Cleric Bow user

[timranger]

I've been looking for a good bow user, that will help the party and do some decent damage, has anyone heard of a cleric bow user, or another good bow using build??????????

[Vasha]

I'm not sure how well it'd work... there's so many feats you need to take to really get anything out of a bow, but you need those for other things as a cleric.

[LewsTherin]

How about a ranger?

[Talon_Moonshadow]

I've tried to make one, but i haven't come up with a good one yet.

Problems:
Ranged combat is real weak in DDO.
to have any luck at all in a ranged build you need Multi-shot and Improved Crit Ranged (plus prereqs)
That's a lot of feats for anybuild that does not include Ranger lvls or Ftr lvls.

The second problem is the demands put on healing clerics in DDO. You need all the SP you can get. You need all the wisdom you can get. and you will want empowered healing and extend spell feat. And if you want to be an offensive spell caster you will need spell pen......maybe heighten...

Plus, no one will give you time to do anything but heal.
Or time to range effectively.
Even when ranging is the best option, people tend to charge in and melee.....making your healing duties a lot more urgent.

But, an Elf cleric would be my choice, and you could fit arcane archer into the build.
You could use all your feats for ranged combat, and take the elf ranged enhancements.
Go high dex, or throw in a ranger lvl and go str.
Use divine power when ranging and you could be a decent bow user.
You can get by as a healer without the healing feats.

Problem is then you have a mediocre healer, and a mediocre bow user.........and ranged combat is gimped already.

Sad, cause I think this kind of build sounds fun actually.

[Rouge]

you'd be looking at something along the lines of.....

2 Ranger / 1 Fighter / 13 Cleric

Human probably for the extra feat but you could take Elf for Arcane Archer, Focus in Strength, Dexterity, Wisdom and throw any leftovers in Constitution. (For Elf -2 CON / +2 DEX)

15 STR
15 DEX
13 CON
9 INT
16 WIS
8 CHA

With some +1 Tomes or even adjust for +2 tomes if you have them, you should be able to make a decent character, won't be able to dish out the same damage as a full blown ranger, but you should be somewhat close. Also note that this works at 20th level, because you'll still have level 9 spells, you just won't have as many as a full 20th level cleric would.

[Depravity]

But, an Elf cleric would be my choice, and you could fit arcane archer into the build.
You could use all your feats for ranged combat, and take the elf ranged enhancements.
Go high dex, or throw in a ranger lvl and go str.
Use divine power when ranging and you could be a decent bow user.
You can get by as a healer without the healing feats.

You'd need a level of sorc,wiz, or bard too, iirc - you need an actual arcane caster class to qualify. Plus ranger for bow strength, so you're two levels down already. Most of what you get from arcane is infinite arrows, house D sturdies in a deep quiver will probably do nicely instead.

Problem is then you have a mediocre healer, and a mediocre bow user.........and ranged combat is gimped already.

Sad, cause I think this kind of build sounds fun actually.

Agreed, this does sound fun to play, but people are going to give you a bit of grief for not playing something that's "compleetly uber". If your skin is thick enough, go for it. Also helps that you control the healingy goodness there.

On a side note I have a stalled lowbie who is going to be ftr with a splash of ranger and bard to get arcane archer/umd. In the end he's going to be a complete ranged specialist - if it chucks a projectile, he'll be good with it. Useless otherwise.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

You'd need a level of sorc,wiz, or bard too, iirc - you need an actual arcane caster class to qualify. Plus ranger for bow strength, so you're two levels down already. Most of what you get from arcane is infinite arrows, house D sturdies in a deep quiver will probably do nicely instead.



Agreed, this does sound fun to play, but people are going to give you a bit of grief for not playing something that's "compleetly uber". If your skin is thick enough, go for it. Also helps that you control the healingy goodness there.

On a side note I have a stalled lowbie who is going to be ftr with a splash of ranger and bard to get arcane archer/umd. In the end he's going to be a complete ranged specialist - if it chucks a projectile, he'll be good with it. Useless otherwise.

I think you can just take mental Toughness. But then there's yet another feat gone.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

I think a pure cleric, elf could take the arcane archer enhancement, and be a decent bow user by taking the following feats.

Mental Toughness
Point Blank Shot
Rapid Shot
Weapon Focus Ranged
Manyshot
Improved Crit Ranged.

That would take all your feats!
You would also need at least a 17 Dex. (for Manyshot)



A Rgr9/Clr7 might be a cool combo though.

Or a Halfling healing specced Ranger.

Could also mix a few Ftr lvls and get the feats faster. (plus have room for more)