Seriously confused

[ProdigalGuru]

This may seem irrelevant to many, given the current attitude regarding ranged combat, but I wanted to make an Elf Fighter 20 with the Arcane Archer racial Prestige Enhancement to go along with Kensei for Longbows.

Sounds easy enough, right? I thought so as well, but the reality is that it is impossible. That is the part confusing me.

The reason is that Fighters can not choose the Mental Toughness feat, a requirement for Arcane Archer.

So I guess I am wondering... Why not?

Sure, I could drop a level of Fighter for a level of any caster class, but I really wanted the BaB and Capstone.

[ArkoHighStar]

If your goal is ranged a lvl 20 ranger with the ranger capstone would be a better choice, with 25% ranged increase vs. the 10% from kensai.

[Raegoul]

Everybody wants Archers in their group.

[shores11]

This may seem irrelevant to many, given the current attitude regarding ranged combat, but I wanted to make an Elf Fighter 20 with the Arcane Archer racial Prestige Enhancement to go along with Kensei for Longbows.

Sounds easy enough, right? I thought so as well, but the reality is that it is impossible. That is the part confusing me.

The reason is that Fighters can not choose the Mental Toughness feat, a requirement for Arcane Archer.

So I guess I am wondering... Why not?

Sure, I could drop a level of Fighter for a level of any caster class, but I really wanted the BaB and Capstone.

Mental toughness is for characters with spell points. Characters without spell points do not need mental toughness.

I see it now a another long complaint thread about how Turbine is bad about not letting me do absolutely anything and everything I want and that they are evil for not letting me. Turbine gives in as they have already and says ok you can have mental toughness as a fighter even though you have no spell points. Oh wait a minute fighters, rogues, barbarians may get mad at not having spell points lets give them spell points as well so no one is mad at us.

Seriously does not anyone at all appreciate that there should be some (a small itty bitty bit) class abilities restricted to that class or from another class. If not why even have classes? Man some folks will never get what D&D is all about.

[ProdigalGuru]

ArkoHighStar, I understand that 20 Ranger MAY be the better option, but I wanted 2 ranged PrE's, Kensei and Arcane Archer. It seemed a natural fit.

Raegoul, I am pretty sure you were being sarcastic, as this has not been my experience. Nonetheless, I would have liked to do this, and it still seems silly that it is impossible.

Shores11, thank you for your fine example of a time you really should just keep it to yourself. You contributed nothing useful to the topic, were completely negative, and made me want to put you on squelch. Your statement that Fighters do not "need" Mental Toughness is invalid, as this one WOULD.

I put an 18 Fighter/2 Cleric through the planner and got what I wanted with some interesting benefits, but still think that with the semi-open-ended build options available in DDO, the "Ability to cast spells" pre-req seems a bit much. I wish I could post it here, but every time I hit "Copy data to clipboard", nothing happens, maybe I am doing it wrong. Too bad, though, because it really is interesting.

[Falchion123]

This may seem irrelevant to many, given the current attitude regarding ranged combat, but I wanted to make an Elf Fighter 20 with the Arcane Archer racial Prestige Enhancement to go along with Kensei for Longbows.

Sounds easy enough, right? I thought so as well, but the reality is that it is impossible. That is the part confusing me.

The reason is that Fighters can not choose the Mental Toughness feat, a requirement for Arcane Archer.

So I guess I am wondering... Why not?

Sure, I could drop a level of Fighter for a level of any caster class, but I really wanted the BaB and Capstone.

The key word here is 'Arcane', you gotta to be able to cast spell to become an Arcane Archer, that's how it's design...that's how I look at it.

[Lorien_the_First_One]

Shores11, thank you for your fine example of a time you really should just keep it to yourself. You contributed nothing useful to the topic, were completely negative, and made me want to put you on squelch. Your statement that Fighters do not "need" Mental Toughness is invalid, as this one WOULD..

Can't I go to automechanics school to take international law? /pout

I think the concept of class is lost on you.

[ProdigalGuru]

The build I settled on has 2 Cleric levels, there is nothing "Arcane" about him.

It's just a name.

And can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong as far as getting the build out of the planner and onto the forums?

It won't even let me cut/paste the info.

[ProdigalGuru]

Lorien, thank you for another fine example of when not to post.

If you have nothing to add but insult, then DON'T POST.

I have been playing D+D since 1st Edition AD+D, the concept of "class" is well within my scope of understanding, thank you very much.

You, however, seem to lack it entirely.

And whoever neg repped me, very mature.

[antivenom]

Arcane Archer in the Pen and Paper game had a pre-req of being able to cast 1st level Arcane spells. They've actually made it easier to become an Arcane Archer here by changing it to having Mental Toughness as a feat, You should in theory have to take a level of Wizard, Sorceror or Bard in order to qualify for this Prestige Class.

[Lorien_the_First_One]

The build I settled on has 2 Cleric levels, there is nothing "Arcane" about him.

It's just a name.

And can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong as far as getting the build out of the planner and onto the forums?

It won't even let me cut/paste the info.

2 Cleric levels are almost certainly a mistake. 2 Ranger levels would probably give you more.

As for what you are missing, you haven't even told us what planner you are using. I'm going to take a guess that its the most common planner...all you should have to do is click "forum export" and then "copy to clipboard"

[Visty]

2 Cleric levels are almost certainly a mistake. 2 Ranger levels would probably give you more.

just not access to arcane archer

rangers cant choose mental toughness befor lvl4

better would have been 1 bard (for umd and AA) and 1 ranger or barb for sprintboost and a small damageboost via fav enemy or rage

[rpasell]

And whoever neg repped me, very mature.

Welcome to the DDO forums. I would recommend going in to your User CP and turning off the reputation system entirely. It's a useless remnant from those who felt neglected in High School.

As to the character export to the forums: If you are using the latest version of Ron's character planner, there should be an export to forums option, that will export to a text file which you can copy and paste to the forum.

[Lorien_the_First_One]

just not access to arcane archer

rangers cant choose mental toughness befor lvl4

better would have been 1 bard (for umd and AA) and 1 ranger or barb for sprintboost and a small damageboost via fav enemy or rage

Oops, my bad, thanks for the correction visty. I was trying to think of a cleric alternative since i couldn't see that aligning witht he build well.

[ProdigalGuru]

Key points of the build I was satisfied with:

Base stats (pre-gear, but post-Enhancement)
22 STR, 19 DEX, 14 CON, 10 INT, 10 WIS, 8 CHA

Feats:
Bow Strength
Greater Focus, Ranged
Greater Specialization, Ranged
Improved Crit, Ranged
Manyshot
Point Blank Shot
Precise Shot
Rapid Shot
Superior Focus, Ranged
Focus, Ranged
Specialization, Ranged

Enhancements:
Imbue Force Arrow
Elven Ranged Attack II
Elven Ranged Damage II
Follower of the Silver Flame
Kensei Longbow Mastery III
Fighter Critical Accuracy III
Fighter Kensei III
Fighter Longbow Specialization II
Elven Arcane Archer I
Conjure +5 Arrows
Fighter Toughness IV
Cleric Divine Vitality I

Other interesting points:
CLW/Bless/Shield of Faith/Divine Favor/Protection from Evil
338 HP/ 280 SP base

Do Stunning Blow/ Slicing Blow/ Sap work with a bow?

It seems to me that this build is slightly stronger than a Ranger build.

[Visty]

Do Stunning Blow/ Slicing Blow/ Sap work with a bow?

no, those are melee only

It seems to me that this build is slightly stronger than a Ranger build.

it depends
rangers get +14 dmg against their fav enemys which are 99% of all the endgame mobs
also they attack faster then you cause they have +25% speed while you have none besides your hasteboosts which you didnt take
also they can cast bush

[honkuimushi]

For combining Arcane Archer and Kensai, the two I like best are Fighter 18/ Ranger 1/ Bard 1 and Fighter 12/ Ranger 6/ Wizard 2. Though Fighter 12/ Ranger 6/ Rogue 2 isn't bad and gets Evasion.

[ProdigalGuru]

Visty, thank you on a couple of levels.

The Bard/Ranger levels seem interesting as it would save me a few feats as well, but I have never been at all interested in bard, so it never really crosses my mind. It always just seemed a bit, well, femme.

[ProdigalGuru]

Well, Kensei does get a speed boost, so the gap is really only 15%, and I have read that the Ranger capstone is not working properly anyways (one of the reasons this even popped into my head). I originally wanted the Fighter capstone as well, further reducing this gap to 5%. And you are right, I did not get the Haste Boost, as there are simply not enough AP, and I am not in love with the 20 sec duration.

I was also deliberately trying to NOT take Ranger levels. I already have a toon that is on track for 20 Ranger.

I also need to clarify that I built this as a 28 point build, though in reality it would be a 32 pointer.

The Kensei Enhancements seem to make up for favored enemy feats, and are effective 100% of the time, not to mention the Fighter Specialization and Focus feats.

As for the planner, I have hit the "Copy to Clipboard" button many times, and it does NOTHING.

[ProdigalGuru]

Oh yeah, what is this "Bush" that Rangers can cast??

I don't remember seeing it in the spell list....