Ali for Cairo (a build by request)

[sigtrent]

This build is from Sigtrent's build request thread

Build Name: Ali For Ciro
Author: Sigfried Trent
Requester: Ciro
Last Updated:08/06/10

Key Words [Repeater, Rogue, Paladin]

Objectives
The requester wanted a Dex/Int/Cha drow repeater user who started as a rogue/paladin and eventually takes some ranger levels. He was looking to compare his build to mine and compare notes. These days rogue and repeater are a natural with the mechanic class, but ranger doesn’t have as many synergies and most people take ranger early on to get the feats it provides for free. Still, we can make this workable.

Design
I needed to start Rogue/Paladin partly just because thats how the requester comparison build started (paladin 2 / rogue 3). Rogue 6 for mechanic is a natural but I also like to start repeater builds out with a repeater feat early on and this one has the paladin levels so rogue 6 is 8 levels in. My solution is to take heavy repeater early, then get light and the int damage off of mechanic, then finishing with ranger.

Ranger is odd in that you get some bow feats you don’t really plan on using along with the three ranged feats you want (rapid shot, precise, and improved precise shot). Happily you also get greater two weapon fighting which gives you some melee option although melee is really not going to be all that strong. Another weird thing is there are no prestige enhancements on the Ranger side of things since AA doesn’t work with bows and Tempest throws good feats on melee when its not a melee build.

But if you compare to more rogue or fighter it does make sense. More rogue means a feat crunch and you are really limited to ranged combat which takes poor advantage of sneak attack and you have only UMD for healing and hit points are limited. If you go fighter you get lots of feats, but there is little synergy with the dex/int focus, skills become very hard to maintain, and there is no healing beyond UMD. Ranger lets you have full ranged ability, and a decent melee profile for vorpal/banishing etc.. and you get some defensive buffs, and you get some self healing outside of UMD, and all the core skills can be maintained, and it buffs dex, and you get the favored enemy bonuses.

The final build is quite good with a repeater, almost as good as a repeater can be, especialy in the low and mid levels. Only rogue kensei is likely to do any better. The build is fairly durable and self sufficient with really great saves and workable hit points backed up by buffs and healing. You get a full set of rogue skills backed up by mechanic 1 and an unusually beefy INT score. Spot is the only soft spot. Its only real sin is it doesn’t stack up in DPS against either a melee rogue or ranger since it has neither of their full advantages. You’re hot with the repeater, but the repeater just isn’t a hot DPS weapon at high levels.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.5.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Good Drow Male
(2 Paladin \ 6 Rogue \ 12 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 244
Spell Points: 135 
BAB: 18\18\23\28\28
Fortitude: 19
Reflex: 26
Will: 15

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength              8                     8
Dexterity            16                    26
Constitution         12                    12
Intelligence         18                    18
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             16                    18

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 20

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               7                    18
Bluff                 3                     4
Concentration         1                     1
Diplomacy             7                    27
Disable Device        8                    31
Haggle                7                    10
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  7                    17
Intimidate            3                     4
Jump                  3                     9
Listen               -1                     1
Move Silently         7                    17
Open Lock             7                    35
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                4                     6
Search                8                    33
Spot                  3                    26
Swim                 -1                    -1
Tumble                7                    13
Use Magic Device      7                    27

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Rapid Reload
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Rogue Improved Trap Sense I


Level 2 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Acid Trap Lore I
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Disable Device I


Level 3 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Repeating Heavy Crossbow
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Elven Perception I
Enhancement: Rogue Search I


Level 4 (Paladin)
Enhancement: Rogue Open Lock I
Enhancement: Paladin Charisma I


Level 5 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage I


Level 6 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Finesse
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing I
Enhancement: Rogue Disable Device II
Enhancement: Rogue Open Lock II


Level 7 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Skill Boost II


Level 8 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Mechanic I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training II


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness I


Level 10 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I


Level 11 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II


Level 12 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage II


Level 13 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking II


Level 14 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I
Enhancement: Rogue Improved Trap Sense II


Level 16 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion II


Level 17 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion III


Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Dragon
Feat: (Selected) Force of Personality
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion IV


Level 19 (Ranger)


Level 20 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity III

Play
The build starts kind of slow, vet status would help avoid the levels where you are stuck using a regular heavy crossbow. After level 3 it picks up, but you are a dedicated crossbow user which has limitations. Then at 6 you get some melee which is nice but its not beefy and takes a good long time to develop even a modest mele DPS due to the weak strength. Around level 8, the crossbow will be pretty hot for a while, not until the super HP mobs start in or you face the heavy immunities of the 16+ content will it start to feel pea shooter like. Still, you can be viable if you play smart. I’ve mad myself useful with far weaker characters. And whatever else, the trapping skills are great.

Variations
Improved critical piercing is optional but it can be nice in some quests for banishing and the like. Other than that the build doesn’t have a ton of wiggle room. You could move dex bumps into INT for even more skills and to boost damage over accuracy and AC. In the end I liked the dex so you maintain accuracy when scooting around and the like.

[ARcdevil]

Just so you know your build foesnt use 4 skill points at first level which I presume are for hide. Other than that no complaints however I die inside every time I see someone use a crossbow as a ranger paticurly if multiclassed.

[karl_k0ch]

Sorry for the necro, but I guess as this one is linked in your thread the following info might be of interest for other players.

As long as there is no DWS2, there is not much point in going 12 Ranger/6 Rogue/2 X in favor of 11 Ranger/7 Rogue/2 X. The latter gets a considerable boost to SA damage, while only losing one spell slot and a few HPs.

Also, with Update 9, actually taking the Deepwood Sniper PrE can increase one's ranged SA damage. I'd consider Switching FoP and IC:Pierce for WF:Ranged and Point Blank Shot.