LF feedback on my Tempest

[SlavaK2si]

Hello, I am currently playing with a Tempest which is based on Tihocan's Tempest build. Im gonna post his stats and intended gear and it would be cool to get some feedback :) Called this guy "Tip Top" on my generator, but with your evaluation we can decide if he really is tip top lol...

Ranger18/Rogue1/Fighter1 (28p build)

Human, Neutral

Base stats:

STR: 16 (+1 Human adaptability +5 ability increase)
DEX: 14 (+3 Ranger dexterity)
CON: 15 (+1 Human greater adaptability)
INT: 8
WIS: 12
CHA: 8

Skills:
Maxed out Balance, Jump & UMD, rest went to Tumble. I chose jump because I might want to jump in desperate situations where the spellpoints are gone. And yes, I took away the trap skills and left them to more intelligent characters.

Feats:
Toughness
Khopesh
Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack
Improved Critical: Slashing
Oversized TWF
Power Attack
Weapon Focus: Slashing (I might use up my free feat echchange for Skill focus: UMD)

Favored enemies:
Undead
Giant
Evil Outsider
Elemental

Enhancements:
Rogue Haste Boost I
Ranger Sprint Boost I
Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Human Adaptability Strenght I
Human Greater Adaptability Constitution I
Human Improved Recovery III
Human Versatility IV
Racial Toughness III
Ranger Favored Damage IV
Ranger Tempest III
Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Ranger Devotion IV
Ranger Energy of the Wild I (dumped the last point in there)
Ranger Dexterity III
Fighter Toughness I

Intended Gear (Note that it is based on the only 3 packs I have, sands, vale & shavarath):
Head: Wisdom +6 hat (have not given much thought about that slot yet)
Neck: Kilau's Necklace (Tempest Set)
Goggles: Mineral 2
Trinket (Epic) Bloodstone
Cloak: Air Guard with +300 SP & +6 Charisma Skills
Armor: Currently Icy Raiment, but am considering Deathblock Outfit of Greater Stability (if my crafting gets to corresponding level)
Bracers: (Epic) Bracers of Deftness with a yellow augment of Greater False Life
Belt: Colethenis Belt (Ravager Set)
Ring 1: Kilau's Band with +2 CON (Tempest Set), but also am considering healing amp instead of the +2 CON
Ring 2: Ring of the Ravager with +2 STR (Ravager Set)
Boots: (Epic) Golden Greaves with +6 Charisma in the slot
Gloves: (Epic) Spectral Gloves with ??? exceptional stat (not sure what to put there, maybe DEX to even out the uneven DEX score)

Comments are most welcome.

[karl_k0ch]

Skill-wise, you should be able to take care of the trap skills, too.

An 8-int human ranger has 6 skill points to spend on each level, e.g. for:
UMD (2)
Disable Device (2)
Spot (1) (compensate lacking points here)
Search (1)

I would not max Jump, as I cannot think of situations where a lack of jump is crucial. A lack of trap skills in the party, however, can be crucial.

I don't find WF:Slash to be too attractive.

For the items, I don't think that the bracers of deftness add too much value to your build, except for the Yellow slot.

Fitting in tharnes goggles, or any other item with sneak attack bonuses would be beneificial to your damage output.

[unbongwah]

I would've dumped WIS for INT for extra skill pts (see Tempest Trapmonkey in sig).

[licho]

1 Atributes: Wis 12 make sense if you plan to use +2WiS tome to free a slot, otherwise you anyway will need some wis item, so as well you can set it as 8/10/12.
2. Skillpoints and INT, i would not ignore trapskills. While leveling a lot of PUGs waiting is for good trapmonkey. Being able to fix traps also grants extra xp. There is some shortcomes of rogues so if you have skill points use them for traps. UMD is musthave. Balance is good. Jump is not good, since it caps at 40, and u benefit from high str here, and also can self cast jump spell. (+30 itself). Remember to spend one point into tumble. For traps you have to have search and disable. Spot is not neccesery but can help if you dont know where the traps are, and allow to see hiden enemies. (and shoot them with a bow)
3. Weapon Focus do not grants as much. You could do better with either IC ranged for some Manyshot fun, or Maximize (or empower healing) for some better spot healing.

[Mercureal]

I would also suggest reconsidering the trap skills. One of the strengths of this class mix is versatility, and trap skills are very useful. Yes, there are pure rogues, and yes, traps decrease in number in the high-level quests, but while leveling it's a nice ability to have and you don't really have to sacrifice other things to get it. Plus, it makes it much easier to shortman certain quests, or (if you feel like it later) to solo them.

[SlavaK2si]

Would having 14 INT really make this build a successful trapmonkey (I'm also talking of elite difficulties)?

[karl_k0ch]

Would having 14 INT really make this build a successful trapmonkey (I'm also talking of elite difficulties)?

Search:

23 Ranks
5 int bonus (20 = 14 int + 6 item, swapped in occasionally)
15 item
4 greater heroism
3 Human Versatility II
1 luck (voice of the master)
===
51, which is almost no-fail for all epic traps.

For disable device, where the DCs are about 10 points higher, use the ventilated bracers from Reaver's (+3) and +5 tools (+7).