Request was for a modern take on an old idea: bard using repeaters. Requester is a VIP TRing a char with +4 Supreme tome, but doesn't have other P2P or Favor unlocks (i.e., no Artificer). [The only required tome on this build is +4 DEX.] This build requires Harper; if you don't have half-elves, human who takes hvy repeater prof will also work.
Build goals: solid ranged DPS (thanks to Mechanic + Harper) and full bardsongs inc. Inspire Heroics + Excellence. Also has max trap skills. Essentially a bard who buffs the party then hangs back providing cover fire.
Drawbacks: Ranged DPS will lag significantly behind the rog 18+ Mechanics (Expert Builder, lots more ranged SAs) and the rog 5+ / pal 14 builds (Holy Sword alone is about +35% critable dmg, I think). Almost all feats go towards ranged DPS, so very little left for metamagics or anything else.
Build named in honor of these guys. ![Cool](/forums/images/smilies/cool.png)
![](https://d12vb6dvkz909q.cloudfront.net/uploads/galleries/40560/desperado_03.jpg)
Code:
El Mariachi
15/5 Bard/Rogue
True Neutral Half-Elf
Level Order
1. Rogue 6. Bard 11. Bard 16. Bard
2. Bard 7. Bard 12. Bard 17. Bard
3. Bard 8. Bard 13. Bard 18. Bard
4. Bard 9. Bard 14. Bard 19. Bard
5. Rogue 10. Rogue 15. Rogue 20. Rogue
Stats
34pt 36pt Tome Level Up
---- ---- ---- --------
Strength 8 8 +4 4: INT
Dexterity 15 15 +4 8: INT
Constitution 16 16 +4 12: INT
Intelligence 18 18 +4 16: INT
Wisdom 8 8 +4 20: INT
Charisma 8 10 +4 24: INT
28: INT
Skills
R B B B R B B B B R B B B B R B B B B R
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
------------------------------------------------------------
Perform 5 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 23
Disable 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 23
Open Lo 4 4 5 5 5 23
Search 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 23
Spot 4 4 5 5 5 23
Bluff 4 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 23
UMD 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 23
Concent 4 3 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 22
Spellcr 1 3 4 4 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 22
Balance 4 1 3 2 3 13
Heal 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 11
Jump 4 4
Move Si 4 4
Swim 4 4
Tumble 4 4
------------------------------------------------------------
48 10 10 11 13 11 11 12 12 14 12 13 13 13 15 14 14 11 14 16
48 10 10 11 13 11 11 12 12 14 12 13 13 13 15 14 14 14 14 16
Feats
1 : Rapid Reload
1 HalfElf: Half-Elf Dilettante: Artificer
3 : Point Blank Shot
6 : Rapid Shot
9 : Precise Shot
12 : Improved Critical: Ranged
15 : Improved Precise Shot
18 : Precision
21 Epic : Inspire Excellence
24 Epic : Overwhelming Critical
26 Destiny: Lasting Inspiration
27 Epic : Insightful Reflexes (or Empower Healing)
28 Destiny: Doubleshot
I staggered out the rog lvls in order to max out trap skills; the downside is it backloads the T4 & T5 Mechanic enhancements, so ranged DPS doesn't hit its full potential until lvl 20. TBH, though, this build has more skill pts than I know what to do with; feel free to move up the rog lvls so you have T5 Mechanic by lvl 12 for maximum pew-pew-pew. ![Wink](/forums/images/smilies/wink.png)
Enhancements and EDs are where the real flexibility on this build is: lots of options, no way to get everything you might want, unfortunately. So how you spread your pts will depend on what primary role(s) you want to fill.
E.g., if you need to go max-ranged-DPS soloing mode, you might do something like this:
Code:
Enhancements (80 AP)
Half-Elf (4 AP)
- Versatile Nature, Human Intelligence, Human Damage Boost
Mechanic (37 AP)
- Arbalester, Tanglefoot
- Sharpshooter, Mechanics III
- Sharpshooter, Wand and Scroll Mastery III
- Sharpshooter, Wracking Shot III, Use Magical Device I, Intelligence
- Sharpshooter, Disable Construct III, Fletching III, Leg Shot
- Sharpshooter, Rapid Fire III, Mechanical Reloader
Assassin (23 AP)
- Knife in the Darkness
- Sneak Attack Training, Stealthy II
- Venomed Blades III, Sneak Attack Training, Damage Boost III
- Critical Mastery III, Sneak Attack Training, Intelligence
- Killer III
Harper Agent (16 AP)
- Agent of Good I
- Harper Enchantment, Strategic Combat
- Versatile Adept III, Know the Angles III
- Versatile Adept III, Strategic Combat
Destiny (24 AP)
Legendary Dreadnought
- Extra Action Boost III, Constitution
- Damage Boost III, Constitution
- Critical Damage III, Haste Boost III
- <none>
- Advancing Blows, Devastating Critical
- Master's Blitz, Pulverizer
Twists of Fate (14 fate points)
- Otto's Whistler (Tier 3 Shiradi)
- Pin (Tier 2 Shiradi)
- Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)
EDIT: Pulverizer is for eSilver Slinger; if you don't have one, you can skip it for +1 CON or whatever.
But if you wanted more of a support / raid mode, you might give up ranged DPS for more party buffs:
Code:
Enhancements (80 AP)
Mechanic (23 AP)
- Arbalester, Tanglefoot
- Sharpshooter, Mechanics III
- Sharpshooter, Wand and Scroll Mastery III
- Sharpshooter, Wracking Shot III, Use Magical Device I, Intelligence
- Fletching III
Spellsinger (7 AP)
- Spellsinger
- Studies: Magical III, Lingering Songs III
Warchanter (38 AP)
- Skaldic: Constitution, Weapon Training, Song of Heroism, Fighting Spirit
- Poetic Edda III, Enchant Weapon, Rough and Ready III
- Words of Encouragement III, Arcane Shield Chant III, Iced Edges III
- Ironskin Chant III, Obstinance I
- Reckless Chant III, Armorer
- Expeditious Chant III, Chant of Power III, Howl of the North
Harper Agent (12 AP)
- Agent of Good I
- Harper Enchantment, Strategic Combat
- Versatile Adept II, Know the Angles III
- Strategic Combat
Destiny (24 AP)
Fatesinger
- Allure III, Dirge III
- Lucidity III, Masked Ball II
- Reign III, Aria II
- Echoes of Primal
- Fragment of Clarity II, Fragment of Valor II
- Turn of the Tide
Twists of Fate (14 fate points)
- Otto's Whistler (Tier 3 Shiradi)
- Pin (Tier 2 Shiradi)
- Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)
With a few tweaks, this could also be converted into a thrower build using Swashbuckler + Mechanic. But since the +1 crit multiplier bonus from Swashbuckling isn't applying to throwing weapons, it loses a little of its appeal.
ETA: I believe Acrobat and Swashbuckler Fast Movement stack, so taking both would result in +20% base run speed. That costs 10 APs, though (7 APs SB, 3 APs Acro), so you gotta drop a fair bit to get both.