Bard/Ranger

[kebin131]

Right now I have a Human Bard2/Ranger2 planning to go on at end game with Ranger12/Bard8. Right now the build is doing pretty well, probably my first character that has not died once soloing. What I would like to know is problems I will face in mid/end game that could possibly challenge this build or make it kind of "crappy." The plan is in a party it will be assistant DPS, buff, wand healer, song buff. Solo it will take on a stealth approach. At end game I will have access to casting Bark Skin, Haste, and Blur and have the Tempest/Warchanter abilities as well (except tempest III).

[Flashtony]

Interessting I would love to know if someone has tried and likes it;)
I am about to do the same, have started with bard, but gona reroll him dark elf instead of halfling i believe.

Question is what stats to focus on, stay one class until level 6 to get the archtype feat?
I plan on doing a support buff, CC,built with high skills in spot and search using a bow to kite bosses or so if needed.

[Myriam]

My main is a 12 ranger/ 8 bard.
I do believe I was one of the first to try the build, because I saw quite a few posts on the forum a month or so after I started it about the best ways to do a similiar build.

Mine was derived from the Devestating Rogue build for Neverwinter Nights. I went Bard for Warchanter and Ranger for Tempest.
It's a really fun build, but some things can be frustrating when you're getting to mid levels and realize you should have put in a higher CON, or you should have switched the levels you took a certain class at.

It's still loads of fun though. To really stand out from the crowd, I don't even use Khopeshes, I use Kukris. (1d4 x2/18-20)

[Flashtony]

I want to use a bow and kite stuff...

[Myriam]

Not really that good of an idea in this game.

[96th_Malice]

I want to use a bow and kite stuff...

Tanyaa is my Ranger 2 / Bard 15 .... End game will be 4 / 16

As a player with 11 Ranged toons I can tell you Kiting is a bad method of play in this MMO.

As a Bard ...... Facinate ..... Then range em 1 by 1

Just let everyone else know what your intent is so they can concentrate on one creature at a time !!

[Flashtony]

What do you mean by:
Kiting is a bad method of play in this MMO?
It is not well seen? Not a valid taktik? Not possible later on the game?
I kind of enjoy runspeed, run backwards, shoot...
And to be honest I don't see any way you would be able to do different on your own in the low lvls?

(Besides by using a melee weapon)

[Myriam]

A few lower level mobs in the game will chase after you. However, several higher level mobs and lower level named mobs will simply stop, shrug, and pull out a bow of their own and stay back shooting or casting spells.

Also keep in mind that ranged DPS is nowhere near as effective damage wise as melee in DDO.

Edit: Forgot to add, several people who primarily play melee characters will just watch as you run around with your bow, kiting because there's little chance we could run up and swing before the mob moved after you.

[kebin131]

The only thing that sucks about ranging mobs that won't chase you is spells that hit automatically. Everything else you can just side step pretty well (if it's only a mob or 2 at a time).

[Aerilyn]

My only misgivings with this build is that I don't have Evasion but that is the only drawback that I can think of. My UMD is 40+, I have buffs that make a Sorc blush, and my DPS is very nice. I have mine tricket out with a lot of Green Steel and my only complaint is on raid bosses where I don't have quite enough HP's.

Lots of fun, maybe the best Solo guy I have.

[Arnya]

What do you mean by:
Kiting is a bad method of play in this MMO?
It is not well seen? Not a valid taktik? Not possible later on the game?
I kind of enjoy runspeed, run backwards, shoot...
And to be honest I don't see any way you would be able to do different on your own in the low lvls?

(Besides by using a melee weapon)

Kiting in groups is really annoying when even one party member doesn't understand the concept.

Kiting 2-3 mobs off the pack of 10 that the melees are fighting is great.

Getting the melees to wait in one spot and getting the kiter to bring the mobs back past the melee is the hard part.

You end up with the ranger kiting everything and the melees running around stupidly trying to catch the enemies.

If you can get 6 intelligent people together, kiting rocks.

I said 'IF' :)

[XCodes]

This build has potential to be very good, but not because of buffs. Any build with 14 Bard levels will easily out-buff you.

[rhaize]

I'm currently working on an eventuall 14 Bard, 2 Rogue 4 Ranger.
At level 14, you get almost every bonus you'll get for bardsong, I think between 14 and 20 you get another +1 or 2.
At 15, you'll get the defensive song, but I don't see myself using that as much, I might be wrong.
the Ranger was mostly because they receive smiilar skills/bonuses for the skills I was going to use along with a fighter bab and enhanced weapon feats. The rogue was because I noticed I won't get Disarm Traps and Pick Locks and since I'm the only one with the group I play with that is even remotely intersted in that, well it falls on me.

Thoughts?

[Thrudh]

I'm currently working on an eventuall 14 Bard, 2 Rogue 4 Ranger.
At level 14, you get almost every bonus you'll get for bardsong, I think between 14 and 20 you get another +1 or 2.
At 15, you'll get the defensive song, but I don't see myself using that as much, I might be wrong.
the Ranger was mostly because they receive smiilar skills/bonuses for the skills I was going to use along with a fighter bab and enhanced weapon feats. The rogue was because I noticed I won't get Disarm Traps and Pick Locks and since I'm the only one with the group I play with that is even remotely intersted in that, well it falls on me.

Thoughts?

4 Ranger doesn't get you much over Ranger 2... (Ram's Might spell is about it)... You'd probably be better of with 14/4/2 Bard/Rogue/Ranger... That will make it easier to keep your trap skills up...

Or maybe better, 14/4/2 Bard/Rogue/Fighter... 2 levels of fighters gets you two extra feats which is very nice, especially if you're going warchanter (and you should be with this kind of breakdown)

[XCodes]

I'm currently working on an eventuall 14 Bard, 2 Rogue 4 Ranger.
At level 14, you get almost every bonus you'll get for bardsong, I think between 14 and 20 you get another +1 or 2.
At 15, you'll get the defensive song, but I don't see myself using that as much, I might be wrong.
the Ranger was mostly because they receive smiilar skills/bonuses for the skills I was going to use along with a fighter bab and enhanced weapon feats. The rogue was because I noticed I won't get Disarm Traps and Pick Locks and since I'm the only one with the group I play with that is even remotely intersted in that, well it falls on me.

Thoughts?
Past level 14, Bards get an additional +1 to Inspire Courage, but only if they remain a pure Bard. At 16 they get 6th-level spells, which are honestly pretty mediocre. Unless you're a Spellsinger looking for some relatively easy SP, there's likely little reason to advance beyond Bard 16.