Arcane Singer - Bard Arcane Archer

[Diib]

This is something I came up with while crunching other numbers. I don't think this version does as much damage as a ranger aa, a kensai aa, or even my bowsinger ( http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=244153 )... but its another way to do an arcane archer.

The basics:
For a bard you want at least 15 levels of bard.
Warchanter takes 2 feats, or Spellsinger takes 1 feat

For arcane archer you need 8 ranged feats
For arcane archer your final build must hit a base attack of 16 to maximize manyshot

Toughness is not an optional feat ever.

Arcane Singer:
Elf 16 bard/ 2 ranger/ 2 fighter

2 ranger gets you 2 of the bow feats, so you only need 6 more ranged feats
2 fighter gets you 2 feats to use for the warchanter prereqs
That leaves you with 7 feats: the remaining 6 bow feats and toughness
This class combo achieves a 16 base attack at level 20
You get +1 str from 2 fighter and +1 dex from 2 ranger

The way I would play this would actually be to start out in the early levels specing my enhancements for valenar elf to dual wield scimitars or use a falchion. You get one level of dual wielding feat from ranger and power attack and weapon focus: slashing from fighter to qualify for warchanter... which helps either melee option.
At level 11 when you pick up imbue acid arrows I would re-spec my enhancements from valenar over to all the elf archer enhancements.

Not necessarily the best bow damage, but it allows you to keep all the bard utility a party will expect, and you can hang back and throw heals and still contribute to damage as an archer.

Starting stats would be:
Str 16
Dex 17 (for feat prereqs)
Con 12
Int 10
Wis 8
Cha 14

All level ups would be in strength.

What do you think?

[maddmatt70]

Could you post your feats - that would make it easier to judge what level split you should do? Assuming you get all the hp gear you can actually get away without toughness on some builds - this might be one of those builds. I would probably lower charisma and put those points into con.

[Diib]

1. Toughness, Bow Strength (ranger 1)
2. Rapid Fire, Dual Wielding (ranger 2)
3. Power Attack, Weapon Focus: Slashing (pre reqs for warchanter now met, fighter 1)
4. Point Blank Shot (fighter 2)
6. Weapon Focus: Ranged (you get elf aa at 8, and this is the last prereq)
9. Manyshot
12. Improved Crit: Ranged
15: Precise Shot
18: Improved Precise Shot

[maddmatt70]

1. Toughness, Bow Strength (ranger 1)
2. Rapid Fire, Dual Wielding (ranger 2)
3. Power Attack, Weapon Focus: Slashing (pre reqs for warchanter now met, fighter 1)
4. Point Blank Shot (fighter 2)
6. Weapon Focus: Ranged (you get elf aa at 8, and this is the last prereq)
9. Manyshot
12. Improved Crit: Ranged
15: Precise Shot
18: Improved Precise Shot

Swap toughness for extend or go with 14 bard 4 figher 2 ranger. Its going to be painful playing a multi-class bard without extend.

Edit: go with
16 str
17 dex
14 con
10 cha
8 int
8 wis

[Diib]

Thanks for the input, but I disagree.

Toughness is worth 22 hp, and for an elf you get 2 levels of racial toughness and 1 fighter gets you another 1 level of toughness, for a total of +52 hp.

Your version ups the con by two for +20 hp... 32 hp less than my version, but swaps for extend. I don't need extend with 16 levels of bard.

[maddmatt70]

Thanks for the input, but I disagree.

Toughness is worth 22 hp, and for an elf you get 2 levels of racial toughness and 1 fighter gets you another 1 level of toughness, for a total of +52 hp.

Your version ups the con by two for +20 hp... 32 hp less than my version, but swaps for extend. I don't need extend with 16 levels of bard.

Whether or not you agree with extend - apparently you do not plan to buff others at end game which is bleh, the 14 cha does not make sense on this build as it only represents about 50 sp and +2 to umd and other cha skill checks. The 20 hp and +1 to fort would be more valuable at end game when this character gets the gear.

[Zachski]

Actually, I'm kinda curious about something.

Why are you going Warchanter instead of Spellsinger?

[Diib]

Spellsinger is another option... and would allow for extend or past life:ranger as an additional feat.

I went warchanter for the max in bard bow damage, and because the last time I played a bard I respecced from spellsinger to warchanger cause all the raid groups I joined wanted a warchanter.

As for buffing others, thats what my songs are for.

[unbongwah]

Glad I'm not the only one to hit on this class combo. Although my build also takes Imp Prec Shot, if you want a WC AA bard, I would probably drop PS and IPS for a couple of metamagics or maybe ITWF & GTWF.