Ranger 18 / Wiz 1 / Ftr 1?

[therobb]

Hello DDO Community,

Let me preface this by saying that I'm still fairly new to DDO. This is my second character (and my first past level 12). I started with this build template for a strength based dwarven tempest http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=200519

After about a month of daily play, I'm up to level 15 and very happy with the build (character name is Milosz on Thelanis), but I'm no longer sure I want to go all the way to 20 as a pure ranger.

The way I see it, the additional favored enemy (FE) & corresponding FE damage are not that enticing, nor is the ranger capstone (nor are the extra spell slots). I'm willing to live with the mistakes I've made thus far (skill points in search, heal, etc.) but I'd like to get the most from my remaining levels.

Please note that I have no intention of re-rolling this character or starting from level one with a rogue/monk etc. I'm simply deciding now on how to multi-class once I hit tempest III at ranger level 18.

I'd like to get feedback on my plan below. On paper, I really like the wizard splash, as I trade 1 BAB (and 4 hp!) for the maximize feat which makes my CSW spell actually useful (not to mention the bonus SP from which to cast). The fighter splash seems a no brainer, as I get an extra feat which could either be stunning blow (nice in combination with the dwarf tactics) or possibly two weapon defense, or maybe even combat expertise (not as likely since I'll use spells to self heal).

Other options could be to add a rogue level at 16 to get UMD as high as possible, but I'm more partial to the feats that complement my existing build.

Thanks in advance for your input!

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.18
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Milosz 
Level 20 Chaotic Good Dwarf Male
(1 Fighter \ 18 Ranger \ 1 Wizard) 
Hit Points: 350
Spell Points: 476 
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 18
Reflex: 16
Will: 11

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             15                    22
Dexterity            15                    20
Constitution         16                    20
Intelligence         12                    14
Wisdom               14                    16
Charisma              6                     8

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               4                    20
Bluff                -2                    -1
Concentration         7                    27
Diplomacy            -2                    -1
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -2                    -1
Heal                  2                     4
Hide                  6                    24
Intimidate           -2                    -1
Jump                  6                    26
Listen                2                     3
Move Silently         2                    22
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                1                     2
Search                5                    11
Spot                  6                    24
Swim                  2                     6
Tumble                n/a                  12
Use Magic Device      0                    10

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Dodge
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead


Level 2 (Ranger)


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Mobility


Level 4 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR


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


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


Level 7 (Ranger)


Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 10 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider


Level 11 (Ranger)


Level 12 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 13 (Ranger)


Level 14 (Ranger)


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Elemental
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 16 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 17 (Ranger)


Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Dwarven Armor Mastery I
Enhancement: Dwarven Armor Mastery II
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack I
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Attack II
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage I
Enhancement: Dwarven Axe Damage II
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution I
Enhancement: Dwarven Constitution II
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense I
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense II
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Racial Toughness IV
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance I
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest III
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity III


Level 19 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Maximize Spell



Level 20 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Stunning Blow
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Skill Boost I
Enhancement: Dwarven Spell Defense III
Enhancement: Dwarven Tactics II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Fighter Strategy (Stunning Blow) I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I

[Willan]

Go with 1 monk/1 rogue. Monk will also give you 1 bonus feat freeing up a regular feat for maximize. Monk will also give you wisdom bonus to AC and improved base saves. Rog gives you a small amount of sneak attack damage as well as umd. The main reason for rogue though is the haste boost in combination with the other two bonuses.

[Nyvn]

1/1 Monk/Fighter
2 Fighter
2 Monk

Are all decent options. Fighter 2 gives you 2 feats and an extra point in strength.

[rawzon3]

His alignment precludes the monk option. And an additional Favored Enemy is an awesome thing imo.

[therobb]

Thanks for the replies.

Since I can't do the monk route due to alignment, two fighter levels will let me use 1 fighter feat to meet the tempest III pre-req, thus freeing up the ranger lvl 18 feat for maximize. This will then leave one extra feat available...

So I'd be trading the ranger capstone, a favored enemy & 2 FE damage for stunning blow and semi-viable self-heals via maximize.

It seems that in general the multi-class has a significant advantage, but a disadvantage in only certain situations.

Given that I'm leaning toward the multi-class over the pure ranger, I still think the 1 wiz/1 ftr looks appealing. In terms of feats, it works out the same as the 2 fighter levels. The 18 rgr/1 wiz/1 ftr loses one BAB vs. the 18 rgr/2 ftr, but gains arcane wand use (and ~150 spell points).

From my admittedly inexperienced view, the wiz/ftr splashes still look really good.

How big a deal is the 1 BAB at level 20? Am I missing something else?

[Nyvn]

You won't be gaining 150 SP from taking a level of wizard

http://ddowiki.com/page/Spell_point

1 Level of Wizard gives you

80 Magical Training feat
50 Base
10 Intelligence 12
----------------------------
140 Total

An additional level of Ranger gives you

15 Ranger 19
05 Wisdom 20 @ Ranger 19
-----------------------------
20 Total


So going wizard instead of ranger gets you 120.



Another thing to keep in mind is that since you're losing BAB your attack speed is actually slower.

[JeffreyGator]

He would only lose 5 sp from the 140 from ranger and so he would be nettting +120.

+140 Wiz
-15 rgr level
-5 decrease bonus from 1 rgr level


These sp are less than 3 maximized CSWs (50 each).

The wiz level is probably going to be better able to help him use wiz wands (but not scrolls) than umd from a level of rogue this late in his build.

A cleric splash instead of wiz would give +160 sp but no maximize.

[Gnorbert]

Something that hasn't been mentioned... you would lose the ability to take any future capstones they might implement for rangers. I'm working under the assumption that they will eventually make a capstone for Melee rangers. (probably after arcane archer has been boosted a lot so everyone has now rolled ranged rangers :P )