Arcane Archer Race

[Nenioc]

Do all AA's really need to be elven? I have been wanting to level up a AA ranger for fun but I really do not want to play an elf. How much do I stand to lose by not having the elven enhancements towards ranged dmg? Thanks.

[FuzzyDuck81]

Not too much really - half orc in u7 will have higher strength so that means more damage too... most other races will have higher CON so have more HP for survivability, dwarves particularly could be handy with dwarf axe proficiency for those moments when you have to go melee, and human get an extra feat which can be useful too, especially to get the prerequisites for the PrE (space for toughness & will still get AA at level 6). It just depends what trade-off you want to make.

[elujin]

people just take elf cous they have the bow enchantments (and scimitar enchantments ) and +2 dex (no aa should max dex anyways) but outher then that.

don't forget to build your ranger balanced any ranger can meele and range the pre is just to specialize

[AylinIsAwesome]

Half-Orc would give an AA much better melee, but for archery loses to the Elf, so they will have the same damage with a bow but the Elf will have a to-hit of 3 higher.


But like I said, in melee with Scimitars the Half-Orc will be +3/-3 over the Elf.

[Nenioc]

Great replies! How would Halfling work?

[grodon9999]

Elf is the best choice, and a 32-point build you can still start with 14 CON and be fine regarding HP.

[unbongwah]

Do all AA's really need to be elven?
No. However, if you play a non-elven AA, you're going to want at least ranger 18, otherwise you can't get Slaying Arrows; and most will tell you to stay pure for the ranger capstone. Elves can take the racial AA line, so they have more options as far as muliclassing an AA goes. And of course elves get those nice longbow enhs for extra DPS...

I've been toying with some (non-elf) AA ranger 18 / 1 / 1 builds recently: basically sacrificing endgame ranged DPS for extra versatility. Haven't come up with one I really like yet, though.

[grodon9999]

I've been toying with some (non-elf) AA ranger 18 / 1 / 1 builds recently: basically sacrificing endgame ranged DPS for extra versatility. Haven't come up with one I really like yet, though.

I have an elven 18/1/1 Arcane archer who is a lot of fun. I love her, two of my guildies have LRd into clones of her because she's quite effective. We call them "Elfspoiters." As an Elf Ranger 17/Monk 2/ Rogue 1 would have been a better choice but I didn't think of that until after the LR. Going to TR her in a few weeks anyway.

VERY gear intensive, but then again what build isn't?

[smithtj3]

Great replies! How would Halfling work?

I took a halfling AA to 20 and loved it. Unfortunately I let peer pressure get the better of me and have since TR'd her into an elf. . . Not seeing much difference yet. The halfling had a higher reflex save which is nice with evasion and increased stealth, also nice.

[hooblaboo]

Choose elf if you wish to multiclass, choose others if you wish to have more survivability...
I myself have been thinking about a AA with dual warhammer stun spec, but nothing has been made out of it yet

[grodon9999]

Choose elf if you wish to multiclass, choose others if you wish to have more survivability...
I myself have been thinking about a AA with dual warhammer stun spec, but nothing has been made out of it yet

I'm assuming you'd go dorf or WF? Good luck fitting in those APs!