentration to get my heals off. I am leaning towards dumping concentration and just putting the extra points in jump.

As an elf with Arcanum and Spellsinger do I have enough spell points to be a good healer and not just a buff bot?


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.00
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Level 16 True Neutral Elf Female
(2 Rogue \ 1 Wizard \ 13 Bard)
Hit Points: 130
Spell Points: 880
BAB: 10\10\15\20
Fortitude: 5
Reflex: 16
Will: 9

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Stats Modified Stats
Abilities (Level 1) (Level 16)
Strength 8 8
Dexterity 16 20
Constitution 12 12
Intelligence 16 16
Wisdom 8 8
Charisma 14 20

Starting Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 16)
Balance 7 9
Bluff 2 5
Concentration 3 13
Diplomacy 6 9
Disable Device 7 22
Haggle 6 9
Heal -1 -1
Hide 3 5
Intimidate 2 5
Jump 3 12
Listen -1 1
Move Silently 3 5
Open Lock 7 9
Perform n/a 24
Repair 3 3
Search 7 24
Spot 3 20
Swim -1 -1
Tumble 7 9
Use Magic Device 6 26

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot


Level 2 (Bard)
Spell (1): Cure Light Wounds


Level 3 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Rapid Shot
Spell (1): Focusing Chant


Level 4 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Spell (1): Expeditious Retreat


Level 5 (Bard)
Spell (2): Blur
Spell (2): Cure Moderate Wounds


Level 6 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Extend Spell
Feat: (Selected) Precise Shot
Spell (1): Jump
Spell (1): Nightshield
Spell (1): Feather Fall


Level 7 (Bard)
Spell (1): Hypnotism
Spell (2): Heroism


Level 8 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA


Level 9 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
Spell (2): Glitterdust
Spell (3): Cure Serious Wounds
Spell (3): Haste


Level 10 (Rogue)


Level 11 (Bard)
Spell (3): Good Hope


Level 12 (Bard)
Ability Raise: DEX
Feat: (Selected) Manyshot


Level 13 (Bard)
Spell (3): Displacement
Spell (4): Cure Critical Wounds
Spell (4): Freedom of Movement


Level 14 (Bard)
Spell (4): Otto's Sphere of Dancing


Level 15 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons


Level 16 (Bard)
Ability Raise: CHA
Spell (4): Dimension Door
Spell (5): Greater Heroism
Spell (5): Shadow Walk
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Spellsinger I
Enhancement: Elven Arcanum I
Enhancement: Elven Arcanum II
Enhancement: Elven Arcanum III
Enhancement: Elven Arcanum IV
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II
Enhancement: Elf Ranged Attack I
Enhancement: Elf Ranged Attack II
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer I
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +2 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Force Arrow
Enhancement: Bard Concentration I
Enhancement: Bard Concentration II
Enhancement: Bard Lyric of Song I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic I
Enhancement: Bard Song Magic II
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music II
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music III
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music IV
Enhancement: Bard Charisma I
Enhancement: Bard Charisma II
Enhancement: Bard Charisma III
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I

[ghettoGenius]

This could be an interesting build given the synergy between the classes you have chosen. I like the available skill points ... you could conceivably fill multiple rolls in a group such as trapsmith/buffer/healer and crowd control plus maybe light backup dps. I usually tell people to play what they want and this is no exception, but I will say I think you have too many combat feats.

Focusing on bow damage is tricky, even for rangers. They at least get the ranged feats for free (especially bow strength). Repeater is a good option for this type of bard, but some hardcore elves scoff at the weapon lol. If youre hell bent on using the bow mainly then keep point blank and rapid shot. Maybe WF:Ranged but i think its a waste of a feat for just +1 to hit with bows. Manyshot might work. Not sure Id blow a feat on precise shot given all the bows around that can give you that for free.

I suggest feats like emp healing, toughness, heighten, SF:umd will be more useful to you. Keep a few points in jump but i would make sure concentration is maxed especially if you go without quicken. Just my thoughts.

[Arovin]

Thanks for the input.

Weapon focus Ranged is a requirement for Arcane Archer. I can see dropping Precise shot for +3 to UMD.

They other way that I can see this build going would be a halfing with the Dragonmarks and throwing instead of the Arcane archer. Quick Draw would replace Rapidshot and point blank and would also help for scroll swapping with UMD. I would have a free hand to equip a shield or secpter as needed. The spell points I save with the Dragonmarks for healing could go towards more crowd control. Granted I would loose the extra spellpoints from Arcanum and Arcane Archer. I would also loose the extra attacks from many shot and the added dps from Arcane archer.

I think overall the Halfling would be a better build just less dps and more utility. Thing is I already have a Dragonmarked Halfling andI just lover the concept of an Arcane Archer. I might just have to roll both.

[chrichton]

Thanks for the input.

Weapon focus Ranged is a requirement for Arcane Archer. I can see dropping Precise shot for +3 to UMD.

They other way that I can see this build going would be a halfing with the Dragonmarks and throwing instead of the Arcane archer. Quick Draw would replace Rapidshot and point blank and would also help for scroll swapping with UMD. I would have a free hand to equip a shield or secpter as needed. The spell points I save with the Dragonmarks for healing could go towards more crowd control. Granted I would loose the extra spellpoints from Arcanum and Arcane Archer. I would also loose the extra attacks from many shot and the added dps from Arcane archer.

I think overall the Halfling would be a better build just less dps and more utility. Thing is I already have a Dragonmarked Halfling andI just lover the concept of an Arcane Archer. I might just have to roll both.
How is WF:Ranged a requirement for Arcane Archer? I could very well be missing something here, but that requirement is only for the Ranger Specialization "Arcane Archer", right? What you are wanting to build is technically an arcane archer, but not THE arcane archer ranger spec.

I too am looking into building an AA via Bard. Basically, I started looking into Bards and what sort of secondary role they can play. I want a spellsinger (not a melee character) and it seems some form of AA be a good help for this idea.

I am still planning this out . . .

[Arovin]

The ranger spec arcane archer is available to elves of any class at level 9 not just rangers as long as you meet the requirements. Compendium link (http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Enhancement:Elven_Arcane_Archer_I)

[chrichton]

The ranger spec arcane archer is available to elves of any class at level 9 not just rangers as long as you meet the requirements. Compendium link (http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Enhancement:Elven_Arcane_Archer_I)
Aha! That makes more sense.

I use ddo.enterwiki.net as a primary resource, but it seems it has a number of shortcomings. (This ain't the first time something has been off.)

So - what is your main reason for wanting THE Arcane Archer? Basically unlimited ammo? True Strike? Force Arrows? (How often can true Strike be used?) In looking at the AA, I don't see a compelling reason to go that route, except for concept reasons.

I got one more level to go on my Ranger hybrid to get Improved Precise Shot - that with Many Shot (and a couple of good bows) should be interesting. This is also a combo I'd like to have on an Arcane Archer, but that is a lot of feats . . . maybe 3 lvls of fighter would help with the martial feats.

[Arovin]

Aha! That makes more sense.

I use ddo.enterwiki.net as a primary resource, but it seems it has a number of shortcomings. (This ain't the first time something has been off.)

So - what is your main reason for wanting THE Arcane Archer? Basically unlimited ammo? True Strike? Force Arrows? (How often can true Strike be used?) In looking at the AA, I don't see a compelling reason to go that route, except for concept reasons.

I got one more level to go on my Ranger hybrid to get Improved Precise Shot - that with Many Shot (and a couple of good bows) should be interesting. This is also a combo I'd like to have on an Arcane Archer, but that is a lot of feats . . . maybe 3 lvls of fighter would help with the martial feats.

AA is mostly for concept but with the changes coming to Force Arrows I think it could really add to overall ranged dps even without the ranger speed bonus. The devs have also stated that they are planning on adding more arrow based spell effects such as fireball.

[bcgone]

To the O.P.,

I am certainly no uber leet player but have to warn you that based upon your HP and SP at level 16, you are going to have some major survival issues. You should strive to find a way to get your hit points much closer to 300+. Also, on any difficult end game runs you are going to be very low on mana in a supporting healing role. You will most likely be scrolling heals and/or reconstruct, but the cool down timers on these scrolls will kill your effectiveness. The type of glancing blows you must withstand will require substantially more than 130-200 hp. Just some food for thought after getting my own toons into similar positions.