advice on enhancements

[Boredamerican]

I have a quick question for those in the know… I am currently a lvl 6/1 ranger/fighter and was wondering if it’s worth taking three lvls of fighter for the armor mastery enhancement or if the +1 to dex cap is even worth it. I use weapon finesse (frowned upon I know) and also wanted to know if the max dex bonus for armor was also linked to this feat. This is my first character but I do decent DPS so far and my to hit is through the roof (for a lvl 7… Dex 26 & str 18 through enhancements and tomes). Any advice or info is greatly appreciated.

[dynahawk]

Most people who look for good armor class end up wearing robes/outfits to completely uncap their Dex bonus. The reasons I splashed for fighter were extra feats/Haste Boost/Extra HP's.

[Boredamerican]

That was my primary reason for splashing fighter as well; I’ve seen some gear that allows a pretty high dex bonus towards higher levels and was just wondering if it was a waste to take the enhancement. I guess the general consensus is just to optimize hp. I suppose two lvls of fighter is all I need then.

[Wrendd]

If you take 3 levels of fighter you gain the bonus to your armors Max Dex bonus, but you lose the ability to take the final tier of Tempest (or Arcane Archer, but I am prety sure you are not going that route with this build).

It is not that AC is ueseless on your build, you are in a position to get a meaningful AC, it is just that the best way for you to get a high AC is to wear robes/outfits. The 2 main ways of getting a high AC are either with the best heavy armor, a shield and a moderate Dex, or with robes and a high Dex and possibly a high Wis if you have a monk splash.. You want to be able to take advantage of your evasion, and if you wear heavy armor that is out. You will also not be using a shield, so no AC from that either. Both methods of getting a high AC use many of the same pieces of gear (items that provide dodge bonus and/or natural armor).

Stick with the 18 Ranger /2 Fighter. If you really do not care about 18 Ranger, then you might go for 16 Ranger/2 Fighter/ 2Monk, but that will most likely be a radical departure from you current plan and it might be too difficult to make it work with the ability scores you currently have.

[grodon9999]

it's a much better bet to splash monk if you want AC on a ranger.

Out of curiosity . . . has anyone figured out what the best you can get on a ranger is while wearing armor? let's assume a dorf and the Epic leathers from Crystal Cove.

[Luckness]

It is not worth it.

- You will lose DPS being 17 Ranger / 3 Fighter instead of 18 Ranger / 2 Fighter.

- AC will be considered unimportant for you at level cap.

- Prior to level cap, gear will fix this for you. If you have the quest chain in the harbor (Harbinger of Madness) that rewards the Parasitic Breastplate, get that. It is a ML:14 item that has a Maximum Dexterity Bonus of 8, armor bonus of 10, and an additional +3 stacking natural armor. Your 26 Dexterity just barely fills the MDB on this item. It will probably be the last item useful for you for AC as you quest through Gianthold and Vale.

[Boredamerican]

Thanks for the advice. Luckness, thanks for the EQ info.
I'll take the second lvl of fighter then go all tempest from there.