Elven Exploiter (Ranger 18/Monk 1/Rogue 1)

[Zapkill]

Elf male Ranger 18/monk 1/rogue 1

Levels:
1-rogue
2-12 ranger
13 monk
14-20 ranger

Stats:
Str: 16 (16 +5 Levels +6 Item +3 Tome +2 Rams + 2 Rage) 32 (34 with Rage)
Dex: 16 (16 +3 Enh. +6 Item +3 Tome +2 Enh.) 30
Con: 12 (+2 Tome +6 Item) 20
Int: 12 (+2 Tome) 14
Wis: 14 (+6 Item +2 Tome) 22
Cha: 8 (+2 Tome +6 Item) 16 (Needed for UMD)

Skills:
UMD
Concentration
Rogue skills (Spot/Search/Disable/Open Lock)
Any other stuff you need (Jump, Balance etc.)

Feats:
1 - Dodge
3 - Mobility
6 - Spring Attack
9 - IC Piercing
12 - Power Attack
13 - (MB) Toughness
15 - Two Weapon Defense
18 - Combat Expertise
Favored Enemies:
Constructs
Elementals
Whatever else you want

HP:
158(Levels) +10(Draconic) +20(Heroic) +30(GFL) +22(Helm) +100(Con) +22(Toughness) +20(Racial Toughness Enh.) +45(GS) = 427

SP:
205(18 Ranger) +189(Wis) +300(GS) = 694

Enhancements:
Rogue Haste Boost I
Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Ranger Sprint Boost I
Elven Dex I
Elven Dex II
Aerenal Elf Melee Damage I
Aerenal Elf Melee Damage II
Elf Ranged Damage I
Elf Ranged Damage II
Ranger Favored Attack I
Ranger Favored Attack II
Ranger Favored Damage I
Ranger Favored Damage II
Ranger Favored Damage III
Ranger Favored Damage IV
Ranger Favored Defense I
Ranger Favored Defense II
Ranger Favored Defence III
Ranger Favored Resistance I
Ranger Tempest I
Ranger Tempest II
Ranger Tempest III
Ranger Dex I
Ranger Dex II
Ranger Dex III
Rogue Improved Trap Sence I
Racial Toughness I
Racial Toughness II
And any others you want.

Saves (Fort/Reflex/Will):
Base:13/13/8
Attributes: 6/10/7
Resistance: 5/5/5
Greater Hero 4/4/4
Total: 28/30/26 (30/32/26 with Head)

AC:
10 Base
1 Dodge Feat
4 Icy Raiments Dodge
1 Alchemical Dodge
10 Dexterity
3 Chattering Ring Dodge
7 Wisdom
1 Monk Bonus
1 Two Weapon Defense
5 Protection
4 Insight (Shroud Crafted)
8 Armor Bracers
4 Tempest III
5 Combat Expertise
-----------------------
62 Unbuffed While in AC Mode
-------------------
5 Barkskin
1 haste
2 Recitation
-------------------
70 Self Buffed AC
-------------------
6 Aura
4 Bard Song
-------------------
80 With Party Buffs

And when tumbling you get 4 more AC.

With the elf enhancements you gain +2hit/dmg with longswords and rapiers so it's better to use those weapons. For max potention go with rapiers.

[Suzaku]

I would consider dropping IC Slashing, picking up power attack at 12 and focus on rapiers. That way you can switch between DPS mode or AC mode, because in situations where you need dps (such as someone else is intiming the raid boss) you don't need AC you can DPS.

I would personally hold off on Monk until level 14 that way you'll get your Tempest II so you'll have 100% off hand attacks.

[grodon9999]

Drop one of the ICs for Power attack and re-think the low CON. it's hard to squeeaze a lot out of an elf but I still would not advise starting lower than a 12, ever.

[Zapkill]

Fixed

[k1ngp1n]

Without OTWF, you won't qualify for Tempest 3. Drop Two Weapon Defense.

[grodon9999]

Without OTWF, you won't qualify for Tempest 3. Drop Two Weapon Defense.

Wrong.

[Zapkill]

Wrong.

I thought that also. Dont you need that OR TWD or lightning reflexes?

[voodoogroves]

If you are using longswords, any thought to include whirling steel strike and focus (prereq methinks) ... You would likely drop ce and otwf but gain +1 from focus, monk strikes and stances ... Rapiers not so much but if you plan on longswords I'd at least consider it...

[honkuimushi]

You've only spent 31 points on your stats. Put the last point in Int for a 12. That way when you use your +2 tome(preferably at 7) you'll get an extra skill point too.

I would also drop Concentration. You won't be centered and so you can't keep ki and you should be doing most of your casting out of combat. Open Locks would be really nice to put points in.

Either take IC:Piercing and Aerenal or IC: Slashing and Valenar. Rapiers and scimitars are better than longswords.

I generally agee that Monk at 14 would be better, but there is some justification for taking it at 2nd or 3rd level and using the bonus feat for Tempest prereqs or Toughness. Taking Toughness at level 13 or 14 kind of hurts, especially on an elf.


Well, that's my take.

[grodon9999]

I thought that also. Dont you need that OR TWD or lightning reflexes?

Yes. OTWF, TWD, Lightning reflexes, or Two Weapon Blocking.

[unbongwah]

Are you going rapiers or scimitars? If rapiers, you want IC Pierce not Slash; if scimitars, you want the Valenar enhs not Aerenal. If you said "longswords" and aren't getting WSS, you have chosen...poorly.

[Zapkill]

Are you going rapiers or scimitars? If rapiers, you want IC Pierce not Slash; if scimitars, you want the Valenar enhs not Aerenal. If you said "longswords" and aren't getting WSS, you have chosen...poorly.

Sorry I didnt make it clear. This build uses Rapiers.

[k1ngp1n]

Yes. OTWF, TWD, Lightning reflexes, or Two Weapon Blocking.

Yeah, my bad. Didn't see TWD applies. Everyone always takes OTWF instead since its usually considered a more valuable feat, TWD is rarely listed.

[GraysonAC]

Is Favored Defense preferred over Favored Resistance? I dunno about high levels, but my exploiter is level 10, and the only thing I really die to is Hold Person spam.

[Zapkill]

Is Favored Defense preferred over Favored Resistance?

It is more of a preferance thing.

[stenrick]

Ok so being new to the game and using the character builder. I am a bit confused how to plug this build in and progress it on a level by level basis. Most particularly the skills points. Is there anyway you can post the build print out that details how you built this character?

I noticed that you did not take the longsword enhancement? I have been told that longswords are one the noce thing about taking an elf?

[Robi3.0]

I noticed that you did not take the longsword enhancement? I have been told that longswords are one the noce thing about taking an elf?

Unless the person that told you that was referring to a multi-classed monk wielding long swords via Whirling Steel Strike then you were told wrong.

[stenrick]

Unless the person that told you that was referring to a multi-classed monk wielding long swords via Whirling Steel Strike then you were told wrong.

Okay so in looking at this build what is the way to go? Despite the stated benefits I am not sure I want to go with khopesh. They are in such high demand it is seems to make sense to give up a slight dps benefit and go with a weapon that would be more readily available and cheaper in the AH? Thoughts?

[Calebro]

You'd be better off going Valenar and using scimitars. Rapiers for certain status effects, but scimitars mostly.

They're basically identical weapons but one is slashing and one is piercing. Slashing is generally the better way to go as less mobs have dr/piercing than dr/slashing.
And besides that, scimmys are generally cheaper, so you can get better weapons for the same cost.

[stenrick]

thanks for the info. Any tips on how to get this build into the character builder? I understand the basic premise behind the build, however it is the skill point and enhance progression through the levels that has me stumped.

[Calebro]

thanks for the info. Any tips on how to get this build into the character builder? I understand the basic premise behind the build, however it is the skill point and enhance progression through the levels that has me stumped.

The builder is pretty straight forward. Just play with it a bit and it'll start to make sense to you.
What most people do is just fill in all enhancements at level 20. This is because what you end up with and what you use while leveling up are often two different things. It's fairly common to reset enhancements every few levels to get the most out of your AP at any given time.

Skills must be filled in every individual level, if you wanted to put them in there as well. Start at level 1 and build from there. Doing it in reverse could confuse you easily unless you know what you're supposed to be looking at.

[Rydin_Dirtay]

Looks like a pretty good Elf Exploiter build, if you have the +3 tomes banked.

One thing: I prefer taking Oversized TWF, rather than TWD, since +to hit is very much desirable for an 18/1/1. Even with the Elf enhancements.

[EustaceTrevelyan]

Looks like a pretty good Elf Exploiter build, if you have the +3 tomes banked.

One thing: I prefer taking Oversized TWF, rather than TWD, since +to hit is very much desirable for an 18/1/1. Even with the Elf enhancements.

While this is theory for me, not having got that high, i do know that if you don't hit them, you can't hurt them, and since PA is universally recommended (almost), on a ranger you want every last bit. On this choice, i'd go hit over AC.

[stenrick]

I am playing the build, just added the Monk level. Not ever having played a Monk before, I am not sure I understand how the Monk splash is meant to be used, and the benefits it is meant to provide to the build.

[protokon]

My only concern is the low con, other than that I'd also suggest thinking about going dex-based. I have a guildy who has the same build cept he is dex-based, and he is absolutely solid (I believe he sits 75+ self-buffed AC and still has around 28-30 STR) was able to 2-man hound with him on my fvs.

[Faent]

I am playing the build, just added the Monk level. Not ever having played a Monk before, I am not sure I understand how the Monk splash is meant to be used, and the benefits it is meant to provide to the build.

The monk splash lets you add your wisdom bonus to your armor class. And it grants a feat.

[Faent]

My only concern is the low con, other than that I'd also suggest thinking about going dex-based. I have a guildy who has the same build cept he is dex-based, and he is absolutely solid (I believe he sits 75+ self-buffed AC and still has around 28-30 STR) was able to 2-man hound with him on my fvs.

I treat an Exploiter's self-buffed AC as their AC with Barkskin only. On that metric, I currently sit at self-buffed 71. Without TR'ing, 74-76 is possible. But of course, if you count Haste and Recitation, then you can get higher. If you drop Power Attack, I suspect your to-hit will make up for your damage loss, given your low (30-ish) STR. Then you can pick up Weapon Finesse, and guarantee almost no missing (especially with Epic Spectral Gloves).

If you go this DEX based route, the highest STR I suspect you can see if you don't TR (with Ram's Might only) is 25-27. Of course, you can easily keep yourself raged, so that puts you at 27-29.

In any case, Ark is right. The DEX-based build is VERY SOLID. And adding some TR's to it (such as TR'ing through Monk) makes it pretty darn badass. Three Monk TR's would give you an effective STR score of 33-35.