Trapper: Final FEAT choice for a 18 Ranger/1 Rogue/1 Monk

[Clematis]

I have to choose my final feat for my (currently) 15 Ranger/1 Rogue/1 Monk, and I need advice. This is my highest level char and I am totally unfamiliar with the game above level 18 quests. He is trapper and a dual melee Tempest (Scimitar/Kukri) and is a lot of fun as long as I don't see miss miss miss. I believe I need to be able to trap well, since that seems to be the reason he is attractive to a party (who wants a squishy meleer with just 254 health [that includes a +6 Con item])--however I am initially disinclined to get Skill Focus: Disable Devices. TRing is not in my near future. My current non-Ranger class feats are:

1 Lightning Reflexes (for Tempest ) [Rogue]
2 Toughness [Monk, for the 0/+2/+2 saving throws]]
3 Luck of Heroes
6 Dodge (for Tempest)
9 Mobility (for Tempest)
12 Improved Critical: Slashing
15 Spring Attack (for Tempest)
18 ??? This is why I'm writing this post :)

I have considered Stunning Blow, Sap, Iron Will, Toughness, Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh, Oversized TWF (not for the puny extra damage--for the convenience of which items I can use), Improved Critical: Bludgeon, and others. Any comments or recommendations based on your experiences, not theories, would be valuable to me, whether they are about my final feat choice or not.

My current unbuffed, but boosted, with tools, Disable Device skill is 53. I will get +3 more from leveling and with items I will be able to get +6 to +12 more, or even more if necessary. While my unbuffed, boosted Search skill, 47, should be at least 53, I really don't know how high it should be (same as DD?).

My base stats are 22 Str/13 Dex/14 Con/14 Int/9 Wis/6 Cha. With the items I am wearing, unbuffed, my saving throws are +20/+26/+12. Unbuffed, with +2 weapons, my current first swing bonus to hit is +28. My spell points are a lowly 245, although I put a Magi item on before resting, then buff. My Hide is 28, Move Silently is 40, and my self-buffed Spot is 48.

[voodoogroves]

Power Attack.

You also don't need Lightning Reflexes, I'd swap that for something else. Your other choices (Sap, Stunning Blow, Khopesh) are solid options; I'd also add Improved Sunder to the mix; I'm not sure you need OTWF with Tempest 3.

What race are you?


You don't need Skill Focus on any of the trap skills if you've got max ranks in them - you just need gear. Save the feats for the important bits.

[Faent]

First, I wouldn't take both Lightning Reflexes and Oversized TWF. Only one is required for Tempest III. I'd opt for the latter, personally.

You're missing two important feats that I'd seriously consider: Power Attack and Khopesh Proficiency. I would probably take Power Attack at 18, and swap out Luck of Heroes for Khopesh Proficiency. On this build, Power Attack is basically a must-have. It is a massive DPS boost. Khopesh Proficiency is a nice, slight DPS improvement, but not required.

Skill Focus: Disable Device should NEVER be taken. You'll do just fine with traps as it is.

[grodon9999]

An 18/1/1's feats should be . . .

1 Dodge
3 Mobility
6 Spring Attack
9 IC Slashing
12 Power Attack
15 OTWF/TWD/LR (or whatever Tempest III pre-req)
18 ?

Monk: Toughness
Human (?): Khopesh

Maximize. With healing amp your CSW will break 250 and it's way easier to use in combat that scrolls.

[grodon9999]

First, I wouldn't take both Lightning Reflexes and Oversized TWF. Only one is required for Tempest III. I'd opt for the latter, personally.

You're missing two important feats that I'd seriously consider: Power Attack and Khopesh Proficiency. I would probably take Power Attack at 18, and swap out Luck of Heroes for Khopesh Proficiency. On this build, Power Attack is basically a must-have. It is a massive DPS boost. Khopesh Proficiency is a nice, slight DPS improvement, but not required.

Skill Focus: Disable Device should NEVER be taken. You'll do just fine with traps as it is.

O*** is the best choice, escpecially on a "fresh' toon as you'll need some to-hit help util you get geared.

SF is a waste, you will not need it. My 18/1/1 get every trap in the game without it just fine.

[Mubjon]

I have to choose my final feat for my (currently) 15 Ranger/1 Rogue/1 Monk, and I need advice. This is my highest level char and I am totally unfamiliar with the game above level 18 quests. He is trapper and a dual melee Tempest (Scimitar/Kukri) and is a lot of fun as long as I don't see miss miss miss. I believe I need to be able to trap well, since that seems to be the reason he is attractive to a party (who wants a squishy meleer with just 254 health [that includes a +6 Con item])--however I am initially disinclined to get Skill Focus: Disable Devices. TRing is not in my near future. My current non-Ranger class feats are:

1 Lightning Reflexes (for Tempest ) [Rogue]
2 Toughness [Monk, for the 0/+2/+2 saving throws]]
3 Luck of Heroes
6 Dodge (for Tempest)
9 Mobility (for Tempest)
12 Improved Critical: Slashing
15 Spring Attack (for Tempest)
18 ??? This is why I'm writing this post :)

I have considered Stunning Blow, Sap, Iron Will, Toughness, Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh, Oversized TWF (not for the puny extra damage--for the convenience of which items I can use), Improved Critical: Bludgeon, and others. Any comments or recommendations based on your experiences, not theories, would be valuable to me, whether they are about my final feat choice or not.

My current unbuffed, but boosted, with tools, Disable Device skill is 53. I will get +3 more from leveling and with items I will be able to get +6 to +12 more, or even more if necessary. While my unbuffed, boosted Search skill, 47, should be at least 53, I really don't know how high it should be (same as DD?).

My base stats are 22 Str/13 Dex/14 Con/14 Int/9 Wis/6 Cha. With the items I am wearing, unbuffed, my saving throws are +20/+26/+12. Unbuffed, with +2 weapons, my current first swing bonus to hit is +28. My spell points are a lowly 245, although I put a Magi item on before resting, then buff. My Hide is 28, Move Silently is 40, and my self-buffed Spot is 48.

I rarely see a lot of misses on my TWF ranger trapper (same class break down as yours as far as classes go) unless I am in elite content and then it is not to bad if I can get flanking which I let the other melees engage first so I can. I do use two kopeshes for weapons so I would recommend Kopesh for the last feat. I also did not take lighting reflex I took oversized two weapon fighting.

[grodon9999]

I rarely see a lot of misses on my TWF ranger trapper (same class break down as yours as far as classes go) unless I am in elite content and then it is not to bad if I can get flanking which I let the other melees engage first so I can. I do use two kopeshes for weapons so I would recommend Kopesh for the last feat. I also did not take lighting reflex I took oversized two weapon fighting.

You will see misses in epics until you get geared.

if you don't have Khopesh take it, swap out that other Tempest III pre-req for OTWF

[Clematis]

O*** is the best choice, escpecially on a "fresh' toon as you'll need some to-hit help util you get geared.

SF is a waste, you will not need it. My 18/1/1 get every trap in the game without it just fine.

O*** is Oversized TWF? SF is Skill Focus: Disable Device?



...
Maximize. With healing amp your CSW will break 250 and it's way easier to use in combat that scrolls.

I'm, uh, shocked. How do you get 125 without Maximize? I currently have Superior Devotion IV and the +30% from Ranger enhancements and usually see something like 35.

My char is a Half-Orc, because I miss a lot on my other chars in boss fights and wanted to make sure my Strength (+to hit) was good. It is the reason for my low Wisdom and Con (sinking points into Int).

I'm surprised Power Attack is good, because of the loss of +to-hit.

Regarding taking Lightning Reflexes, I was afraid I would need it to dodge traps (that I sometimes must walk through) with my relatively weak Dex (base 13). It would be great if I afford to get Oversized TWF instead. :)

[johnnyputrid]

I'm, uh, shocked. How do you get 125 without Maximize? I currently have Superior Devotion IV and the +30% from Ranger enhancements and usually see something like 35.

Healing amplification goes a long way towards making your cure spells hit harder. Humans can get 30% from enhancements (Human Improved Recovery) and certain items can boost your healing amp (dragontouched armor runes, certain raid loot items, crafted greensteel weapons, etc). Without any healing amp, your cures won't do much. With healing amp, you'll notice a significant increase in potency. This is one reason why you see a lot of human/half-elf rangers out there, for the extra healing amp (among other benefits, such as Human Versatility).


My char is a Half-Orc, because I miss a lot on my other chars in boss fights and wanted to make sure my Strength (+to hit) was good. It is the reason for my low Wisdom and Con (sinking points into Int).

Your to-hit shouldn't be a problem with appropriate gear and buffs. More Strength is certainly good, but sacrificing Constitution for Strength is rarely, if ever, a good idea. Having an over-the-top Strength score does nothing for you if you can't take a few hits before dropping.


I'm surprised Power Attack is good, because of the loss of +to-hit.

The -5 to-hit is largely meaningless with appropriate gear and weaponry. Very few monsters, even raid bosses, have a high enough AC that will cause you to miss with Power Attack on. Epic monsters are a different story, but even then most geared players will still hit just fine in epics. Sometimes you might have to turn PA off for a boss or a particularly difficult to hit enemy, but that's fine. Hitting and doing a bit less damage is better than missing and doing 0 damage.

Take Power Attack, turn it on and leave it on. Only turn it off if you are having extreme difficulty in hitting something. And even then, consider turning to outside buffs (Greater Heroism, bard songs, etc) or using AC-reducing weapons/abilities (Destruction, Sunder/Improved Sunder). Also be forewarned that when you log in on your character, Power Attack is defaulted off, so you'll need to turn it on upon logging in.

[Grailhawk]

Feat choice on a melee ranger (a good one at least) is pretty much set so that you only have one choice and that's if your human or splash something that gives them and extra feat.

Dodge
Mobility
Spring Attack
Toughness
Improved Critical
Power Attack
Oversized Two Weapon Fighting

Once those are take you can add any of:
EWP: Kopesh
Maximize Spell
Combat Expertise (The other 2 are better imo).

The first 7 are what you have to take to be a viable melee character or are prerequisites for your PRE.

Of the 3 that you can choose from the best choice for most people is Kopesh followed my Maximize (Its easier to get
healing amp gear and a Superior Potency 4 (or chug a Adore pot) items then to get all the AC gear you will need to make Combat Expertise useful and buy the time you do get all the AC gear it will be better to use power attack so that you can keep agro).

Basically if your a human and an 18/1/1 take the list in the order given. If your not human you get to chose between Kopesh or maximize.

[Kinerd]

You can absolutely be a viable melee without Power Attack. There are THF barbs running around with +3 Metalline Greatswords of Pure Good and no one is the wiser. I'm not saying don't get it, but I am categorically declaring that you can contribute DPS without it.

Where I see big exclamation points is your 254 HP at level 17. You're only looking at another:
24 - 3 more ranger levels
15 - 3 more levels out of Con bonus
3 - 3 more levels out of Toughness
=
296 HP at 20!!! It's probably a gear issue, but I would still consider taking another Toughness at least for now.