PA or Imp Crit?

[tjaysteno]

I just got my Arcane Archer up to 18 [insert triumphant music for Slaying Arrows]. The only problem is I can't decide on a final feat. From what I hear only douchy AAs neglect melee in the highest level content so I'd like to shore up my weakness with either Power Attack or Improved Crit: Slashing. The plan is to use scimitars (elven bonuses to attack and damage) probably banishing and paralyzing though I'll have to experiment there. So in order to avoid the nightmare I had at level 6 (seriously kids, check PrE requirements before you get to them), I'd like some advice on which feat will serve me best.

Self-buffed stats after airship buffs: Str 28, Dex 32, hp (lvl 17) 290, AC is 38. Overall the build is not extremely durable, but I've done what I could with a 28 point build. That having been said I plan on remaining primarily ranged, but want the option to melee for respectable damage if (when?) the need arises.

So should I go with PA or IC:Slash?

[ZeroTakenaka]

I was wrong.

[Impaqt]

I just got my Arcane Archer up to 18 [insert triumphant music for Slaying Arrows]. The only problem is I can't decide on a final feat. From what I hear only douchy AAs neglect melee in the highest level content so I'd like to shore up my weakness with either Power Attack or Improved Crit: Slashing. The plan is to use scimitars (elven bonuses to attack and damage) probably banishing and paralyzing though I'll have to experiment there. So in order to avoid the nightmare I had at level 6 (seriously kids, check PrE requirements before you get to them), I'd like some advice on which feat will serve me best.

Self-buffed stats after airship buffs: Str 28, Dex 32, hp (lvl 17) 290, AC is 38. Overall the build is not extremely durable, but I've done what I could with a 28 point build. That having been said I plan on remaining primarily ranged, but want the option to melee for respectable damage if (when?) the need arises.

So should I go with PA or IC:Slash?


Te Correct answer is Both.

you have a feat that you dont need.

[r3dl4nce]

I would get Power Attack since it will buff your melee attack damage along with your bow damage due to the Bow Strength ability. That is if you have Bow Strength...I don't think P.A. affect the bow.

@Op. If you can't take both (that's not so good) you must go P.A. and craft 2 mineralII scimitars (minII are keen so no need for imp. crit.)

[tjaysteno]

Are you sure PA works with Bow Strength? If so hands down that's what I'm choosing, but I'd like that verified by a few other people if possible.


Te Correct answer is Both.

you have a feat that you dont need.

But I like extended spells! :) I'll think about swapping that, but if I don't which is more important.

[dkyle]

If forced to choose, IC: Slash. Should be more total DPS. But you should really have both.

FYI, Scimitars can't be banishers. Banishing only comes on piercing and bludgeoning.


Are you sure PA works with Bow Strength? If so hands down that's what I'm choosing, but I'd like that verified by a few other people if possible.

It doesn't work with bows. And PA has no impact on STR, so it wouldn't be dependent on Bow Strength even if it did.


But I like extended spells! :) I'll think about swapping that, but if I don't which is more important.

What spells do you need to extend? Your min/level spells certainly don't need it.

[Impaqt]

Are you sure PA works with Bow Strength? If so hands down that's what I'm choosing, but I'd like that verified by a few other people if possible.



But I like extended spells! :) I'll think about swapping that, but if I don't which is more important.

Pure Ranger?

If 20 Minute buffs dont get you from Shrine to Shrine you have a lot more to worry about that whether to take PA or IC.

[ZeroTakenaka]

If forced to choose, IC: Slash. Should be more total DPS. But you should really have both.

FYI, Scimitars can't be banishers. Banishing only comes on piercing and bludgeoning.



It doesn't work with bows. And PA has no impact on STR, so it wouldn't be dependent on Bow Strength even if it did.

Darn... I was wrong */headshotself*

What spells do you need to extend? Your min/level spells certainly don't need it.

:(

[Qezuzu]

What feats do you already have? You might have a useless one laying around somewhere.

But if you can't swap any of the feats then take IC. Scimitars then have a threat range of 15-20, or 30%. At high levels paralyzers don't work very well. Their save DC is 17 so most monsters have to roll a 1 for them to work, only to get unparalyzed a few seconds later. Banishers have a 23 save so they're in somewhat of the same boat.

Assuming a +5 Rapier, 15% more crits is an additional (.15)*1d6+5 damage a swing, for an average of 1.2 more damage a hit. With an elemental burst weapon, it's an additional 5 damage on a crit, meaning IC gives 1.8 more damage per hit. Adding a seeker item is even better. A +6 seeker effect, either on offhand or on the Bloodstone, means crits do an additonal 12 damage. IC will give 3.6 more damage per swing when used in conjunction with a +5 Flaming/Shocking/IcyBurst Scimitar and +6 Seeker. Using a GS blank scimitar raises this to 3.9. Giving that GS Scimitar Double Bursts means IC gives an average of 4.65 damage a hit. Making one of the bursts an Alignment burst is 5.25. Now it is more damage than PA and 25% more accurate too. Adding the Blast effects only make this greater. With +6 seeker, a RadII Scimitar, with Flaming, Good Burst, Fire Blast and Good Blast means 1d8+17+10d6+d10 on a critical. With an average of 56 additional damage on crits, IC will give 8.6 more points of damage and be 25% more accurate.

If you want to craft a RadII scimitar. It is an awesome weapon but it's a double shard.

[Ciaran]

ICrit:Slash over Power Attack but you really should have both.

Extend is fluff. You absolutely do not need it.

Visit Lockania, get your free feat reset and pick up whichever of the two you don't take as your final feat.

Even assuming you started with a low WIS, you should have plenty of mana to re-cast spells as you need them every 18-20 minutes.

[Chai]

Yeap, ditch extend, and take both PA and imp crit.

[grodon9999]

Yeap, ditch extend, and take both PA and imp crit.

What he said

[tjaysteno]

Yeap, ditch extend, and take both PA and imp crit.

The mob has spoken! I'll work on swapping Extend for PA (for my 3rd swapped feat :/), but until I get the right shard I'll make due with IC:Slash.

New question, should I use scimitars or rapiers? I feel like I use scimitars, but want to make sure before I commit.

[grodon9999]

New question, should I use scimitars or rapiers? I feel like I use scimitars, but want to make sure before I commit.

They're identical, but Rapiers come in banishing and Punturing varieties. I personally like Rapiers but that's just a matter of opinion.

[tjaysteno]

They're identical, but Rapiers come in banishing and Punturing varieties. I personally like Rapiers but that's just a matter of opinion.

So scimitars have no banishing. That seems important. I forget what puncturing is but is there anything nice scimitars have that rapiers don't?

[PopeJual]

So scimitars have no banishing. That seems important. I forget what puncturing is but is there anything nice scimitars have that rapiers don't?

Vorpal.

[Chai]

I like scimitars because they are slashing and your arrows are already piercing. A couple of vorpals of pure good will serve you well in the higher levels.

More of a personal preference really. As DPS they are the same.

[Mercureal]

Scimitars and Rapiers are essentially the same in terms of damage and criticals. The differences, off the top of my head:

- slashing vs. piercing damage: only relevant for DR purposes. At higher levels it seems I see more slashing-resistant mobs, but that's only an impression.

- weapon effects: vorpal only comes on slashing weapons, but also only activates on a 20. Banishing does not come on slashing weapons and activates on a critical hit - rapiers are the best weapons for banishing. Banishing is great in the Vale and quite good in parts of the Sub-T, but not so useful at higher levels. Wounding and puncturing also only come on piercing weapons, although these effects are also not as useful at high levels.

- Green Steel crafting: besides the normal vale ingredients, scimitars need a medium splintered horn, rapiers need a large splintered horn. The large horns seem fairly rare. I have used 2, both of which I needed to buy off the AH, and this is consistent with the reports I hear from others.

- Weapon finesse: Rapiers will work with the weapon finesse feat, scimitars will not.


That's all I got.

[tjaysteno]

You all should be as unified on this question as the last one. :) Since my alignment is TN, Pure Good is a no go.

I like the rationale of using slashing melee and piercing ranged (not to mention scimitars look more bad ass), but on the other hand I'd like banishing. I'll check out vorpal and puncturing then check back in later today or tomorrow to see what the others have to say. This has been really helpful, thanks!

EDIT: Someone ninja'd me.


- weapon effects: vorpal only comes on slashing weapons, but also only activates on a 20. Banishing does not come on slashing weapons and activates on a critical hit - rapiers are the best weapons for banishing. Banishing is great in the Vale and quite good in parts of the Sub-T, but not so useful at higher levels. Wounding and puncturing also only come on piercing weapons, although these effects are also not as useful at high levels.

- Green Steel crafting: besides the normal vale ingredients, scimitars need a medium splintered horn, rapiers need a large splintered horn. The large horns seem fairly rare. I have used 2, both of which I needed to buy off the AH, and this is consistent with the reports I hear from others.

It sounds like vorpal weapons work like Slaying Arrows correct? +500 damage on 20s? Nice, but not great considering I can already do it with one weapon. The Green Steel one helps a lot though since I don't I have no experience with that yet. This post is making me lean towards rapiers; make your case scimitar people! :)

[grodon9999]

Vorpal.

Yeah, but when you have your vorpals out you're swingin for the fences anyway, IC isn't that important. That said, I have dual +2 Vorpal/PG Scimitars on my Rapier-wielding Elf.

[tjaysteno]

Yeah, but when you have your vorpals out you're swingin for the fences anyway, IC isn't that important. That said, I have dual +2 Vorpal/PG Scimitars on my Rapier-wielding Elf.

Excellent point! Vorpal gets no benefit from IC:S while banishing (and puncturing?) does get a benefit from IC:P. That's my decision: give rapiers the feat and enhancements, but have a set of scimitars just in case. Thanks everyone! This has helped a ton!

[Silvershaper]

Vorpal.

True, which isn't affected by imp. crit. anyway.

I use rapiers for stat dmg, banishing and smiting. Some ppl say that slashing is better when speaking of dr on mobs, but according to http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=178393 it's not that big of a difference...

[Silvershaper]

It sounds like vorpal weapons work like Slaying Arrows correct? +500 damage on 20s?

No, a vorpal is when you cut the head off of your opponent. If the opponent needs his head to stay alive, he dies when he looses it. If he doesn't need it, vorpal doesn't work on him. Slaying Arrow Imbue is said to proc on a "vorpal strike" which means it has the same requirements as a vorpal effect, which is a natural roll of 20 which is confirmed as a crit.

[richieelias27]

You all should be as unified on this question as the last one. :) Since my alignment is TN, Pure Good is a no go.
...


UMD will fix that right up for you. You do have points in UMD... dont you?

[tjaysteno]

UMD will fix that right up for you. You do have points in UMD... dont you?

Nope. First toon I've brought to 20 didn't realize UMD was important then. That's not even the worst mistake I made; one of the earliest feats I had to swap out was Precise Shot! So you can imagine my surprise a few levels later when I got it free.

[grodon9999]

Nope. First toon I've brought to 20 didn't realize UMD was important then. That's not even the worst mistake I made; one of the earliest feats I had to swap out was Precise Shot! So you can imagine my surprise a few levels later when I got it free.

Been there! First toon is a wonderful and painful learning experience. It is also a hell of a lot of fun.