Ranged DPS

[Talon_Moonshadow]

IMO the best post mod 9 DDO archer is a Rgr 20 w/imroved Crit ranged.
Maybe an arcane archer build, but you could even build for Tempest and be almost as good.

that's the real beauty of Rangers: you can be good at mele and ranged at the same time.

I have a Ftr archer build and he is great. But he's a one trick pony, and he's a master at a gimped style of combat.

He does in fact put out some decent DPS. Manyshot and Improved crit Ranged are the only feats you need. The others have only a slight impact, although they do add up nicely when you get anough of them. But I doubt they will ever add up to the 25% speed increased promised to lvl 20 Rgrs in mod 9.

I've had fun with my archer. And I've had fun proving people wrong about them.
But the best I can expect from a realy srtrong group is a distant third in the kill count.
Unless the quest is ranged friendly, and unless I have some really good arrows/bows for the mobs. (like Grtr Gogblinoid bane bow and Goblinoid Bane arrows)

Slayer arrows rock! But you can't get enough of them.

But to restate, IMO better to make a Ranger....anyway you want. Just ad Improved Crit Ranged and know when to use it.

[Valezra]

IMO the best post mod 9 DDO archer is a Rgr 20 w/imroved Crit ranged.
Maybe an arcane archer build, but you could even build for Tempest and be almost as good.

that's the real beauty of Rangers: you can be good at mele and ranged at the same time.

I have a Ftr archer build and he is great. But he's a one trick pony, and he's a master at a gimped style of combat.

He does in fact put out some decent DPS. Manyshot and Improved crit Ranged are the only feats you need. The others have only a slight impact, although they do add up nicely when you get anough of them. But I doubt they will ever add up to the 25% speed increased promised to lvl 20 Rgrs in mod 9.

I've had fun with my archer. And I've had fun proving people wrong about them.
But the best I can expect from a realy srtrong group is a distant third in the kill count.
Unless the quest is ranged friendly, and unless I have some really good arrows/bows for the mobs. (like Grtr Gogblinoid bane bow and Goblinoid Bane arrows)

Slayer arrows rock! But you can't get enough of them.

But to restate, IMO better to make a Ranger....anyway you want. Just ad Improved Crit Ranged and know when to use it.

The problem with Melee Rangers is they don't get enough melee feats to go with their 25% alacrity.

Val

[Talon_Moonshadow]

Ranged friendly quests include.

Kobold Asault (bows rule!)
Parts of Swiped Signet (especialy when the cast Sleet Storm)
Red Willows
Gwylans
SC
Parts of the other quests in the same inn as SC.
Ritual Sacrifice
CC
and surprisingly Let sleeping Dust Lie! (Silver Bow rocks in there...just turn off improved Precise shot)

And if you are ever lucky enough to be in a group with three or more ranged chars...the synergy is amazing.

[Demoyn]

Yes, this is quiet possible. But sadly that level of ranged combat skill is only found in about 1 in 20 or so Archers you get.

Not to mention that every thing the pro-archers said can be done just as well with a tempest ranger who picked up a bow... except tempest rangers excel in melee on top of that.

[Uska]

Barbs are. Then rangers. If they offer bow strength as a feat then a pure fighter can compete.

Until lvl 20 then a pure ranger will pull away.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

If you want a Ftr based Archer here's my suggestion.

Elf
Rgr1/Ftr18/Wiz1 Arcane Archer, Kensei III Longbow
Take Rgr first. Make sure you have at least an 11 Int by the time you want yout Wiz lvl. (at lvl 5 you can use Flame Arrow Wands)

At least 14 Str, at least 16 Dex, and 12 Con.
More Str and Dex if you can get it.

IMO you will be the best lvl 1-19 Archer in the game.

[Emili]

If you want a Ftr based Archer here's my suggestion.

Elf
Rgr1/Ftr18/Wiz1 Arcane Archer, Kensei III Longbow
Take Rgr first. Make sure you have at least an 11 Int by the time you want yout Wiz lvl. (at lvl 5 you can use Flame Arrow Wands)

At least 14 Str, at least 16 Dex, and 12 Con.
More Str and Dex if you can get it.

IMO you will be the best lvl 1-19 Archer in the game.

Only where ranger non-favored enemy is concerned... built for end game a ranger rules all ranged combat... elf ranged rangers are indeed the way to go though. +11 (later +13) against all favored enemies covers most mobs in the game passively without a click... rams might for another +3 damages and elf enhancements another +2 and 25% speed... umd flame arrow wands np...

[96th_Malice]

Not to mention that every thing the pro-archers said can be done just as well with a tempest ranger who picked up a bow... except tempest rangers excel in melee on top of that.

Nope ... I disagree

You can't dabble in Melee AND Ranged

You have to do one or the other to excel !!

I will take on any tempest ranger who wants to use his many shot first THEN try and beat me down with his weapons.

He will not make it to the TWF portion ..... guaranteed !!

Reason being ... is a true ranged ranger will put ALL of his feats into ranged focus / ranged / ranged power critical etc !!

There are simply not enough feats and action points to share and do well with both melee & ranged combat

So with that said

Me vs You .. or TWF vs Archer !!

In melee vs melee combat -- You will win !! No contest !!

In Ranged vs Ranged combat -- I will win !! You dont stand ANY chance !!

In Ranged vs Melee combat -- If you can get close enough to hit me -- You might win !! however that first 20 seconds is going to be VERY unpleasant on you .. Blocking or not !!

So with that said, with you being one of the naysayers on Ranged DPS combat ! Try building a true Archer with ZERO melee feats and start looking at how much damage you can put out !!

At least THEN you can say, you know what this class works but I dont like it ..... rather than try to deter peeps from trying toons cause you disagree with it !!

Just my thoughts !!

Later

[spifflove]

Until lvl 20 then a pure ranger will pull away.

The classic confrontation of force vs finesse. Force wins. Favored enemy might be a wash but a barb will still outcrit.

[sigtrent]

Not to mention that every thing the pro-archers said can be done just as well with a tempest ranger who picked up a bow... except tempest rangers excel in melee on top of that.

And there isn't all that much a non tempest ranger cant do with swords that a tempest ranger can either. Its just a question of where you spend you feats.

Tempest guy has dodge, mobility, spring attack, Improved crit X, etc...
Ranged guy has Point Blank, Precise, Improved precise, Improved crit Y etc...

Tempest guy attacks faster in melee and has better AC
Ranged guy hits multiple mobs with each shot

That is often about the extent of the difference in the two builds on a pure ranger. Admittedly the Tempest ranger matures faster but other than that... the difference is small.

I have a Ranged focused Ranger Paladin and it just isn't that different and he fights very well with two weapons. He just has an edge in bows and a slight disadvantage in meele.

[Angelus_dead]

Me vs You .. or TWF vs Archer !!

In melee vs melee combat -- You will win !! No contest !!
In Ranged vs Ranged combat -- I will win !! You dont stand ANY chance !!
In Ranged vs Melee combat -- If you can get close enough to hit me -- You might win !! however that first 20 seconds is going to be VERY unpleasant on you .. Blocking or not !!

Psst! Guess what? This is DDO, where nobody cares about PVP.

And if they do care about PVP, I've got a Maximized Empowered Quickened Enlarged Deific Vengenace to show you.

So with that said, with you being one of the naysayers on Ranged DPS combat ! Try building a true Archer with ZERO melee feats and start looking at how much damage you can put out !!

Been there, done that, it's weak.

[Demoyn]

Psst! Guess what? This is DDO, where nobody cares about PVP.

That's not even considering the fact that she's just absolutely wrong. Why I would sit around holding shield block on a tempest ranger is beyond my comprehension. Instead I'd be tumbling in a zigzag pattern towards her with my nearly untouchable armorclass before pouring steel into her squishy center torso.

[halls]

After following this conversation, Demoyn gets the rep points.

[96th_Malice]

That's not even considering the fact that she's just absolutely wrong. Why I would sit around holding shield block on a tempest ranger is beyond my comprehension. Instead I'd be tumbling in a zigzag pattern towards her with my nearly untouchable armorclass before pouring steel into her squishy center torso.

LOL you must be off dreaming in Ravenloft !!

You'll be dead before you zag .... seen it attempted MANY times .... zigging doesnt work so well as long as I can keep my cursor on you

Bring it on !!

[96th_Malice]

For the record guys

This guys post was to HELP with a DPS Ranger !

NOT ..... Try and talk him out out it !

If you dont have any good advice .. why say anything ?

[halls]

I am reading it as help.

"Don't do it."

[96th_Malice]

Psst! Guess what? This is DDO, where nobody cares about PVP.

And if they do care about PVP, I've got a Maximized Empowered Quickened Enlarged Deific Vengenace to show you.

Been there, done that, it's weak.

Ya caster vs .. Ranger .... BRAVE !!!!!!!

And people do care about PvP !! Just cause you dont doesnt mean no one cares !

[96th_Malice]

I am reading it as help.

"Don't do it."

LOL

I could say the same about Battle Clerics !

But hey if you guys are happy with those toons .... Who am I to say "dont do it"

Or tell people they are absolutley wrong !!

[Demoyn]

If you dont have any good advice .. why say anything ?

Our good advice all along was "don't make a ranged DPSer". There's not a single better piece of advice when the subject of ranged DPS advice is breached.

It's like if someone comes to you and asks you how to best perform suicide. Wouldn't you try to talk them out of it? The only difference here is that sometimes death is favorable. Ranged DPS is NEVER favorable.

[VKhaun]

The thing I keep seeing is Evasion and resist boost. Played well I would think being able to withstand ranged attacks would be smarter then trying to be special, doing ranged weapons on the fighter class. It's a catch22 for the fighter in this case with the capstones. If their 10% doesn't affect ranged, they lose out to the ranger even harder. If 10% does, they can't get it and have evasion.