Newb needs some help - 2Rog/18Rngr

[fognozzel]

I got into the DDO:EU beta a while ago and have been enjoying it quite a bit. Decided to get a jump on things and picked up a subscription. Once DDO goes F2P I will have some guild mates from another game playing a somewhat static group, but since I'll have access to a lot more content and will be playing more often, I'm looking for a character that can solo moderately well while I'm learning some of the ins and outs of the game. Eventually I will begin teaming on a regular basis with him, but while I'm still essentially clueless I don't want to be a drag on anyone.

All that being said, if you kind folks could take a look at my 2 Rogue/18 Ranger build I put together. I've been reading over the boards here and have picked up a lot of useful info and made an attempt to apply it here, but one of my questions is skills. Since I plan on solo'ing a lot, I put plenty of emphasis on disable device, pick lock, search, and spot. Is it enough to be worth it or even overkill? I also wonder about UMD and whether I should bother since I will have my own healing spells, and considering its a 39(?) UMD for a 100% on heal scrolls. Because of the cross class skills eating up most of the points, things like balance, move silently, and hide got left by the wayside (they got a little love but not much). Missing out or unnecessary?

Feats are pretty straightforward and much easier to change if I want to, same with enhancements, but I would appreciate any recommendations. I've been working on this build for a while, but just made the character last night so if something like the abilities are borked its no biggie to reroll. Thanks in advance for any and all input.

(Character's name is Mythious on Khyber if anyone wants to lend a helping hand in game )

Oh yeah, and I couldn't remember if Khopesh's were a slashing or piercing weapon so if they're piercing the IC: Slash will be IC: Pierce.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.06
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Good Human Male
(2 Rogue \ 18 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 278
Spell Points: 205 
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 14
Reflex: 17
Will: 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Stats          Modified Stats
Abilities        (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    22
Dexterity            14                    16
Constitution         15                    16
Intelligence         10                    10
Wisdom               10                    10
Charisma              8                     8

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               6                     8
Bluff                -1                    -1
Concentration         2                     3
Diplomacy            -1                    -1
Disable Device        4                    22
Haggle               -1                    -1
Heal                  0                     0
Hide                  6                     8
Intimidate           -1                    -1
Jump                  7                    14
Listen                0                     0
Move Silently         2                     3
Open Lock             6                    22
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     0
Search                4                    17
Spot                  4                    18
Swim                  3                     6
Tumble                6                     8
Use Magic Device      3                    22

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge
Feat: (Human Bonus) Mobility
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Human Versatility I


Level 2 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Ranger Energy Resistence Boost I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion I


Level 4 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Human Versatility II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I


Level 5 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack
Enhancement: Ranger Energy Resistence Boost II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion II


Level 7 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant
Enhancement: Human Versatility III
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II


Level 8 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II


Level 10 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion III


Level 11 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense II


Level 12 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II


Level 13 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion IV


Level 14 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance II
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Constitution I


Level 16 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage IV


Level 17 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Construct
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I


Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense III


Level 19 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery III


Level 20 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Energy Resistence Boost III
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest III

[jmonty]

why not a level of monk or fighter instead of the 2nd rogue level?

[fognozzel]

why not a level of monk or fighter instead of the 2nd rogue level?

Excellent question. Would that be more beneficial? My ability scores are already spread pretty thin to beef up Wisdom for Monk, but would a single Fighter level help me out? I originally had the second level of Rogue just for a better head start on the trap/lock skills.

[jmonty]

Excellent question. Would that be more beneficial? My ability scores are already spread pretty thin to beef up Wisdom for Monk, but would a single Fighter level help me out? I originally had the second level of Rogue just for a better head start on the trap/lock skills.

an extra feat is always nice, and rangers get alot of skill points as it is.

[jsaving]

Excellent question. Would that be more beneficial?

Typically a lightly armored character would pick up a second level of rogue for evasion, which isn't an issue for you. It is true that your skills would benefit a bit going rogue2 rather than rogue1, but this is fairly marginal (on the order of a free skill focus feat). So I'd be inclined to do something else.

As to exactly what else, you have a number of reasonable alternatives with which to replace that second rogue level. Going fighter or monk or would net you a free combat feat, though you couldn't really make use of the tower shield proficiency or wisdom AC bonus. Barbarian isn't necessarily a bad choice either, though a two-level splash is probably more useful for your build than one. You could even pick up a level of wizard for arcane wands plus the metamagic feat.

I'd consider wizard just to try something different, myself, but the orthodox choice in your situation would probably be monk or fighter.

[FluffyCalico]

1 level of monk would offer you a feat +2 save bounes to all 3 save types, and with a +2 tome and a neg/pos or pos/neg item from shroud you are looking at 18 wisdom or +4 ac.


So you could pick up a free feat (CE or power attack)
+2 reflex fort and will
and 4 ac

all from that 1 monk level. Sounds like a pretty nice deal to me.

[BlackRage]

1 level of monk would offer you a feat +2 save bounes to all 3 save types, and with a +2 tome and a neg/pos or pos/neg item from shroud you are looking at 18 wisdom or +4 ac.

So you could pick up a free feat (CE or power attack)
+2 reflex fort and will
and 4 ac

all from that 1 monk level. Sounds like a pretty nice deal to me.

Indeed, Monk is definitely nice. If you will splash it though, drop CON to 14 and use those two points to bump up WIS to 12.

However, your INT seems a little low to keep your Rog ccSkills maxed, and indeed your search seems low. Move points from Open Locks to keep Search maxed. Spot can also be skimped upon as you will get a Spot buff spell - you can use these points to max out Intimidate.

If you want CE for more AC, then you could move 2 points from STR to get 14 INT - solving your skill problems at the same time.