Halfling Ftr/rogue repeating xbow build

[The_Codfather]

Building a halfling repeating xbow warrior build on rogue 2/fighter 18 template. Would love some feedback on my design and how to improve it as I've never made this attempt before.

Your suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.34
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HalflingMult Xbow
Level 20 Lawful Good Halfling Male
(18 Fighter \ 2 Rogue) 
Hit Points: 324
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 20
Will: 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             12                    14
Dexterity            18                    27
Constitution         14                    15
Intelligence         14                    14
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma              8                     8

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 3
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 3
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 3

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               8                    24
Bluff                -1                     3
Concentration         2                     5
Diplomacy            -1                     2
Disable Device        6                    14
Haggle                3                     4
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  8                    15
Intimidate           -1                     2
Jump                  5                    25
Listen               -1                     2
Move Silently         8                    15
Open Lock             8                    14
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair                2                     2
Search                6                    15
Spot                  3                     5
Swim                  5                     6
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device     n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 2 (Rogue)


Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Repeating Heavy Crossbow
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Rapid Reload


Level 4 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Combat Expertise
Enhancement: Fighter Armored Agility I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Halfling Dexterity I
Enhancement: Halfling Cunning I
Enhancement: Halfling Guile I
Enhancement: Halfling Luck (Reflex) I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I


Level 5 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Mastery I
Enhancement: Fighter Flanking Mastery I
Enhancement: Rogue Improved Trap Sense I


Level 6 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Point Blank Shot
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II


Level 7 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Armored Agility II
Enhancement: Halfling Cunning II


Level 8 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Halfling Dexterity II


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II


Level 10 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Power Critical
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I
Enhancement: Fighter Repeating Heavy Crossbow Specialization I


Level 11 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Kensei Repeating Heavy Crossbow Mastery I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy III


Level 12 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Rapid Shot
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy IV


Level 13 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Mastery II


Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Kensei Repeating Heavy Crossbow Mastery II
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei II


Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Mobility
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II


Level 16 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Dodge
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Mastery III


Level 17 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness III


Level 18 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Shot on the Run
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Superior Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Repeating Heavy Crossbow Specialization II


Level 19 (Fighter)
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost III
Enhancement: Fighter Armored Agility III


Level 20 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Precise Shot
Enhancement: Kensei Repeating Heavy Crossbow Mastery III
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei III
Enhancement: Halfling Luck (Fortitude) I
Enhancement: Halfling Luck (Reflex) II

[geoffhanna]

Its hard for me to read that format. But I think you are taking melee enhancements?

I think you may get more DPS from a hvy repeater in the next update if you instead build a rogue/mechanic and load up on INT. IIRC, mechanics get to add their INT bonus to repeater damage - and also get the repeater weapon feats for free.

If you really want to go Kensai and ranged, I think you may want to consider a bow user with the Bowstrength feat so you could add STR to damage.

But maybe you just want help tweaking the build you posted instead of completely different ideas If so, I would suggest that Power Critical won't be as helpful to you as Improved Precise Shot will be.

[The_Codfather]

Seeing as this guy is a lvl 10 toon right now, I'm going to forgo waiting for the next update.

I have indeed taken some 'melee' enhancements that boost flanking or sneak attacks. however, my understanding is that they are usable for ranged combat within 30 feet. So they apply to the repeating crossbow design.

My understanding is that the main strength of using a repeater for DPS is actually critting as often as possible. That said, why would Power Critical not be a better selection than Improved Precise Shot? PC would increase the likelihood of doing a critical whereas IPS would allow for more potential hits. I can see the value of the latter in theory, but in practice, groups tend to spread out the enemies to the point where I wonder how many targets can actually be hit. Even if I were to kite, the effects of other players do in fact spread out the opposing groups.

Can you (someone) clarify why one would be better than the other?

Thanks!
Codfather

[geoffhanna]

With your DEX, you are not going to have problems confirming crits. All it takes is a regular successful attack roll. Fighter Critical Accuracy (which you are already taking) is better because it adds damage as well as helping confirm.

Improved Precise Shot turns your repeater into an AoE projector. It is crazy powerful in the right situations, and helpful in many more. Target the back opponent! The only time it is bad is in Sleeping Dust - and you can turn it off when desired. But whatever, if you aren't in the market for IPS even another Toughness is probably going to be more useful to you than PC. Or Weapon Finesse for those times when ranged is not appropriate. Or Quickdraw which IIRC is supposed to reduce reload times.

Also guile and sneak attack training and so forth are only helpful to a ranged character when within 30' of the target. You are already 10th level - are you finding that you can be that close to the enemy very often? Or is agro management a problem when you are up close?

And I didn't only mean guile as "melee enhancements" but more the armor mastery and especially the armored agility. Somewhere around DEX 28 you reach a point where you are better off with no armor at all. That sweet spot may be higher for you with armor mastery, I'd have to do the math, but if it is you will still be in leather or another very light armor. Consider Haste Boost instead? Halfing Luck (Will)?

Actually, now that I look you are investing three feats to get Shot On the Run, or +4 tohit while moving. Not a bad choice, but it is three feats ...

[The_Codfather]

Your clarifications are very insightful. Thanks for proffering them my way. I'm finding flanking and sneak attack to be very beneficial. The DPS this guy puts out is nice, but he's more of a crowd control player. Others definitely grab the agro after I draw them to the fray and paralyzing actually keeps them at bay. If they do hit, I'm wearing mummy wraps, so the fearsome effect works great and there is no DEX penalty to the armor. I concur with the entire lack of armor down the road. Soon as I can lay my hands on a +7 bracer, I'll switch to robes.

I'm not at all convinced about shot on the run myself. I like the dodge feat, but mobility is useless for my guy and I can already outrun anybody I've encountered. I've already reworked the character planner to omit those latter two in favor of improves precise shot and toughness.

Still waffling thought.

Cod

[supp3nhuhn]

If you're only lvl 10 yet you should really consider changing to 13 fighter / 7 rogue to get access to mechanic which would improve your damage output by roughly 25% before counting backstabs.

That would also allow you to raise your trapskills to a working lvl at end game and pick up UMD and diplomacy on top of that.
The former is simply the most handy skill in game, allowing you gear reserved for other races adn classes and to cast spells from scrolls and wands.
The latter allows you to loose aggro so you can backstab more and lower your damage taken without that annoying kiting when in a party; On ranged it also doesn't lower your dps which is great.