Hoping to reach "usefull" UMD, But ...

[Kinnio]

I have a Ranger-5/Rogue-1. I am hoping to develop an Archer which can reach "Useful UMD".
I understand that UMD is needed to out-of-class Wands and Scrolls, but I am VERY nervous about committing skill points into UMD as I level up, since I don't know where my UMD level will end up later, and its useless for many levels.

NOTE: I play with family who are good at DDO and have tanks, healers, and Rogues; so I use bow and melee.

1. Should I just keep maxing UMD at each level up, even though it takes 2 skill points per skill level?
2. How high will my UMD get and will that level be high enough to justify the huge investment in skill points?
3. By committing to UMD, do I lose something which would be more valuable than UMD?

Thank you.

[grodon9999]

Max it, that'll get you 23 ranks.

UMD
rank 23
GH 4
Charisma (16 with +6 item) 3
Green Steel CHR Skills item 6
Bunny hat 3
Headof good Fortune 2


41 = no-fail heal scrolls.

[Sirea]

Charisma (16 with +2 tome and +6 item) 3

If they started with a Base 8 CHA and aren't WF or Dwarf

Bunny hat 3 or Golden Cartouche from Delera's, a very easy, totally in-game item to get

In case they don't want to buy the hat from the Store.

And really all you need is a 39 UMD for no-fail Heal scrolls, so could even do without the HoGF.

[nomaddog]

Yes, max it out. UMD is probably the most helpful skill in the game for all classes. On my lvl 16 Ranger/Fighter/Rogue, I have UMD maxed out and have a reasonable (~80% chance) of using a Raise Dead scroll in a pinch. Breaks down like this...

Rank 19
GH 4
Golden Cartouche (from Delera's) 3
Voice of the Master (from Delera's) 1
Ranger Skill Boost IV 5
TOTAL: 32
No-Fail RD scroll: 36
Result: Over 80% chance of Success on a RD scroll.

Comes in handy when the Healer goes down and there's no Rez shrine nearby. UMD also allows you to wear Race Required equipment, which usually gives a bigger stat bonus at an earlier level. It also allows you to use weapons that have alignment restrictions such as Pure Good, if you are a different alignment.