Arcane Archer: Building outside the box

[deathboon]

OK so I've always been one to try new things, and I much prefer unique builds and being open minded about character creation and party roles. With that in mind i embarked on a quest to do something I hadn't seen before: Build an Arcane Archer that had neither Ranger levels nor Arcane Caster levels.

To do that i had to be an Elf, its the only way to be an Arcane archer and not a ranger. I then looked at what i wanted to get out of the build, I had been partying with a player whose character was a fighter ranger bow user, and he always carried around a pocket cleric for heals and blade barriers, so i thought to myself what if i could get all that without needing to purchase hirelings... I chose Favored Soul as my Spell casting class, it provided everything i wanted, and a boat load of spell points. Knowing what i do about DDO's End game i knew I'd want to get as much as possible out of the toon while sacrificing as little as i could, its much harder to Multi-class effectively in DDO vs. Tabletop builds as many of you know so i had to proceed carefully; manyshot is of prime importance to any bow user but not worthwhile unless you get all 4 shots, this meant taking some marshal class levels.

For survivability i took levels of Paladin for Lay on Hands and Superior Saves, for feats i took Fighter levels. The trick was determining how many of each to take, i knew i'd want at least 12 levels of FVS to get Blade Barrier, and 2 levels of paladin for LoH and Save boost, I had originally thought to take more fighter levels for specialization, and maybe kensai 1 but this would mean a max of 6 level spells Not good in the end game. In the end i settled on Pal 2 Fighter 2, FVS 16, this gives up to 8th level spells, and heighten bladebarriers which can be pretty important.

So below you'll find the whole build, and i have to say @ level 11 the only thing i might do differently is to Play him as a heal spec'd FVS Straight to level 12 for Blade Barrier, and then respec his spells and enhancements for Arcane Archer over the next 4 marshal levels, then flip back to more FVS levels till 20th, as it stands now the low levels were a tough crawl, and i'm holding my own nicely in groups while supporting a primary healer and spitting descent dps with my bow. still Pushing back blade barrier till 16th level is rough, in anycase I present the Favored Archer:


Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
DDO Character Planner Home Page (http://www.rjcyberware.com/DDO)

Calistyr
Level 20 Lawful Good Elf Male
(2 Fighter \ 2 Paladin \ 16 Favored Soul)
Hit Points: 208
Spell Points: 1515
BAB: 16\16\21\26\26
Fortitude: 22
Reflex: 20
Will: 22

Starting Ending Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Base Stats Modified Stats
(32 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20) (Level 20)
Strength 8 9 10
Dexterity 16 18 20
Constitution 11 12 12
Intelligence 11 12 12
Wisdom 16 22 24
Charisma 15 16 19

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 2
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 2
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 2
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 2
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 2
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7

Starting Ending Feat/Enhancement
Base Skills Base Skills Modified Skills
Skills (Level 1) (Level 20) (Level 20)
Balance 4 14 14
Bluff 2 4 4
Concentration 4 24 24
Diplomacy 2 4 4
Disable Device n/a n/a n/a
Haggle 2 4 4
Heal 3 7 7
Hide 3 5 5
Intimidate 2 4 4
Jump 1 20 20
Listen 3 7 9
Move Silently 3 5 5
Open Lock n/a n/a n/a
Perform n/a n/a n/a
Repair 0 1 1
Search 0 1 3
Spot 3 7 9
Swim -1 0 0
Tumble n/a n/a n/a
Use Magic Device n/a n/a n/a

Level 1 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Jump (+2)
Feat: (Diety) Favored by the Silver Flame
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot
Feat: (Automatic) Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Elven Keen Senses
Feat: (Automatic) Enchantment Save Bonus
Feat: (Automatic) Heroic Durability
Feat: (Automatic) Immunity to Sleep
Feat: (Automatic) Light Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Magical Training
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Longbow
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Longsword
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Rapier
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Shortbow
Feat: (Automatic) Medium Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Shield Proficiency (General)
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Sneak
Spell (1): Divine Favor
Spell (1): Nightshield
Enhancement: Favored Soul Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Saves Boost I


Level 2 (Fighter)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Rapid Shot
Feat: (Automatic) Defensive Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Heavy Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency (ALL)
Feat: (Automatic) Sunder
Feat: (Automatic) Tower Shield Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Trip
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Life Magic I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Energy of the Scion I


Level 3 (Paladin)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
Feat: (Automatic) Aura of Good
Feat: (Automatic) Smite Evil


Level 4 (Paladin)
Ability Raise: WIS
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+0.5)
Feat: (Automatic) Divine Grace
Feat: (Automatic) Lay on Hands
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Attack I


Level 5 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Spell (1): Shield of Faith
Enhancement: Follower of the Silver Flame


Level 6 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness
Feat: (Automatic) Child of the Silver Flame
Spell (1): Command


Level 7 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Spell (2): Cure Moderate Wounds
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wisdom I


Level 8 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: WIS
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Manyshot
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage II
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer I
Enhancement: Favored Soul Charisma I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I


Level 9 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Acid
Feat: (Selected) Eschew Materials
Spell (2): Resist Energy
Enhancement: Favored Soul Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I


Level 10 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Spell (3): Mass Aid
Enhancement: Favored Soul Charisma II


Level 11 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Spell (2): Lesser Restoration
Spell (3): Cure Serious Wounds
Enhancement: Favored Soul Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Acid Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +2 Arrows


Level 12 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: WIS
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Heighten Spell
Spell (4): Freedom of Movement
Enhancement: Favored Soul Wisdom II


Level 13 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Spell (2): Soundburst
Spell (3): Remove Curse
Spell (4): Mass Shield of Faith
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Attack II


Level 14 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Fire
Spell (5): Raise Dead
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Explosive Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +3 Arrows


Level 15 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Maximize Spell
Spell (3): Protection From Energy
Spell (4): Panacea
Spell (5): Greater Command


Level 16 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: WIS
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Beloved of the Silver Flame
Spell (6): Blade Barrier
Enhancement: Favored Soul Charisma III


Level 17 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Spell (4): Divine Power
Spell (5): Symbol of Pain
Spell (6): Heal
Enhancement: Favored Soul Attack Boost III
Enhancement: Favored Soul Damage Boost III
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Burst Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +4 Arrows


Level 18 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Empower Spell
Spell (7): Symbol of Stunning
Enhancement: Favored Soul Saves Boost II
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Terror Arrows


Level 19 (Favored Soul)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Feat: (Favored Soul Bonus) Energy Resistance: Electricity
Spell (5): Mass Cure Light Wounds
Spell (6): Greater Glyph of Warding
Spell (7): Destruction
Enhancement: Favored Soul Saves Boost III


Level 20 (Favored Soul)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+2)
Spell (8): Mass Death Ward
Enhancement: Favored Soul Attack Boost IV
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Slaying Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +5 Arrows




Please Comment

[grodon9999]

You will do garbage damage with STR as a dump-stat.

[Anneliese]

Your bow damage will not be very good with manyshot, and will suck outside of manyshot.

You will not have mass heal, which (due it being now fixed) is an awesome spell for raidhealing.

You do not have evasion, which is very nice for a ranged attacker.

[Sirea]

8 STR? :eek:

Why do you need Lay on Hands when you're a FvS and can heal yourself anyway?

[Dylos_Moon]

Ok, lets see for feats you have PBS, RS, WF:R, MT, MS, Eschew Materials?, Heighten?, Maxamize, And Empower.

So basically you took 2 fighter levels so you could have Eschew Materials and Heighten, of course power attack/bow strength wouldn't be possible choices because of your strength. Also, you have no toughness feat, nor do you have quicken, which are much much better feat choices then Eschew Materials and Heighten (ok, I understand Heighten a little, but +2 DC won't help that much on your blade barriers).

And Paladin levels on a 3 good saves class, seriously? Why not just take 2 monk levels, get a small boost to all 3 saves and evasion, and then you won't need as much charisma.

Don't worry about the BAB requirement of the 4th arrow on manyshot, Divine power will give you your 4th arrow.

[Docta_PoPo]

Hey, just finished off my cleric arcane archer elf, thought i could give you some pointers since i really like the way he turned out.

First off those 2 paladin levels will be hurtin you imo, if your dead set on the 2 fighter levels go 2 fighter/ 18 fvs. If your willing to change that i would suggest 2 ranger/ 18 fvs so u can get rapid shot for free, obtain bow str, twf for the chance u might be meleeing (vorpals?), as well one favored enemy (evil outsiders) for the slight boost of dmg against evil outsiders. This slight dmg boost will be add up quickly due to many shots.

[deathboon]

In the upper levels i will be putting down maxed empowered potencied Blade barriers and Flame Wards from which to spam my arrows, Str becomes irrelevant at that point, especially without the feat Bow Strength. As long as i don't have a str penalty which i already don't have, the STR 16 achievable with Divine Power or a Str item is plenty

levels of Monk or Rogue for Evasion (which would be nice) would prevent me from maxing manyshot, or getting as high as 8th level spells, believe me i thought of that. Didn't think about divine power for the 4th shot though, Monk Build might be worth Greater reincarnating for (if they actually had the feat Zen Archery in this game i'd do it in a heart beat).

Lay on hands with a high charisma provides a quick Heal for a descent amount of HP that doesn't use SP, and since i wanted the saving throw boost from my Charisma, LoH is just Gravy.

Eschew is in there because i'm an inventory nazi, its a personal thing and admitedly any other feat would probably be more effective (if they ever come out with a spell component bag i'll fred it out), Heightenisn't just in there for Blade Barrier, but also for Cammand greater command, and sound burst.

[Anneliese]

How about a pure FVS with the searing light capstone? That one does nice damage ranged too. (like 300 IIRC)

Feats:
- PBS, WF: Ranged, Rapid Shot, Multishot, Mental Toughness (for Arcane Archer)
- Maximize, Empower (for searing light)


Stats:

10 str
17 dex
12 con
10 int (balance and concentration, 1 tumble)
16 wis (<- all levelups)
12 cha (to get to 19 charisma when disjuncted)

[Dylos_Moon]

How about a pure FVS with the searing light capstone? That one does nice damage ranged too. (like 300 IIRC)

Feats:
- PBS, WF: Ranged, Multishot, Mental Toughness (for Arcane Archer)
- Maximize, Empower (for searing light)
- Quicken or Toughness.


Feats wouldn't work, you left out Rapid Shot, which is both a requirement for manyshot, and a requirement to even have decent attack speed.

However if the build was FvS18/Monk2, it could have All the AA feats, max and emp for blades, toughness, and dodge/weapon finesse/another toughness.

Monk2 grants 2 feats as well, though its from a smaller feat list then the fighter pool, and as such does not feature any ranged feats. It does however feature Toughness, Power Attack, Weapon Finesse, Two Weapon Fighting, and Two handed Fighting.

[unbongwah]

Isn't LoH based on your paladin level? With only pal 2 you're not getting much out of it. The saves boost is always nice, of course, but it seems like overkill w/FvS.

Seems to me ftr 2 / rgr 2 / FvS 16 is a better choice: gets you Rapid Shot & Bow STR free, so you free up a feat and up your ranged DPS (presuming you boost your STR).

[deathboon]

Not sure the Calculations they use for LoH in DDO, just that its a combination of charisma and paladin level. Currently i get a oneshot 60hp LoH

[Anneliese]

Not sure the Calculations they use for LoH in DDO, just that its a combination of charisma and paladin level. Currently i get a oneshot 60hp LoH

(10 + Paladin Level) * CHA Modifier

http://ddowiki.com/page/Lay_on_Hands
http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Feat:Lay_On_Hands

[Draccus]

An FvS Arcane Archer is a neat idea and something I've considered.

The key, to me, is how you intend to play the character. If you try to play a DPS character with FvS healing as a backup, this build will fail. However, if you build it and play it as a healer with archery as a backup, I think the build would rock.

The AA aspect of the build would be great for when you are not actively healing. One of the complaints that "dedicated healers" often have is that they are bored when there's no one to heal. Having AA as part of your build solves this. Using a bow also lets you fight outside of melee range which can give you a better, safer view of the battle.

If I were going to make an AA/FvS, I'd splash 2 levels of fighter for the feats and play like a healer carrying a bow.

[Dylos_Moon]

An FvS Arcane Archer is a neat idea and something I've considered.

The key, to me, is how you intend to play the character. If you try to play a DPS character with FvS healing as a backup, this build will fail. However, if you build it and play it as a healer with archery as a backup, I think the build would rock.

It also works fairly well if you play it as an offensive caster with archery as a back up, for example, on lamannia during the eberron unlimited beta, I had a FvS AA, who had max wisdom and very little strength. I used hold person so much that one time someone actually asked me if my bow was casting hold person. And while FvS does not get hold monster, I find that hold person is very very nice with a bow, I mean auto crit on a x3 weapon, and you have manyshot *drool*.

[unbongwah]

It occurs to me if you were willing to plan around a Lesser Reincarnation at 20, you could level up as ranger 1 / fighter 2 / FvS 17 (or rgr 2 / ftr 1), then LR +3 to pure FvS at 20. While leveling you focus on archery (high STR & DEX, all the ranged feats you can get, maybe even dump-stat WIS) with heals & buffs on the side; then at 20 you respec to a caster focus, maybe even drop AA entirely and rely on spamming Searing Light for ranged dmg.

[Dark-Star]

Check out my Blade Kiter build for ideas on a viable AA+FvS. Posted here and the the FvS section.