Need help, bowbarian build

[Choopak]

Hello experts!

I need help for a bowbarian build, I heard about the concept of doing a very high STR "archer" by using barbarian's rage. With the new update 3, and all the arcane archer new stuff, this become even more interesting.
So can someone gimme ideas on how to built it, and if possible a build exemple.
Thanks.

[Lehrman]

Well, You could go 18/2 barbarian/ranger (Death Frenzy will increase your bow crit by x1 without the downside of viscious since not melee) -- Drawback, no multishot.

18/2 Ranger/Barb - Bonus-full ranger abilities and rage. Drawback-no Capstone

20th Barb True Rez'd as a Ranger, then take rage feat. Bonus, can go pure and get capstone, but still have rage. Negative, you have to level to 20 twice.

The minor bonus to damage from rage is not worth losing the capstone if you are going to be an archer.

[Xyfiel]

Well, You could go 18/2 barbarian/ranger (Death Frenzy will increase your bow crit by x1 without the downside of viscious since not melee) -- Drawback, no multishot.

18/2 Ranger/Barb - Bonus-full ranger abilities and rage. Drawback-no Capstone

20th Barb True Rez'd as a Ranger, then take rage feat. Bonus, can go pure and get capstone, but still have rage. Negative, you have to level to 20 twice.

The minor bonus to damage from rage is not worth losing the capstone if you are going to be an archer.

How does a 18barb/2ranger qualify for AA? 18barb/1ranger/1wizard...

[lyeman]

Why not just take AA as elf, go full barb, and just take the bow strength and manyshot feats?

[Xyfiel]

Why not just take AA as elf, go full barb, and just take the bow strength and manyshot feats?

Yeah that sounds great, except I don't know, you have to be able to cast spells to be a spell casting archer PrE. How else would you use the slayer arrow that requires...spell points.

[Kreaper]

Many shot requires 17 dex, point blank shot and rapid fire.

[Xyfiel]

I got some more time now, let me help you.

Feats required:
power attack and cleave for Frenzied Berserker
weapon focus ranged and point blank shot for Arcane Archer
mental toughness or 1 level of Bard/Sorc/Wiz
bow strength, you won't have enough feats so must take a level of ranger
precise shot, rapid shot, manyshot, improved precise shot, improved crit range for good archer dps

So that is 9 feats, 1 level of ranger, and 1 level of an arcane class. A Human only gets 8. It is impossible to get them all. You could make a mineral II bow and skip the imp crit I guess. Get a smiting falchion and a banishing rapier for when you need those effects. You can also skip taking FB III, but lose the nice crit bonus.

All together, a 20 Ranger is the way to go, because you can have enough spell points to use it.

[Choopak]

okok sooo if i get you guys, the concept of an AA bowbarian is not worth over a full ranger.
I was hoping to see someone playing one, and get some feedback.
To Xyfiel special thanks...

[Noctus]

When the Cap was 16, the Bowbarian with Crit-Rage was an experimental build.


Its loooOOOOoooooOOOOOooooOOOOooog been dead since.


Independent of the general issues of ranged combat, Ranger-based is the way to go if you want to be "good" at ranged combat.
They have the PrEs, they have the Capstone, they have the item sets in Shavarath. And a Ranger can also be STR-based.

With the huge advantage, that a Ranger can switch to TWF and be decent at it, when just shooting is not a good option.

[Visty]

I got some more time now, let me help you.

Feats required:
power attack and cleave for Frenzied Berserker
weapon focus ranged and point blank shot for Arcane Archer
mental toughness or 1 level of Bard/Sorc/Wiz
bow strength, you won't have enough feats so must take a level of ranger
precise shot, rapid shot, manyshot, improved precise shot, improved crit range for good archer dps

So that is 9 feats, 1 level of ranger, and 1 level of an arcane class. A Human only gets 8. It is impossible to get them all. You could make a mineral II bow and skip the imp crit I guess. Get a smiting falchion and a banishing rapier for when you need those effects. You can also skip taking FB III, but lose the nice crit bonus.

All together, a 20 Ranger is the way to go, because you can have enough spell points to use it.

wrong, it is doable
improved precise shot isnt a must have, considering that where it matters you face single mobs anyway and thus there it does nothing anyway
also you are wrong about mental toughness, which you dont need with an arcane class and bowstr, just take a fighter level instead of ranger, get bowstr too and hasteboost ontop of that

str 50+ with crits 19-20/x6

yes, can do some **** nice damage

my TRed build will be barb18/bard1/fighter1

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.14
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Elf Male
(1 Fighter \ 18 Barbarian \ 1 Bard) 
Hit Points: 312
Spell Points: 90 
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 12
Will: 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             17                    22
Dexterity            17                    19
Constitution         14                    16
Intelligence          8                    10
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma              9                    11

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 1 (this is only used to show the 36pt build as i made this befor the planner could handle TR)
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               7                    22
Bluff                 0                     0
Concentration         2                     3
Diplomacy             0                     0
Disable Device       n/a                    n/a
Haggle                4                     4
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  3                     4
Intimidate            0                     0
Jump                  6                     9
Listen                3                     6
Move Silently         3                     4
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                     0
Search               -1                     2
Spot                 -1                     1
Swim                  3                     6
Tumble                4                     5
Use Magic Device      4                    23

Level 1 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot


Level 2 (Barbarian)


Level 3 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Rapid Shot


Level 4 (Barbarian)


Level 5 (Barbarian)


Level 6 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons


Level 7 (Barbarian)


Level 8 (Barbarian)


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Bow Strength
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Attack


Level 10 (Barbarian)


Level 11 (Barbarian)


Level 12 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Manyshot


Level 13 (Barbarian)


Level 14 (Barbarian)


Level 15 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave


Level 16 (Barbarian)


Level 17 (Barbarian)


Level 18 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons


Level 19 (Barbarian)


Level 20 (Barbarian)
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost III
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost IV
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrows
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Hardy Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack III
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage III
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage IV
Enhancement: Barbarian Frenzied Berserker I
Enhancement: Barbarian Frenzied Berserker II
Enhancement: Barbarian Frenzied Berserker III
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Attack I
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Attack II
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage I
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage II
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +2 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution I
Enhancement: Barbarian Constitution II

[Xyfiel]

wrong, it is doable
improved precise shot isnt a must have, considering that where it matters you face single mobs anyway and thus there it does nothing anyway
also you are wrong about mental toughness, which you dont need with an arcane class and bowstr, just take a fighter level instead of ranger, get bowstr too and hasteboost ontop of that

Where did I say it wasn't doable?

If you plan to be an archer most of the time, IPS is required for good dps. You just plan on hitting current raid bosses and never using it any other time? How about epic?

I guess you missed the OR in the sentence.
"mental toughness or 1 level of Bard/Sorc/Wiz"

I thought the prereqs were correct to substitute fighter but didnt have time to look it up.

Just because I disagree with you on taking IPS doesn't mean I am wrong. Why would you tell someone who wants to be an archer not to take the single most dps gaining feat?

Please tell me how you build is going to cast slayer arrows constantly with virtually no sps. How about posting a realistic build.

[Visty]

I guess you missed the OR in the sentence.
"mental toughness or 1 level of Bard/Sorc/Wiz"

that i give you, my bad

Please tell me how you build is going to cast slayer arrows constantly with virtually no sps. How about posting a realistic build.

slayer arrows cost 50sp to activate and last till i shrine and then i can just recast it
what i posted is showing 90 sp. and that is without any items. add 200 for archmagi and a +6 cha item for whatever that gives and its more then enough


and i still disagree on IPS beeing an important dps feat

[Demoyn]

and i still disagree on IPS beeing an important dps feat

Why would that be? It only works with archery and archers don't deal DPS, they deal damage per hour. Any incriment lower than that and you have to start using fractions.