Viable longbow / support FvS build?

[Kadoba]

First I'll say that I'm new and I have a fair understanding of bare basics of dnd rule set but I'm a little lost on long term character building. I don't really want a mixed offensive/support caster build, I'd rather reserve spell points and spell slots for support. I wanted to make my FvS a ranged attacker taking advantage of the longbow support of the silver flame ascendancy. But I've heard ranged is just terrible in ddo. If I have to I will focus on melee or offensive spells, but I really would like to get a ranged build working. Even if it is slightly inferior.

Anyway, here's my 28pt human pure FvS build. spells aside

Stats:
10/16/14/12/8/14 (or 14 dex, 16 con)

4: dex
8: cha
12: con
16: cha
20: cha

Skills:
Concentration, Diplomacy, Jump, UMD (one point into tumble)

Feats:
1: point blank shot, rapid shot
3: precise shot
6: empower healing
9: extend spell
12: force of personality
15: toughness
18: quicken spell

Enhancements:
Favored Soul Ascendancy: Silver Flame
Favored Soul Longbow Specialization II
Human Adaptability Charisma I
Human Greater Adaptability Constitution I
Human Improved Recovery II
Racial Toughness III
Favored Soul Prayer of Life III
Favored Soul Prayer of Incredible Life III
Favored Soul Life Magic IV
Favored Soul Energy of the Scion II
Favored Soul Charisma III
Favored Soul Toughness IV
Favored Soul Wand and Scroll Mastery IV


It's most likely terrible. I had a full character template made in the dnd character planner but it bugged before I could save it.

Anyway, I would really appreciate some direction.

[Uska]

Ranged combat is really gimped in ddo and will be even more so if you arent a lvl 20 pure ranger, if you want to do it for fun go ahead but dont expect to contribute much to damage. if you want to be an offensive caster as a FvS you need to get as much wisdom as possible your cha will give you all your spell lvls and plenty of sp even if you only make it a 9 or 10 as you only need a 19 total to reach lvl 9 spells which you can do with an item and enhancements. and if your pure class you will get double from spell point items.



just anote a pure ranger is slightly to more then slightly inferiour while doing ranged damage a well built fighter will be even more so, anyone else is signifigantly worse.

[Urguwno]

Healer archetypes making use of missile weapons (bows/crossbows/slings/etc) are extremely common in both pen and paper and turn-based D&D video games.

In my humble opinion, there are two things that kill this as a viable option in DDO:

The paralyzing ranged attack animation and reload time, which makes all spellcasting occur on a significant delay.
The targeting difficulty imposed when you attempt to switch from hostiles you want to shoot and friendlies you want to heal.


With melee you can simply have your friendly target you want to heal selected at all times. Holding down the left mouse button will swing your weapon(s) at whatever you're close to, which makes for a very friendly gaming experience. If you try this with ranged weapons, you will end up firing at the ground or up into the air as you try to maneuver around.

I really don't think the lack of damage has anything to do with why you don't see more support clerics and favored souls carrying missile weapons, although I will say that having both hands tied up with a single item is a poor idea -- you could have two items instead, both with nice persistent buffs like Potency and Power.

I would highly encourage you to just make a sample healer with a bow and observe for yourself. It's difficult to express just how frustrating it is trying to play a healer with a missile weapon.

[Kadoba]

Hmm, well that's disappointing. I wasn't worried too much about damage but those things do sound like it would be much more trouble than it's worth. I know about the paralyzing animation while firing but I didn't stop to think about the impact it would really have on a healing class. Thanks to both of you, I think I will take up melee instead.

I hope the devs fix missiles at a point, it seems most players generally feel that ranged is very lacking.

[faithknight]

Dont listen to the nay-sayers.

It is possible to be a viable buffing/healing FvS while using a bow effectively.

I'm working on a build of my own atm. I'll let you know how it goes.

The problem is that to make using a bow actually useful (worth doing) you need to sacrifice a lot of your Feats.

If you're willing to make the sacrifice then it can be done.