Help me improve my build - Pure Tempest

[Zachski]

I figured I'd kill some time by creating a companion class to my Warchanter. Odd how I tend to be drawn to the Specialist classes...

Human
Pure Tempest Ranger
True Neutral (though may go Neutral Good if it isn't that bad)

Ability Score (I am leaning towards the less min-maxy ability score, but it never hurts to get advice on this stuff.)

28 point build

Strength: 17 or 16
Dexterity: 13 or 14
Constitution: 16
Wisdom: 8 or 10
Charisma/Intelligence: 8

Logic behind dex: On one hand, just one more stat point means +1 Reflex and +1 to-hit with bows during manyshot/pulling mode. On the other hand, I only need 13 dex to get Tempest I

Logic behind strength: This means I could easily hit 18 strength with just Korthos gear. On the other hand, it means I'd be putting in 3 stat points at character creation that are doing nothing.

Logic behind wisdom: Basically, ease of casting at level 4. With 10 Wisdom, I can grab a +1 Wisdom trinket and have the ability to cast Ram's Might. On the other hand... I could go for the min-maxing option and only be able to cast when I have Owl's Wisdom cast... which I suppose I could get as a clickie or a wand.

Planned weapon: Either scimitars or khopeshes. Money is earned as I go, 'cause that's how I roll.

Skills: Concentratinon, UMD, Jump, Tumble, Spot, and Balance.

Feats

1: Dodge
H: ???? (If Khopeshes, then Proficiency. If not, then Toughness)
3: Mobility
6: Spring Attack
9: Power Attack
12: IC: Slashing
15: OTWF
18: ???? (Toughness if Khopesh is taken, I guess.)

My basic idea for a playstyle: Use Manyshot to pull the enemy in, then switch to my weapons and kick ass.

I'm not exactly sure about the Favored Enemy order, but I'm assuming that Tihocan's FE order is considered the "standard". I do plan on taking Undead first.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance

[Zachski]

So, I'm actually going to go with the build that has 16 strength and Scimitars with Khopeshes being later.

...Wish I had something more to say other than "if you still have any advice, that'd be great."

[FlyingTurtle]

Start with 1 Rogue for awesome trap disabling and UMD abilities?

[Martdon]

Take the Toughness feat as your spare one.
I would even take it at level 1 and take Khopesh later, after you have had a chance to save up and acquire some decent ones. Just use Rapiers and Scimitars until then.

[Zachski]

Start with 1 Rogue for awesome trap disabling and UMD abilities?

I'm guessing you didn't see the words "Pure Tempest"

Not interested in trap disabling. UMD... well, I'll figure something out.

Furthermore, multiclassing a class is an excellent way to ruin it for me. Hence why I'm asking for a Pure build and not an Exploiter build.

[Martdon]

Feats something like this.
1:Toughness
H: Dodge
3:Mobility
6:Spring Attack
9:IC: Slash
12:Power Attack
15: Khopesh
18; OTWF

[Zachski]

Feats something like this.
1:Toughness
H: Dodge
3:Mobility
6:Spring Attack
9:IC: Slash
12:Power Attack
15: Khopesh
18; OTWF

Interesting.

Well, that works for me, honestly.

By the way, that's another thing... what kind of enhancements should I aim for, aside from the obvious +damage ones? Bearing in mind I don't mind resetting them as I level.

[FlyingTurtle]

UMD... well, I'll figure something out.

Without UMD and without lots of cash I think you might have an easier time levelling with a Good alignment to use PG weapons. You can worry about the extra vulnerability to Unholy damage much later if you ever get there.

[Zachski]

Without UMD and without lots of cash I think you might have an easier time levelling with a Good alignment to use PG weapons. You can worry about the extra vulnerability to Unholy damage much later if you ever get there.

Right, that's true..

I wonder if I should just go Arcane Archer instead. What do you guys think?

[Martdon]

Ranger Sprint Boost I
Ranger Master of Archery
Ranger Swamp Lore I
Ranger Tundra Lore I
Ranger Desert Lore I
Human Adaptability Strength I
Human Greater Adaptability Dexterity I
Human Improved Recovery I
Human Improved Recovery II
Human Improved Recovery III
Human Versatility I
Human Versatility II
Human Versatility III
Human Versatility IV
Racial Toughness I
Racial Toughness II
Ranger Favored Attack I
Ranger Favored Attack II
Ranger Favored Damage I
Ranger Favored Damage II
Ranger Favored Damage III
Ranger Favored Damage IV
Rangger Favored Resistance I
Ranger Favored Resistance II
Ranger Favored Resistance III
Ranger Tempest I
Ranger Tempest II
Ranger Tempest III
Ranger Dexterity I
Ranger Dexterity II
Ranger Dexterity III

For Tempest route (it would change for AA obviously)
All 5 level up ability points should go into STR obviously
And for Favoured Enemy feats should be something like this.

Lvl 1: Undead
5: Elemental
10: Giant
15: Evil Outsider
20: Construct

I would go Tempest as it is an easier play-style I would think.

[Zachski]

I suppose Tempest would be the better choice... it's just that I hear so much complaining about Tempest, and so many people are going Arcane Archer, I sometimes wonder if it's the better choice.

[Martdon]

Pure Tempests are rare, many take 2 levels of something else, like the exploiter.
The thing about them is they don't do as much damage as other melee builds.

And AA can do more damage, but it takes more skill to do so, and some people end up on people's 'Do Not Group' list, because they cannot play them properly. Learning to use your Manyshot, and when to pull out your weapons and beat things down, are all required to play an AA properly.

Really the only reason to take 20 levels of Ranger, is if you are relying on range a lot. You can even as a tempest, (you still get all the feats, such as Manyshot) The only other thing that level 19,20 gives you besides the 25% attack speed to range is a fifth favoured enemy feat.

[Zachski]

The other reason to take 20 levels of ranger is to not feel watered down.

Seriously, that's what playing a multiclass feels like to me.

[Martdon]

Lol, yeah if you don't like feeling watered down, then I guess that would be a reason not to splash.

[FlyingTurtle]

The other reason to take 20 levels of ranger is to not feel watered down.

Seriously, that's what playing a multiclass feels like to me.

I think Wiz 18 / Rog 2 is slightly watered down. You're not as good a wizard as you could be, but more versatile all round.

Ranger 18 / Rog 1 / Ftr or Monk 1 doesn't feel watered down at all. It feels powered up. You're better at fighting. You're better at healing. You're better at... stuff you totally couldn't even do before.

[Zachski]

I think Wiz 18 / Rog 2 is slightly watered down. You're not as good a wizard as you could be, but more versatile all round.

Ranger 18 / Rog 1 / Ftr or Monk 1 doesn't feel watered down at all. It feels powered up. You're better at fighting. You're better at healing. You're better at... stuff you totally couldn't even do before.

I feel watered down.

I feel one level behind everything, and then I'm gonna feel two levels behind everything.

[Faent]

I'm guessing you didn't see the words "Pure Tempest" Not interested in trap disabling. UMD... well, I'll figure something out. Furthermore, multiclassing a class is an excellent way to ruin it for me. Hence why I'm asking for a Pure build and not an Exploiter build.

I have no idea why you'd go with a pure tempest build. You need 18 ranger levels to unlock Tempest III. What in god's name do you want the other two ranger levels for (unless you're going arcane archer)?

[Faent]

I feel watered down. I feel one level behind everything, and then I'm gonna feel two levels behind everything.

Ok, I see. You're willing to gimp yourself in order to feel emotionally engaged with your build. If your fun requires you to feel emotionally engaged, and your feelings are this inextricably linked with your class makeup, then go pure. And seriously consider Arcane Archer, since that's the only way you can avoid seriously gimping yourself. And really, isn't the purest ranger an archer?