Too squishy, my ranger needs a makeover

[Leafgreen]

I was setup for the jack-of-all-trades, I could solo most anything. But more and more i'm finding that i'm back with the squishy casters shooting my bow and doing pitiful damage. I keep getting the feeling that taking me along on quests is charity as my AC is too low and my damage output may be okay, but i can't tank without taking so much damage that it's pointless - the healer has to toss me healing too much.

I need to switch to a killing build, and I need help for that.



Naked and with my enhancements reset to zero, here is what I am. If I had it to do over again i'd definetly make some changes but true reincarnation is coming up fast so i'll make it to level 20 and reset everything then.

Name: Herak
Argo server
Neutral Good
Ranger 13
Rogue 1 (for the traps and lockpicking)
Drow

Str: 14
Dex: 21 (1 inherent)
Con: 12
Int: 12 (1 inherent)
Wis: 14
Cha: 10


144 HP, 171 SP
AC 10 + 5 dex + 1 feat = 16 naked
Fort: +9
Reflex +15
Will +6
BAB +13
SR 11

Balance = 13
Bluff = 0
Concentration = 1
Diplomacy = 0
Disable Device = 2
Haggle = 0
Heal = 2
Hide = 18
Intimidate = 0
Jump = 19
Listen = 4
Move Silently = 18
Open Lock = 16
Perform = n/a
Repair = 1
Search = 12
Spot = 13
Swim = 2
Tumble = 11.5
UMD = 6

Feats -

Attack
Bow Strength
Defensive Fighting
Diehard
Dodge
Drow Spell Resistance
Elven Keen Senses
Enchantment Save Bonus
Evasion
Exotic Weapon Proficiency - Shuriken
Favored Enemy - Giant
Favored Enemy - Undead
Favored Enemy - Elemental
Greater Two Weapon Fighting
Heroic Durability
Immunity to Sleep
Improved Precise Shot
Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Improved Wild Empathy
Light Armor Proficiency
Manyshot
Martial Weapon Proficiency - (seems to be all)
Sneak
Sneak Attack
Spring Attack
Sunder
Trapfinding
Trip
Two Weapon Fighting
Weapon Finesse
Wild Empathy

Gear I currently use (been a few levels since I upgraded anything)

Greater Resist Cloak (all 5 types)
Belt of Con +3, Lesser False Life
Ring of +5 Dex
Ring of Shadows - +10 Hide, +10 Move Silently, Dusk (10% chance to miss due to concealment)
Deneith Thin Quiver - (1k addy arrows with 2k backup addy arrows)
+5 Mithral Chain Shirt - been using this since level 8 and sick of the dex cap
Bracers of +5 Str
Necklace of +2 protection (Deflection)
Gloves of Open Lock +11
Helm of Underwater Action, Bluff +3
Boots of Feather Fall, +7 Jump
Crystallized Widow's Eye trinket - Power X (+100 sp), Spot +10 (Just got them an hour ago)
Goggles of Blindness Immunity, Spot +7

Hotbarred - All greater resist cloaks, Goggles of Int +1/Search +10, Gotggles of Disable Device +11
50 Potions of Remove Curse, Remove Disease, Remove Blindness, Neutralize Poison, Heroism, Haste, 100 of Cure Serious Wounds

Spells - Longstrider, Ram's Might, Barkskin, Mass Camoflauge, Wild Instincts, Cure Moderate Wounds


With that gear on I am sitting at -

163 hp, 271 sp
AC 28
Fort +10
Reflex +18
Will +6
BAB +13
SR 11

Balance 16
Bluff 3
Concentration 2
Diplomacy 0
Disable Device 2
Haggle 0
Heal 2
Hide 31
Intimidate 0
Jump 28
Listen 4
Move Silently 31
Open Lock 30
Perform n/a
Repair 1
Search 12
Spot 23
Swim 4
Tumble 14.5
Use magic Device 6

Mostly I use a +2 paralyzing rapier/+1 Cursespewing Cold Iron Rapier of Enfeebling if I can get the mobs to paralyze. If confronted by multiple challenging mobs I jump all over the place since I don't have a penalty for it and they do - and try to paralyze enough so that I only have to deal with one or two. In a party I'll try to keep all mobs paralyzed/cursed and let the tanks finish them off.

For mobs that just won't paralyze, or if I need to do damage I use a +4 acid rapier of Pure good and a +4 frost rapier of pure good. If i'm not taking much damage from them but they just wont' paralyze i'll go that route.

+2 holy rapier of righteousness and a +4 ghost touch rapier of pure good for undead. yeah, it sucks against skeletons.

+4 heavy mithral shield and a muckbane for oozes.

If i can't paralyze a mob but they do a lot of damage to me fast, i'll fall to the rear of a party and pew pew. +4 icy burst composite longbow with addy arrows isn't the greatest at damage but at least it can hurt most anything.

I also just picked up some new bows. I don't have millions to spend but they seemed to be good for specific mobs and useful for clickies.

+1 banishing densewood longbow of pure good
+1 seeker longbow of disruption
+2 shocking burst composite longbow of greater giant bane

I find that as a level 14 I can only solo certain areas of the vale, and that's using a lot of cure pots. Playing around in the sands area i can probably solo half of it, but not the rares. But I went with a group to flag for the shroud raid and felt like a complete gimp, I just sat in the back and shot at bats pathetically.

I'm thinking of taking a level of sorc to be able to use wands and scrolls as my UMD is so pathetic, plus it will double the sp I get from most items. Being able to use a stoneskin wand might be worth wasting a level on sorc

White dragon skin robes look good, but the flametouched outfit looks even better - they seem to be level 14 to use but by the time i gather all the ingredients i'll probably be level 18-19 at least, seems kind of screwy but that's the system. Greensteel weapons look great but i'm not sure what i'd want on them, even if I had the components (and the level to use them - 18?).

Sitting in the bank I have -
cloak of shadows (+7 hide, +7 move silent, +2 protection(deflection))
Dex +6 boots
Dex +5 helm
+1 paralyzing rapier
+3 ghost touch rapier of righteousness
gloves of +6 str, open lock +3 (level 15)
Iron manacles - +4 protecion (deflection) that i can't use, umd 20
boos of dex +6, jump +3 (level 15)
+3 transmuting shortbow of shattermantle
Globe of imperial blood - +2 to all stats

Normally I have my enhancements into tempest, dex, boosting spell resistance, and boosting skills depending on which clickies i don't have. All of the former info is with ZERO enhancements.

I'm way too squishy, suggestions are more than welcome! I know I need to upgrade my gear but what should I actually be looking for?

[Leafgreen]

I know that the first thing to do is fix the double spot bonuses (I just got the other item literally 10 minutes ago), get a +6 dex and a +6 str item, but i'm wide open to suggestions. Buying gear that perfectly fits what i'm looking for is pretty expensive too, if even available. Paralyzing bow for example...

[Rheebus]

Don't change a thing. Just manage your aggro. Wait for a toon with some AC or lots of hp to start wacking on a mob, then join in. That way you won't get hit because the mob is aggroed on someone else. Do the same thing with your bow. Wait until someone else clearly has aggro, then shoot. Don't be the first to attack and you won't get aggro - won't get squished. You will also get your rogue sneak attack bonus damage (if within 30ft for your bow too!).

Rheebus

[DragonKiller]

Here are my recommendations to you:

1) Get the Toughness feat
2) Take Racial Toughness enhancements
3) Get +6 Str, Dex, and Con items
4) Get a Greater False Life item
5) +5 Protection Item

All of those should be easy enough for you to do, with out too much plat or farming, and the combination of these will raise your AC and HP.

Also make sure your next FE are Evil outsiders and I like Constructs, but that one is really up to you.

Next spend some time farming... sorry it's just how it works:

1) Icy Rayment (Say bye-bye to your Chain Shirt) - "Skelly/Subterranean runs"
2) +7 or +8 AC Bracers - Either AH or just get lucky. +7's are pretty cheap on the AH
3) Shroud HP Item - Remember that the end game Tempest items are Necklace and Ring so don't build one of those.
4) Shroud +4 AC Insight weapon.
5) +2 or +3 Dex, and Con Tomes. +2's drop easily enough in Shroud, Hound, VoD, and I'm assuming ToD and Ascension. Since your farming for shroud ingeridents your likely to either pull one of get a +3 for your 20th end reward.

When all said and done you should be able to get your Hit points in to the mid 400's, and AC into the mid/high 50s. You could also take a lvl of Fighter to make you 18/1/1 and cap and it will add a few extra HP's as well as a few good lvl 1 fighter enhancements.

Now personally... I'd loose Weapon Finesse, and take Oversize Weapons. Your end game Str will be easily 22 (+6 item, +2 Rams) and can hit 26 (+6 item, +2 Rams, +2 Shroud, +2 Rage), and burstable to 30 (+6 item, +2 Rams, +2 Shroud, +2 Rage, +4 Double Mad Stone Rage). That with your bonuses from your enhancements (assuming dual Rapiers), and taking Power Attack you should be doing some pretty good damge while being able to bypass all DR.

[Leafgreen]

Thanks.

I jumped up 12 points of AC and it's helping tremendously. I can't find or disable traps anymore and my sneaking took a hit but those don't seem to be as important as they were at lower levels.

[Nyvn]

Con: 12

Ouch!

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you're doing Giant Hold. If that's the case the to hit and damage jumps up significantly from what you were running before. Some suggestions

Toughness Feat + Enhancements
Minos Legions Helm
+6 Constitution Item
Greater False Life
+5 Protection


For you the Armor Bracers + Icy Rainments are the way to go. You aren't lawful/have enough umd for chaos guards/DT armor

Longer term

Shroud HP Cloak
Shroud +4 AC Insight weapon.
Dex, and Con Tomes

By Level 20 you want to be nearing 450-500HP Otherwise you run the risk of being killed in a few hits. I've seen 16+ Rogues/Rangers (Usually Drow) one shoted in the shroud. Don't be that guy!

[captain1z]

Ouch!

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you're doing Giant Hold. If that's the case the to hit and damage jumps up significantly from what you were running before. Some suggestions

Toughness Feat + Enhancements
Minos Legions Helm
+6 Constitution Item
Greater False Life
+5 Protection


For you the Armor Bracers + Icy Rainments are the way to go. You aren't lawful/have enough umd for chaos guards/DT armor

Longer term

Shroud HP Cloak
Shroud +4 AC Insight weapon.
Dex, and Con Tomes

By Level 20 you want to be nearing 450-500HP Otherwise you run the risk of being killed in a few hits. I've seen 16+ Rogues/Rangers (Usually Drow) one shoted in the shroud. Don't be that guy!

spot on advice.


gotta have that minos legens hvy fort and other stuff he listed...... otherwise go tempest as well.
the low con of 12 is still gonna hurt even after a +6 item. need to find a tome and get to at least 20....... from that point u gotta play the aggro game.

gl

[Leafgreen]

Yeah, I definetly will make some changes when true reincarnation is available.

I'll start going after that helm now, it's pretty nice. And then the Icy Raiment but it looks like the drop rate has gone down a lot.

Any suggestions for a trinket?

[Nyvn]

For trinket ideally a bloodstone, but there are other options.

Dusk has 20hp on the trinket spot. which isn't too bad for you.

[Eradiator]

is there a specific place where u find a paralizing bow or is it just random?

[Emili]

You're on argo... else I'd help set you up.

So a drow tempest ranger with a splash of rogue... If that were LG in alignment you could take a monk level and have near a drow version of exploiter build (a human version has about 485hp) drow shy by about 10 with a tad higher ac (by 3) well you will better reflex save anyway.

Con 12 (20=14 +2 Tome + 6 Item) +5 mod x20 = 100

158(Levels) +20(Heroic) +10(Draconic) +30(GFL) +100(Con) +20(Helm) +22(Tough) +20(Enh.) +45(GS)=435hp

Compared to had you taken max'd con on a drow (16) would be 40 more hp = 475 but that would gimp some other stats.

Now that may not seem like a ton as some of people tout, but is fair enough - it is but one or two mob swings from 500hp... I know quite a few excellent players who play with less. The real balance are ac + saves + hp + DPS + how you play for survivability...

Looking at your listed feats you missed a couple you chosen... When I remove the class granted and of course the favored enemies I see
1 Dodge
3 Weapon Finesse
6 (mobility) <- I know you have that because you list spring attack so can add that.
9 Spring Attack
12 (Improved critical: Pierce)
15 (Toughness) - respec enhancements here grab your tempest and racial toughness for (totalling 42hp between the feat and enhancemects)
18 (Power Attack? or oversized?, 2 weapon def?) - I know prereqs for tempest three suck but it is equal to STWF

and is one more you have not listed - Impoved Crit: Pierce?

next feat is at level 15 - (one level away take "toughness"), then come level 18 if you feel you hold your own - power attack.

... as for your trapping skills - if you maxed dd, search and spot then right level items and you're fine with a GH.

[Emili]

is there a specific place where u find a paralizing bow or is it just random?
Random chest drops

[seldarin]

Here are my recommendations to you:

1) Get the Toughness feat
2) Take Racial Toughness enhancements
3) Get +6 Str, Dex, and Con items
4) Get a Greater False Life item
5) +5 Protection Item

All of those should be easy enough for you to do, with out too much plat or farming, and the combination of these will raise your AC and HP.

Also make sure your next FE are Evil outsiders and I like Constructs, but that one is really up to you.

Next spend some time farming... sorry it's just how it works:

1) Icy Rayment (Say bye-bye to your Chain Shirt) - "Skelly/Subterranean runs"
2) +7 or +8 AC Bracers - Either AH or just get lucky. +7's are pretty cheap on the AH
3) Shroud HP Item - Remember that the end game Tempest items are Necklace and Ring so don't build one of those.
4) Shroud +4 AC Insight weapon.
5) +2 or +3 Dex, and Con Tomes. +2's drop easily enough in Shroud, Hound, VoD, and I'm assuming ToD and Ascension. Since your farming for shroud ingeridents your likely to either pull one of get a +3 for your 20th end reward.

When all said and done you should be able to get your Hit points in to the mid 400's, and AC into the mid/high 50s. You could also take a lvl of Fighter to make you 18/1/1 and cap and it will add a few extra HP's as well as a few good lvl 1 fighter enhancements.

Now personally... I'd loose Weapon Finesse, and take Oversize Weapons. Your end game Str will be easily 22 (+6 item, +2 Rams) and can hit 26 (+6 item, +2 Rams, +2 Shroud, +2 Rage), and burstable to 30 (+6 item, +2 Rams, +2 Shroud, +2 Rage, +4 Double Mad Stone Rage). That with your bonuses from your enhancements (assuming dual Rapiers), and taking Power Attack you should be doing some pretty good damge while being able to bypass all DR.

Just curious mate, what do you define as cheap as far as +7 Bracers on AH? You must be playing a different game to me because they sure arent cheap on this side of the pond. You say +2 tomes drop readily enough? Again i really have to buy the game you have, because they sure dont drop that readily over here.

Beefed enough his Dex is gonna hit somewhere in the 30s, and i personally dont think OSTF is worth it. Again personal opinion, but i think of it as a wasted feat unless you are using khopeshes etc. If you are using Rapiers then weapon finesse works just fine as i dont see Str exceeding Dex in the hit stakes. The penalties you take for using 2 x rapiers for example is minimal IMHO, far better things to use feat on than OSTF.

[Glenalth]

Just curious mate, what do you define as cheap as far as +7 Bracers on AH? You must be playing a different game to me because they sure arent cheap on this side of the pond. You say +2 tomes drop readily enough? Again i really have to buy the game you have, because they sure dont drop that readily over here.

Has to do with the levels your playing at really. With the new content I've pulled 3 +2 tomes since the Dreaming Dark stuff went live for non-VIP players and a ridiculous number of +7 armor bracers and 1 +8 in the last month. These drops don't help the lower level players directly, but the prices in the AH have come down considerably.

Prices aren't low enough to be "cheap" for a new player yet, but they are at least attainable vs the crazy high prices they were in the not too distant past.

[Emili]

...
Now personally... I'd loose Weapon Finesse, and take Oversize Weapons. Your end game Str will be easily 22 (+6 item, +2 Rams) and can hit 26 (+6 item, +2 Rams, +2 Shroud, +2 Rage), and burstable to 30 (+6 item, +2 Rams, +2 Shroud, +2 Rage, +4 Double Mad Stone Rage). That with your bonuses from your enhancements (assuming dual Rapiers), and taking Power Attack you should be doing some pretty good damge while being able to bypass all DR.

That all depends on how much elite and epic - above level content he plans on playing... add a GH (gird/spell) and 26 str is bearable in a party of six for norm/hard gets a little harrier in elite.


Just curious mate, what do you define as cheap as far as +7 Bracers on AH? You must be playing a different game to me because they sure arent cheap on this side of the pond. You say +2 tomes drop readily enough? Again i really have to buy the game you have, because they sure dont drop that readily over here.

Beefed enough his Dex is gonna hit somewhere in the 30s, and i personally dont think OSTF is worth it. Again personal opinion, but i think of it as a wasted feat unless you are using khopeshes etc. If you are using Rapiers then weapon finesse works just fine as i dont see Str exceeding Dex in the hit stakes. The penalties you take for using 2 x rapiers for example is minimal IMHO, far better things to use feat on than OSTF.

Am really not a big fan of finesse but sometimes we're pressed statwise into dealing with it... at least this is a drow we're speaking about so may make up some more via enhancements. Being ranger grabbing +2 to-hit against favored enemy and +2 drow equates to about the equal of a 32 str based toon is what DragonKiller is implying... bursting to another 8 equivalent. One thing be is 2 points on a shroud weapon (dependancy - that weapon cannot be a min II) would most likely place a min II in other hand. Doubling madstone is good for bosses but few people use double constantly - i.e. I only carry 6 pair anymore and I know many who carry but one. The toon will run fine under good party conditions but also in good party conditions is on the lower end of the melee. Quests on norm there are very few mobs with decent AC... Orthons etc... but when you start running elite you start to see the differences and epic? Even worse.

Now OSTF ... if he's looking at tempest III (stwf) may be his better option among the pres.