Elf Ranger synergy: An examination of old and new.

[spifflove]

Elves and Rangers have a unique synergy. As a returning player, I will examine and test both old and new ideas as much as is possible. I will examine strength and dex Rangers as trap monkeys and check the merits of old builds to the new meta. (As far as I have time)

First the Retribution Ranger (the original max dps glass canon to be recorded)
Elf true Neutral (with umd)
32 pts (drop trap monkey if 28 pts)
1 Rogue/1 Barbarian/18 Ranger
Str 18 plus level ups.
Dex 10
Con 12
Int14
Wis 14
Cha 08

Skills
Spot 1 point per level
Search 1 point per level
Disable 2 points per level
Umd 2 points per level

Feats
Favored enemy undead, construct,evil outsiders in that order
1) stun
3) power attack
6) knights training
9) ic slash
12) elven dragon mark
15) ic ranged
18) open

Strat: Use great swords and great axes until a pair of Retribution long swords can be attained at level 8.
Res twice as a horc barb then continue as a pure Wood Elf Ranger.

Edit: Melee Rangers can be very challenging to new players. I myself began as a ranged ranger. Very new players should start as ranged then thf barbarian before going to other melee types.

[spifflove]

Next a current meta dex ranger

The Temptrist (super Illuminati build)
Elf true Neutral (with umd)
32 pts (drop trap monkey if 28 pts)
1 Rogue/1 Barbarian/18 Ranger
Str 08
Dex 20 plus level ups
Con 12
Int14
Wis 14
Cha 08

Skills
Spot 1 point per level
Search 1 point per level
Disable 2 points per level
Umd 2 points per level

Feats
Favored enemy undead, construct,evil outsiders in that order
1) point blank shot
3) precision
6) elven dragon mark
9) ic slash
12) ic ranged
15) dodge
18) empower healing

Strat: Use scimitars. Res once as an elf then go to epic levels as a pure wood elf ranger.

[spifflove]

Finally a compromise

The Elfsploiter
Elf Lawful Neutral
32 pts (drop trap monkey if 28 pts)
1 Rogue/1 monk/18 Ranger
Str 15 plus level ups
Dex 16
Con 12
Int14
Wis 14
Cha 08

Skills
Spot 1 point per level
Search 1 point per level
Disable 2 points per level
Umd 2 points per level

Feats
Favored enemy undead, construct,evil outsiders in that order
1) point blank shot
3) precision
6) weapon focus slash
Monk level: whirling blades
9) knights training
12) ic slash
15) ic ranged
18) zen Archery

Strat: Use Great axes until whirling blades. Res twice as a horc barb then epic levels as a pure ranger wood elf.

[spifflove]

The Retribution Ranger levels 1-4: I started with the ember ax and got the great crossbow from the collaborator quest. I joined a permadeath group and things went well at first. I got to level 2 ok swinging my great axe. I dodged many lightning bolts and danced with an elite ogre. I stared blankly at a kobold shaman on a shelf but did not range him for some reason.

At level 3 things were feeling good. We went to Tangleroot. My guildies pulled the mobs with ranged attacks and I attacked them in the sides and rear along their kite lanes. Spot helped a lot. But I was getting tired. Then I saw a guildy die. Then I made the fatal mistake of stepping in front of a hobgoblin ranger (ironically).

I had been one shotted. I left the guild and went to the nearby ogre cave in the gorge. I ranged the ogers there and cleared the cave. This concluded testing for levels 1-4.

[spifflove]

Temptrist level 1-4
I again grabbed the korthos great crossbow and joined a permadeath guild. I range piked through the content quite easily. I went back to Tangleroot. I was never in danger even where my previous character died. But I was a little bored. My first test was when I took a wrong turn in a Cerulean Hills quest and ended up face to face with an earth elemental. I whipped out a keen shocking great sword as my guildies came to the rescue. They laughed. I guess they didn’t expect the little elf to whip out a huge sword? Anyway even with precision the damage was low. The same thing happened in stk.

At level 4 we returned to Tangleroot. Not having spoken to the teleport toon I got left behind. I made my way into Tangleroot. I made a wrong turn and ran into the same hobgoblin ogre and his tripping wolf. I whipped out my great sword with all my 08 strength. Lol. That high dex save helped against lightning bolts but when trip came to shove (4 balance rank) it failed.

I left the guild and returned to korthos to pick up the body feeder scimitars x2. I tested myself protecting the cannith crystal on elite. My str ranger won easily but my dex build could not protect it even 1 level higher. I noticed I had a potion of bulls strength and a web clicky from the water works and I successfully protected the crystal.

I began to pug with a true ress’d wizard. She with her arcane skelly and cleric hireling and me with my korthos great crossbow.

Soon we were doing harbor reaper. I used my body feeder scimitars on reaper giant scorpions and they kept me alive though it was close. We did the tome on reaper and my pug pal was fried by the lightning bolt trap. I had a flash back to my fist toon: a bardcher. Ten years ago I did the same thing: I dodged the trap. I did the intelligence rune (“you didn’t think I was just a pretty face” echoed from the past). I ranged the skelly. I use the. Body feeders on the zombies. It was close. We arrived at the shrine and I remembered what a ranger’s chief job was: To carry the soul stones! I told my pug the gear I had and he said: “oh my reaper points!”

[spifflove]

I am on the elfsploiter. I again join a permadeath guild. My guildies want me to do Sharn as a level two. What could go wrong? I’m forced to pike with the korthos great crossbow. No problems until level 3 when an ice storm twice takes me to 1 hp. I don’t know how things will go from here, but a balanced ranger is the direction I am leaning!

Enhancements of note:
Arbalester, sharpshooter from the mechanic tree.
Elven accuracy 1.

[TFerguson]

What are you gaining that beats the Tempest capstone with your splashes?

[spifflove]

What are you gaining that beats the Tempest capstone with your splashes?

Excellent question! Just a better leveling experience actually. Epic levels would require the pure ranger for the dervish capstone unfortunately. I would prefer a system where you could splash and still get the capstone say at level 22 but it is what it is.

For an example of what I mean I noticed the pug wizard mentioned above actually waited for me to disable traps in Reaper mode where he was jumping through them before that.

Also if you are ch.. er prudent like myself it may be awhile before wood elf becomes available. For example I just picked up keep on the borderlands. Way worth it especially in permadeath with uneven population periods.

[Enderoc]

[QUOTE=spifflove;6448099]Elves and Rangers have a unique synergy. As a returning player, I will examine and test both old and new ideas as much as is possible. I will examine strength and dex Rangers as trap monkeys and check the merits of old builds/QUOTE]

I would try Wisdom based max listen skill and until Horizon Walker goes live...it will at least up the DC of paralyzing arrows.
Unless you are focusing on tempest of course.
One of my pet peeves of people testing horizon walker was them not utilizing paralyzing arrows...its like tell me you dont know how to play a ranger without actually telling me you dont know how to play a range
Pretty sure one could get paralyzing arrows, horrizon tier 5 plus wisdom to hit and damage

[CrackedIce]

Deleted.

[CrackedIce]

[QUOTE=spifflove;6448099]Elves and Rangers have a unique synergy. As a returning player, I will examine and test both old and new ideas as much as is possible. I will examine strength and dex Rangers as trap monkeys and check the merits of old builds/QUOTE]

I would try Wisdom based max listen skill and until Horizon Walker goes live...it will at least up the DC of paralyzing arrows.
Unless you are focusing on tempest of course.
One of my pet peeves of people testing horizon walker was them not utilizing paralyzing arrows...its like tell me you dont know how to play a ranger without actually telling me you dont know how to play a range
Pretty sure one could get paralyzing arrows, horrizon tier 5 plus wisdom to hit and damage


You do realize that for testing HW purposes, folks were only interested in DPS output. Once DPS has been tested (and confirmed), it makes sense to branch out and add utility (such as AA paralyze arrows).

In fact, personally, I am only interested in making AA (paralyze) DPS more effective and easily see HW helping with that.

In either case, AA most definitely needs a revisit to modernize the tree.

Aside for that, to finish out the bow pass, I am convinced that putting IPS back to 100% (Precise shot added damage has come a long way) combined with making death arrow from AA tier 5 and DWS headshot from tier 5 a setup function rather an actual attack such that "next attack will receive the death arrow or headshot buff", it would put Archers back to the similar playstyle they had previously.

[spifflove]

I would try Wisdom based max listen skill and until Horizon Walker goes live...it will at least up the DC of paralyzing arrows.
Unless you are focusing on tempest of course.
One of my pet peeves of people testing horizon walker was them not utilizing paralyzing arrows...its like tell me you dont know how to play a ranger without actually telling me you dont know how to play a range
Pretty sure one could get paralyzing arrows, horrizon tier 5 plus wisdom to hit and damage

23 action points is a steep price to pay for paralyzing arrows on a melee build. Still a ranger should have some ranged ability. I would like to try this on one of my builds possibly the elfsploiter since the progression is slower. Otherwise my inclination is to just use a paralyzing bow if needed. Listen might be a little too much to afford but I see the value on a ranged ranger.

By the way, what does a pure ranged ranger do when face to face with a big ugly mob in a crowded room?

[spifflove]

My dex ranger faired poorly piking with reaper levelers. At level four I tried to flank a line of fiendish lions but dps with the body feeder scimitars was very poor and I died. Level 5 brought some relief with Valenar Grace. Damage boosted but to hit was only ok even with precision. Dps on reaper was poor but I could handle being swarmed by giant scorpions and other trash mobs in three barrel cove.

Key enhancements: Valenor Grace (adds dex to damage).
Eleven weapon training 4 (bonuses to scimitars and short bows).

I began to use a keen short bow as the korthos great crossbow began to disappoint. (Though I never bothered to enchant it for additional 1d4 force criticals)

[Enderoc]

introduce 4 levels of wizard max spellpower to empower your force arrows add ice storm to your spell list now you can play...The Storm on the Horizon having FOM and all you may as well kite into a snowball fight
Not really a party favorite but it would be a blast solo "of course this could be a stay away from my kills spell"
Alternatively you can dip into a Sorcerer Savant for elemental damage outside force and gain one specific spellpower for your imbued arrows

[spifflove]

introduce 4 levels of wizard max spellpower to empower your force arrows add ice storm to your spell list now you can play...The Storm on the Horizon having FOM and all you may as well kite into a snowball fight
Not really a party favorite but it would be a blast solo "of course this could be a stay away from my kills spell"
Alternatively you can dip into a Sorcerer Savant for elemental damage outside force and gain one specific spellpower for your imbued arrows

Great tactic! Sounds fun for solo. I have learned to keep my bow out at all ranges except point blank and it has improved my survival and fun.

I can’t change the title but here is a similar thread for ranged rangers: https://forums.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/470045-Analysis-of-the-Elven-Ranger

[spifflove]

Scimitars vs Longswords:

A Scimitar crits on 18-20 or 15% of time for double damage.
A Longsword crits on 19-20 or 10% of the time for double damage.
Add knights training and it becomes triple damage but at the cost of one feat..

So over the same time period all other factors being equal and discounting base weapon damage and discounting that extra feat a Scimitar user would use a scimitar would crit for 6 times damage (x2 x3) vs 6 times for the longsword (x3 x2).

Seems equal right? However we must count the non critical hit that the Longsword would get over the same time period which edges out the Scimitar.

IC slashing means the Scimitar crits 12 times (x2 x 6) and the Longsword 12 times (x3 x4) but now the Longsword counts two extra normal hits over the same time period.

So which one is better? Depends on how feat starved your build is. Also depends on how much strength vs dex augmentation you can find. Also going dex will allow you to dump strength but then again there are more ways to augment strength over dex.

Finally Knight’s training puts the Longsword on par with the Khopesh for the same feat cost and Elven enhancements make the Elf the max point target dps toon in the game!

[spifflove]

Since so far leveling builds have been discussed, and the only meta elf ranger is of the pure wood variety, it becomes apparent that you can build ranger into any class you desire by following this template:

2 Rogue/6 Ranger/X whatever past life you want.

Dusting off my first life 2 Rogue/6 Ranger/10 barb I found I could respec all the tempest enhancements I wanted except the capstone. I had to accept no knights training as that feat was introduced after this build and I entered the fleshmaker’s laboratory elite.

I had no problem with the trash mobs using my paralyzing body feeders, easily handling the lightning bolts because of evasion and tempest; and the constructs went down fast with metalline and adamantine. I was confounded by the main trap but ran through it happy that I did not skimp on my dexterity(also had mobility and spring attack). I thought the arrows were part of the trap but when I recovered i ran from bowman to bowman paralyzing them until the fire went silent.

I updated my lfm stating I had bypassed the hard trap and a 16 pally joined and we finished the quest. He probably did more dps than me with all his past lives and Uber gear still i can’t help but note that he made sure I had bypassed the main trap before joining. Dinged 19 one level to go.

[spifflove]

I would like to introduce to you to a build for people who want to play hardcore with an elven ranger and survive without Uber twitch skills:

The Hardcore Ranger
28 pts because that’s what you get in HCL
Elf 2 Barbarian/18 ranger (credit: Unbongwa)
Str 16 plus level ups
Dex 14
Con 12
Int 08
Wis 14
Char 8

Feats
1) Dragonmark
3) precision
6) Knights training
9) ic slashed
12) dodge
15) mobility
18) spring attack

The easy button is to use blood tribute to survive the big fights. I used this trick to solo proof is in the poison on permadeath using a rogue splashed barb build (the Conan build).

There is no room in this build for point blank shot, but it is assumed you will be using longswords or great axes at short range.

Note: This is a variant of the original Retribution Ranger. Another variant that i posted before would have two levels of monk with wf slashed and whirling steel.

[spifflove]

I got a chance to test the Elfsploiter today in permadeath. After a misadventure in Red Fang Realer 2 I decided to take the monk level at level 3. My build was 1 Rogue/1 Ranger/1 monk. I had 2 points in mechanic, 2 in elf and 4 in the tempest tree.

I bought 2 regular longswords and was delighted to be centered with them. My armor consisted of starting rags. I had an aid clicky. Not wanting to break sun stance, I shelved my Korthos great crossbow and did not range. I took the right hand (slightly harder) path in the Cerulean Hills. The build performed well cutting down the the mobs including one named in the thieves den with little difficulty. The fiendish lions went down without problem by attacking their flanks and rear. I got held in the waterfall cave possibly due to sun stance but escaped without retreating all the way out of the cave.

Using the shrine I then tested the left hand path. I used a plus one maul of vampirism and the keen great crossbow. Things went smoother from the ranged to melee flow and a bit of range from the maul. Surprisingly the maul did not do any better than the plane swords and I was more easily hit if they did get a chance. (The maul did crit 4 times in the orc cave including a named muddying the testing waters somewhat)

I see the potential in this elfsploiter build and contrary to what had been popular opinion the historic exploiter is not dead. Even might be viable at end game on a ranged ranger. (Zen archery). Certainly trumps a fighter splash.

[spifflove]

After my Shade barbarian was baited into a trap and died I began to think of how to make a 28 pt ranger work in hardcore league. I had to dump strength but waiting for dex based scimitars was out of the question. Then I remembered how one quick witted poster pointed out that monks could apply dex to long swords as soon as level 3 using the ninja tree. So here is the build:

Sexy Dexy (apologies to the original owner of the character of the same name)
28 pt hard core league elf
20 dex plus level ups
12 con
14 wisdom

Level 1: Ranger
Feat: weapon focus slash: favored enemy undead
Level 2: Monk
Feat: Whirling blades
Level 3 Monk
Feat: Zen Archery: Precision
Level 4: Monk
Level 5 and up: Ranger

Currently at level 5 and loving it. Feels as good as a full tempest ranger starting at level 4. Mobs go down easily but the drawback is 10 con in wind stance. Still with only two crafted plus 2 longwords a great feel. Another drawback is low ki generation. A groupie was amazed to note that I was centered and said he learned something new. Ac is good, still testing.

[donblas]

Feats
Favored enemy undead, construct,evil outsiders in that order
.

For a modest investment of APs, 2 in fact, you can get FE Undead from the Vistani tree, allowing you to take a different one as a feat and buffing all of them.
And a 6-point dive into horizon walker will gain you evil outsider, allowing yet another feat choice and buffing all 6 choices. Your dex-based version may well want to spend 13 in this tree anyway for "No Step Missed"

And for laughs you can spend 2 APs in falconry for FE animals.

Giving (with the 4 FEs from 18 Ranger, and three more from 10APs) seven types of enemy you get +14 against. No small buff.

Of course, it may be that the APs on your builds may be too tight to do this, but thought I'd mention it.

[spifflove]

For a modest investment of APs, 2 in fact, you can get FE Undead from the Vistani tree, allowing you to take a different one as a feat and buffing all of them.
And a 6-point dive into horizon walker will gain you evil outsider, allowing yet another feat choice and buffing all 6 choices. Your dex-based version may well want to spend 13 in this tree anyway for "No Step Missed"

And for laughs you can spend 2 APs in falconry for FE animals.

Giving (with the 4 FEs from 18 Ranger, and three more from 10APs) seven types of enemy you get +14 against. No small buff.

Of course, it may be that the APs on your builds may be too tight to do this, but thought I'd mention it.

These are some very good points indeed! That is a HUGE buff against a lot of enemies! Useful info for ranger players of all types.

I would like my final Ranger to be 40% ranged as ranged is part of the class but that would take a really good builder to pull that off. I am unfortunately time constrained as a casual minnow addicted to permadeath =,)

[Mindos]

A groupie was amazed to note that I was centered and said he learned something new. Ac is good, still testing.

what armor are you wearing?

[spifflove]

what armor are you wearing?

Starting rags. Really though nice thing about robes is you can insta swap. Lots of nice set pieces nowadays with good fort.

[C-Dog]

First the Retribution Ranger (the original max dps glass canon to be recorded)
...
6) knights training
...
Since Knight's Training was introduced in a U41 patch (https://ddowiki.com/page/Update_41_Patch_3_Release_Notes#Feats) (Feb '19), I have to wonder what your operating definition of "original" is. :confused:

Compare this 2013 version (https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthread.php/423116-Tempest-Trapmonkey-for-new-players?p=5072835&viewfull=1#post5072835), which was sort of a forum-agreed benchmark and that I consider far more "original*", in a more traditional sense of the term, and still does just fine afaict.

(* at least as far as post-U19 (https://ddowiki.com/page/Update_19_Release_Notes) goes, when the current Enhancement trees were introduced. If there were (the equivalent of) Elven Tempest Trapmonkeys pre-19, they'd be tough to compare/contrast to any current models.)

[darkniteyogi]

The elf dragonmark is great for first life characters. You get 50% concealment which works with Extend (That's 20 minutes of displacement per rest), and you also got 10% incorporeality (15 minutes per rest).

My unpopular opinion, Dodge, mobility, and shot on the run are overrated.
With the same feat choices, I prefer Extend (for dragonmark), Quicken, Maximize, for healing.

[C-Dog]

Maximize, for healing.
This.

If you're not going to be a full-time healer, and so only worry about emergency "burst" healing, Maximize gives you the best result. Costs more than Empower Healing, and worth every spell point. :cool:

[spifflove]

Since Knight's Training was introduced in a U41 patch (https://ddowiki.com/page/Update_41_Patch_3_Release_Notes#Feats) (Feb '19), I have to wonder what your operating definition of "original" is. :confused:


Original meaning 2007. I did not mean to imply Knight’s Training was part of the original build. Back then it was required to take dodge, mobility, and spring attack to unlock the proto tempest tree. It makes sense to include Knight’s Training in the current discussion. I did not notice the feat mentioned in the discussions in your link (although khopeshes were).

[spifflove]

This.

If you're not going to be a full-time healer, and so only worry about emergency "burst" healing, Maximize gives you the best result. Costs more than Empower Healing, and worth every spell point. :cool:

I see your point but what is your view on this (espoused by others on this forum):

Rejuvenation Cocoon: Active (12 SP activation) (12 sec cooldown) (Empower Heal, Quicken, Enlarge) (SR: no) Protect target ally with a shield of [90/120/150] temporary HP for 9 seconds. Heals 5d6 HP every 2 seconds while the shield persists.

[C-Dog]

Original meaning 2007... Back then it was required to take dodge, mobility, and spring attack to unlock the proto tempest tree.
Exactly, then we go back to an entirely different approach to Enhancements, and it's apples and oranges. Which is why I posted that build, which was among the first post-current-Enhancement.


I did not notice the feat mentioned in the discussions in your link (although khopeshes were).
KT is relatively modern, didn't exist until Feb '19.

o https://ddowiki.com/page/Update_41_Patch_3_Release_Notes#Feats

Afaiu, KT made several weapons the (close?) equiv of Khopeshes, so simply a matter of color preference (and/or whatever you have in inventory).

[spifflove]

Exactly,

KT is relatively modern, didn't exist until Feb '19.

o https://ddowiki.com/page/Update_41_Patch_3_Release_Notes#Feats

Afaiu, KT made several weapons the (close?) equiv of Khopeshes, so simply a matter of color preference (and/or whatever you have in inventory).

So the meta went from puncturing rapiers to strength longswords to exploiters to dex scimitars and now back to strength longswords only to be eclipsed by thousand point Horizon Walker bow shots.

Testing the hardcore ranger in hardcore league to level seven was a snoozfest (after one misadventure where I made it a rule to only play tired with lowbies). Basically you just keep blood tribute up at all times and follow the lead aggro magnet (sometimes just the bloody footprints). Usually mobs just melt away as I swing at them (killed by rampaging bards) and I use my bow as I sometimes struggled to keep up with the zerg. I did manage to wet my longswords in Chronoscope and actually had to shrine to restore con points. Damage to was good but no longer meta even with keen longswords and Knight’s Training.

The Sexy Dexy build gave similar damage but razor thin hit points. Other league mates seemed to be aware of this and were very good at looking after me and again most mobs melted away before I could close. I targeted casters in big rooms but for the most part I was just along for the ride. A glaring weakness of the build was getting hit by a ray of enfeeblement and getting encumbered and taken out of wind stance. Worse still I was helpless. On the plus side moving through traps was no problem and so far no failed saves. Ac is much better and wind stance increases attack speed.

I’m starting to contribute a little as I ding 8. Not many other rangers around. Wouldn’t it be nice if I had a big tanky pet bear to act as an aggro magnet?

At level 8 the Hardcore Ranger got its first real test: I found myself in Delera’s part one surrounded and trapped by spectral skeletons. I had the opportunity to run without aggro but remembered my guildies from 10 years before desperately trying to heal me as I panicked and we wiped. I charged in borderland longswords a blazing. True to my gut instinct my two cleric friends were trapped and shield blocking (others were piking due to traps).
Being lost in Tangleroot surrounded before I did not panic. I used nearly all my blood tribute and we all lived to fight another day.

[spifflove]

Getting lost in Threnal I happened upon Coyle just as he was committing suicide. I solo’d the end boss and saved Coyle further proving the teeth of the build.

By level 10 groups were getting smaller, occasionally they were weak enough where the dps ranger would shine but most groups were quite Uber. I got lost as a late arrival to Chronoscope and managed to solo the mobs in front of the bank. Finally, after jumping over a trap to get at the action beyond I landed on a slope. Grease appeared under my feet and a spear wall was waiting. Even a wf barbarian would not have survived. (And it would have been much wiser to break out a bow)

Since the end of the HC ranger occurred because of user error and not the fault of the build I consider it a successful test. Overall I found it slightly better in single point dps but less survivable than a similarly geared wf barbarian and requiring much more caution and twitch skills. However it does give ranger lovers a fighting chance in HCL.

[spifflove]

Case 1: Dex Tempest Ranger
20 elf Ranger
Dex 20 plus level ups
1-6) Spring attack
9) ICS
15) ICR
12) Precision
18) Lesser Dragonmark
Key Enhancements:
Most tier 5 tempest plus capstone
Most Elf combat enhancements
Some tier 3 deep wood
Notably could not afford summoned arrows.
Weapons: Common elite scimitars minimum level 16 and 17

Kings’s forest: The first level 20 wilderness was quite easy. I expected not to do as well as the barb control group (see below). Had no ship buffs going in. Could not save a slave from the drow. Dps was fine. Never in danger of dying.
Chronoscope: Did very well never in danger. Was on elite not reaper. Overall I was quite pleased this build did not feel gimp. Leveling was very discouraging as 0 str= helplessness.
Hp: 420

Case 2: Dex trap monkey
Elf 17 Ranger 2 barb 1 rogue.
Stats and feats identical to case #1
Key feats: Vistani knife fighter capstone
Most tier 5 tempest
Hp:399
Shockingly I could not afford blood tribute or elf enhancements!
I was very disappointed and consider this a failed idea.

Kings forest: Performed largely identical to case 1, surprisingly as I relied heavily on blood tribute while leveling.
Random reaper 1 pug quest: Did fine no deaths dps was satisfactory

Case 3
12 ranger 8 barbarian
Str 16 + level ups
Dex 16
Con 12
Wis 14
Feats
1-6) Spring attack
9) ICS
12) knights training
15) precision
18) icr
Enhancements
41 points vistani knife fighter including capstone
39 points Tempest most tier 5
Hp 451
Barovian longswords mainhand retribution offhand both with arguments

I decided to up the test and went into the ruins of thunderholme. The challenge was more but the build was up to it and was able to solo and heal between encounters. Did random pug elite with one other person crits were 250 to 350 and minimal effort. I wasn’t used to lack of buttons on this build. Dod of course is king but vistani fortune not so much. No elf enhancements hurt this build but they can be got back with enough past lives. The build had very good dps but was a failure as no barbarian enhancements could be had. (Although improved uncanny dodge was nice)
.

Control:
20 barbarian Red Sonja variant (the Tempest of barbs.
Weapons: Barovian Khopesh and common Kruki.
Hp: 670.

Kings forest: Never in danger of dying as health self buffs when attacked. Damage needed the Frenzy capstone to equal the dps of the Rangers.
Various reaper 1: Only occasionally died. Had some problems in Chronoscope when by self but survivable. Not an embarrassing first life build. Much less twitch dependent but still twitch dependent. Overall easier to play.

[spifflove]

The Exploiter by EinarMal was the next great evolution of the Ranger. His idea was to max armor class and make a trap monkey while retaining strength as the superior dps of the time, by splashing 1 monk and one rogue. This remains the best trap monkey splash choice today although dropping rogue and adding favored soul will net more dps. Human remains the best choice if no past lives are available as Vistani is so point hungry but elf will shine with enough investment. I still went elf as this is a field test.

The Elfsploiter
Level 18 Ranger level 1 Rogue Level 1 Monk
Str 16 + level ups
Dex 14
Con 12
Int 14
Wis 14

Feats
6) Spring Attack
9) ICS
12) Knight’s Training
15) wf slash + whirling steel strike (monk level)
18) Zen Archery
On deck: ICR, improved adept at forms

Enhancements
41 Vistani (ouch) tier 3 and capstone (bright side is daggers are centered)
1 Henshin Mystic
0 elf (ouch)
Rest Tempest. Notability could only afford two tier 5 (Double ouch).

Thunderholme
Without visiting the epic training and without a hireling. (hp 325, had a silver bow, Barovian long sword, and Retribution, 99 healing pots and 3 wands). I gave it a go this time determined to test all the way to the quest entrance. Encounters were moderate taking damage but easily healed between encounters. Traps usually missed. I had to bypass Ember but took down his friends. The salamanders were easy the shadows abit harder but no problem. I took down two rare encounters and set the mirror no problem. I used the last shrine in the final encounter area as I was out of resources. One more rare and I was at the quest portal.

Borderlands R1
I visited the epic trainers and did the chain no problem (about 600 hp, my companion had 3x). My dps was needed for bosses and crowns.

Delera’s R1
Fighting without team mates was a no no as one hit would take half my health. I was able to contribute but could not help but to think such a build would be suicidal without a team to draw aggro. One death occurred when I pulled a lever and could not manage the aggro.

Overall the build performed about the same as the dex version. I understand from elsewhere in the forums that a strength based ranger will potentially do 30% more damage then dex based. Both builds appear viable in today’s challenging melee climate but less so than the barbarian.

I do not know what choices Illuminati and EinarMal would make today but I am their chronicler.

[spifflove]

Case 1: The fast moving party
Run behind the casters. Bow is out you are stealing kills and perched mobs. You should only be able to close with crowns and bosses. Hit multi shot as you close switch to melee (may require a hop) and hot key favorite melee buffs. If you try to Zerg in these sorts of groups at best you will be swinging at mid air, at worst wind up a soul stone.

Case 2: Two man with leet player
Same thing but guard the other player and melee any mobs that close with said player. For Fey hounds hit all buffs and time haste boost.

Case 3: Leader or replacing leader
Zerg with bow out. You will damage mobs and pull them at the same time. Often the mob you pull will be dia the other times easy to finish. For groups of mobs you will weave in and out attacking sides the back while teammates finish them off or it takes a bit longer otherwise. Priority to casters. This must be practiced and cannot be taught but you should take little to no damage; it took me a year to relearn.

What about the Retribution Ranger?
Any max strength build is a Retribution Ranger with or without abusing dexterity. However, currently the Ranger capstone is lacking as it has nothing for strength Rangers or even Charisma, Wisdom, Intelligence or yes Constitution Rangers. (Or even a kewl mechanic like you get full thf when using quarterstaves and a bear has decided to follow you)

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Test case:
The hardcore Ranger
2 Barb/x Ranger
16 str + level ups
16 dex
16 con
14 wis
Feats) Spring Attack, ics, Knight’s training, icr.
Enhancements: blood tribute, wood elf most, rest Tempest.
Level 8 died to illusion trap after wrong turn.
Level 14 died to hound in Summerville after trying to help pug mate who was exiting out.
Level 8 died to plume of mud.
Level 9 died to overwhelming odds on a late join respawns.
Level 8 died to hound pit completion got me as I was x-ing out.
Overall got all the bad luck.
The biggest difference I noticed was when I two manned Tangleroot to the end and how easy it was including the end boss the entire chain as a level 5. In that moment Spock became the Vulcan. A year prior I had cheered when a famous u-tuber appeared and bailed us out of the final two quests.

Control:
Dwarf 2 fighter/18 barbarian
Str 30
Con 45
Hp 770 at 18 and 1100 at 20.
Level 2 died to hound after separation from party
Tangleroot- tanked dot by remote hound before fix
Hips-tanked trap down to 100 hp
Ducked hound through entrance several times.
Incapacitated by Medusa
Tanked flank attack by 3 Medusa’s in stone palace
Survived Hill Giant Army in Sharnhorn chain.
7 personed Master Artificer raid precarious win
5040 total favor
Overall got all the good luck, including not being able to fill a what goes up group.

[spifflove]

After a tough luck season I Finally dinged a 20 melee ranger with 2 days to spare. Interestingly the build was just as much archer as ranger. Though I didn’t invent the build (I got it by picking the brains of great players) this might actually be something new under the sun:

The Cornered Bear Ranger
8 Druid 12 Ranger
Race any (cannot afford racial enhancements)
18 wisdom + level ups final 34
14 con final 24
14 dex
12 strength for exceptional thf with +5 tome
Feats
1)dodge
3)mobility
6)spring attack
9)natural fighting
12)ics
15)icr
18)natural fighting
Key enhancements
3 tier 5 in nature’s defender
Paralyzing and construct bane arrows from arcane archer, all imbues.
Wisdom to hit and damage from Falconry

This build was split two ways and didn’t really come together until level 16, just in time to deal with a lower server population. I loved the paralyzation and it was very effective cc. Construct bane was key in late quests. At lower levels I struggled but I had one ace to play: in overwhelming situations I would backwards tumble into bear form allowing a seamless switch to sword and board and make my stand. I was still forced to “fight like an elf” (a term I didn’t coin) but it was easier.

I also had a great deal of luck. Twice I was engulfed by a cube in toee and once a cube chased me into a spear pit in Rainbow in the dark after my pug mate teleported out of the cube. I fought off a pursuing bearded devil while in bear form spears all around with a sliver of health.

Test toon2: The Hard Core Ranger
Ran into a trap at level 12.
Jumped down a hole with a reaper in front and lightning crossfire at level 4.
Died in final boss fight slavers 3 r3 after being rapidly 3 hit by an unseen boss even with blood tribute while “fighting like an elf” in a multiboss situation.

Controls:
2rogue 12 barbarian jumped into a mob baited trap with 2990 favor.
2 fighter 10 barbarian dwarf chased a battle engineer into an explosion.

[spifflove]

As I spent points in the dark hunter tree I noticed that all my action points went to either the wolf or trapping skills. I did get a bonus to hit for investing in spot which was nice but I imagine a new player would be gimp if they didn’t first invest in the elf racial tree.

My past life character bonuses masked trapping deficiencies until stk R1 when my guild buffs ran out and it became apparent that I would have to sacrifice speed boost for skill boost. Fortunately good pug mates had a rogue summon.

The wolf was nice maybe a little late but better than nothing. I wish the model was a Tangleroot wolf and not a darkened wolf. It would also be nice if it were inherent and points buffing the wolf buffed the hunter.

Two dark hunters take on Tangleroot
This didn’t handle much different than prior attempts as I two man completed this with a level 5 before but though we had a level 5 cleric hire both of us being melee dark hunters removed bias from the testing. Things went very smooth except one brief spot where the hire had to heal me from unconsciousness. Traps seemed to be the thing of my drow companion and he had no problem. This time my circle the toilet bowl maneuver worked on the end boss even though my pug mate was maneuvering around the side and missed the action. Pull those bows out ranger! The bow was key to this completion.

I kinda think I shouldn’t be allowed to run around with a keen falchion getting sneak attacks but that discussion has already been had.

[spifflove]

Between Dark Hunter and first core of deep wood sniper is an additional 5d6 sneak attack dice. Very nice situational damage. (10d6 total at level 10)

Snapping traps is fun tried many times to hook a reaper but never could. Catching a fire elemental was nice. Smoke bomb is nice for getting sneak attacks in crowds. Smoke trap for longer distances against single targets. My favorite use is stopping a fleeing mob.

The wolf trap finding is very nice and saves time.

Bleed them out gives an imbue toggle.

Joined pugs for all of Ravenloft R1 using a Barovian falchion at level 10 and had no problems.

Rather than have a buff that gives you a combat bonus for killing things I would prefer a healing or haste boost.

Smoke trap is now nerfed and only works until you hit a mob. No blur or displacement, nada. It was fun while it lasted.

[spifflove]

This is the level where you pick up 25% hit points and a crit buff. Overall I notice you can get these goodies for only 5 or 6 levels of dark hunter, because cores at level 6 and 12 are meh. I also notice that these level 5s naturally conflict with Tempest. So if you are a tempest only go for the wolf and sneak attack enhancements. Being an elf, I picked up a Bavarian falchion and thf and am enjoying the damage.

Ferocity: You gain 10% Doublestrike and Doubleshot. Your Dark Wolf gains 25% Attack Speed and 100% Fortification Bypass. Very nice!

My wolf is already as strong as it can get which doesn’t bode well.

Stone's Hue: Your Camouflage and Camouflage, Mass spells also grant the target +1 Physical Resistance Rating per 2 caster levels Nice now those spells are worth casting! Hate to lose ap to get this though. Maybe just change the spell?

Blade Specialization: Select from Critical Threat Range or Critical Damage Multiplier.
You gain a +1 Competence bonus to Critical Damage Multiplier with your weapons.
You gain a +1 Competence bonus to Critical Threat Range with your weapons. This is the holy grail of the tree. I went with multiplier for larger crits. Note that kensai gives you an equivalent enhancement available at level 6.

Dark Sight: You have True Seeing and gain a +25% Competence bonus to Maximum Hit Points. This ability also grants a separate ability - Underdark Sight - that you may toggle on to gain sight ability while within the Underdark. This will be nice not to need underdark gogles. Hopefully they will add dark optional areas to quests.

Death Attack: Stealth Melee Assassinate Attack: On Sneak Attack: Attempt to Assassinate a foe before you. If it is an enemy type that a Dark Hunter could have as a Favored Enemy (Vermin, Elves, Aberrations, Animals, Humanoids, and Monstrous Humanoids) then you attempt to snuff out its life, killing it instantly unless it makes a Fortitude save vs Death (DC 10 + Ranger Level + highest of Dex, Int, or Wis Mod + Assassinate bonuses). If it is a different enemy type, or it makes its Fortitude save, you instead mortally wound it, lowering its Physical and Magical Resistance rating by 10 and dealing an extra 1d10 Bleed damage per character level. Basically this doesn’t work. Says it’s melee you hit the hot key and it says insufficient resources. So maybe it works sneaking but if you backstab a mob that is aggroed on someone else natha. Doesn’t work with smoke bomb. As a melee this is no use to me. Assassins rejoice!

[spifflove]

Dark hunter cure critical pots far outclass Ranger healing as you can throw them at your wolf in reaper and get splash healing. Also great at shrines for topping Shriners off.

Dark hunter over all outclasses Ranger in all ways imaginable except standing in traps and arcane archers.

As these forums are closing I will not be able to report on all my testing results but suffice to say I am quite pleased with the thf dark hunter Samurai build. I dualed cogs with my 3rd life toon and a first life Druid companion. We raised the difficulty from r1 to r2. All I had was a Bavorian falchion with 4d6 augment. Was wearing 105 fort medium armor and +8 tome (muddied the testing).

The next max dps ranger? Tempest core 3 dws str DH dual Mjolnirs.

Peace.

[spifflove]

When the last king of Hollywood shatters his glass on the floor
One for another will wonder what he did that for
That’s when I know I have to get out because I have been there before
So I gave up my seat at the forums and I head for the door
We go out in the desert just to lay beneath this bowl of stars
We dance out at the palace like it’s the last of the great pioneer bars
We shout out these songs against the clang of electric guitar
You can see a million miles tonight but you can’t get very far