...Ranged Kensai?

[Lothaire]

So I realize that this is most likely something that nobody does, for good reason.

If I want to roll a ranged fighter, I might as well roll a ranger, blah blah blah - and yet, I wonder, why /not/?
Is it possible to rock a ranged kensai? I haven't rolled a fighter at all, so I don't know how the enhancement works, not really, nor do I know of any weapons or items or sets or anything of the sort past level 10.

I've got me a level 7 rogue, and that's about it - and maybe it's a terrible vantage point to look at fighters, and imagine one running around with a bow.

Is it possible/viable to rock one of these?
If so, I'd be entirely willing to listen to any suggestions. I'm also f2p, so if the lack of 32-pt builds and WF or anything else is going to send this build to the crapper, I suppose I'll just have to deal with that.

I've got access to Drow, which made me wonder about a super-high dex bow user...that wasn't also a ranger...but then again, I suppose there's got to be something behind how I haven't seen any bow-fighters.

Thoughts?

[Goldeneye]

Watch out: you've opened a can of worms. Ranged combat us much much less effective then Melee.

The problem with Kensai Ranged is that:

• You miss out on the ranger capstone (though broken it might be fixed some day????)
• You miss out on higher levels of Arcane Archer
• You miss out on actually being and effective damage-dealer (HINT: ranged comes no where close to prestiged melee classes)

[rimble]

Elf, Arcane Archer AND Kensai (18 Fighter/1 Bard/1 Barbarian-or-Ranger). Not as unusual as you think.

Of course, ranged sucks, and so on and so forth. No need to max Dex (but get to a 19 if you want Improved Precise Shot, so probably a starting 17), you'll have plenty of Hit. Max Strength.

[Lothaire]

Hah, I'd suspected as much - thatit would be a can of worms, I mean.

Yes, I realize ranger damage isn't as good or consistent as melee.
That said, of course, I think it'd be terribly amusing from a purely aesthetic point of view, if nothing else.

He'd never be max dps, anywhere, I think - But there's something to be said about unusual-ity points, no?

Especially with all the cookie-cutters running around these days.

[Goldeneye]

In my philosophy: unless you liked disappointing your parties, why would you consciously make a ranged character.

[Visty]

i like the frenzied berserker version more then the kensai one cause 19-20/x6 >> 18-20/3

but its doable, yes

[Delacroix21]

Could try and elf Barb 18/1rng/1bard for frenzied berserker +arcane archer. The build also gives you a purpose when multishot is on cooldown (ie put down that bow and go 2 handed). Multishot + 6d6 vicious + huge barb strength + Lit 2 bow + arcane archer arrows of slaying + x5 crits with your bow= a TON of ranged damage.


Yet despite all those numbers, drop the bow when many shot is on cooldown.

[Visty]

Could try and elf Barb 18/1fighter/1bard for frenzied berserker +arcane archer. The build also gives you a purpose when multishot is on cooldown (ie put down that bow and go 2 handed). Multishot + huge barb strength + Lit 2 bow + arcane archer arrows of slaying + x6 crits with your bow and +15% attackspeed= a TON of ranged damage.

fixed for you

[Aesop]

In my philosophy: unless you liked disappointing your parties, why would you consciously make a ranged character.

The vain hope that someday Ranged is worth a ****... that's why I do it


I'm working on 18 Fighter 2 Bard. Maxing out Diplomacy and UMD

Diplomacy to ditch aggro on the tanks

UMD... well becaues its UMD... (and for certain levels Flame Arrow could be fun)

Picking up most if not all of Arcane Archer and Full Kensai

Between the two I figure on being "almost" effective.

The downside is no Evasion and no PrE for my TWF Melee abilities... other than the Power Surge and Haste Boosts of kensai

yes full twf line... I think I'm shy on getting the IC: Melee Weapon X ... but other than that I'm looking forward to the character

You do lose out on Ranger Capstone... which stinks ... actually the whole capstone concept stinks. Huge power Boost at level 20... but only if you pure class... welcome to bad idea central. I understand the pure classes needing something decent... but full out over powreed is bad... especially when you can't get it anywhere else.


Aesop

[rimble]

Could try and elf Barb 18/1rng/1bard for frenzied berserker +arcane archer. The build also gives you a purpose when multishot is on cooldown (ie put down that bow and go 2 handed). Multishot + 6d6 vicious + huge barb strength + Lit 2 bow + arcane archer arrows of slaying + x5 crits with your bow= a TON of ranged damage.

The FB vicious damage is only on melee weapons.

[Lothaire]

...Frenzied arcane archer?

This is getting better and better ;D

Since everyone's tossing out ideas for arcane archer this and arcane archer that, though - uhm. Anyone mind explaining just what that is? I'd /thought/ it was a PrE, but...if you can pick it up with levels in bard, I'm no longer sure.

Is it just a set of feats/enhancements, or something of the sort?

[Visty]

...Frenzied arcane archer?

This is getting better and better ;D

Since everyone's tossing out ideas for arcane archer this and arcane archer that, though - uhm. Anyone mind explaining just what that is? I'd /thought/ it was a PrE, but...if you can pick it up with levels in bard, I'm no longer sure.

Is it just a set of feats/enhancements, or something of the sort?

it is a pre, you need either ranger levels or elven levels for it, so pure ranger or pure elf (means no warforged splash for the immunities)
the bard levels are just there to enable the sp enhancement which is a prerequesit of arcane archer

[Aesop]

Arcane Archer is a Ranger PrE and also an Elven Racial PrE.

One of the Prerequisites is one of the following: Wizard Energy of the Scholar 1, Sorcerer Energy of the Dragonblooded 1, Bard Energy of Music 1, Mental Toughness, and now the Sorcerer Reincarnate Feat that I can't recall the name of.

1 Bard level will do the job and give you access to full ranks in UMD (which is a powerful skill) and Diplomacy... which makes tanks happy... well I like to think it does

Note the Other Races will be getting Racial PrEs as well...Most will be tied to the Dragon Marks ... though Warforged is theoretically getting Warforged Juggernaut and Drow is getting ... some assassin like one I can't recall the name of right now


Aesop

[Lothaire]

Huh. Alright, then - thanks for all the quick replies, guys!

Seems like I still have a bit of thinking and planning to do ;D

[Bardicus]

Imbue Slaying arrows costs 40sp? 1 level of bard lets you imbue what once maybe twice per rest? Hope the imbue ability lasts a long time or you are going to either going to be shelling out for pots or need a epic spell storing ring or bauble.

[grodon9999]

Imbue Slaying arrows costs 40sp? 1 level of bard lets you imbue what once maybe twice per rest? Hope the imbue ability lasts a long time or you are going to either going to be shelling out for pots or need a epic spell storing ring or bauble.

It lasts until dispelled or you rest (or die).

[Visty]

Imbue Slaying arrows costs 40sp? 1 level of bard lets you imbue what once maybe twice per rest? Hope the imbue ability lasts a long time or you are going to either going to be shelling out for pots or need a epic spell storing ring or bauble.

what the one befor me said
also you can have an so item equipped also at the beginning of the quest, use the imbue and swap it out.
or maybe you have a shroud crafted +chaskills item then you get more sp too

[Talon_Moonshadow]

As the owner of a pre-Kensai Ftr Archer, I can give a little insight here.

The problem I ran onto was the one-trick-pony.
(That and predudice from other players)

My guy could do ranged very well. But that is all he could do.

What do you do when monsters run up to you and melee you?

it's actually hard to explain, but doing only one thing well, is not a good choice in this game.

especially when that one thing is not what everyone else is doing.

The other problem was until I got Improved Crit Ranged I was actually doing more DPS when I meleed....with zero melee feats! Than I was with my bow...and a whole bunch of Ranged feats.

That was very depressing.

but after lvl 8, I saw a great boost in my power. And the build became fun finally.

My next challenge was the Shroud raid. With evasion! I had to hide behind a ranging Ranger and get her to take fireballs for me.

I guess I should add any quest with Devils. That teleport right to you. So you quickly lose the best benefit from ranging....(which is range)


Anyway, from my experiance with an Archer Ftr, I determined that a Pure Ranger is a much better char.

The Ftr might do more ranged DPS, but he is too limited in other ways for my taste.

While a Ranger can be good at sooo many things, including archery.


Let me also note that the only feats I saw that gave me significant increase in damage were: Rapid Shot, Many Shot, Improved Precise Shot, and Improved Crit Ranged.

Of which the first three all Rangers get for free.

The Wep Spec feats were nice, and added up. But by themselves were only a small increase in damage.

Kensei may offer more though.

As soon as I get the points I plan to Lesser reincarnate my guy and fix him so he can take Kensei III eventually.

But he's not what I want as my main Char.

I'm much happier with Rangers.

[phillun]

18 ftr/1 rngr/1 wis-elf
rngr for bow str(free feat)
wis for mental toughness(bonus feat) one requirement for AA
then pleanty of feats with ftr to take ranged feats and GTWF kopesh
end up with about 260 sp without sp item

[Petrovskis]

I have been thinking about a ranged fighter, although different to the above.

my plan was

Fighter 12, Ranger 6, Rogue 2 - Elf

Str 16, dex 18, con 12, int 9, wis 13, cha 8

I'm not sure where to put level ups though, maybe 3 strength, 2 dex?

Plan was to take all the ranged feats, make use of the ranger levels to help with that, and GTWF and both IC ranged and piercing. Char has full UMD skills, decent balance and jump which is always nice. Makes use of kensai II and greater weapon spec for extra damage. The two FE are nice as well. Elf obviously for the arcane archer.

However, would a pure ranger be better?