13Ranger/1Rogue Arcane Archer

[Goregnash]

I am currently playing a level 14 Pure Ranger and wanted to trade in my Hide and Move silently skills for something more useful. I find I very rarely have a need to stealth or scout. My first choice is to pick up Disable Traps and Open Locks from the Rogue Tree, so I plan to splash one level of Rogue.

I would like to hear some constructive critisism from people who have used this build in the past and see if you had any suggestions for improvement. Also, just an fyi - Im not interested in going tempest.

A couple questions I have as well:

1. If I put the rest of my levels into the Ranger class, and build on my Traps/Locks, will I have the skill points required to pick locks and disable traps in end game raids??

2. Should I keep Improved Mental Toughness and pick up Toughness at level 15, or should I drop Improved MT alltogether? (I have the Minos Helm)

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Level 14 Chaotic Good Drow Female
(1 Rogue \ 13 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 130
Spell Points: 324 
BAB: 13\13\18\23
Fortitude: 8
Reflex: 14
Will: 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 14)
Strength             18                    23
Dexterity            16                    18
Constitution          8                    10
Intelligence         10                    12
Wisdom               12                    14
Charisma             10                    12

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 14)
Balance               3                     4
Bluff                 4                     5
Concentration        -1                     0
Diplomacy             0                     1
Disable Device        4                    15
Haggle                4                     5
Heal                  1                    10
Hide                  3                     4
Intimidate            0                     1
Jump                  4                     6
Listen                1                     5
Move Silently         7                     8
Open Lock             7                    15
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     1
Search                4                    20
Spot                  5                    21
Swim                  4                     6
Tumble                7                    16
Use Magic Device      n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Rogue)
Skill: Bluff (+4)
Skill: Disable Device (+4)
Skill: Haggle (+4)
Skill: Move Silently (+4)
Skill: Open Lock (+4)
Skill: Search (+4)
Skill: Spot (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+4)
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot


Level 2 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead


Level 3 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons


Level 4 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)


Level 5 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)


Level 6 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness


Level 7 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+0.5)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)


Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)


Level 9 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Heal (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons


Level 10 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+1)


Level 11 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+1)


Level 12 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Mental Toughness


Level 13 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+0.5)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+1)


Level 14 (Ranger)
Skill: Disable Device (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)
Skill: Open Lock (+1)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)

Thanks!
Gore

[Grifarr]

I have not played the combo you are suggesting so I can't speak to the gains of it but if you are planning on playing the character up to 20 you lose out on the 25% archery attack speed boost from the capstone if you multiclass.

[Dawnsfire]

I have yet to play an Arcane Archer build but I can not understand why anyone would splash 1 rogue and lose the awesome Ranger Capstone. I purposely splashed 2 levels of fighter partly because the capstone didn't work for my tempest ranger but I could not imagine losing it on a ranged ranger.

[Goregnash]

I may be thinking a little too short term here. I do know about the 25% bonus, but if I do retain pure ranger I will still have to decide where to transfer my skill points from hide/move silently.

Are these used more often in high level instances and raids? As of now I almost never need to scout or hide.

[Dawnsfire]

I may be thinking a little too short term here. I do know about the 25% bonus, but if I do retain pure ranger I will still have to decide where to transfer my skill points from hide/move silently.

Are these used more often in high level instances and raids? As of now I almost never need to scout or hide.

I'll be honest. I abandoned hide and move a while back and started stuffing the extra points into haggle. I don't really need haggle but it is nice when I need to sell stuff. I pretty much split my points between balance, haggle, UMD and spot. Skills for a ranger seem to mostly be "nice to have things" rather than "must have things" here in DDOland.

[Goregnash]

I'll be honest. I abandoned hide and move a while back and started stuffing the extra points into haggle. I don't really need haggle but it is nice when I need to sell stuff. I pretty much split my points between balance, haggle, UMD and spot. Skills for a ranger seem to mostly be "nice to have things" rather than "must have things" here in DDOland.

My Spot is maxed currently and I already around 10 pts in Haggle. I guess I will do the same and dump more into haggle and balance or maybe listen.

I've ignored UMD up to this point because without a rogue splash I wouldnt be able to put enough pioints in to make it worthwhile. I will have to revisit it before I decide.



Thanks for your input.

[CSFurious]

this is why you do not splash an arcane archer

I have yet to play an Arcane Archer build but I can not understand why anyone would splash 1 rogue and lose the awesome Ranger Capstone. I purposely splashed 2 levels of fighter partly because the capstone didn't work for my tempest ranger but I could not imagine losing it on a ranged ranger.