Need advice on Ranger/Paladin build

[Lauraliane]

Hi everyone,

This is the first time I am posting a build here, so bear with me if I have done a few stupid things in it

What I am trying to build is dual wielding ranger with level of paladin for the added "holy" feeling to it, as well as the numerous advantage of the paladin class. Some kind of dual wielding holy avenger basically.

What I did for now is 12 level of ranger, 6 of paladin and 2 of Fighter (for bonus feat as well as a few nice fighter enhancement)

Here is the build :

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.10
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Pal/Rang Drow
Level 20 Lawful Good Drow Female
(2 Fighter \ 6 Paladin \ 12 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 248
Spell Points: 140 
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 22
Reflex: 21
Will: 12

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Stats          Modified Stats
Abilities        (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    22
Dexterity            16                    21
Constitution         10                    10
Intelligence         10                    10
Wisdom               10                    10
Charisma             16                    18

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               5                    11.5
Bluff                 3                     4
Concentration         4                    15
Diplomacy             3                     4
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                3                     4
Heal                  0                     0
Hide                  3                     5
Intimidate            3                     4
Jump                  3                     8
Listen                0                     2
Move Silently         3                     5
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     0
Search                4                    18
Spot                  4                    18
Swim                  3                     6
Tumble                5                    16
Use Magic Device      5                    15

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Reptillian
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage I


Level 2 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Mobility
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense I


Level 4 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I


Level 5 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack


Level 7 (Paladin)
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Follower of the Sovereign Host
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil I


Level 8 (Paladin)
Enhancement: Paladin Charisma I


Level 9 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting


Level 10 (Paladin)
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage II
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II
Enhancement: Paladin Extra Smite Evil II
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II


Level 11 (Paladin)


Level 12 (Paladin)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack II
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Sacrifice I
Enhancement: Paladin Exalted Smite I
Enhancement: Paladin Charisma II
Enhancement: Paladin Divine Might I


Level 13 (Ranger)


Level 14 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Unyielding Sovereignty


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 16 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity III


Level 17 (Ranger)


Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness I


Level 19 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Critical
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I


Level 20 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack
Enhancement: Paladin Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Paladin Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Paladin Bulwark of Good I
Enhancement: Paladin Resistance of Good I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Paladin Toughness II

There are a lot of mistake, no doubt, especially in the skill repartition which I didn't invest a lot of time on it yet. The main issue I had is for the enhancement selection, I was often with not much interesting choice left and was sometimes wondering if they were worth it.

For example are the thing like : Divine Might, Exalted Smiting and Divine sacrifice worth it ?

I was hesitating about the 2 level of fighter, maybe adding barbarian instead for rage or a bit of Rogue, I wasn't sure.

Knowing that the focus here is basically : Dual wielding holy dps with longsword (Yeah I know rapier would probably be better, I am still hesitating too, as I like the longsword too, they just feel more "holy" like, if you see what I mean )

So shoot away, I am open to every suggestion and critics ^^

Thanks

[MissErres]

This is not quite what you're looking for, but I'm leveling one of these myself and she is oh sooo much fun.

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=146213

[Lauraliane]

Ah yes, that's the one that inspired me to do this build. But I wanted to change it to be more ranger/dps focused even if it meant sacrificing a bit of AC.

Also I didn't want any ranged dmg at all and rather wanted to focus on melee dmg, so that's why I made all those change.

But yes, it seems a lot of fun and thus why I am trying to build one myself, even though differently

[MissErres]

Ah yes, that's the one that inspired me to do this build. But I wanted to change it to be more ranger/dps focused even if it meant sacrificing a bit of AC.

Also I didn't want any ranged dmg at all and rather wanted to focus on melee dmg, so that's why I made all those change.

But yes, it seems a lot of fun and thus why I am trying to build one myself, even though differently

A common misconception among new players is that Ranger = ranged. This is not necessarily true. I currently have 5 ranger builds (2 pure, 3 multi-class) and none of them use a bow much at all. The 6 lvls of ranger qualify you for the Tempest feat which is an increase to melee attack speed. I will never make another melee toon w/o tempest... atleast until they nerf it.

[Lauraliane]

A common misconception among new players is that Ranger = ranged. This is not necessarily true. I currently have 5 ranger builds (2 pure, 3 multi-class) and none of them use a bow much at all. The 6 lvls of ranger qualify you for the Tempest feat which is an increase to melee attack speed. I will never make another melee toon w/o tempest... atleast until they nerf it.

Yep I agree completely ^^ that's why I removed the ranged oriented enhancement from the original "Demon Hunter" build, I just want to focus on melee.

The difficulty right now is to find the right balance between the ranger and paladin levels, to get the most out of the enhancement, and to decide if I want to add some Rogue, Fighter or Barbarian. Also for example 3 level of fighter unlock the access to a few nice fighter enhancements, and 4 level will give another feat and access to weapon specialization, choice choice ! ^^

Also the order in which I take the different level for each class is important, as it might allow me to unlock some enhancement earlier, and not have to take some other "average" enhancement to fill up, or to have to wait like 3 level stacking up action points before spending.

[Noctus]

* CON too low, DEX too high.
---> -2 DEX for +2 CON. With 12 ranger levels you dont need any DEX to fulfill the TWF prereqs.


* IC:Slash unfitting for a Drow
--> Switch it to IC:Piercing to get full advantage from your racial Rapier enhancements.


* Power Critical
Useless feat. You´ll confirm crits anyway, and it doesnt add to damage.

* Weapon Focus
Should be taken earlier, at 15th level it´s not soo cool any more, while at level 3 for example it is really good.

* Fighter levels as 19 & 20th level.
take them earlier. Getting Power Attack so late is not advisable. As an example 6 Ranger / 2 Paladin / 2 Fighter / ...... is a much better split for your power while leveling up.

[Lauraliane]

* CON too low, DEX too high.
---> -2 DEX for +2 CON. With 12 ranger levels you dont need any DEX to fulfill the TWF prereqs.

Good idea ^^

* IC:Slash unfitting for a Drow
--> Switch it to IC:Piercing to get full advantage from your racial Rapier enhancements.

**** it, you are right, I am so used to create elven character that I forgot that Drow don't get the longsword bonus, but rapier and shortsword, Maybe I should consider a 32pts elven build instead hmm...

* Power Critical
Useless feat. You´ll confirm crits anyway, and it doesnt add to damage.

Nice, I didn't know that, it is one of the thing I was in doubt of the usefulness that means that taking the +2 confirm crit enhancement from fighter is not really good either I guess.

* Weapon Focus
Should be taken earlier, at 15th level it´s not soo cool any more, while at level 3 for example it is really good.

Yep, you are right

* Fighter levels as 19 & 20th level.
take them earlier. Getting Power Attack so late is not advisable. As an example 6 Ranger / 2 Paladin / 2 Fighter / ...... is a much better split for your power while leveling up.

Sounds good, even though I like the third level of paladin a lot for the immunities it provide.


Thanks for all the feedback, that's exactly what I am looking for ^^