Eurytos: Viable Epic Melee/Ranged Hybrid

[Eurytos]

Eurytos was my first character ever, created close to DDO's launch. It was originally an 8ftr/2rgr archer build using only longbows. At level 10, it was good, but as the level cap increased it got worse and worse. Eventually, I changed feats every 3 days to turn him into a full TWF Tempest Rapier build at 12ftr/6rgr/2rog which ended up working pretty well. Yesterday, I pulled SoS from VoN6 epic and since I had a full set of Epic ingredients for it, I figured I'd try to do something new built around it.

So... I came up with this. Kensai II, Greatsword spec for the Epic SoS and the full Elven Arcane Archer line for haste boosted many shots with arcane archer slaying arrows (500 damage on 20s) and lightning strike with 50+ Strength.

Most of the time, I melee with the E-SoS. On moving targets, multiple stunned targets (mass hold) or targets I can't immediately get to (DQ, epic Dragon during fire) I hit fighter haste boost IV and Many Shot and go to town with Slaying Arrows + Lightning Strike. It works great with large groups of targets too, target the one in the back and hit them all with many shot/improved precise shot.

Anyway, here's the set-up

Race: Elf
Levels: 12 Fighter / 6 Ranger / 2 Monk

Starting Stats:
STR: 18
DEX: 17
CON: 13
INT: 8
WIS: 8
CHA: 8

Level 20 Combat Stats:
STR: 52 (18 + 5 levels + 3 enhance + 6 item + 2 tome + 8 surge + 2 yugo + 2 rage + 2 rams might + 3 ToD Ring + 1 Litany + 2 MadstoneX1)
DEX: 30 (17 + 2 enhance + 2 tome + 6 item + 1 litany + 2 ToD Ring)
CON: 24 (13 + 2 tome + 2 yugo + 1 litany + 6 item)
WIS: 14 (6 Item, just need wisdom to cast Ram's Might)

Level Progression
Level 1: Ranger Weapon Focus: Slashing + Favored Enemy of your choice
Level 2: Ranger
Level 3: Fighter Two Handed Fighting + Point Blank Shot
Level 4: Fighter Precise Shot
Level 5: Fighter
Level 6: Fighter Improved Two Handed Fighting + Weapon Specialization:Slashing
Level 7: Fighter
Level 8: Fighter Improved Critical: Slashing
Level 9: Fighter Improved Critical: Ranged
Level 10: Fighter Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing
Level 11: Fighter
Level 12: Fighter Improved Precise Shot + Greater Two Handed Fighting
Level 13: Monk Toughness
Level 14: Monk Power Attack
Level 15: Fighter Weapon Focus: Ranged
Level 16: Fighter Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing
Level 17: Ranger
Level 18: Ranger Mental Toughness
Level 19: Ranger
Level 20: Ranger Favored Enemy of your choice

*NOTE:: This was my progression due to sloppiness through the years due to different mods and updates. One could customize their leveling if wanted, but this works and fits all the needed feats, eventually. Alternatively, you could take ranger levels earlier for free Improved Two Weapon Fighting and get Greater Two Weapon Fighting for a TWF Rapier + Arcane Archer build. Only thing is, you won't get tempest and archer line together. That's why I went THF and Archer (especially now that I have Epic Sword of Shadows.) Before you get the SoS, I would suggest using Great Axes as your Kensai specialty and use a Green Steel axe.

Enhancements:
Fighter Attack Boost II
Fighter Haste Boost IV
Fighter Extra Action Boost I
Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Acid Arrow
Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Explosive Arrow
Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrow
Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Slaying Arrow
Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Terror Arrow
Elven Dexterity I
Elven Ranged Attack II
Elven Ranged Damage II
Kensai Greatsword Mastery II
Fighter Critical Accuracy II
Fighter Kensai II
Fighter Greatsword Specialization I
Fighter Flanking Mastery I
Way of the Faithful Hound I
Racial Toughness II
Elven Arcane Archer I
Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +5 Arrow
Ranger Dexterity I
Fighter Strength III
Fighter Toughness III

Epic SoS To Hit
19 BaB
10 Epic SoS Enhancement Bonus
21 Strength Bonus (52str)
3 Weapon Focus/Greater Weapon Focus
2 Kensai Greatsword Mastery II
4 Greater Hero Clicky
1 Haste
-5 Power Attack
2 Shintao Set
2 Frenzied Berserker Set
1 Litany Profane
--------------------------
+60 To-Hit Self Buffed (+65 Flanking)

Epic SoS Damage Bonus 4d6+
30 Strength (21x1.5)
5 Power Attack
2 Kensai Greatsword Mastery
3 Weapon Specialization/Greater Specialization
1 Fighter Weapon Specialization Enhancement
10 Epic SoS Enhancement Bonus
2 Shintao Set
2 Frenzied Berserker Set
2 Ram's Might
1 Litany Profane
--------------------------
+58 Damage Self Buffed
edit: Getting +64 Self buffed with str listed above and no berserker set, I must be wrong on calculation somehow

Lightning Strike Bow To-Hit
19 BaB
5 Longbow Enhancement
10 Dexterity Bonus (30str)
2 Elven Ranged Attack
4 Greater Hero Clicky
1 Haste
2 Shintao Set
2 Frenzied Berserker Set
1 Litany Profane
--------------------------
+46 To-Hit Self Buffed (+51 Flanking)

Lightning Strike Bow Damage Bonus 1d10+
21 Strength
2 Elven Ranged Damage
5 Longbow Enhancement
2 Shintao Set
2 Frenzied Berserker Set
2 Ram's Might
1 Litany Profane
--------------------------
+35 Damage Self Buffed

I've only had the SoS and this build setup for a day now, but it's a lot of fun and plenty viable. The damage is great during both melee and many shot.

Bow crits with bard buffs do 200 per arrow (800-900 per many shot volley not including the 500s or lightning strikes.) It's not uncommon for both slaying arrow and lightning strike to go off on the same volley, so 1k being the minimum, 2-3k+ being maximum. Of course, this is when things are stunned on epic trash.

[Goldeneye]

I can't say I've seen many Greatsword / Bow users out there.... though if someone had the gear to pull it off, it would be you.

If you were trying to use Greensteel Greatsword / Bow... then I would say the build was counter-intuitive, and suggest going TWF.... however Epic Sword of Shadows beats everything else....

As you mentioned: since you want to go arcane archerer, tempest isn't an option: so I guess this makes sense.
Good Build... though I wouldn't suggest it to anyone that didn't have an epic sos.

[sigtrent]

Very slick, I love mixing monk and fighter... so many feats to play with!

I'd probably go with 16 str and spread my points around a bit more, I hate equipping wis items just to cast rams might, just kind of lazy that way and I doubt one would notice the loss of a couple points of damage when all is said and done. But kudos for going the extra inch on this.

[Eurytos]

I'd probably go with 16 str and spread my points around a bit more, I hate equipping wis items just to cast rams might, just kind of lazy that way and I doubt one would notice the loss of a couple points of damage when all is said and done. But kudos for going the extra inch on this.

Kyosho's Ring. WIS6, STR+1, Shintao Set.

[Progen]

LOVE THIS! This build will finally let me range with manyshot ect and not feel guilty!. Also like you said, lighting 2 longbow + slayer arrows + haste boost + many shot just seems sooo amazingly good. This build just seems like so much fun!

What would you say to these changes

28pt build

Would go chaotic good instead, as won't need litiny to round out most stats, and for ease of leveling. Would end up being 1-2 tiers down on str, break even on dex, 1 less con and 1 more wis. Shouldn't be game breaking. Hopefully will still be good. Question is wether true neutral is still better or not?

Race: Elf
Levels: 12 Fighter / 6 Ranger / 2 Monk

Starting Stats:
STR: 16 (10 pts)
DEX: 18 (10 pts)
CON: 12 (6 pts)
INT: 8
WIS: 10 (2 pts)
CHA: 8


Level Progression
Level 1: Ranger Weapon Focus: Slashing + Favored Enemy of your choice
Level 2: Ranger
Level 3: Fighter Two Handed Fighting + Point Blank Shot
Level 4: Fighter Precise Shot
Level 5: Fighter
Level 6: Fighter Improved Two Handed Fighting + Weapon Specialization: Ranged
Level 7: Fighter
Level 8: Fighter Improved Critical: Slashing
Level 9: Fighter Improved Critical: Ranged
Level 10: Fighter Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing
Level 11: Fighter
Level 12: Fighter Improved Precise Shot + Greater Two Handed Fighting
Level 13: Monk Toughness
Level 14: Monk Power Attack
Level 15: Fighter Weapon Focus: Ranged
Level 16: Fighter Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing
Level 17: Ranger
Level 18: Ranger Mental Toughness
Level 19: Ranger
Level 20: Ranger Favored Enemy of your choice

Leveling looks fine to me. Will be a little low on hp to begin with but shouldn't make too much of a difference. Would like to fit toughness in earlier to try and make up for it but don't know where. Any suggestions?

[Eurytos]

For you, on a 28pt build, I would suggest taking the ranger levels earlier. That would give you improved two weapon fighting for free from ranger 6. Then you only need 1 more feat to get Greater Two Weapon fighting. You will have 2 extra feats to use since you won't need to spend 3 for greater two handed fighting. Use that for some ranged feats or maybe even khopesh proficiency.

If you still prefer to use a 2 hander though, grab Great Axe, not Great Sword. They are better DPS unless you have the Epic SoS.

[Progen]

Eh you know what your probably right. I like this build alot but maybe as a reincarnate it would be better if I get all the gear needed for it first. Thanks for the interesting build idea though!

[Eurytos]

Or build it with TWF or Greataxe, then lesser reincarnate when you do get the gear

[Goldeneye]

Eurytos is right, you are most likely better off leveling / using TWF or greataxe until you get an epic SoS.

If I was to level this: I would go:
12 Fighter / 6 Ranger / 2 Barbarian
Specced in either Rapier, or Weighted Warhammers

Upon getting epic SoS, I would +3 LR into this current build.

[Goldeneye]

I'm trying to figure out how to fit Stunning Blow into this build... it's hard.

Level 1: Ranger Weapon Focus: Slashing
Level 6: Fighter Weapon Specialization: Ranged
Level 10: Fighter Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing
Level 15: Fighter Weapon Focus: Ranged
Level 16: Fighter Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing
You gotta swap your level 6 and 15 feats. Specialization requires Focus.

btw, what do Weapon Focus: Ranged, and Weapon Specialization: Ranged do for you?
Are they pre-req's for AA?

[Eurytos]

Weapon Focus Ranged is, Spec isnt in my build. That Weapon Spec: Ranged I added was a typo, supposed to be Weapon Spec: Slashing.

Stunning Blow can fit with a TWF/Archer build. With TWF and ITWF being free, you have 2 extra feats to spend. Stunning Blow and 1 more, maybe Weapon spec: Ranged, then you can get Fighter Spec: Longbow I also.

[Goldeneye]

You're right, in TWF build-mode, you don't need THF or ITHW, so Stunning Blow, and maybe even Khopesh could fit in.

But with Epic Sword of Shadows, Stunning Blow is ridiculous....hmm...
What's your HP? Could you drop toughness??.... that's really a barb-only thing to do though

[Eurytos]

If you drop toughness, HP will be in the 400s. HP in the 550-600+ now.

[Kam-Ekaze]

28pt build

Would go chaotic good instead, as won't need litiny to round out most stats, and for ease of leveling. Would end up being 1-2 tiers down on str, break even on dex, 1 less con and 1 more wis. Shouldn't be game breaking. Hopefully will still be good. Question is wether true neutral is still better or not?

Race: Elf
Levels: 12 Fighter / 6 Ranger / 2 Monk

Monks must be lawful.

[karnokvolrath]

Just out of curiosity whats the epic SOS have on it? I know the orriginal isnt that great, or at least not anymore. Anyone got a screeny? I looked though the static rewards thread but the only epic item listed out of plane of night (Von) is the dragon helm....

[Eurytos]

Just out of curiosity whats the epic SOS have on it? I know the orriginal isnt that great, or at least not anymore. Anyone got a screeny? I looked though the static rewards thread but the only epic item listed out of plane of night (Von) is the dragon helm....

4d6
15-20 x4 Crit (with imp crit)
+10 enhancement
Adamantine
Red Slot
Colorless Slot

[karnokvolrath]

Wow, better base, +10, double crit range, two slots to play with. Good deal, thanks for the info.

[Progen]

Weapon Focus Ranged is, Spec isnt in my build. That Weapon Spec: Ranged I added was a typo, supposed to be Weapon Spec: Slashing.

Stunning Blow can fit with a TWF/Archer build. With TWF and ITWF being free, you have 2 extra feats to spend. Stunning Blow and 1 more, maybe Weapon spec: Ranged, then you can get Fighter Spec: Longbow I also.

Oh that sounds fun. Seems like a great plan. So what about leveling
1-6 ranger - for the twf
7-8 monk - evasion + 2 more feats to help round it out
9-20 - fighter - finish up with kensei. With 2 extra feats I was thinking that in addition to stunning blow, could get quickdraw to make it easier when switching between them.

If this sounds fine I'll try and work up a feat order too.
I want to stay away from khopesh because for the same price for the khopesh, I could get another weapon with 3x as good suffix/prefix.
So at what point should I switch over to the warhammers? Once I get stunning blow? or Just once i get 4% - 5% ?

[Goldeneye]

I want to stay away from khopesh because for the same price for the khopesh, I could get another weapon with 3x as good suffix/prefix.

Low/Mid levels, the difference between Khopesh vs Longsword is minimal. Use whatever weapons you have while leveling up.
At high levels you can make Greensteel, meaning that a +5 Holy Acid Burst Acid Blast Khopesh costs the same amount as any other equal weapon.

So at what point should I switch over to the warhammers? Once I get stunning blow? or Just once i get 4% - 5% ?

Stunning blow is super powerful low levels where everything has crappy fort saves. I leveled up my fighter warhammer specced, and until I was high enough level for dual weighted 5%, I just put a dps weapon in my main hand, and put the best weighted weapon in my off hand, just to increase my stunning blow.

[Progen]

Sounds good but the question is which is better, quickdraw or khopesh. Because for trash I'd use 5% anyway right? then for the bigger guys switch to many shot and then back, so I don't really know which is best. I don't know how quickdraw works but I know it shortens boosting time, does it also shorten switching time?

So which would be best?

Keep in mind that primarily what I love about this build is the flexibility of arcane archer manyshot haste boosted range dps and then the solid melee dps along with weighted and stunning blow. And evasion on top of all of that. So how much of a difference will khopesh make compared to the warhammers on non stunnable stuff and keeping in mind I would be switching constantly, which would better fit my needs?