Ranger Enhancements : Arcane Archer & Deepwood Stalker

[archerforever]

Hello everyone, I m happy to share with you all my ideas about Ranger enhancements.
This is a lot of work, I know that everything is not perfect, I really did my best to propose you something interesting and show you what could be an "Archer" in DDO in some different funny way than the traditionnal Monkcher.
Remember, the most important is not numbers shown in my description, but the main idea and the gameplay mechanic i am talking about.
I am playing DDO for like 8 years and i played 90% of my time as an arcane archer (tryed all class as AA), I hope theses ideas will help the game to be better, because I think that a pure ranger build should be as strong as a Monkcher (actually the only way to play a strong pure archer is to use 10k star while manyshot is on cooldown...).


What should be an Arcane Archer ?

A bow focused fighter, using his Spell power to increase his damage, with high wisdom to increase the DC of his abilities.
Note : Actually the arcane archer got bonus to spell power ( bows as implements, soul magic, Moonbow) but nothing in his enhancements tree need spell power to increase damages.


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What should be a Deepwood Stalker?
A Dexterity based melee Or/And a ranged fighter, using his physical power (melee/ranged power) to increase his damage.


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Thanks if you read my thread and please, leave a constructive comment if you like or dislike my ideas and say why. <3

[LuKaSu]

There are a lot of really solid ideas in here.

That being said, I've got three points of disagreement (but major props to you for putting in all that work. It's impressive!)

0) In the AA tree, there are like eight different archery attacks where triggering the attack equals a single shot from your bow. I think most people will choose just whichever few seem the best to them and completely ignore the rest, since they're all active attacks.

1) I'm always a bit paranoid about making sure you don't give all the best things in the first two levels of a class's enhancements. I like having difficult choices, where you can't have it all, so I would personally put anything that gives [whatever stat]-to-hit or damage at least in a level 3 core. For that reason, I would move the improved weapon finesse up to either Tier 3 or the level 3 core.

2) I think the current situation putting the "always in PBS and sneak attack range" is in the level 20 core is specifically to make it so Rogues can't fire off 15d6 sneak attacks at infinite range, with heavy repeaters or manyshot causing 4 or 5 arrows at a time (that's like 75d6 sneak attack with every volley if the creature is blinded or focusing on someone else). Putting it in the Tier 5 instead of core 20 would give rogues this ability.

[Enderoc]

the spell criticals were implemented for caster elves who took elven arcane archer ...or maybe if your UMD is high enough to use certain AOE scrolls, possibly even traps if you have enough rogue levels. Half damage on a save is still damage, its just better to have more if you crit.

[archerforever]

Thanks for your interesting comment


0) In the AA tree, there are like eight different archery attacks where triggering the attack equals a single shot from your bow. I think most people will choose just whichever few seem the best to them and completely ignore the rest, since they're all active attacks.

The Arcane Archer has many situational skills, giving a high adaptability against enemies you are fighting : "Resonant Shot" (casters can t cast spells), Dispelling shot (dispels buffs as Blur or stone skin), Disrupting, Smiting and Banishing Shot are focused to destroy undeads, constructs and extraplanar only.

That means that you have only 3 main shot to use : "Inferno Shot" for constant damages, "Paralyzing Shot" to have utility for the group and some "CC" and of course the "Arrow of Slaying" for Bust Damages.

Note: My reflexion was that the actual "Paralyzing Arrows" are too strong in heroic and too weak for epic. The best thing to do is to have an active skill as a shot, choosing the right moment to CC your ennemies, with an increased DC depending on your wisdom on epic and an equivalent DC on heroic.
The actual "Banishing Arrows" and "Smiting Arrows" are Arcane Archer Imbue Toggle, I dont think it s the right thing to do. In my opinion :
- The Main Arcane Archer Imbue Toggle should be high Elemental damages
- The 2nd Arcane Archer Imbue Toggle should be addaptability as morphic, metalline and aligned arrows
It s more like "I want to kill this kind of ennemies, I need it now and not always" so I shot a specific arrow to kill this kind of ennemy = a shot and not an Arcane Archer Imbue Toggle


1) I'm always a bit paranoid about making sure you don't give all the best things in the first two levels of a class's enhancements. I like having difficult choices, where you can't have it all, so I would personally put anything that gives [whatever stat]-to-hit or damage at least in a level 3 core. For that reason, I would move the improved weapon finesse up to either Tier 3 or the level 3 core.

I understand what you mean, actually in the Harper enhancement tree with "Strategic Combat II" (Tier 3), You can use your Intelligence modifier for damage with Melee and Missile weapons. This is something avaible for everyone, any class, any build your are doing. With the racial Purple Dragon Knight enhancements tree, with "Cormyrean Knight Training" (Tier 1), You now use Charisma or Strength, whichever is higher, for attack and damage with shortswords, longswords, bastard swords, and greatswords. So, I think that the "improved weapon finesse" is not too strong as a tier 2 ranger only enhancement compared of what you can get with other enhancements, of course I can be wrong, as I said, I did my best on this work and it s not my job so many things are not perfect. Don't forget that in my suggestion, you have to choose between Melee or ranged "Improved Weapon Finesse", it's kinda restrictive.


2) I think the current situation putting the "always in PBS and sneak attack range" is in the level 20 core is specifically to make it so Rogues can't fire off 15d6 sneak attacks at infinite range, with heavy repeaters or manyshot causing 4 or 5 arrows at a time (that's like 75d6 sneak attack with every volley if the creature is blinded or focusing on someone else). Putting it in the Tier 5 instead of core 20 would give rogues this ability.

If a rogue is going this way, that means : Ranger lvl 6 (to get Sniper Shot), Rogue lvl 14 (+7d6 Sneak Attack lvl 13), +5d6 Sneak Attack in Deepwood Stalker tree, maybe +2d6 Sneak Attack with Assassin and Ninja spy = 14d6 Sneak Attack

With repeaters (x3= 42d6) and with Manyshot (x4= 56d6). Of course this is strong, but it s a very focused build and situational bonus damage (cause if the ennemy is focused on you, you ll not have your sneak attack damage applyed). Dont forget that the fact to be always in point blank shot and sneak attack range doesn t give you more damages directly, but you can get benefit of your sneak attack from further, it s different. Additionaly some ennemies are immun to sneak attack and I m not sure that a "Horizon Shot" as tier 5 is really competitive with others tier 5 ability you can get as mechanic to increase your damage and attack speed with Great Crossbows.

[Vargouille]

Read by a dev.

[barecm]

Great suggestions. On the Mark is standout as a must have to keep the ranger class competitive. I would maybe move it to core ability lvl 18 for crit and lvl 20 for vorpal to entice folks to be more than just 5-6 lvls of ranger.

[archerforever]

Read by a dev.

I m happy :D

If you have any questions I ll do my best for you

[Henky]

+40% speed attack only on capstone? Hell no! You are leaving out multiclassing this way.

Your AA tree will make all archers/monkchers Rangers with maxed wisdom.

If AA needs a 40% speed attack it should be on a tier 5, not a capstone, as mechanic's tier 5 do with great crossbow. Or even better, +30% attack speed with longbows and +50% attack speed with shortbows.

And yes, manyshot/10k will be OP with +% attack speed, so they should be changed to a % bonus to doubleshot or just leave out the speed bonus if you use manyshot/10k.

[archerforever]

Thanks for your comment henky


Your AA tree will make all archers/monkchers Rangers with maxed wisdom.

Actually, ALL Monkchers are maxed wisdom to get more chance to get an extra projectile with 10k star ( i have 52 wisdom )


+40% speed attack only on capstone? Hell no! You are leaving out multiclassing this way.

If AA needs a 40% speed attack it should be on a tier 5, not a capstone, as mechanic's tier 5 do with great crossbow. Or even better, +30% attack speed with longbows and +50% attack speed with shortbows.

1- +40% attack speed is NOT a must have, and as I said, it s a suggestion to make PURE rangers as strong as Monkchers.It s just a great bonus for AA capstone, increasing his efficiency with all his procs I mentionned in the suggestion (tier 5 for CC on vorpal, and capstone with AoE). You still can do interesting and really strong multiclassing builds without this attack speed bonus. (with doubleshot, DwS enhancements, ect...)
2- You can get the capstone as elven AA lvl 25, just cost you 14 AP to get it in elven racial enhancements
3- Getting +40% attack speed with a tier 5 will be so easy to get and will make this a must have and something OP in many builds.


And yes, manyshot/10k will be OP with +% attack speed, so they should be changed to a % bonus to doubleshot or just leave out the speed bonus if you use manyshot/10k.

Actually, i m playing monkcher with bows when using manyshot and shurikens when using 10k star, because with twist of fate (Whirling Wrists in shiradi), i can get +30% attack speed with shuriken and it s a really strong combo.
So it s not OP, it s just optimised and a strong build. Getting +40% attack speed with bows as a capstone, even if you have manyshot and 10k star, will not be op, it s just an investment you did to hit this goal. ( lvl 20 ranger or 14 AP spent in elven racial tree)