Arcane Archer: or how an eternally ranged player sees the PrE

[Pwesiela]

Does Imp.Precise Shot which was maded from paralizing bow, paralizes all targets on it's way?

Everything the shot hits as it goes to its final target has to make the save or be paralyzed, yes.

[OldAquarian]

Some very likely changes in U7 effect AA

Zen Archery is now a monk feat
Zen Archery now allows treating Short Bow and Long Bow as Ki weapons so you can shoot in a stance
Bow Strength includes Zen Archery as a pre-req

[Lyrzar]

Hi again,

been playing my AA for a few days now. Started ranging yesterday's night when I got the AA I enhancement and the force arrow imbue. I'm now level 7.

For now, it seems like that when the adventure level is lower than my level. I seem superstrong and all and two-/three-hit mobs. But when it's at the same level or higher the damage is just meh. I can't even take down one mob while I'm pulling them.

That aside, I suck against zombies and skeletons. I swapped out reptilian for undead now and hope it will go better.

Basically, my damage isn't really high. Manyshot is awesome and all but I can't use it all the time.
My STR: 14 (base) + 1 (tome) + 1 (ogre power ring)
I use Ram's Might all the time and I usually rely on other for Bull's STR.
We don't have good guild buffs so that's out of the question.
I'm using the silverbow right now. It's nice stuff.

So, go any tips on damage?

[Jaid314]

undead is a pretty solid choice for favored enemy anyways (it'll be useful through most of the time you're leveling, at the very least), but because ranged is mostly limited to piercing damage you're just going to have to get used to not being very effective vs certain types of enemies. if it's any comfort, you'll be the one laughing at all those kopesh users when you fight rakshasas (note: you won't be laughing very much, mind you, because rakshasas aren't all that common, nor are they typically that much of a problem even with their DR)

suggestions: it looks like you've dumped your strength a bit more than is strictly necessary, but it shouldn't be a crippling flaw. try to invest in a better +strength item, and if you can afford it invest in rage potions/clickies (or ask your local sorc/wiz/bard if they have it). you could also try getting a bunch of 'specialised' bows (ie one greater undead bane, one greater construct bane, etc), but overall it's just a matter of ranged dps not being that high, and the simple fact that why should you be able to kill everything without a fight in the first place? i wasn't aware that having enemies so weak they never get a chance to even hit you was a design goal in ddo...

(note: when playing solo, you'll want to 'kite' enemies around. when not playing solo, this will probably make people want to yell at you and call you mean names. even as an arcane archer, you will likely wish to melee fairly often, particularly almost all the time when your manyshot isn't up; it will deal more damage overall, and you'll make a lot fewer melee types really angry because they won't be chasing the mob all over the place. an alternate possibility is to realise that just because you're ranged, doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to take a hit; if you stand there and take the beating when the melees are trying to kill the mob you're fighting, you will obviously take more damage... but the players will be less likely to decide to never ever group with you again even if you're the only option they have)

[Pwesiela]

Skeletons are part of those tricky mobs that it is 90% more likely to be better to grab those warhammers in your backpack and go toe-to-toe on. They can't be crit. They take reduced from piercing. Unless you're using a disrupter or a cursespewer, you're pretty much going to be better off with melee.

Your low str will be compensated by the FE enhancement. Sure, you can probably get a better +str item, or a bulls pot, or a rage pot, but the enhancement will definitely help. Also, if you're a finesse build, go get yourself some light maces.

Like I've said, do not, Not, NOT be afraid to whip out the melee weapons. Some mobs just don't work well with ranged combat. Skeletons, zombies, slimes, and constructs are among them. Get the DR weapons, get the disruption or smiting weapons, and go to town.

[merkovah]

Just a random addition:

Elven monks should be able to use longbows without it taking them out of stance. It really sucks that they can't.

[BLugas]

Just a random addition:

Elven monks should be able to use longbows without it taking them out of stance. It really sucks that they can't.

they can, with zen archery...
are you unaware of the U7 changes?

[merkovah]

I was totally unaware of that one with all the other things that had been added. I think that monk splash w/ ranger is now totally viable for the simple fact that anytime I use a bow I won't have to reclick stance ... and can get stance bonuses .. +2 str for damage on top of rams and +str gear ? nice ...

Wonder how much faster the air stance makes ranged ?

[Pwesiela]

Wonder how much faster the air stance makes ranged ?

Grandmaster of Storms gives you an increase to dexterity, melee attack speed, and thrown weapon speed. It shouldn't affect ranged alacrity at all. You get the bonus to your dex, but not to the attack rate.

[merkovah]

Hm.

Having a real difficult time wondering why a person would bother with zen archery at all. Ranged is pretty much useless unless you have the ranged feats; and even with those feats, it's still pretty situational.

After looking at some possible builds using monks / zen archery and wisdom ... it's just not possible to fit _everything in_ to a character build and have it be anything other than gimped.

Even the builds that go 18 Cl / 2 Monk seem pretty gimped because ... why would you want to use those feats on ranged abilities rather than boosting clerical power ? Again, it turns into a mediocre build.

Not to mention, if you drop dex then you can't even get the ranged feats ... wisdom doesn't matter.

In summary ?

Swapping Wisdom for Dex doesn't do any good; and makes it more difficult to get ranged feats, and ranged feats are still situational, and going for ranged feats in place of other feats that are more useful for the main class ... I just can't think of any reason ever for choosing Zen archery.

And, I've tried ...

So, what I've decided to build for my AA is something that has NO monk in it.

[Pwesiela]

Hm.

Having a real difficult time wondering why a person would bother with zen archery at all. Ranged is pretty much useless unless you have the ranged feats; and even with those feats, it's still pretty situational.

So, what I've decided to build for my AA is something that has NO monk in it.

And now you know why I do not suggest the AA for a monk.

You're best off as a ranger or kensai III.

[Miahoo]

TY! this is the guide i was looking for!!! (for 6 months!)
~heading to make an AA~ << actually, right after i unlock vet status on my server

[binderclip]

11 ranger/9 monk

stat in str, dex, con, wis.

-dark path
-improv evasion
-tod
-AA, slayer
-zen archery
-full twf, Tod=> as long as not immue, 250 damage, 500 is a plus.

^
above is a build by a friend, so far the only real viable zen archery build i have seen.

[revenftbm]

I've got a question about the ranged alacrity.

Does the ranger capstone and the blackdragon scale alarcrity stack?

[Thornton]

I've got a question about the ranged alacrity.

Does the ranger capstone and the blackdragon scale alarcrity stack?

I asked a question aout the Black Dragon armor a while back and was told that NONE of the ranged alacrity items/capstone/haste stack, sorry

[Pwesiela]

I've got a question about the ranged alacrity.

Does the ranger capstone and the blackdragon scale alarcrity stack?

One of the reasons that ranged continues to lag behind. All of the ways that are supposed to speed it up, well, don't.

And so you have super swinging fighters and plucking rangers.

Still waiting on a fix.

[Glenalth]

I've got a question about the ranged alacrity.

Does the ranger capstone and the blackdragon scale alarcrity stack?

Yes, they stack.

But, they do not work as advertised and only grant about 1/2 of the listed bonus each.

[Trevorlar]

Been leveling my Ranger...now 4 and see that Point Blank is a prereq or neccessity for Arcane. Doing a custom build. Last two levels I did not see it as an option to choose. Did I miss out or will it be available at level 5 as an extra pick?

Love this thread. Lot of good info.

[Glenalth]

Been leveling my Ranger...now 4 and see that Point Blank is a prereq or neccessity for Arcane. Doing a custom build. Last two levels I did not see it as an option to choose. Did I miss out or will it be available at level 5 as an extra pick?

Love this thread. Lot of good info.

You get to choose feats at character levels 1,3,6,9,12,15,18. If you don't have it yet you'll either need to swap a feat or pick it up at 6, if you grab it at 6 it delays Mental Toughness (assuming you're pure ranger) to level 9.

[Trevorlar]

You get to choose feats at character levels 1,3,6,9,12,15,18. If you don't have it yet you'll either need to swap a feat or pick it up at 6, if you grab it at 6 it delays Mental Toughness (assuming you're pure ranger) to level 9.

Thanks Glenalth. Sorry for the ignorance...swap a feat. Did not know you could do this? Is this the option to redo enhancements?

Thanks again.