14 ranger 6 fighter viable?

[Frezar14]

I've been searching threads and I can't seem to find this build. I'd like to go human. Going for tempest II Kensai and being able to do epic would be nice, but not 100% necessary. I'm looking for a little more dps than an exploiter. I do solo quite a bit so the 14 ranger is for survivability and to get fom. If I do go this route I wasn't sure if it matters in which order I take the levels.

Maybe I can't find the build becasue it may not be optimal. Any direction/advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Rydin_Dirtay]

I don't know what server you are on, but Stainer on Khyber has a 14 Ranger/6 Fighter, I think his is a Dwarf. He would be the one to ask about it. He said it can bring the pain.

As far as levelling, I'd probably go:
1: Ranger
2: Ranger <--- TWF for free
3: Fighter <--- Fighter Haste Boost I here
4-15 Ranger <--- get your Tempest II in for 100% offhand attacks
16-20 Fighter <--- finish off with Fighter to maximize hp/dps when you need them most -- the endgame

The build would out dps an Exploiter, and have more hp, but it wouldn't have as much UMD and of course no trapping and not as much AC potential.

[Dawnsfire]

I have been considering 15R/4F/1R for a little while now. I like the idea of the UMD/Wep Spec and keeping my FOM. AP seems a bit too tight for Kensai on 14R/6F for me but the 2nd strength enhancement does look good.

I would say it is definitely viable but as always with trade offs.

PS: Rydin seems to have the leveling nailed pretty well except I would try to fit a fighter level in at 8 to get improved crit (http://ddowiki.com/page/Improved_Critical) asap.

[nomaddog]

My main is 12 ranger/7 figher/1 rogue. Overall, he is a fairly good utility toon, puts out decent dps, and with the right gear setup, can get epic traps. He has a standing UMD in the 20's, but can scroll heal/gh/raise dead scrolls with reliability using cartouche/spyglass.

Once you get past level 11 on a ranger, you don't gain a whole lot. Level 11 gives you precise shot, improved precise shot, and Greater TWF. Lvl 12 will get you tempest 2. I've never really missed not having FoM, but I also have a pair of Delving Boots I can slap on when needed. My guy is Tempest 2, Kensei 1 and does just fine. I'll have to see if I can dig up his leveling progression because I spaced out the fighter levels to take advantage of the extra feats when I needed them. Of course, I took rogue level one for the extra skill points.

So, just another possible way to go. Wish you all the best in whatever build you finally decide on.

[CountHenri]

Another combo to consider is 12Ranger/6Fighter/2Barbarian...

You'd lose 1x1st and 1x4th level spell and +1 Reflex save...

You'd gain 8hp, +2 Fort save, 10% movement speed and RAGE...

Through AP you can add +1 Con which depending on your starting spread/tomes may be useful to even out the total...

Also extend rage and extra rage should give you about 3 minutes of +4 STR/+2 CON which is always nice in a boss fight...

I would recommend taking a Barb level at 2 cause extra movement + sprintboost rocks (and the House P clicky make it even more fun)...

Conversely you might want to consider 12Ftr/6Rgr/2Barb ~ able to self boost your Str by +14 and your damage (come U11) by 25%. You'd be a bit more limited in self healing but can still wand whip but thats a trade off for a pretty hefty DPS increase...

[Frezar14]

Thanks for the replies. My toons usually have decent umd so maybe I'll look at 12 ranger/6 fighter/2 rogue and sacrifice fom and a little dps. Never tried or even splashed barb, that sounds intriguing as well. I guess it would come down to a little more dps or be able to do traps.

[KodeWraith]

My main is 12 ranger/7 figher/1 rogue. Overall, he is a fairly good utility toon, puts out decent dps, and with the right gear setup, can get epic traps. He has a standing UMD in the 20's, but can scroll heal/gh/raise dead scrolls with reliability using cartouche/spyglass.

Once you get past level 11 on a ranger, you don't gain a whole lot. Level 11 gives you precise shot, improved precise shot, and Greater TWF. Lvl 12 will get you tempest 2. I've never really missed not having FoM, but I also have a pair of Delving Boots I can slap on when needed. My guy is Tempest 2, Kensei 1 and does just fine. I'll have to see if I can dig up his leveling progression because I spaced out the fighter levels to take advantage of the extra feats when I needed them. Of course, I took rogue level one for the extra skill points.

So, just another possible way to go. Wish you all the best in whatever build you finally decide on.

Nomad,
Did you pick up CE and imp trip or something similar to stun mobs? Can yo post your build or a approximation?

I found on Xanxibar (12Ranger/7monk/1r) I really missed the ability to stunning things. So in planning her TR, I posted a build I called The Utility Infielder as a 1Rog/12/Ranger/7F a while back, with HE Monk Dilly and it seemed to have great versatility.

[Therigar]

Another combo to consider is 12Ranger/6Fighter/2Barbarian...

I ran Therindal on Ghallanda as 12 Ranger/6 Barbarian/2 Fighter IIRC. Deleted him from there a long time ago so don't recall the class splits exactly. But, definitely more Barbarian than Fighter.

I enjoyed the rages and, because I'm pretty simple minded when it comes to melee builds, it was easier for me to manage than keeping track of Fighter boosts.

Still, I'd say that 14/6 as OP initially posts is also workable. It is a nice, even split.

What I'd look at is the enhancements and spells to see if something special happens at L14 for rangers. Compare that to what happens at L7 for fighters. Maybe nothing, I didn't look myself. But, sometimes enhancements open up on odd numbered levels for a little more of a boost to a class.

[Luckness]

As far as DPS and HP goes, Ranger 12 / Fighter 8 has more of both. Haste Boost III and Weapon Specialization enhancement for +1 damage against anything (compared to 1 more FE damage from ranger). An additional Toughness feat and Fighter Toughness III would mean 36 more HP (22 toughness + 10 enhancement + 4 levels).

You give up a level 4 spell slot that could have been used for Freedom of Movement or Cure Serious Wounds. This could be a dealbreaker for some... the build in my sig chose to go for both with a Ranger 15 level split.

Depending on how the damage boost revision goes live, half-elf and rogue dilletante could be brutal. You'd get 25% haste boost and 25% damage boost activated together and 3d6 sneak attack on top of everything else.