Ranger Tempest multiclass options

[gorocz]

Hi, I've posted about this in a different thread, but I guess it got buried by other posts, so I'm making a stand-alone thread for this.

I'm playing strength-based multiclassed trapmonkey Tempest (2nd life, Human, 1 Rogue / 1 X / 18 Ranger build, level 8 at the moment) and I was wondering where to put that "free level". People usually take a level of fighter, for the extra feat, but since we don't need Dodge/Mobility/Spring Attack for Tempest anymore, I think it's not the only option anymore. Fighter does allow you to take both Sprint and Haste boost and the extra feat is nice, if you're going for Cleave/Great Cleave/Overwhelming Critical, but there are other classes which could benefit the Tempest too. I plan to TR as soon as possible, so my main focus is Heroic levels and soloing thereof. I'm not posting a character planner dump, because I want this to be a general discussion about the possibilities, but feel free to post yours, there's an abundance of free reincarnations at the moment.

Barbarian - makes up for the Sprint Boost with Fast Movement and also if you put a couple of points into FrB enhancements, you can Rage to get Sprint Boost in addition to the Fast Movement (as well as other bonuses), on the other hand it has the downside of not being able to cast or search/disable when raged and you are fatigued afterwards, which would require you to chug Lesser Resto pots or something...

Wizard - yes, wizard - you get a load of Spell Points (increased even more by INT modifier, which is nice), as well as Echoes of Power (from Magical Training) and a wizard bonus feat, which could be the Quicken (allowing you to not take concentration) or Mental Toughness (increasing your spell point pool even more). You also get +2 will save, which isn't something to frown upon, downside being a bit of a hinderance in your BAB progression, but since you really want to take this level only after you get CLW (i.e. level 10), it doesn't hinder getting Improved Critical...

Thoughts? Feel free to post your ideas, I don't have any of the premium classes, but if you think one of them would multiclass with Tempest nicely, feel free to post them as well, other people may find it useful.

[mezzorco]

Many classes offer a lot to your build. You already talked about barb and wizard, other options are:

Fighter: cheap haste boost, 1 feat, +2fort

Cleric: strong. Divine Might (valuable even with low starting CHA), Wand Mastery, Magical Training, +2fort +2will

Monk: very strong. 1 feat, +2% dodge, wis to AC, +2 all saves, +1d6 sneak attack, 10 positive spellpower, 5% healing amp, limited to shortswords/kamas

[gorocz]

Many classes offer a lot to your build. You already talked about barb and wizard, other options are:

Fighter: cheap haste boost, 1 feat, +2fort

Cleric: strong. Divine Might (valuable even with low starting CHA), Wand Mastery, Magical Training, +2fort +2will

Monk: very strong. 1 feat, +2% dodge, wis to AC, +2 all saves, +1d6 sneak attack, 10 positive spellpower, 5% healing amp, limited to shortswords/kamas

I took Fighter as granted, because that's the basic 18/1/1 Tempest build :-). Monk, I knew about that, he has a free monk similiar to the Fighter, but the shortsword/kama thing is very restrictive, as most Tempests tend to take Khopeshes, but it would be awesome for a dexterity Tempest build (though they might be more compelled to go full Ranger and not multiclass at all).

Cleric, very interesting, until now, I was convinced to go Wizard, but the Cleric seems interesting too. I'd basically trade the free Quicken and a couple of spellpoints (my INT modifier is +2 higher than WIS) for +2 fort save, and possibility to take the Divine Might, Wand Mastery and Toughness enhancements. I guess I'll have to think about it a bit more. :-)

[SiliconShadow]

I have checked the DPS of the following:

18/2 Ranger/Rogue
18/2 Ranger/Fighter
18/2 Ranger/Rogue/Fighter
12/6/2 Ranger/Rogue/Fighter
12/6/2 Ranger/Fighter/Druid
12/8 Ranger/Fighter

For the highest straight dps the last two are on par with each other. If you choose primal the druid variant is better giving you the second set of boosts on double strike, the 12/8 Ranger Fighter allows you to snab the critical threat range, go dreadnought and dump the ranger clickies to snap 22 speed attack boost clickies more threat range and the highest twf base damage of any class.

Speed boosts with thousand cuts and growing storm is a lot of dps for 6 seconds, but it isn't always garentueed. With 3 fighters in the part, 1 cc and 1 heal in friends in low places I was killing twice as fast and dishing out much more damage than the two other pure fighters, one twf and one thf. Remember you can dump dex down and start with 10 get a +3 tome for dodge (A survivability MUST) get +3 dodge and dodge cap from fighter and tempest, take full +1 hit and +1 damage lines from both, movement speed boost from tempest, haste boost from fighter and keen from fighter.

A note: I found unless you spec for traps in rogue or add more rogue levels you cannot do EE traps now with a 6 or less splash, I have a +20 item and a +11 int item and +3 exceptional and I failed traps on a 10 or below in EE causing me to drop Rogue and the 4d6 sneak and adding the +8 base damage +1 threat range from fighter.

[FuzzyDuck81]

Personally, i'd go with wizard - some handy wands, a free metamagic feat & spend a single AP in the archmage tree for 1SP invisibility SLA to combine with your other sneaking capabilities :)

[mna]

A note: I found unless you spec for traps in rogue or add more rogue levels you cannot do EE traps now with a 6 or less splash, I have a +20 item and a +11 int item and +3 exceptional and I failed traps on a 10 or below in EE causing me to drop Rogue and the 4d6 sneak and adding the +8 base damage +1 threat range from fighter.

On that one...

I've been planning on what to LR+20 one (or more) of my halflings into, leaning towards a ranger/rogue multiclass with the specific intention of doing traps and locks all the way. Oh, and dragonmark too if possible, and maximized tactical flexibility.

I think somewhere between 6 and 12 ranger, 7 to 13 rogue, and 1 other. 28 points and unopened birthday box, have to get at least 18 int by level 8 for enough skill points I believe... (Mostly DWS and mechanic.)


So, given that you can get dex-to-damage (with light weapons and scimitars but not rapiers) in the Tempest line without spending a feat for 11 ap, I do think I'll take that one.


Now, the "other" class splash. With less than 8 ranger, is it better to take Wizard for free Maximize (for the first two halfling dragonmarks) and sneaky SLA & wands, or Cleric for no bonus feat but opening up Emp Heal (for all three dragonmarks and Rejuvenation Cocoon if/when I ever get into epics?) and healing wands?

(Of course with 8 or more ranger, Emp Heal is already on the list and Wizard would be better...)

Any suggestions?

[gorocz]

I have checked the DPS of the following:

18/2 Ranger/Rogue
18/2 Ranger/Fighter
18/2 Ranger/Rogue/Fighter
12/6/2 Ranger/Rogue/Fighter
12/6/2 Ranger/Fighter/Druid
12/8 Ranger/Fighter

For the highest straight dps the last two are on par with each other. If you choose primal the druid variant is better giving you the second set of boosts on double strike, the 12/8 Ranger Fighter allows you to snab the critical threat range, go dreadnought and dump the ranger clickies to snap 22 speed attack boost clickies more threat range and the highest twf base damage of any class.

Speed boosts with thousand cuts and growing storm is a lot of dps for 6 seconds, but it isn't always garentueed. With 3 fighters in the part, 1 cc and 1 heal in friends in low places I was killing twice as fast and dishing out much more damage than the two other pure fighters, one twf and one thf. Remember you can dump dex down and start with 10 get a +3 tome for dodge (A survivability MUST) get +3 dodge and dodge cap from fighter and tempest, take full +1 hit and +1 damage lines from both, movement speed boost from tempest, haste boost from fighter and keen from fighter.

A note: I found unless you spec for traps in rogue or add more rogue levels you cannot do EE traps now with a 6 or less splash, I have a +20 item and a +11 int item and +3 exceptional and I failed traps on a 10 or below in EE causing me to drop Rogue and the 4d6 sneak and adding the +8 base damage +1 threat range from fighter.

Yeah, as I stated in the first post, I'm focusing on heroic levels, also on soloing and that it is supposed to be a trapmonkey build. That's why we were debating Wizard and Cleric multiclass...