Looking for good Elf caster build

Hello,

I want to play an elf as my next character, but can't figure out what they're good at.

I was thinking Wizard */Rogue 2 at first, but it seems that WF, Drow or Human would be better choices for that. I started looking into Arcane Archer builds, but get the impression that ranged combat isn't very good in DDO, and tends to get in the way of spellcasting.

Cleric or Favored Soul would be kind of cool, and I liked the idea of a FvS */Paladin 2 or Cleric */Monk 2 for a more defense focused character. But again, Elf doesn't seem to do much for these classes unless it's a Melee TWF FvS, and I'm not too keen on that since I already have a TWF Ranger/Rogue.

I considered Bard, but I was hoping to get more powerful spellcasting than that.

Any suggestions? I've mostly been looking at these builds by sigtrent:
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?p=1693169
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=143718
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?p=3445858
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?p=3177979
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?p=1682742

Maybe I should just make a Drow with pale skin and blonde hair?

theirs nothing wrong with an AA spellcasting elf that uses litII bow and slay living arrows...

Elven wizards have the additional spell points thru enhancements that no other race gets.

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Originally Posted by Jules921

Elven wizards have the additional spell points thru enhancements that no other race gets.

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Yes, you can blow 10 ap on 60 sp, or you can go drow and get half of that for free through higher intelligence, as well as more skill points (wizards are hurting for skill points :D) and higher DCs.

Honestly, the difference between an elf caster and a drow caster is pretty minimal. But, if you're planning on being as effective as you can be, don't set the 'I want to be an elf' limitation on yourself, the sad fact is elves aren't all that effective.

Elves only have a couple of advantages wrt caster builds, IMHO: melee-focused FvS for the class & racial bonuses to scimitars; and AA casters (e.g., a bardcher or AA cleric). For almost any other sort of caster build, you're usually better off going with another race.

Not that you can't play an elf for flavor purposes, of course: e.g., elven battlecleric who uses falchions instead of scimitars. Just that you may be stacking the deck against yourself by going with the "gimped" race.

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Originally Posted by Snormal

But, if you're planning on being as effective as you can be, don't set the 'I want to be an elf' limitation on yourself

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I like to build characters around a concept, and then make that concept as effective as it can be. So, Elf caster is my concept, and my goal is to be the most effective Elf caster I can be.

I'm definitely leaning towards Cleric or FvS, but I can't decide between AA or Scimitar FvS. They both seem to eat up a lot of feats that could be going towards metamagics, or dip too heavily into martial classes. Does anyone have any more links to builds that I can look at?

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Originally Posted by Azmarath

I like to build characters around a concept, and then make that concept as effective as it can be. So, Elf caster is my concept, and my goal is to be the most effective Elf caster I can be.

I'm definitely leaning towards Cleric or FvS, but I can't decide between AA or Scimitar FvS. They both seem to eat up a lot of feats that could be going towards metamagics, or dip too heavily into martial classes. Does anyone have any more links to builds that I can look at?

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Elf fvs with scimitars is nice, at least the elf squishiness will be lessened by your self healing :) If you got monk go 18/2 for 2 bonus feats and evasion ;)

Building simple arcane (elven) isn't so hard:
28 build -> Con = 14; Int = 18 rest is dumped (2 points probably into Str).
additional points form 32 i would still put into con to repair starting squishisnes.

Playing elven Wiz is Flavor only (until they give you something like Sun elves (that would get + to Int)).

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Originally Posted by andbr22

Playing elven Wiz is Flavor only (until they give you something like Sun elves (that would get + to Int)).

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It will be flavor only anyway, +1 dc cannot make up for elf (and drow) squishiness..You can play them, but there will always be better races for arcane casters.