sirdanile
05-24-2010, 08:17 PM
Currently there are only two acceptable paths when creating a ranged character, 20 ranger or 1 (Casting class)/1 (non fighter melee class)/18 fighter. I am going to analyze exactly why this disparity exists and the advantages and disadvantages of each set up.
(Starting analysis)
Dps wise even a well geared ranged character cannot compete with the weakest of melee dps builds, each individual hit is OK compared to melee but bows get neither glancing blows nor offhand swings and fire slower than a sword and board melee, this is supposedly because being able to stay away from the enemy and reduce incoming damage was factored into the equation as well as the decision being made back when the level cap was 10, much has changed and dps standards have increased exponentially as raid bosses acquired hit points in the millions as well as normal trash having well over 1000. Now of course being able to stay far away is an advantage but shouldn't be taken too seriously as while you are more than 30 feet away you do not gain the benefits of point blank shot or sneak attack.
(Disparity)
The reason the disparity exists which places rangers and fighters on top of the ranged combat chart is because they have more static bonuses to their damage than other classes and can afford the insane number of feats needed to range compared to melee. For fighters 5 feats and several optional feats are affordable while rangers get 3 of them for free, other classes have to blow most of their feats just to take an inferior choice than melee. The reason fighter even remains as a top ranged build is because arcane archer provides a large damage boost and the extra melee class splash really helps your build compared to an extra feat and the 10% capstone.
(Capstones)
Ranger capstone - "25%" boost to attack speed
Fighter capstone - "10%" boost to attack speed
The numbers are thrown off by the fact that they only help the actual firing of a bow and not the reloading, cutting the increases almost in half making both capstones not nearly as powerful as it could be.
(Feats and Enhancements and Spells)
Rangers gain three of the required ranged feats and easy access to arcane archer via their own spell point pool, they do not need to splash to gain the largest ranged dps increase in the game. Rangers gain +14 damage vs favored enemies (99% of end game content) as well as sprint boost. Rangers gain evasion at level 9 and have naturally high reflex saves, rangers recieve bow strength for free though they also get the twf feats free and are considered the best at adapting to their situation. Rangers gain a decent sized spell point pool and pretty good spells to use it on such as cure serious wounds, bark skin, resist/protect energy, neutralize poison, freedom of movement, and rams might.
Fighters gain +4 damage from weapon specialization against all enemies and another +2 damage from the enhancements associated with it, a fighter recieves bonuses kensai such as +2 to damage, +4 to critical damage and increased crit range...sadly the combat feat dc increase is wasted as there are no ranged combat feats. Fighters can also easily acquire bow str and a melee line of feats as well due to their many feats. Fighters gain strength enhancements and 30% haste boost clickies quite a few (9?) time per day, though the boost only turns out to be 15% as mentioned in the capstone section. Fighters can a couple level 1 spells from the spell list of the chosen class and have a fairly small sp pool.
(Fighter Splash Benefits)
Fighters can splash any class with an sp pool to qualify for arcane archer provided they are an elf. Cleric, wizard, favored soul, sorceror, or bard are all decent choices though bard is generally the one chosen most due to the skills it allows access to such as use magic device. Wizard is probably the second most chosen class as you may take mental toughness as your wizard bonus feat.
Fighters also have another class to splash into which can be monk, barbarian, ranger, or rogue. Monks gain another bonus feat and wisdom to ac which can work for some builds. Barbarian gains access to a rage clicky, 10% movement speed, and sprint boost enhancements. Ranger gains bow str for free and a single favored enemy at +3 damage. Rogue gives access to trap skills, umd, and a 1d6+3 sneak attack which only works within 30 feet.
The splashes I think benefit the fighter the most are bard 1/barbarian 1 or wizard 1/ranger 1 - This is because bard grants access to umd and the barbarian makes you faster than a pure ranger while giving you access to sprint boost which far outweighs any other splash, the only other truely competing class is ranger with it's free bow strength, although fighter gets plenty of feats to take it themselves it does allow them to more easily gain a melee line of attack as well.
(Race Analysis)
Currently Elf is the best ranged race due to the +2 damage with longbows, support of melee damage with racial enhancements, for a fighter displacement clickies and arcane archer access. Without a doubt elf is the best race for ranging though if one wishes you can make a human ranger which allows you to get improved recovery, higher base con, and an enhancement boost to strength and damage while still acquiring arcane archer.
(True Reincarnation)
Rangers gain +2 damage and +2 energy resistance when TRing which stacks up to 3 times which is a pretty nice benefit, can cast barkskin for a feat which is decent if you TR away from the ranger class.
Fighters gain +1 to attack rolls making it relatively useless for ranged characters.
Barbarians support the bard/barbarian class splash with the increase to hp and with the active feat giving a major power boost to your barbarian rage clicky and giving you another one.
Monks give +1 damage when TRing which is useful to all classes and the evasion clicky can benefit a fighter.
Sorceror gives 20 extra sp great for casting those imbues, though the active feat does not grant you access to arcane archer as a pure fighter.
(Ending Summary)
Personally I find rangers more survivable with self healing and evasion, and are much easier to build while a ranged fighter is less survivable but more supported by true reincarnation and would work out to be much better as a long term goal. You may draw your own conclusions from this.
(Starting analysis)
Dps wise even a well geared ranged character cannot compete with the weakest of melee dps builds, each individual hit is OK compared to melee but bows get neither glancing blows nor offhand swings and fire slower than a sword and board melee, this is supposedly because being able to stay away from the enemy and reduce incoming damage was factored into the equation as well as the decision being made back when the level cap was 10, much has changed and dps standards have increased exponentially as raid bosses acquired hit points in the millions as well as normal trash having well over 1000. Now of course being able to stay far away is an advantage but shouldn't be taken too seriously as while you are more than 30 feet away you do not gain the benefits of point blank shot or sneak attack.
(Disparity)
The reason the disparity exists which places rangers and fighters on top of the ranged combat chart is because they have more static bonuses to their damage than other classes and can afford the insane number of feats needed to range compared to melee. For fighters 5 feats and several optional feats are affordable while rangers get 3 of them for free, other classes have to blow most of their feats just to take an inferior choice than melee. The reason fighter even remains as a top ranged build is because arcane archer provides a large damage boost and the extra melee class splash really helps your build compared to an extra feat and the 10% capstone.
(Capstones)
Ranger capstone - "25%" boost to attack speed
Fighter capstone - "10%" boost to attack speed
The numbers are thrown off by the fact that they only help the actual firing of a bow and not the reloading, cutting the increases almost in half making both capstones not nearly as powerful as it could be.
(Feats and Enhancements and Spells)
Rangers gain three of the required ranged feats and easy access to arcane archer via their own spell point pool, they do not need to splash to gain the largest ranged dps increase in the game. Rangers gain +14 damage vs favored enemies (99% of end game content) as well as sprint boost. Rangers gain evasion at level 9 and have naturally high reflex saves, rangers recieve bow strength for free though they also get the twf feats free and are considered the best at adapting to their situation. Rangers gain a decent sized spell point pool and pretty good spells to use it on such as cure serious wounds, bark skin, resist/protect energy, neutralize poison, freedom of movement, and rams might.
Fighters gain +4 damage from weapon specialization against all enemies and another +2 damage from the enhancements associated with it, a fighter recieves bonuses kensai such as +2 to damage, +4 to critical damage and increased crit range...sadly the combat feat dc increase is wasted as there are no ranged combat feats. Fighters can also easily acquire bow str and a melee line of feats as well due to their many feats. Fighters gain strength enhancements and 30% haste boost clickies quite a few (9?) time per day, though the boost only turns out to be 15% as mentioned in the capstone section. Fighters can a couple level 1 spells from the spell list of the chosen class and have a fairly small sp pool.
(Fighter Splash Benefits)
Fighters can splash any class with an sp pool to qualify for arcane archer provided they are an elf. Cleric, wizard, favored soul, sorceror, or bard are all decent choices though bard is generally the one chosen most due to the skills it allows access to such as use magic device. Wizard is probably the second most chosen class as you may take mental toughness as your wizard bonus feat.
Fighters also have another class to splash into which can be monk, barbarian, ranger, or rogue. Monks gain another bonus feat and wisdom to ac which can work for some builds. Barbarian gains access to a rage clicky, 10% movement speed, and sprint boost enhancements. Ranger gains bow str for free and a single favored enemy at +3 damage. Rogue gives access to trap skills, umd, and a 1d6+3 sneak attack which only works within 30 feet.
The splashes I think benefit the fighter the most are bard 1/barbarian 1 or wizard 1/ranger 1 - This is because bard grants access to umd and the barbarian makes you faster than a pure ranger while giving you access to sprint boost which far outweighs any other splash, the only other truely competing class is ranger with it's free bow strength, although fighter gets plenty of feats to take it themselves it does allow them to more easily gain a melee line of attack as well.
(Race Analysis)
Currently Elf is the best ranged race due to the +2 damage with longbows, support of melee damage with racial enhancements, for a fighter displacement clickies and arcane archer access. Without a doubt elf is the best race for ranging though if one wishes you can make a human ranger which allows you to get improved recovery, higher base con, and an enhancement boost to strength and damage while still acquiring arcane archer.
(True Reincarnation)
Rangers gain +2 damage and +2 energy resistance when TRing which stacks up to 3 times which is a pretty nice benefit, can cast barkskin for a feat which is decent if you TR away from the ranger class.
Fighters gain +1 to attack rolls making it relatively useless for ranged characters.
Barbarians support the bard/barbarian class splash with the increase to hp and with the active feat giving a major power boost to your barbarian rage clicky and giving you another one.
Monks give +1 damage when TRing which is useful to all classes and the evasion clicky can benefit a fighter.
Sorceror gives 20 extra sp great for casting those imbues, though the active feat does not grant you access to arcane archer as a pure fighter.
(Ending Summary)
Personally I find rangers more survivable with self healing and evasion, and are much easier to build while a ranged fighter is less survivable but more supported by true reincarnation and would work out to be much better as a long term goal. You may draw your own conclusions from this.