Looking for a Bard 18 / Ran 2 Arcane Archer Build...

[WarhammerQuest]

So basically I've been away form the game for 3 years, I have a first life Character that is currently Bard 15 / Ran 2, I'm looking for some advice to update this character and incorporate Arcane Archer, the character in question is an Elf. Basically would like some good ranged damage and the ability to be useful buffer and spot healer to my party and myself when soloing.

I'd like to know what advice you guys & gals can give about the ability stat line. What items, armour and weapons I should have/acquire for heroic and then epic levels that would benefit the desired build, and what enhancements and feats I should take. I will be lesser resurrecting this character and it will be 32pt.

I've been away for so long I have no idea what works now. Hope you guys & gals can help!

[unbongwah]

I haven't updated it in a long while, but see my Bardcher thread for some builds. The main problem with bardchers (as with every non-monkcher archer) is what to do while Manyshot is on cooldown. Also most of the DPS buffage from last year's bard overhaul went to Swashbuckler, which doesn't really benefit bardchers. [Although ranged Coup de Grace should work with bows; one of my bardcher builds combined CdG with Paralyzing Arrows.]

Also, the fact you're already bard 15 / rgr 2 limits what you can do with your remaining levels. I know you said bard 18 / rgr 2, but consider ftr splash and/or more rgr lvls for extra feats.

Do you have a +20 Heart of Wood in your inventory? All existing chars got one free a couple of years with the U19 Enhancement overhaul. That would let you do a more extensive overhaul of this char than an LR +0. If you do, you may wish to consider converting to either a thrower or xbow / Mechanic build.

[WarhammerQuest]

Thanks I do have a +20 hanging about, I'd like to remain bow ranged, but... is that really viable with a bard these days?

[unbongwah]

Wellll, "is it viable?" is kind of a loaded question. Turbine hasn't done anything to nerf bardchers per se in the last couple of years; but throwing weapons (Swashbuckler) and xbows (Mechanic) got major buffs in the last year, which makes bardchers look weaker by comparison - and to be honest they weren't that great compared to monkchers in the first place. :( Which is why my bardcher builds are still ranged/melee hybrids.

Meanwhile the latest FotM in monkchers is the monk 6 / pal 14 split because Holy Sword boosts longbows into 19-20/x4 weapons which is doubled by IC:Ranged to 17-20/x4 (Pinion is 15-20/x4). That plus all the other ranged bonuses associated with monkchers makes them pretty formidable.

That said, it also depends on what you see as the primary function(s) of this build. If you want to focus on ranged DPS, bardcher's not the best way to go, unfortunately. OTOH, if you see yourself as a party support toon which uses a bow, bardcher is...well, no worse than it used to be, anyway.

[WarhammerQuest]

Wellll, "is it viable?" is kind of a loaded question. Turbine hasn't done anything to nerf bardchers per se in the last couple of years; but throwing weapons (Swashbuckler) and xbows (Mechanic) got major buffs in the last year, which makes bardchers look weaker by comparison - and to be honest they weren't that great compared to monkchers in the first place. :( Which is why my bardcher builds are still ranged/melee hybrids.

Meanwhile the latest FotM in monkchers is the monk 6 / pal 14 split because Holy Sword boosts longbows into 19-20/x4 weapons which is doubled by IC:Ranged to 17-20/x4 (Pinion is 15-20/x4). That plus all the other ranged bonuses associated with monkchers makes them pretty formidable.

That said, it also depends on what you see as the primary function(s) of this build. If you want to focus on ranged DPS, bardcher's not the best way to go, unfortunately. OTOH, if you see yourself as a party support toon which uses a bow, bardcher is...well, no worse than it used to be, anyway.

Essentially I'm a bit fluffy always have been when it comes to DnD, I basically want a char that is fun to play suits the Bard class lore-wise but isn't going to ruin anyone elses fun.

I've been looking around at 16Bard/2Rog/2Ran perhaps using Harper Agent to convert all ranged to hit and to damage to INT thus not having to use STR at all, but... question is would I have enough enhancement points? Somehow I doubt it.

[unbongwah]

If you go INT-based, you don't need Bow STR; in which case, rgr 2 only gets you Rapid Shot free. If you're not using TWF, then ftr splash instead of rgr makes more sense, presuming you plan to keep rog splash.

[unbongwah]

BTW, before you LR, you might want to try something first with your Enhancements: 14 APs elf to unlock AA, 23 APs AA for Paralyzing Arrows, 31 APs Swashbuckler for ranged CdG. If the Paralyzing+CdG combo works for you, then you might want to consider building around it, similar to this build (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/431054-Revisiting-Bardchers-(U20)?p=5553394&viewfull=1#post5553394).