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JeisonBlade
09-01-2011, 01:58 PM
Just some of the gear I made for my ranger to make leveling up easier. This is by no means an exhaustive list, just things I made to "fill in the blanks" where I didn't have gear banked to cover a particular ability or power.

I wont bother getting into Abillity Score, Skill or Save boosting items - I made these as needed on various items. For example I made a Wise +4 Ring of Resistance (Will) +4 at level 11, but in two levels its replaced with something else.

I realize not everyone bothers with crafting or doesn't have their levels up too high, I can't help that, I'm just sharing what I have done or have planned, maybe it will give you some ideas; your needs may differ from mine depending on gear you have banked.

Feather Falling Ring (ML 1; Elemental 47); its **** handy being able to make your own ML 1 FF item, and not farming for days to get a ring of feathers.
ML 1; Feather Falling (Elemental 47)
ML 3; add Light Fortification
ML 7; upgrade to Moderate Fortification
ML 9; upgrade to Heavy Fortification (Elemetal 100)
note: when I got my heavy fort greensteel out of the bank (at ML 11) I replaced the Fortification with Spell Resistance (20) (Arcane 70). Note that this version is actually ML 9; if you have a Nightforged Gorget necklace at ML 9 for heavy fort you could make this earlier than I did. You can also make this in Cloak form.

Scimitars of Ouchness
I did scimmys since she is an elf, works on any weapon tho. You can substitute your favorite elemental damage type for Acid, I just use that for reference, I actually varied the type depending on the areas I was running in - Acid is a good starter since very little is resistant to it at low-mid levels, and it works great vs trolls. Again, try to find weapons with guild slots - you can add crystals of accuracy for +1 to +4 attack (great early on) then later crystals of elemental damage for +1 to +1d4 damage.
ML 1; add Acid (Elemental 33) for +1d6 damage
ML 3; add Bleeding (Arcane 33) for an additional +1d8 damage against nearly everything except constructs (rare at this level) oozes (get a muckbane) and undead (I make specialty weapons against them anyways)
ML 5; add a +1 Enhancement shard. upgrade this by an additional +1 every two levels (+2 at ML 7, +3 at ML 9, +4 at ML 11, +5 at ML 13).
Finally at ML 15 upgrade the element to its burst equivalent, leaving you with a +5 Acid Burst Scimitar of Bleeding (Arcane 70, Elemental 65). Unless you have a GS banked, which you can switch to at level 12.

I make a similar anti-undead weapon which I improve until I can get Disruption weapons (which you can't craft atm.) Use a flametouched iron weapon as the base, as the good damage bypasses some undead DR; silver is also a good choice for vamps.
ML 1; Lesser Undead Bane (Divine 15)
ML 3; add Ghost Touch (Arcane 19)
ML 5; upgrade the Lesser to regular Undead Bane (Divine 45)
ML 9; upgrade to Greater Undead Bane (Divine 92)
after this, start adding +1 to the enhancement every two levels starting at ML 11 (or at ML 7 if you cant make GUB shards)
If you have access to something that lets you bypass incorporeal, like Spectral Gloves, you can replace the Ghost Touch with Holy/Holy Burst.

Bows of Awesomeness
For a dps bow, I made a similar version to my scimitars; I started with Screaming at ML 1, and added Bleed at ML 3. I ignored the enhancement bonuses since I went arcane archer but if you go tempest yo'd want to start adding them with the +1 per two levels progression I noted above, again, this sees enuogh use a guild slot for attack or damage crystals is worthwhile.

For a debuff bow I made a bow of Wounding (-1 CON per hit) at ML 5 (Arcane 50), and added Puncturing (-1d6 CON on critical) at ML 9. You can also make DEX or STR sapping versions, but I like this version, especially when you get manyshot, it drains em fast.

I also made a bow version of the anti-undead scimmys, except replaced Ghost Touch with Holy at level 6 (AA force arrows add ghost touch property), I dropped it altogether when I got my Disruption bow.

Armor
Start off by getting a decent base armor, I used a Mithril Chain Shirt with a guild slot. Gives you great AC at low levels, and I slotted a shielding crystal for extra fortification. I dont bother with an enhancement bonus; you'll have good AC at lower to mid levels, after that it becomes irrelevant anyways for a typical ranger
ML 1; Invulnerability (Arcane 15), this is absolutely awesome at first level and you can virtually ignore many attacks :D.
ML 3; add Unbalancing (Elemental 8), when someone DOES hit you they get a -2 AC penalty for awhile
ML 5; if you want, replace Unbalancing with Thorn Guard (Elemental 50) which does 1d8 piercing to anything that hits you.
ML 7; replace Unbalancing/Thorn Guard with Lifeshield (Divine 42) for the fleshy equivalent of a Blademarks docent, the bonus HP proc will save your arse many times.
ML 11; around this point everything is bypassing Invulnerability, replace it with Dusk (Elemental 100) for a 20% blur effect. If you went True Neutral (tho every REAL ranger is CG hehe) you might consider Superior Stability (Elemental 73) instead. A +6 to all saves and AC is nice.
EDIT: Alabore below suggested Spearblock/Axeblock as a suffix, hadnt thought of that myself, like the idea once Invulnerability is past its usefulness around 10th. Also I currently use Reflex +5, until I get a good Resistance item.

Trinket
Haven't made one of these yet (I use the Crystal Cove trinkets) but planning to for next life. This assumes you don't bother with Cure spells until your best one at 14th, and lets you free up a 2nd level spell slot so you don't have to take barkskin until later.
ML 1; Natural Armor +1 (Arcane 15)
ML 3; replace Natural Armor with Ranged Alacrity +10% (Elemental 74) or Melee Alacrity +10% (Elemental 76) (depending on if you are arcane archer or tempest)
ML 5; add Natural Armor +1 again
ML 7; upgrade Natural Armor to +2 (Arcane 30)
ML 9; upgrade Natural Armor to +3 (Arcane 69)
ML 14; replace Natural Armor with Superior Devotion IV (Divine 69)
note that a Superior Devotion IV trinket of Alacrity 10% is actually only ML 7, so you can make it at any time you want. If you get the Arcane Archer prestige set (+10% ranged alacrity) then make yourself a Melee Alacrity trinket and you're covered on both fronts :D

I actually had a few other things to share but IRL calls, I'll add them later when I have some time. Hope this gives people some useful ideas.

Aerendil
09-01-2011, 03:27 PM
Interesting guide.
The only thing I'd suggest to change is the Trinket. Rangers should be using Barkskin+3 potions from level 1 to.. whenever their Barkskin proves superior.
Since the Natural Armour bonus doesn't stack with Barkskin, it's somewhat redundant.

You'd be better off with an alacrity item in Trinket slot (melee or ranged).

The bow suggestions were interesting as well, although you're still probably better served to use the Silver bow.
I must say, though, that if my Ranger were a crafter, he'd be sorely tempted to craft his own darkwood longbow.

JeisonBlade
09-01-2011, 04:25 PM
Interesting guide.
The only thing I'd suggest to change is the Trinket. Rangers should be using Barkskin+3 potions from level 1 to.. whenever their Barkskin proves superior.
Since the Natural Armour bonus doesn't stack with Barkskin, it's somewhat redundant.

You'd be better off with an alacrity item in Trinket slot (melee or ranged).

True enough, I just suggested it since there really isnt anything else useful for a ranger that can be put on a trinket's prefix slot until you need devotion. Also personally I prefer smaller always-on bonuses to chugging a limited duration pot or clicky. Thats just me. But yea, if your crafting levels are high enough getting a +10% alacrity bonus (either type) at level 3 is awesomesauce and should be a priority.


The bow suggestions were interesting as well, although you're still probably better served to use the Silver bow.
I must say, though, that if my Ranger were a crafter, he'd be sorely tempted to craft his own darkwood longbow.

No argument there; by the time you can craft a better dps bow you'll probably have a greensteel anyways, I didnt mean for it to sound like a crafted bow is a replacement for a Silver, only an alternative option if you have no luck getting one to drop (or cant afford one off the auction house).

Alabore
09-01-2011, 04:36 PM
(tho every REAL ranger is CG hehe)
Eh... so true.
Most of my rangers are CG indeed.
Only one is LG, and he's a serious, humourless git I'm planning to splash paladin on.

:D

...

+1 green cookie of rep.
It's always interesting to compare notes, especially since Cannith crafting got some nice effects I'm not familiar with, we could potentially get much earlier, compared to straight gear.

The Acid of Bleeding sounds tempting.
I was considering Screaming of Bleeding or Slicing of Bleeding, if memory is serving me right.
Feels thematically right on a scimitar.

On my rog/rng I'm loving fearsome on my elven mail; it makes them run for the wilds, while I cut the rest down to size.
Maybe I'd consider axeblock on actual armour and spearblock on shields...?
I recall we used to be able to put DR on weapons too, on Lamannia; should this be the case in Live too, a lower level ranger could benefit from a DR dagger as his/her/its off-hand weapon.

Vengenance
09-01-2011, 05:57 PM
I also crafted armor right out of the gate and like you chose a mith chain shirt with Invulnerability on it. Added to the plus as I leveled up and then placed Ice guard on it and used it until I hit level 10 when I got my delving suit out of the bank.

I did the same thing with my ghost touch weapons. I made a belt of false life with a large guild slot that I slotted with 20 additional hit points gem, which was very handy at low levels.

I find I now look hard at each end reward list for items with large guild slots since I now know how useful they are.

I haven't done anything with the trinket yet since the event trinkets are so useful that I can't envision anything to replace them with. Alacrity maybe, but my ranger has the quiver from the abbot that has no min level on it useable at level 1 by my TR.:eek:

Rauven
09-01-2011, 06:21 PM
Very nice read. I was chuckling as I read it, though, because I did almost the same thing with my current ranger build. He's 15 now and I just crafted his dual +4 ele burst bastard swords of bleed. Made one with acid and the other elec, both with medium augie slots. I made the same armor, too; invulnerability of spike guard is very nice at lvl 5. The only thing I haven't done yet are the alacrity shards. I'm still a few lvl's away from having 50% chance but as soon as I do I have a few toons that will like those.

Good advice my fellow cannithite. +1 for the positive community contribution.

Kielbasa
09-02-2011, 01:54 PM
Interesting read. I personally haven't touched crafting yet. Thanks for the good examples of how to build crafted gear as you level. So just wondering once u11 hits how difficult would be for a fresh character to level up crafting as they level and still be able to make useful items? At what level would your crafting lag too far behind your character level to be useful? How much of a time sink is crafting to get to the useful mods?

JeisonBlade
09-07-2011, 02:18 PM
Interesting read. I personally haven't touched crafting yet. Thanks for the good examples of how to build crafted gear as you level. So just wondering once u11 hits how difficult would be for a fresh character to level up crafting as they level and still be able to make useful items? At what level would your crafting lag too far behind your character level to be useful? How much of a time sink is crafting to get to the useful mods?

They are actually lowering the xp per level of cannith crafting for U11, so it'll be alot easier to level up. You don't need to take your levels all the way to 100, the low levels go pretty quick, its once you hit the 40s you slow down due to the xp/level needed. If you can get your levels into the 40s however you can make the majority of the nice stuff you'll want for your lower levels, you really need to get into the 65+ range to make stuff that can compete with named unique gear at higher levels.

Id recommend checking out http://cannith.cubicleninja.com/, he's got a really nice little planner that lets you select a base item, then select prefix/suffix powers from a drop list, and it will show you the levels you need, so you can get an idea of what you can make, and where you need to take your levels to make it.

JeisonBlade
09-07-2011, 02:28 PM
The Acid of Bleeding sounds tempting.
I was considering Screaming of Bleeding or Slicing of Bleeding, if memory is serving me right.
Feels thematically right on a scimitar.

I did an acid on one and a shock on another (acid was great vs trolls) but occasionally encountered stuff that was resistant to one or another; I dont think there was anything I fought resistant to sonic damage however, so Screaming would be the best all-purpose choice IMHO.

Once I hit 12 and pulled my GS and Paralyzer scims out of the bank I recrafted them into Wounding Scimitars of Puncturing; they can drop a mobs Constitution to nothing REAL **** fast.


Maybe I'd consider axeblock on actual armour and spearblock on shields...?
I recall we used to be able to put DR on weapons too, on Lamannia; should this be the case in Live too, a lower level ranger could benefit from a DR dagger as his/her/its off-hand weapon.

Didnt know about DR on weapons (I didnt play around with crafting much on Lam, was too busy running around screaming AMMA CHARGIN MAH LAZORS on my artificer) but thats an interesting idea. Invulnerability works well until 10th or so, after that I have spearblock from the marshwalker set, hadnt really considered axeblock on the armor tho, dunno why, good idea. Right now (12th level) I have Lifeshield Mithril Chain of Reflex +5 (only spot I can get a reflex bonus atm) that I'm reluctant to give up, but think I'll make an axeblock backup and give that a try.

brian14
09-07-2011, 03:02 PM
I do not have toons with high enough crafting skills to do many of the things you listed, and in any case after two years of playing I have plenty of "hand me downs" for lower level toons. Still...

I did scimmys since she is an elf, works on any weapon tho. You can substitute your favorite elemental damage type for Acid, I just use that for reference, I actually varied the type depending on the areas I was running in - Acid is a good starter since very little is resistant to it at low-mid levels, and it works great vs trolls. Again, try to find weapons with guild slots - you can add crystals of accuracy for +1 to +4 attack (great early on) then later crystals of elemental damage for +1 to +1d4 damage.
ML 1; add Acid (Elemental 33) for +1d6 damage
ML 3; add Bleeding (Arcane 33) for an additional +1d8 damage against nearly everything except constructs (rare at this level) oozes (get a muckbane) and undead (I make specialty weapons against them anyways)
ML 5; add a +1 Enhancement shard. upgrade this by an additional +1 every two levels (+2 at ML 7, +3 at ML 9, +4 at

Few days ago I started a new chaotic good Rogue (level 4, as I have Veteran status). Bought for her on AH Frost shortsword of Pure Good (ML 4), and crafted Anarchic rapier. That's right, just Anarchic -- no plusses. That's ML 3, and does wonders on kobolds. Once she hits level 5 I was going to add Lesser Reptilian Bane onto it, and make identical one with Lesser Goblinoid Bane[1], but Bleeding is better. Thanks for the idea!

After six runs through Durk's and Muck not spawning even once, I said "forget it", transferred Muckbane from my level 8 sorc/paladin, and crafted for him True Law +1 greatclub of Everbright. ML 7, and good enough for oozes at level. That sorc/pally has several crafted items, including Fearsome robe of Spearblock (ML 9, still in bank).


For a debuff bow I made a bow of Wounding (-1 CON per hit) at ML 5 (Arcane 50), and added Puncturing (-1d6 CON on critical) at ML 9. You can also make DEX or STR sapping versions, but I like this version, especially when you get manyshot, it drains em fast.

Not a bow, but my main ranger 20 usually TWF's with two rapiers, the one in off-hand is crafted. Crippling +4 silver rapier of Puncturing. Basically it only has serious effect on crits, but with Improved Critical Piercing and Weapon Finesse, I get a lot of crits. (The other rapier is WoP with Festivult Icy Burst.)

My Bard 14 has a really weird -- and kind of borked, -- crafted item: Enchantment wooden buckler of Electrical Absorption 33%. The "borked" part is that it has a Medium guild slot, rendered unusable by Alchemical Binding ritual -- this was done during earliest live version of crafting. Still, it's Enchantment focus and Electric Absorption on a shield, meaning he can use it while wielding a weapon.

[1] I tested that rapier in Cerulean Hills. Bugbears take chaotic damage, but orcs do not. Are they neutral evil?

lethargos
09-07-2011, 03:15 PM
"Once I hit 12 and pulled my GS and Paralyzer scims out of the bank I recrafted them into Wounding Scimitars of Puncturing; they can drop a mobs Constitution to nothing REAL **** fast."

Really ? Gimme teh secret recipe for those scimitars !

karl_k0ch
09-07-2011, 06:27 PM
"Once I hit 12 and pulled my GS and Paralyzer scims out of the bank I recrafted them into Wounding Scimitars of Puncturing; they can drop a mobs Constitution to nothing REAL **** fast."

Really ? Gimme teh secret recipe for those scimitars !

It's not so secret.

1 keyed scimitar
6 greater body essences, 12 lesser body essences, 4 Khyber dragonshard fragments
10 greater body essences, 32 lesser body essences , 9 Khyber dragonshard fragments, 3 Blades of the Dark Six
add in:
any 25 lesser, any 50 lesser, any 100 lesser, any 175 lesser, any 275 lesser
+5 enhancement spirit.

lethargos
09-07-2011, 06:53 PM
Hmm the secret i wanted was : how do you craft piercing only suffix to a slashing weapon...

Nyvn
09-07-2011, 07:47 PM
Scimitars of Ouchness[/B]
I did scimmys since she is an elf, works on any weapon tho. You can substitute your favorite elemental damage type for Acid, I just use that for reference, I actually varied the type depending on the areas I was running in - Acid is a good starter since very little is resistant to it at low-mid levels, and it works great vs trolls. Again, try to find weapons with guild slots - you can add crystals of accuracy for +1 to +4 attack (great early on) then later crystals of elemental damage for +1 to +1d4 damage.
ML 1; add Acid (Elemental 33) for +1d6 damage
ML 3; add Bleeding (Arcane 33) for an additional +1d8 damage against nearly everything except constructs (rare at this level) oozes (get a muckbane) and undead (I make specialty weapons against them anyways)
ML 5; add a +1 Enhancement shard. upgrade this by an additional +1 every two levels (+2 at ML 7, +3 at ML 9, +4 at ML 11, +5 at ML 13).
Finally at ML 15 upgrade the element to its burst equivalent, leaving you with a +5 Acid Burst Scimitar of Bleeding (Arcane 70, Elemental 65). Unless you have a GS banked, which you can switch to at level 12.


I prefer holy with no + of bleeding.

brian14
09-08-2011, 08:27 AM
Hmm the secret i wanted was : how do you craft piercing only suffix to a slashing weapon...
I do not think you can. I tried it -- did not work.

More specifically, when I placed Shard of Puncturing and a keyed kukri (i.e. slashing weapon) into device, "no matching recipes were found".

JeisonBlade
09-08-2011, 12:29 PM
Hmm the secret i wanted was : how do you craft piercing only suffix to a slashing weapon...

My bad, i r fail (thats what I get for using the forums on an hour of sleep hehe)
I ended up putting them on Rapiers, I did try to use the scimitars (the ones I had been using had medium guild slots) but forgot at the time it was piercing only, so banked em and bought a pair of junk rapiers out of the AH to use. Damage is meh by comparison (since I don't have Imp Crit Pierce, and only get racial bonuses to scims) but damage isnt the point, debuffnig is, and since rapiers are considered lights you get less attack penalty, which is always a nice bonus)

Jucar
09-08-2011, 12:40 PM
Can you only put alacrity on trinkets? Anyone tried quivers lol?

Paleus
09-08-2011, 12:49 PM
and since rapiers are considered lights you get less attack penalty, which is always a nice bonus)

Wait, did something change? As far as I recall, rapiers are considered finessable (sp), but not light weapons. That can distinction can be overlooked often.

MindCake
09-08-2011, 01:01 PM
[...] and since rapiers are considered lights you get less attack penalty, which is always a nice bonus)
Rapiers are finessable, but aren't light.

Other than that +1, some excellent ideas there.

In particular, bonus points for _not_ following the theme/template usually used in cannith crafting guides. You know the one, where they explain everything step-by-step and list every essence and stuff, as if you could somehow get to level 60 in divine without having crafted hundreds of shards and spending thousands of essences.

JeisonBlade
09-09-2011, 12:15 PM
It was my understanding for purposes of two-weapon fighting if you wielded a light weapon or rapier (which I know is technically not a light weapon) in your offhand you get lessened penalties, tbh ive never used em before this and i dont pay attention to the stats much (im more a style over substance type ^.^) so sorry if im wrong. i usually jus dual wield scims, so ill shut up about stuff i obviously am not an expert in now lol :D

LrdSlvrhnd
09-11-2011, 08:02 PM
You get lessened penalties for light weapons. You do NOT get lessened penalties for rapiers, which aren't light weapons. Rapiers are finessable, they're NOT light in terms of off-hand use.

Also, my NG ranger takes umbrage at the previous comment about all true rangers are CG.

Also, my monk's bleeding wraps work on oozes. I'd assume so would any other bleeding weapon (of course, then you have the problem with breakage, but... it should work)

My ranger (with his Buccaneer's Ring permanently equipped) is quite fond of his mithral breastplate of Greater Nimbleness...

I rather like the idea of flametouched iron ghost touch weapons of undead bane for the DR breaker... never thought of that. Of course, I can't craft GT *or* UB, but... that's not the point lol