Ranger/rouge

[sshazaam211]

Looking for a build. A ranger that can use dual wield effectively and disable traps well. Looking for 1 rouge only, then the rest into Ranger. 28 point build.

[QuantumFX]

First, I’m going to have to warn you about misspelling the word “Rogue” on these forums. It’s not a good idea. It makes them angry. And you don’t want to see them angry. :D

Second, you should probably start thinking about what aspects of the game are important to you. Do you like stealth? Are you opposed to using the DDO store? Do you want to solo stuff? etc.

Third, there are a ton of variations of the 1 Rogue/1X Ranger build. So, this thread may become the proverbial “drink from the firehose”. (Note: IMO a 28pt exploiter build is an auto reroll character the minute you get 32 point builds. So I wouldn’t suggest one as a first character.)

All that said, here’s a “striker” build that should be pretty easy to play and equip. It’s for people who are willing to buy a +1 INT tome from the DDO store, like stealth, and can handle being self-sufficient. You will need to play him like a barbarian. At low levels you use a shield or a big honkin' Two handed axe. As you progress you stop hiding behind AC and start hiding behind Damage Reduction as your AC will never reach the point of being useful.

Human - True Neutral - 1 Rogue/1 Barbarian/18 Ranger
(Note: Currently there is no reason to not take a third class on a rogue splash ranger.)

Stats: (Note: I build characters off of the idea that DDO will have to include +5 tomes eventually.)
Strength: 16 Base, add in all your level ups here
Dexterity: 13 Base
Constitution: 14 Base
Intelligence: 13 Base, +1 Tome used at level 3
Wisdom: 9
Charisma: 9

Notes on gear: Try to keep the highest plus Spot, Search, Disable device and Open lock gear you can find!

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feats: Dodge, Toughness
Skills: 4 Balance, 4 Disable Device, 4 Hide, 4 Jump, 4 Move Silently, 4 Open Lock, 4 Search, 4 Spot, 4 Tumble, 4 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Rogue Haste Boost I, Human Versatility I, Rogue Faster Sneaking I, Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
(Note: At this level you should only wield a one handed weapon. I prefer longswords or a heavy mace. Also, learn to use your trip and sunder attacks!)

Level 2 (Ranger)
Feats: Favored Enemy: Undead
Skills: 1 Hide, 1 Move Silently, 1 Search, 1 Spot, 2 Disable Device, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Human Improved Recovery I, Ranger Favored Damage I,
(Note: This level makes you better with a bow and gives you martial weapons and shield proficiency. Be smart, use a shield or a greataxe!)

Level 3 (Ranger)
Important Tome information: Eat your DDO Store purchased +1 INT tome now!
Feats: Mobility
Skills: 1 Search, 1 Spot, 2 Disable Device, 2 Open Lock, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Racial Toughness I, Ranger Favored Resistance I, Ranger Dexterity I
(Note: Just because you have Two Weapon Fighting does not mean that you should use Two Weapon Fighting. At this point in the game TWF actually lowers your DPS. Keep using a shield or a big honkin weapon)

Level 4 (Ranger)
Stat Level up: Strength
Skills: 1 Hide, 1 Move Silently, 1 Search, 2 Disable Device, 2 Open Lock, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Human Versatility II, Ranger Search I (Respec this to Ranger Devotion I when you hit level 16)

Level 5 (Ranger)
Skills: 1 Hide, 1 Move Silently, 1 Search, 2 Disable Device, 2 Open Lock, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Human Adaptability: Constitution

Level 6 (Ranger)
Feats: Spring Attack, Favored Enemy: Giant
Skills: 1 Search, 2 Spot, 2 Disable Device, 2 Open Lock, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Human Improved Recovery II, Racial Toughness II, Ranger Favored Damage II
(Note: At this level you no longer need to worry about taking a penalty to hit while moving. Learn to use this to your advantage!)

Level 7 (Ranger)
Skills: 1 Hide, 1 Move Silently, 1 Search, 2 Disable Device, 2 Open Lock, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Ranger Specialty: Tempest I
(Notes: Get on your marks… get set… dual wield!)

Level 8 (Ranger)
Stat Increase: +1 STR
Skills: 1 Hide, 1 Move Silently, 1 Search, 2 Spot, 2 Disable Device, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Human Versatility III

Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Skills: 1 Hide, 1 Move Silently, 1 Search, 2 Disable Device, 2 Open Lock, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Racial Toughness III, Ranger Favored Resistance II
(Note: Unleash your inner Drizz't. You should prefer scimitar/kukri combos at this point. However, this will change.)

Level 10 (Ranger)
Skills: 1 Hide, 1 Move Silently, 1 Search, 2 Disable Device, 2 Open Locks, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Human Versatility IV
(Note: this is the level where not splashing a second level of rogue pays off. You now have evasion!)

Level 11 (Ranger)
Feats: Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Skills: 1 Hide, 1 Move Silently, 1 Search, 2 Spot, 2 Disable Device, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Ranger Favored Damage III

Level 12 (Ranger)
Stat Increase: +1 STR
Feats: Oversized Two Weapon Fighting (Why? Accuracy is important before we start trading it for extra damage! Now you should dual wield scimitars!)
Enhancements: Ranger Dexterity II
Notes: At this point you have all the Two Weapon Fighting feats you need.

Level 13 (Barbarian)
(Why? Because Running faster is good, and Toughness/Power Attack enhancements are good.)
Skills: 2 Disable Device, 3 Open Lock, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Greater Human Adaptability: Strength, Barbarian Toughness I

Level 14 (Ranger)
Skills: 2 Search, 2 Spot, 2 Disable Device, 1 Open Lock, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Ranger Tempest II
Notes: Start using the Spell “Wild Instincts”

Level 15 (Ranger)
Feats: Power Attack
Skills: 1 Hide, 1 Move Silently, 1 Search, 2 Disable Device, 2 Open Lock, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Barbarian Power Attack I, Ranger Favored Damage IV
Notes: Turn on Power Attack at every login.

Level 16 (Ranger)
Stat Increase: +1 STR
Skills: 1 Hide, 1 Move Silently, 1 Search, 2 Spot, 2 Disable Device, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Remember what I said about respeccing Ranger search at level 4? Now's the time. Ranger Devotion II, Ranger Devotion III
Note: At this point you should have a superior devotion IV item. (Preferably a shield) This will allow you to be a remarkable self-healer

Level 17 (Ranger)
Feats: Favored Enemy: Elemental
Skills: 1 Hide, 1 Move Silently, 1 Search, 2 Disable Device, 2 Open Lock, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Save em.

Level 18 (Ranger)
Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Kopesh (FYI: The “power gamers” are asking themselves “Why not earlier in the build?”. Well, the short answer is: You’re a new player, you won’t have the ingredients to craft Greensteel kopeshes yet!)
Skills: 1 Hide, 1 Move Silently, 1 Search, 2 Disable Device, 2 Open Lock, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Human Improved Recovery III

Level 19 (Ranger)
Skills: 1 Hide, 1 Move Silently, 1 Search, 2 Spot, 2 Disable Device, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Ranger Dexterity III

Level 20 (Ranger)
Skills: 1 Search, 2 Spot, 2 Disable Device, 2 Open Lock, 2 Use Magic Device
Enhancements: Tempest III

[PopeDX]

Putting on makeup with two hands...all-right!

[QuantumFX]

Putting on makeup with two hands...all-right!

See what I mean? :D

[Sweyn]

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=168687

I have one of these builds, my favorite toon. Can do pretty much anything a melee can do. Amazing dps, all traps/locks... amazing ac, umd for teleporting/heal scrolls. ect....

All the +2 tomes arent needed... they just show the build's potential.

You'll have a blast

[Darkrok]

Is the 15% rogue haste boost worth using long-term or is it only used in the early going?

[Darkrok]

I know the character hasn't really developed yet and that this is a fairly simplistic build but I just want to give it a huge two thumbs up through level 3.

First of all, I'm a huge fan of the human versatility line. Whether it be getting stuck as tank on a tough boss and being able to pop the ac boost, being against a hard to hit boss and popping the to-hit boost, or just popping the damage boost for a bit more damage, the human versatility line is a nice little boost in combat.

The important part for this build though is the skill boost. Skill points here are tight and you're not taking feats/enhancements that improve your rogue skills for the most part. Human versatility can mean the difference between finding/disarming the trap and not doing it. I've already found a couple hidden shrines after popping the skill boost that I didn't find after 2 or 3 tries without it.

The damage you get from sneak attacks is non-trivial...not a game changer but definitely non-trivial. By using a sword an board or two-hander (I'd recommend carrying both) you'll find you hit things a lot more often and your damage output is very good.

My only issue I've had so far is that I actually got turned down for a group because I wasn't level 3. Apparently there are some people playing DDO that don't realize that 2 + 1 = 3. :)

[Darkrok]

I'm still chugging along on this guy and loving it but had one question.

How in the holy heck do you deal with agro?!?

I'm level 6 now and pretty much whatever I touch is on me almost immediately. Right now I'm doing SO much damage compared to the average group member that I just suck it up and let the cleric mana-dump on me. If it weren't for the damage I was doing we wouldn't be handling what we were fighting anyways and as long as the cleric can keep me upright it's usually fine. I carry my own healing wands to top off in down time and hopefully that offsets the extra damage I'm taking.

I'm still 2h'd weapon fighting (using a vanilla +2 greatsword at the moment since I can't find anything better on the AH for a price that I like) and with a +2 chain shirt and a +1 ring of protection my AC sits around 20 unless I toss on some buffs. I can push close to 30 with a shield and defensive fighting but honestly I need to NOT be the one getting hit.

Does this mitigate as you raise in levels and get people more built toward tanking (either with intimidation or + threat abilities) or is this a feature of the build that you need to scale back the damage (or start at range with a bow) in order to lessen the drain on the healer?

[QuantumFX]

Is the 15% rogue haste boost worth using long-term or is it only used in the early going?

You’ll keep it forever. HV is mainly for the Skill and Saves boost but Damage Boost is good as a backup for long boss fights.


I'm still chugging along on this guy and loving it but had one question.

How in the holy heck do you deal with agro?!?

I'm level 6 now and pretty much whatever I touch is on me almost immediately. Right now I'm doing SO much damage compared to the average group member that I just suck it up and let the cleric mana-dump on me. If it weren't for the damage I was doing we wouldn't be handling what we were fighting anyways and as long as the cleric can keep me upright it's usually fine. I carry my own healing wands to top off in down time and hopefully that offsets the extra damage I'm taking.

Unfortunately aggro is an occupational hazard. Trip is your friend. Hot key it.

Also, remember that you need to think like a barbarian and not a paladin. Even though you’re taking more damage you’re much easier to heal than most other characters. 20% Healing amp stacks with everything a Cleric/FvS/Bard has to boost their cure spells.


I'm still 2h'd weapon fighting (using a vanilla +2 greatsword at the moment since I can't find anything better on the AH for a price that I like) and with a +2 chain shirt and a +1 ring of protection my AC sits around 20 unless I toss on some buffs. I can push close to 30 with a shield and defensive fighting but honestly I need to NOT be the one getting hit.

The Nicked Greatsword from the Sharn Syndicate quests is my Weapon of choice for low levels.

As for defensive buffs: You can get +3 Shield of Faith (Overtaking the +1 Protection item) potions or buffs with Tier 1 House Jorasco Favor. +3 barkskin potions are for sale but you will be able to cast it at level 9 anyway. Shield clickies will buff your AC while THF/TWF. You can also use Longstrider scrolls without a UMD check instead of a striding item.


Does this mitigate as you raise in levels and get people more built toward tanking (either with intimidation or + threat abilities) or is this a feature of the build that you need to scale back the damage (or start at range with a bow) in order to lessen the drain on the healer?

As you level up you’ll see more DR and concealment buffs. In fact, you’ll be able to use Stoneskin and Blur scrolls/wands as you get your UMD score up. At higher levels you will have teammates that can grab aggro for you. Sometimes that means you need to be the 2nd guy hitting the mob though.

[Timjc86]

Looking for a build. A ranger that can use dual wield effectively and disable traps well. Looking for 1 rouge only, then the rest into Ranger. 28 point build.

Just get the camo spell and forget about the makeup.