Battlefield Control (14/6 cleric ranger)

[SuperNiCd]

Thought I'd share this build I've been running in low skull reaper. It runs best as a support character in a party since the DPS is a bit on the low side, though capable of some pretty high burst DPS with manyshot + elemental/force arrows, and some decent multi- and single- target DPS with spells (BB, divine punishment, etc.) The real focus is on party healing and CC with the arrow imbues. Mostly paralyzing arrows, or switch to terror in the case of paralysis immunity. I'll probably run this to 30, do an ETR, back to 30 and then ITR.

I have run it up almost to L18 and the paralyzing arrows are very reliable in low skull. Really only champs with naturally high will saves (e.g. cleric types) take more than one shot sometimes. If I've done the math right here the current DC on them is:

20 base + 12 WIS + 4 AA tree + 1 morninglord tree + 2 greater enchant focus feat + 5 enchant/ins item + 1 gianthold augment = 45
I could get a bit higher with an insightful wisdom item, but don't have one slotted ATM.

The AP in DD are a bit questionable. Still playing around with those, but was running some undead heavy content so they seemed reasonable for that. I will allocate the remaining 10 AP somewhere temporarily, but the idea is that at L25 they will be switched to pick up Elven AA and the AA capstone.

Basic play style is CC everything in sight, preferably many targets at a time with IPS. Heal self/party as needed. Switch to elemental or force arrows with manyshot if extra DPS is needed. Just picked up symbol of persuasion so haven't tried out the charms yet. That may be pretty useful if they land reasonably well.

Suggestions welcome.

Battlefield Control
14/6 Cleric/Ranger
True Neutral Morninglord


Level Order

1. Cleric . . . . .6. Ranger. . . . .11. Cleric. . . . .16. Cleric
2. Ranger. . . . . 7. Ranger . . . . 12. Cleric . . . . 17. Cleric
3. Ranger. . . . . 8. Cleric. . . . .13. Cleric. . . . .18. Cleric
4. Ranger. . . . . 9. Cleric. . . . .14. Cleric. . . . .19. Cleric
5. Ranger. . . . .10. Cleric. . . . .15. Cleric. . . . .20. Cleric


Stats
. . . . . . . .28pt. . .32pt. . .34pt. . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .----. . .----. . .----. . .---- . . ---- . . --------
Strength. . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . 10. . . .+7. . . .4: WIS
Dexterity . . . 14 . . . 16 . . . 16 . . . 16. . . .+7. . . .8: WIS
Constitution. . 14 . . . 14 . . . 14 . . . 14. . . .+7. . . 12: WIS
Intelligence. . 12 . . . 12 . . . 12 . . . 12. . . .+7. . . 16: WIS
Wisdom. . . . . 16 . . . 16 . . . 16 . . . 16. . . .+7. . . 20: WIS
Charisma. . . . .8 . . . .8 . . . 10 . . . 10. . . .+7. . . 24: WIS
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28: WIS

Skills
. . . . . C. R .R. R .R. R .R. C. C. C. C. C. C. C. C. C. C. C. C. C
. . . . . 1. 2 .3. 4 .5. 6 .7. 8. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Heal. . . 4. 1 .1. 1 .1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . . . 2. 2. 1. 1. 1. 23
Concent . 2. 2 .2. 1 .1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .22
Spellcr . 4. . . . . .1. 1 .2. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. . . . 1. 1. 2. 2. 1. 21
UMD . . . 1. ½ .½. ½ .½. ½ .½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. ½. . .10
Jump. . . . .2. 1 .3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. . . . . . . . . 7
Balance . . . . . . . 1 .1. . . . . . . . . . . .1 .1 . . . . . . . . .4
Spot. . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . 2
Swim. . . . .1. . .1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Haggle. . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .12. 7 .7. 7 .7. 7 .8. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 4. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5. 5


Feats

.1. . . . : Point Blank Shot
.1 Deity. : Follower of: Amaunator
.2 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Undead
.3. . . . : Spell Focus: Enchantment
.6. . . . : Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment
.6 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Lawful Outsider
.9. . . . : Maximize Spell
12. . . . : Empower Spell
12 Deity. : Amaunator's Brilliance
15. . . . : Improved Precise Shot
18. . . . : Spell Penetration
21 Epic . : Arcane Insight
24 Epic . : Wellspring of Power
26 Destiny: Epic Spell Power: Force
27 Epic . : Greater Spell Penetration
28 Destiny: Forced Escape
29 Destiny: Arcane Warrior
30 Epic . : Epic Spell Focus: Enchantment
30 Legend : Scion of: Feywild


Spells

Cleric Cure Light Wounds, Divine Favor, Shield of Faith, Bless, Nightshield, Cause Fear
Cure Moderate Wounds, Bull's Strength, Find Traps, Hold Person, Lesser Restoration, Remove Paralysis
Cure Serious Wounds, Mass Aid, Remove Curse, Remove Disease, Remove Blindness, Protection from Energy
Cure Critical Wounds, Divine Power, Death Ward, Recitation, Freedom of Movement, Inflict Critical Wounds
Mass Cure Light Wounds, Greater Command, Flame Strike, Divine Punishment, Raise Dead
Mass Cure Moderate Wounds, Heal, Symbol of Persuasion, Blade Barrier, Cometfall
Mass Cure Serious Wounds, Greater Restoration, Mass Spell Resistance, Mass Protection from Elements
Ranger Jump, Ram's Might

Enhancements (70 of 80 AP)

Arcane Archer (43 AP) Arcane Archer, Morphic Arrows Conjure Arrows, Energy of the Wild II, Shock Arrows
Dispelling Shot I, Force Arrows II, Inferno Shot III, Elemental Damage
Shattermantle Shot III, Terror Arrows, Soul Magic, Elemental Damage, Wisdom
Banishing Arrows, Paralyzing Arrows, Smiting Arrows, Elemental Damage
Moonbow, Arrow of Slaying, Final Strike, Elemental Damage
Morninglord (14 AP) Elven Accuracy Rejuvenation of Dawn II
Enchantment Lore III, Arcanum III
Divine Disciple (13 AP) Emissary: Light, Sacred Defense, Sun Bolt Nimbus of Light III, Spellpower: Light I, Spell Critical: Light, Spell Points II
(none)
Searing Light II

Not really sure which destiny I'll run this in yet. Will probably try Shiradi first. Definitely pick up enchantment specialist twist from Magister.

[Elibolas]

Love Elf Cleric-based AA. Coupla thoughts:

You have Greater Command, but not Heighten. Would consider Heighten.
How often do you actually use Inferno Shot? Maybe you should get to the last cores of Elvish AA instead.
UMD? What for?

Elibolas

[SuperNiCd]

Love Elf Cleric-based AA. Coupla thoughts:

You have Greater Command, but not Heighten. Would consider Heighten.
How often do you actually use Inferno Shot? Maybe you should get to the last cores of Elvish AA instead.
UMD? What for?

Elibolas

Thanks for the thoughts!

Yeah, I have thought about adding heighten in there. Since I'll only have up to L7 spells, it would only add 2, but might still be worth it. Figuring out what to swap it for is a different story. Guess maybe empower spell, or possibly greater spell pen if I wait until later to take it. (Shattermantle shot might provide enough spell pen)...

Actually I use inferno shot quite a bit. Basically have a standard rotation while using the paralyzing arrows of regular shot, inferno shot, shattermantle shot. Given that the DPS while using the paralyzing arrows is low, the extra damage dice plus stacks of burning do help some.

Yeah, I think I will probably drop the UMD when I ETR and spend it elsewhere. The original plan was to get enough for a few arcane scroll defensive buffs, and maybe up to teleport as a QoL. But realistically by the time I get it that high, it will be time to TR. So pretty useless as it turns out. Good call.

[Vish]

Hey cool,
Glad to see you found cleric archer
I'm running a silver flame build, see cleric
I've thought I could go 16/4 and still make it work
15 is nice for self Rez
But the /3 fighter only brings about 300hp, but another feat
And I build for cleric first, as it's a radiant
You might want to look at my epic feat list
It's more cleric approach

But it's a reaper cleric through and through
Tested up to 5 skulls with melee group
And battlefield control is right
Paralyzers hold everything and heals for support
Though mostly you just danger close on the melees and let aura heal
But it's a perfect build for watching the group and being where's needed

And one more thought,
Trying to run a ranger as a cleric
Is much different than running a cleric as a ranger

[SuperNiCd]

Hey cool,
Glad to see you found cleric archer
I'm running a silver flame build, see cleric
I've thought I could go 16/4 and still make it work
15 is nice for self Rez
But the /3 fighter only brings about 300hp, but another feat
And I build for cleric first, as it's a radiant
You might want to look at my epic feat list
It's more cleric approach


Linking your build here (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/477545-Endgame-radiant-AA-cleric-13-4-3-Priest-of-the-Silver-Flame) for future reference. Looks really good, and will learn what I can from it!

I hadn't really thought about running in US for epics. That's probably not a bad idea though. Would really sturdy it up.

[SuperNiCd]

I like the way Vish chronicled the build post with updates to give a sense of how the final build got tweaked into what it was. Going to try to follow suit.

UPDATE 1: Level 18
Took heighten as the feat instead of spell pen as suggested for GC. Enough other spell pen sources that this doesn't seem to be an issue right now.
Strongly considering taking final 2 levels in barbarian instead of cleric.
There are no L7 cleric spells this build can't live without that can't be effectively scrolled.
2 Barb and some AP in frenzied berserker will add a ton of movement speed/mobility.
The key to success with IPS and paralyzing arrows seems to be being able to position the mobs where you want them. More movement speed should help.
Also grants access to blood tribute for temp HP when needed. Temp HP not nerfed in Reaper like self heals are.
It would mean a sacrifice of 1-2 DC for greater command/symbol of persuasion. Less damage on some DPS spells but this character doesn't find itself doing too much of that anyway.

[Elibolas]

I like the way Vish chronicled the build post with updates to give a sense of how the final build got tweaked into what it was. Going to try to follow suit.

UPDATE 1: Level 18
Took heighten as the feat instead of spell pen as suggested for GC. Enough other spell pen sources that this doesn't seem to be an issue right now.
Strongly considering taking final 2 levels in barbarian instead of cleric.
There are no L7 cleric spells this build can't live without that can't be effectively scrolled.
2 Barb and some AP in frenzied berserker will add a ton of movement speed/mobility.
.

Dunno. You can get sprint boost from Tempest tree. 1 level of Barb for +10% movement would still let you have 13 levels of cleric, giving you back L7 spells, and increasing effect of Heighten by one.

Elibolas

[SuperNiCd]

Dunno. You can get sprint boost from Tempest tree. 1 level of Barb for +10% movement would still let you have 13 levels of cleric, giving you back L7 spells, and increasing effect of Heighten by one.


Thanks, you make some good points here. The other thing I was thinking from the 2nd barb level was access to blood tribute. Temp HP are not nerfed like self-heals in Reaper so that does have appeal. But I had forgotten about the sprint boost in Tempest (had kind of written that tree off as the good stuff being too deep in to afford). That does make the 13th cleric level more attractive.