Ranger-12/Favored Soul 6/Rogue-2?

[ValariusK]

Anyone ever play something like this? I'm thinking about something along these lines for my 3rd life when the time comes.
Favored soul will be exclusively warpriest in terms of enhancements. That's where the tier 5 enhancements will be taken---divine intervention, permanent divine power (boosting BAB to a full 20 at level 20). Righteous weapons would work for dual wielding longswords (human), shortswords (drow) or scimitars (elf). Ameliorating strike with full dual-wield and some doublestrike would provide solid secondary healing, and the favored soul spells up to level 3 would add additional utility. So, human, elf, or drow?
Human---longsword dual wield, access to good dragonmarks, cheap skill action boost
Drow---shortsword dual wield, avoids the extra -2/-2 or need for oversized twf, has enhancement line to further boost shortsword or
elf--scimitar has awesome crit profile, can add more +scimitar (and shortbow) through elf enhancement line, feywild tap, downside -2 con.

[unbongwah]

I've been kicking around ideas for this; see my Tempest Warpriest thread.

[Myrddinman]

Oh, cool!!!

I have been thinking about this build for my next TR (2nd life on an old character), and figured that I would do some reconnaissance on the foums first. It's good to see that there is some precedent for it :)

Thanks Unbongwah...I'll check out your build.

[Aerendil]

Oh, cool!!!

I have been thinking about this build for my next TR (2nd life on an old character), and figured that I would do some reconnaissance on the foums first. It's good to see that there is some precedent for it :)

Thanks Unbongwah...I'll check out your build.

I'd be tempted to go R12/FVS8 - having death ward just makes life much easier. Or, if you want to keep Rog for some traps, you could switch to CLR 7 which still lets you keep 4th level spells.

As Unbongwah's thread will point out, the pros of a Ranger version of the Kensai/Warpriest is having a 100% chance at dual Ameleoriating Strike (which combined with Cocoon is all the healing you should need); T5 Warpriest vs T5 Ranger is a no-brainer, as opposed to T5 Kensai; and Sanctuary and Wall of Steel synergize well with Improved Parry. In other words, you'd do less damage than the Kensai/Warpriest variant, but be much more defensively situated.

There's also some interesting combinations with scimitars or longswords to take advantage of Righteous Weapons (i.e. Drow Tempest/Warpriest with scimitars).

Or, as always, you could probably make a better build going 6 Rng / 6 Mnk / 8 FVS and having both melee and monkcher combinations, in addition to bonus damage from Divine Might when you manyshot.
Lots of options.

[Myrddinman]

I'd be tempted to go R12/FVS8 - having death ward just makes life much easier. Or, if you want to keep Rog for some traps, you could switch to CLR 7 which still lets you keep 4th level spells.

As Unbongwah's thread will point out, the pros of a Ranger version of the Kensai/Warpriest is having a 100% chance at dual Ameleoriating Strike (which combined with Cocoon is all the healing you should need); T5 Warpriest vs T5 Ranger is a no-brainer, as opposed to T5 Kensai; and Sanctuary and Wall of Steel synergize well with Improved Parry. In other words, you'd do less damage than the Kensai/Warpriest variant, but be much more defensively situated.

There's also some interesting combinations with scimitars or longswords to take advantage of Righteous Weapons (i.e. Drow Tempest/Warpriest with scimitars).

Or, as always, you could probably make a better build going 6 Rng / 6 Mnk / 8 FVS and having both melee and monkcher combinations, in addition to bonus damage from Divine Might when you manyshot.
Lots of options.

So very true on the options front. I decided to go with a Drow 12 Ranger/6 FVS/2 Rogue for the trapping.

I played a bit last night after digging into my Otto's Box (that thing is irresistible), and haven't made up my mind. I really miss the Monk movement and attack speed (Wind stance) on my last 8 Fighter/6 Ranger/6 Monk. You're right about dual AS, as even with no healing amp, lore, or spellpower items, I'm mass healing about 100 HP's with each Smite Foe.

I did go with T5 Warpriest, but will probably respec into T5 Tempest and see how that feels.

[Vengenance]

I would either take a third level of rogue instead of 12 ranger since you get all of the goodies at level 11 not 12. The only thing you get at 12 is +5 barkskin, which to me isn't worth it.

[Myrddinman]

I would either take a third level of rogue instead of 12 ranger since you get all of the goodies at level 11 not 12. The only thing you get at 12 is +5 barkskin, which to me isn't worth it.

The 12th level of Ranger grants an additional 10% off-hand attack chance, bringing it to 100%...super nice to count on double the healing with AStrike :)

If I had to do this build over, I'd go Human (for the bonus feat) and swap for 2 Monk and Short Swords, or rearrange the order and go 12 FVS/6 Ranger/2 Monk, allowing the last 10% off-hand to come from Deft Strikes in the Shintao tree. All of which are great, but not the trapping utility that 2 levels of Rogue offers.

[Aerendil]

If I had to do this build over, I'd go Human (for the bonus feat) and swap for 2 Monk and Short Swords, or rearrange the order and go 12 FVS/6 Ranger/2 Monk, allowing the last 10% off-hand to come from Deft Strikes in the Shintao tree. All of which are great, but not the trapping utility that 2 levels of Rogue offers.

Hmm, interesting. I'm still really tempted to try to build this. I've a 23 FvS evoker build sitting there collecting dust, and not sure whether to do this, or go 18 FvS / 2 Mnk, or some other variant.
Something OTHER than the typical Monkcher x 6 setup these days :/

[Rhaphael]

Hmm, interesting. I'm still really tempted to try to build this. I've a 23 FvS evoker build sitting there collecting dust, and not sure whether to do this, or go 18 FvS / 2 Mnk, or some other variant.
Something OTHER than the typical Monkcher x 6 setup these days :/

You could also try out FvS 12 / Mnk 6 / Ftr 2.

Short version:
OC line
Full TWF line
Full Forms line

Sovereign Host + Longsword + Elf OR
Vulkoor + Shortsword + Drow

I've got the long version worked out in Excel/planner but haven't tried it yet. I'm still getting my planned character ready to TR into this. Sounds like fun and strong on paper at least.

[Aerendil]

You could also try out FvS 12 / Mnk 6 / Ftr 2.

Short version:
OC line
Full TWF line
Full Forms line

Sovereign Host + Longsword + Elf OR
Vulkoor + Shortsword + Drow

I've got the long version worked out in Excel/planner but haven't tried it yet. I'm still getting my planned character ready to TR into this. Sounds like fun and strong on paper at least.

Yeah, that's similar to the 8 FvS / 6 Rng / 6 Mnk setup I was thinking of above. Except with an archon and a few more spells, but only 90% offhand. The 18/2 version would be similar, but also have Implosion.

My issue with those deep splash combos is finding enough APs for all the enhancements :/
The other thing is the temptation with longsword to grab WSS for Dance of Flowers, adding +1.5W and making longswords really viable. But then you could get that without a Monk splash and spending a feat if you went Kensai instead, and which would apply to whichever focus weapon you chose (i.e. khopesh), which is frustrating :/

Still, that said, twin Oathblades at 2.5W + 1.5 (dance of flowers) + 0.5 (LD power attack stance) with GM earth stance is tempting.... or twin T3 Mournlode longswords with your enemy light-debuffed courtesy of Shield of Condemnation (+50% light dmg, -50% fort + radiant blast...yummy. You could potentially do 2k dmg procs on vampires with this setup).

[unbongwah]

If you're building for ki weapons, another option would be rgr 3+ / monk 1+, which lets you add both Tempest & Deft Strikes for 100% offhand total. Then it's just a matter of figuring out how many more rgr & monk lvls you want vs how many cleric / FvS lvls.

[Myrddinman]

At the very least, at least we're discussing similar options with different classes, which equals a win for the new enhancements (I think).

However, I don't like feeingl like I'm gimping a character if I don't go 6 Monk/8 Fighter :/

[Aerendil]

At the very least, at least we're discussing similar options with different classes, which equals a win for the new enhancements (I think).

However, I don't like feeingl like I'm gimping a character if I don't go 6 Monk/8 Fighter :/

Very true :)
Another thing to think about it is the 100%/50% dps thread (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/434030-The-plus-100-50-damage-builds), which specifically looks at combinations of FvS with other classes, and how best to take advantage of your light damage and enemy debuffs (light, physical, and fortification) via AoV, Warpriest, and the Exalted Angel ED. Definitely worth a read, and has made me re-consider some weapon loadouts. Torn between Celestias, Mournlode blades (or some other form of Radiance weapon), or Frostbite scimitars. The Mournlode weapons or Celestia offer you the chance to stay centered, which is tempting, but potentially a drain on your limited feats if you want Master of Forms.

As for Monk or no Monk splash - I don't think it's a make or break setup for this build. 12 FvS / 6 Ranger / 2 Paladin or Fighter is a great option. You still get your archon and up to 6th level spells, 90% offhand dual wield, and either better saves or +2 feats. And 2 of the 3 TWF feats for free, as well as Manyshot (giving you some versatility). IMO, Monk might only be better for Evasion - but with all the healing you can have, it's not 100% necessary by any means.

[Aerendil]

Oh, and keep in mind, if you go the Exalted Angel route, the baseline ability of Blessed Blades will break Celestia's DR-bypassing (not much doesn't break Celestia...), so you want to be true neutral alignment. But then you need UMD 32 to wield them....
So plan accordingly.