Favo-Ranger: Elven FvS(18)/Rgr(2) Arcane Archer

[geoffhanna]

For those of us who hate being the healbot, here is a way to keep your party going and have some fun at the same time. There is a lot of synergy between a Silver Flame Favored Soul and an Elven archer: class longbow bonuses plus racial longbow bonuses plus the Arcane Archer prestige enhancement line.

Build purpose:
Excellent party support Divine caster with ability to contribute offensively via ranged combat.

Build features:
Surprisingly good ranged capabilites. In fact, the build is only missing the Ranger capstone from being a top-shelf ranged combatant (well that and Imp. Precise Shot). Yet also brings more than 2500 Divine spell points to the fray with enough WIS and Spell Pen to use them effectively. Some DEX-based TWF is thrown in but with no HP to speak of, this is only for emergencies.

Build question:
Really, is all the ranging worth it when compared with just taking FvS(20) and getting Searing Light at will? This archer will project a lot more DPS than it would by spamming Searing Light, but it is not free, and there may not be one clear answer. I think it is a question of style.

I suspect this one may be somewhat controversial but we'll see.

FavoRanger: Elf Favored Soul / Arcane Archer
Level 20 Neutral Good Elf Female
(2 Ranger \ 18 Favored Soul) 

There are other ways to do this than splashing ranger but none of them get you bow strength and also two-weapon fighting.

              Base        Geared
              ====        ======
Hit Points:   200          350-ish
Spell Points: 1809        2500-ish
Fortitude:    16            26
Reflex:       21            31 
Will:         19            29

These all seem quite adequate to me. Will save improves when saving vs. enchantments, and none of the numbers include any buffs other than reasonably-accessible items.

[edit] I was asked to list the gear I am assuming for saves: +6 stat items, +5 resistance item, voice of the master with a +1 ritual. All of these are readily available without grinding.

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength              8                     8
Dexterity            17                    22
Constitution         11                    12
Intelligence         10                    12
Wisdom               17                    24
Charisma             12                    14

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 1
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 1
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 1
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 1

There are enough skill points to max out concentration and diplo plus one more of your choice.

If you don't care about the third skill, then you don't need to eat the INT tome. The +1 tomes can be eaten at any level.

You sacrifice some caster feats here. Is this a fair sacrifice? LOL it depends.

Key Ranger Feats
============
Bow Strength
Rapid Shot
Two Weapon Fighting
Martial Weapon Proficiency (ALL)
Favored Enemy: (I like Undead here and swap later to something more Outsidery)


Key FvS Feats
============
Favored by the Silver Flame 
Medium Armor Proficiency
Child of the Silver Flame (+1 tohit bow)
Beloved of the Silver Flame (+2 damage bow)
Energy Resistance: Fire
Energy Resistance: Acid
Energy Resistance: Electricity
Leap Of Faith


Selected Feats
==============
Point Blank Shot
Weapon Finesse <=== or Empower Healing? or Imp. Mental Toughness?
Mental Toughness
Manyshot
Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
Extend Spell
Maximize Spell

But you start to get the real synergy when you include enhancements:

Elven Dexterity II
Elven Ranged Attack II
Elven Ranged Damage II
Elven Arcane Archer I
Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrows
Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +4 Arrows
Favored Soul Prayer of Life III
Favored Soul Prayer of Incredible Life I
Favored Soul Life Magic IV
Favored Soul Energy of the Scion IV
Favored Soul Spell Penetration III
Favored Soul Charisma II
Favored Soul Wisdom II
Ranger Dexterity I
Ranger Sprint Boost I

This build created with the help of
[b]Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.10 
DDO Character Planner Home Page
Thanks Ron!

Edits:

• Removed DR20/silver as that is for FvS20 only (thanks Orratti)
• Recalculated base HP, SP and saves

[Orratti]

you had to manually add the dr because you do not get it until you are lvl 20 FvS

[Spisey]

Honestly I didn't think favor toons got past level 8/

The idea now is to farm favor for TP to use otherwise. Speed run your characters fast for favor and delete and have a significant level of tp points. If you want to cap that's a whole different monster!

[geoffhanna]

you had to manually add the dr because you do not get it until you are lvl 20 FvS

Oh my that is a significant argument against splashing isn't it?

[Zuldar]

200 hp would make me very nervous, one bad save and you'd be dead. Even if you're trying not to get aggro you'll still occasionally get hit.

[Thrudh]

I had the same idea for a favored soul... However, I wouldn't worry so much about a high Dex... Divine Power and Divine Favor will get you a high enough to-hit that you don't need to spend so much on Dex...

Plus, to get Arcane Archer, I think you forgot one of the feats. You need Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus: Ranged, and Mental Toughness.

Luckily to be a good healer, one only really needs Maximize or Empower Healing... (Maximize probably is the way to go so Blade Barriers are good too)

Feats:
Point Blank Shot
Weapon Focus: Ranged
Mental Toughness
ManyShot
Improved Critical: Ranged
Maximize
Extend

If I was to swap out any of these feats, it would probably be Improved Critical: Ranged (Quicken would probably be better)

[geoffhanna]

Zuldar: that is 200 raw, and does not include items. Throw in another 60 (CON item) 30 (GFL) 45 (greensteel) and maybe another 20 (Minos Legens) and you have around 355. Still light but enough to avoid the dreaded one-hit.

Thrudh: have you found a flaw in Ron's planner? The build does appear to be missing Weapon Focus: Ranged. Hmmm. Something will have to go to make room. I'll figure it out tonight.

[Sunderedforge]

Wouldn't the Child of the Silver Flame enhancement count as the Weapon Focus: Ranged? Granted it's specifically for Longbows, but it is still essentially the same as the feat.

This would lighten the load a little for a rather feat heavy build and let you snag another casting feat instead.

[Orratti]

Hey drop in the stat bonus items you are planning to use if you don't mind. I don't mind thinking a little when I look over a build but I like the end lvl stats to be what you are planning to be using. As I mentioned in the other post I already use a build similar to this which you will find under this name on myddo both versions listed are me and use the same basic combat tactics you are looking at but the Thelanis version is the latest version. As I mentioned in the other post also this version is getting ready to be replaced perhaps by one that you come up with or maybe I can figure out a way to make one work to my satisfaction for myself(I couldn't before) and post it here for you to look over. I like that you put geared stats in, its starting to look alot better esp the spell point totals. Spell points are an area where I have struggled but you would be amazed how well you can do with very few of em esp since you got scrolls. 2500 though hmm.... excuse me while I jump on my generator.

[geoffhanna]

• Must have +6 item for CHA
• Want to also have +6 items for CON, DEX and WIS
• GFL
• Minos Legens
• greensteel item for spell points first
• greensteel item for hit points later

Other than Minos Legens, can get any of these on any slot which helps. I imagine that any build no matter how casually played will stumble across one or two pieces of raid loot to allow combining things into one slot (like the Hound necklace) but I am not counting on that for this build.

I don't consider greensteel to be exotic raid loot since it has 100% drop rate.

Not sure where to put spell pen and potency items. Would rather wear them than carry them but finding them on an item can be dicey. If I have to carry them, then I will be weapon swapping A LOT which is doable, although not ideal.

Best bow would be Silver Bow for a long time... and still usable even at end game ... but it is also a bit exotic. Probably want a paralyzer for mid levels, and holy of pure good for the rest of the time. Best greensteel bow for this build may be Radiance II because the blinding keeps targets from charging the archer (and your rogues will love the free sneak attacks).

[BLAKROC]

[QUOTE=geoffhanna;2414848]For those of us who hate being the healbot, here is a way to keep your party going and have some fun at the same time. There is a lot of synergy between a Silver Flame Favored Soul and an Elven archer: class longbow bonuses plus racial longbow bonuses plus the Arcane Archer prestige enhancement line.

Build purpose:

Excellent party support Divine caster with ability to contribute offensively via ranged combat.

Build features:

Surprisingly good ranged capabilites. In fact, the build is only missing the Ranger capstone from being a top-shelf ranged combatant (well that and Imp. Precise Shot). Yet also brings more than 2500 Divine spell points to the fray with enough WIS and Spell Pen to use them effectively. Some DEX-based TWF is thrown in but with no HP to speak of, this is only for emergencis.

Build question:

Really, is all the ranging worth it when compared with just taking FvS(20) and getting Searing Light at will? I believe this archer will project more DPS than it would by spamming Searing Light, but it is not free, and there may not be one clear answer. I think it is a question of style.

I suspect this one may be somewhat controversial but we'll see.

FavoRanger: Elf Favored Soul / Arcane Archer
Level 20 Neutral Good Elf Female
(2 Ranger \ 18 Favored Soul) 

There are other ways to do this than splashing ranger but none of them get you bow strength and also two-weapon fighting.

              Base        Geared
              ====        ======
Hit Points:   200          350-ish
Spell Points: 1809        2500-ish
Fortitude:    16            26
Reflex:       21            31 
Will:         19            29

These all seem quite adequate to me. Will save improves when saving vs. enchantments, and none of the numbers include any buffs other than reasonably-accessible items.

[code] Starting Feat/Enhancement
Abilities Base Stats Modified Stats
(32 Point) (Level 1) (Level 20)
Strength 8 8
Dexterity 17 22
Constitution 11 12
Intelligence 10 12
Wisdom 17 24
Charisma 12 14
[QUOTE]


Why worry about BOW STR you only have 8 to start?

[geoffhanna]

Why worry about BOW STR you only have 8 to start?

It will be another +2 damage. +3 raging. +4 if a tome drops. x3 on a crit. X5 during multishot.

It all adds up

[Orratti]

from what I have understood about manyshot only the 1st arrow fired crits, whether the crit applies to all five or just one I am not sure. But it is entirely possible that only one arrow in a manyshot burst does critical damage.