Pure fighter the best ranged character now?

[Aesop]

As a note... I'm not sure the Fighter Capstone works with Ranged weapons... I'm NOT SURE here... but it may only apply to Melee

Aesop

[wolfy42]

Hmm if it doesn't that makes going 18/2 and easy choice (although 2 of what is a bit harder!!).

[wolfy42]

It's the fighter haste boost combined with many shot and kensie bonuses (especially if they make it +2 a pop!!) and improved crit damage that really makes the fighter shine. Honestly it's probably not worth going pure for the 10% bonus anyway.....since grabbing 2 rogue levels would give you evasion and UMD at least (probably high spot as well).

Arcane archer is just not worth taking either a ranger, wizard or bard level in my opinion. 2 ranger levels give you free feats....and arcane archer, but no evasion at all, and nothing really great skill wise either. The paltry bonus to damage from arcane archer long term will barely be noticable at all.

Monk is nice as well in combo....get evasion, possiblity of even higher AC, better saving throws and a few other perks...but you still can't max UMD......so I think rogue is better.

To bad you can snag HiPS though as a normal feat (not sure what the pre-reqs would be) as it could be very useful for this build. That is at least one advantage the ranger would have long term.

[Aesop]

Note that we don't know what else is coming for Arcane Archer.

Also 3.5 Damage per shot is not as paltry as it sounds.

btw 1 ranger wouldn't net you Arcane Archer

Bard Wizard or Sorc would (of those I suggest Bard for the UMD)

Think about UMDing Flame Arrow and then Activating Force Arrow

7 extra Damage a Shot isn't so bad really... especially on a Many Shot run with IPS (though Fire Resistant critters would only take the Force Damage)

Also remember that the Force Arrows also confer Ghost Touch...

It starts sounding better and better.

Evasion would be great... I can only hope for Epics in that case and the second level of Rogue

I still think the prerequisites for Bow Strength are silly and should be rethought

Aesop

[Weylan]

Arcane archer is just not worth taking either a ranger, wizard or bard level in my opinion. 2 ranger levels give you free feats....and arcane archer, but no evasion at all, and nothing really great skill wise either. The paltry bonus to damage from arcane archer long term will barely be noticable at all.

I don't think the true benefit is damage (at least for the moment; there's always the possibility of the famed 'fireball arrows' from PnP being added someday). The true bonus is having Ghost Touch on all your attacks and infinite +5 ammo.

Here's what I'm rolling with on Cannith. It's a concept build, so there are areas where it could be tightened up (like dropping marks for TWF when you're not ranging) but I figure if I'm willing to try a ranged character at all, not being 100% efficient is a small additional sacrifice.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.08
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Dragonblood Archer
Level 20 Chaotic Good Elf Female
(19 Fighter \ 1 Sorcerer) 
Hit Points: 316
Spell Points: 240 
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 12
Reflex: 9
Will: 8

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Stats          Modified Stats
Abilities        (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             15                    22
Dexterity            16                    17
Constitution         12                    12
Intelligence         10                    10
Wisdom               10                    10
Charisma             12                    12

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               5                    14
Bluff                 1                     4
Concentration         1                     1
Diplomacy             1                     1
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                1                     1
Heal                  0                     0
Hide                  3                     5
Intimidate            1                     1
Jump                  6                    28
Listen                0                     2
Move Silently         3                     3
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     0
Search                0                     2
Spot                  0                     2
Swim                  2                     6
Tumble                n/a                   4
Use Magic Device      n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Point Blank Shot
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 2 (Sorcerer)


Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Rapid Shot
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons


Level 4 (Fighter)


Level 5 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Ranged Weapons


Level 6 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Bow Strength


Level 7 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Manyshot


Level 8 (Fighter)


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Precise Shot


Level 10 (Fighter)


Level 11 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons


Level 12 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Least Dragonmark of Shadow


Level 13 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Ranged Weapons


Level 14 (Fighter)


Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Dodge
Feat: (Selected) Lesser Dragonmark of Shadow


Level 16 (Fighter)


Level 17 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Superior Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons


Level 18 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Dragonmark of Shadow


Level 19 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Quick Draw


Level 20 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost III
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost IV
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost III
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost IV
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage I
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage II
Enhancement: Extra Dragonmark Use I
Enhancement: Kensei Longbow Mastery I
Enhancement: Kensei Longbow Mastery II
Enhancement: Kensei Longbow Mastery III
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy III
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy IV
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei II
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei III
Enhancement: Fighter Longbow Specialization I
Enhancement: Fighter Longbow Specialization II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +2 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +3 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +4 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +5 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer I
Enhancement: Sorcerer Energy of the Dragonblooded I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness III
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness IV

[Anneliese]

I thought of a similar build..however, pure ranger has so many extra nice things
(like the ability to cast spells from own sp pool, no need for splash for arcane archer, evasion, greater skillset, capstone etc...)

Still... :

Elf (28pt)
Str 16 (all level ups)
Dex 18
Con 12
Int 10
Wis 8
Con 8

If you have 32 pts, dump the remaining 4pts whereever you like

Levels: 1 Bard/1Ranger/18 Fighter (order depends on the skills you want)
Skills: Max UMD, rest whatever you feel like, lot of extra points from the 2 single levels, else eat a tome or put more points into int

Enhancements: Kensai (Longbow) and Arcane Archer , extra hit/damage for longbows, fighter str, elven dex, havent calculated this exactly...


Feats (in no special order)

Ranged Feats to maximize ranged output:
-PBS
-MS
-Prec/Iprec Shot
-IC Ranged
- WF/WS/GWF/GWS/SWF Ranged
- RS
(11 total)

General Feat:
-Toughness
(1 total)

Close Combat feats (cant range all the time...)
-PA
-IC-Pierce
-TWF/ITWF/GTWF
(5 total)

I realize that this is a rather "special" build which is far from optimal, and I wouldnt recommend it as a main character..might be nice as a side project tho.

[BlackSteel]

a ranger gets all his FE damage to both ranged and TWF. whereas the ranged speced kensai wont. It'll be a huge difference between the two when it comes to melee damage.