Tempest Kensai 12rng/6ftr/2mnk

[Sani_Medicor]

I've started working on this build, but I don't want to reinvent the wheel...anything out there like that?

[Dylvish]

Yes, but dont have the link handy, so you would have to hunt it down. Check in these pages and in the multi-class forum. Its been hammered out, but with the recent changes to TWF feats im not sure if its been changed.

[Sani_Medicor]

Oh well...couldn't find anything last night...just the old 6 ranger builds...personally I prefer the versatility of 12 levels...oh well I'll come up with something and post it later. Thanks!

[unbongwah]

I did a slightly silly build called Sally Spastic based on that level split. One could drop the "useless" archery feats (Point Blank Shot, Shot on the Run, Imp Crit Ranged) and maybe change the level order a bit into something more conventionally useful.

[Thrudh]

I have a TR 12/6/2 fighter/ranger/monk and I've been considering TRing him again into a 12/6/2 ranger/fighter/monk

I've been comparing the two...

Both get evasion

Feats are even... You lose 3 feats, but gain GTWF for free. You can't take Greater Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Specialization with only 6 levels of fighter, so you're really even on feats (actually slightly up because rangers get Precise Shot and Improved Precise Shot for free)

• You lose +8 STR Power Surge (+4 to hit/damage)
• You lose +1 to hit/damage on your signature weapon from Kensai Mastery II
• You lose +1 to damage on your signature weapon from Specialization I (you get that at level 8 fighter)
• You lose +1 to hit and +2 damage from Greater Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Specialization

That's pretty big... Losing +6 hit /+8 damage (of course, power surge isn't on ALL the time)

• You also go from Fighter Haste IV (30%) to Fighter Haste II(20%), and you only have 6 boosts instead of 8
• Lose Fighter Strength III (+1 to STR)

However, you gain

• Full Resists
• Full Protects
• Full Barkskin
• Healing spells - easy enough to fit Maximize into this build

• +1 to hit/+3 damage on existing 2 favored enemies
• +2 to hit/+9 damage on a new favored enemy
• +1 Dex from Ranger's Dexterity III

Tempest II

• +1 to AC
• 10% more off-hand attacks
• +1 to hit

I'd say the 12 fighter beats out the 12 ranger one... It definitely does more DPS... although the ranger is semi-close against favored enemies. Ranger also gets to use any weapon he wants, so he probably beats the fighter against things like skeletons.

You could also go 12/7/1 ranger/fighter/monk... lose a feat, but gain Haste Boost III (25%)

12 Ranger is a bit more survivable... Full resists and healing spells are nice...

My particular guy is a halfling with the dragonmarks... I could make this switch and fit in Empower Healing AND Maximize - along with the Ranger Devotion enhancements, I could have some serious healing power (talking 400 point heals and 160 point Cure Serious Wounds on people with no healing enhancements...)

But the healing power I have now is pretty decent (250 point heals, 100 point CSW), and he has good AC (low 60s), and displacement clickables, so it's not like he gets hit a lot...

I probably use my healing dragonmarks more on my teammates than myself...

So I'll probably stick with the 12 fighter/6 ranger version and the higher DPS.

[voodoogroves]

Thud, does your analysis account for the fact that you can have a MUCH lower dex? The Ranger version can have a higher STR normally.

[Thrudh]

Thud, does your analysis account for the fact that you can have a MUCH lower dex? The Ranger version can have a higher STR normally.

Good point... Though one probably shouldn't totally dump Dex, since evasion isn't worth much without a good reflex save...

[Thrudh]

The ranger version has more AC and resists and protection spells, and self-healing... the fighter version does more damage...

Both are good...

[Thrudh]

Also, how much is that extra 10% off-hand for the ranger build worth?

Is that roughly 5% more DPS?

If you do average 60 points of damage a swing, that's equal to +3 damage...

That closes the DPS gap a bit between the ranger and fighter builds....