Tempest 3 vs Tempest 2 + Kensai 1 Estimate Calcs

[Schmoe]

Tempest 3: +5% double hit, main hand only.
Other Ranger Goodies: +2 dmg vs FE

Kensai 1: +1 Hit/Damage, +2 seeker stacking
Other Fighter Goodies: +2 dmg (Weapon Spec), +2 Str (Enhancements)

5% Double Hit
I'm going to try to explain this in abstract terms, as different weapons will change the gross DPS. In any case, though, we're comparing TWF builds, so the weapons should always be the same for comparison purposes. Tempest 2 gets 100% offhand proc. At a 10 strength (unrealistic, but hang on), offhand damage is the same as main hand damage. As strength increases, the balance tips in favor of main hand, as it gets the full strength bonus to damage and offhand only gets half. At 40 Strength, the Main hand is getting +15 and the offhand +7. Here would be the average non-crit damage of a mineral 2 khopesh (for argument sake) without effects: 5.5 base + 5 enhancement + 5 PA + 7 songs + 10 Fav En + 15 strength + 2 shintao set = 49.5. Off-hand would be 42.5. These numbers are only meant to be approximate, but the ratio there is: the main hand accounts for 53% of your DPS.

53% * 1.05 (double hit) + 47% = 103.5%, for a net DPS increase of 3.5%. I don't claim this to be gospel, but it should be fairly representative.

Kensai 1
(Base damage math above)
Average Damage Main Hand (-2 Fav En, +2 Spec, +1 Kensai, +1 higher Str): +2
Off Hand: +2
(2/49.5) * 0.5 + (2/42.5) * 0.5 = 0.020 + 0.0235 = 4.35%

And since Kensai will have slightly higher base damage and the +2 seeker, factoring crits will push Kensai even further ahead. I know, I'm splitting hairs here to debate over 0.8%. Versus non-favored enemies, though, the Kensai splash gets even better since it adds to base damage.
(2/39.5) * 0.5 + (2/32.5) * 0.5 = 0.035 + 0.03 = 5.5%

I will personally be LRing my Ranger into Ranger 13 / Fighter 7, I think (Ranger 13 and Fighter 7 are both loaded with good enhancements).

Interesting calculations, but I'm not really that concerned about an extra 1% or so extra DPS.

For the last 6 months, I've been using Ranger 14/Fighter 6 with Tempest2/Kensai1, and I've been very happy with the performance. Ranger 14 gets me the 4th level spells, and Fighter 6 gets me an extra feat plus strength enhancements, allowing me to have Improved Crit Ranged for those times I want to Manyshot. As grodon999 said, the build isn't all about the DPS, but about the utility.

[Schmoe]

You can use scrolls with a caster level check. Rangers need a caster level of 14 for FoM and it's -5% chance for each level you're short. Good to know that you can't buy them, though.

Kudarak Delving Boots - raid loot from the Vault of Night raid. Only item in the game that grants full blown Freedom of Movement.

Obviously it depends on personal preference, but I find being tied to certain pieces of loot incredibly frustrating and limiting. I like the Freedom of casting it myself

[Gol]

I like the Freedom of casting it myself

*rimshot*

[Grecan]

I know clerics can cast cast raise dead, from scrolls before level 9. Not at 100% success, but fairly well.

You can use scrolls with a caster level check. Rangers need a caster level of 14 for FoM and it's -5% chance for each level you're short. Good to know that you can't buy them, though.

Kudarak Delving Boots - raid loot from the Vault of Night raid. Only item in the game that grants full blown Freedom of Movement.

Yeah, i had forgotten about caster level check, thanks for reminding me

Thanks for the answer about the boots, too

[LittleM]

What about going ranger15/fighter4/something1 ?

What the ranger18 loses is:
1 to hit penalty reduction
1 shield AC bonus
5% main hand proc rate
1 first level spell
1 second level spell

Fighter4 gives:
1 to hit from focus
2 damage from specialisation, to main hand and off hand
Haste boost II
Fighter toughness II

Nothing changes for the FE damage.