Drow Ranger build needs critique

[Asmodeus451]

This is the build I am planning for my Drow character as soon as I unlock Drow. I'll admit right now that I haven't done a Ranger before, so I have very little idea of what I'm doing. Thus I'm asking for your help. The build only goes to Lvl 5 at the moment because I didn't want to go all the way to 20 with it only to find out that its fundamentally flawed and needs a complete do-over. Any and all feedback is welcome.

I'd like to keep a high Spot, Listen, and Search skill, so i can detect secret doors and traps, as well as hidden enemies. I also am not a big fan of multi-classing, so I'd like to aviod it if possible.

What I'm going for is a Melee ranger with the ability to cast and scout.

I'm planning on dual-weilding Shortswords. any other equipment I haven't put much thought into.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.5.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Drachnan 
Level 5 Lawful Good Drow Male
(5 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 70
Spell Points: 58 
BAB: 5\5\10
Fortitude: 6
Reflex: 8
Will: 3

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 5)
Strength             14                    14
Dexterity            16                    19
Constitution         14                    14
Intelligence         10                    10
Wisdom               14                    14
Charisma             10                    10

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 5)
Balance               3                     4
Bluff                 0                     0
Concentration         2                     8
Diplomacy             0                     0
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                0                     0
Heal                  6                     8
Hide                  7                     9
Intimidate            0                     0
Jump                  2                     2
Listen                6                    10
Move Silently         7                     9
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               n/a                   n/a
Repair                0                     0
Search                4                     9
Spot                  6                    11
Swim                  2                     2
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device      n/a                   3.5

Level 1 (Ranger)
Skill: Heal (+4)
Skill: Hide (+4)
Skill: Listen (+4)
Skill: Move Silently (+4)
Skill: Search (+4)
Skill: Spot (+4)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Finesse
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Elven Enchantment Resistance I
Enhancement: Elven Keen Eyes I


Level 2 (Ranger)
Skill: Listen (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+2)
Enhancement: Ranger Swamp Lore I
Enhancement: Ranger Tundra Lore I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I


Level 3 (Ranger)
Skill: Hide (+1)
Skill: Listen (+1)
Skill: Move Silently (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Resist Poison
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Desert Lore I


Level 4 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: DEX
Skill: Heal (+2)
Skill: Search (+3)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Improved Spell Resistance I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I


Level 5 (Ranger)
Skill: Concentration (+6)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Reptillian
Enhancement: Elven Enchantment Resistance II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II

[unbongwah]

A couple of general comments:

• Pure melee rangers usually don't go DEX-based: it costs a feat on a feat-starved class, lowers your DPS vs. STR-based rangers, and doesn't provide enough of a boost to to-hit & AC to make up for it, IMHO.
• Melee rangers pretty much always go for the Tempest PrE, which requires the Dodge, Mobility, and Spring Attack feats. You've taken exactly none of those.
• Rapiers are a better weapon choice than shortswords, particularly for drow since their racial enhs apply to both.

If you really want a DEX-based drow ranger, consider something like this:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.5.1
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 Lawful Neutral Drow Female
(2 Monk \ 18 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 262
Spell Points: 232 
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 22
Will: 10

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             14                    14
Dexterity            16                    26
Constitution         14                    14
Intelligence         12                    13
Wisdom               12                    12
Charisma             10                    10

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 14

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Finesse


Level 2 (Ranger)


Level 3 (Monk)
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Dodge
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 4 (Monk)
Ability Raise: DEX
Feat: (Monk Bonus) Mobility


Level 5 (Ranger)


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Spring Attack


Level 7 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant


Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: DEX


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons


Level 10 (Ranger)


Level 11 (Ranger)


Level 12 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: DEX
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 13 (Ranger)


Level 14 (Ranger)


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Combat Expertise


Level 16 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: DEX


Level 17 (Ranger)


Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Two Weapon Defense


Level 19 (Ranger)


Level 20 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: DEX
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack I
Enhancement: Drow Melee Attack II
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage I
Enhancement: Drow Melee Damage II
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II
Enhancement: Elven Enchantment Resistance I
Enhancement: Elven Enchantment Resistance II
Enhancement: Elven Enchantment Resistance III
Enhancement: Ranger Item Defense I
Enhancement: Ranger Item Defense II
Enhancement: Way of the Clever Monkey I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage IV
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense III
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance III
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest I
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest II
Enhancement: Ranger Tempest III
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity III

Compared to a STR-based pure ranger, this build sacrifices some DPS & ranger capstone for higher AC & Reflex saves, two extra feats, and Evasion by lvl 4.

[Arsont]

First off, my response. I think it would be better to flesh your build idea out to 20, so we can give a more detailed analysis of your build.

That being said, I'm inclined to agree with unbongwah here. If you're wanting to go pure classed, melee drow, you'd probably want to invest in Strength (More dps, your AC won't be as high as a monk splash build so a bit extra from dex won't help too much if you get into the higher levels) and think about taking the required feats for Tempest. Also, if you do want to go drow, rapiers are a better option than shortsword (If you really need to, you can take Oversized Two Weapon fighting for lower levels, then switch out. Or, you can just use a shortsword in your off-hand, since drow get racial mods for both).

Now, my question (Mostly directed to unbongwah). If you were to make a str based drow (Read: No finesse), what would it look like? What if it was AA? I ask because I'm experimenting with something similar myself. Anyhow, enough thread derail. Back to the OP.

Again, it'd be nice to see your ideas fleshed out through 20 (The build planner is great like that. You don't need to fill in everything, just the general things. Level up stat increases, skills, etc). Also, take a look at both the Tempest and Arcane Archer line, depending on what your playstyle is like. Further suggestions might change based on that.

Hope this helps.