12/6/2 Stunner/AA

[CrankVulcan]

I've had this concept brewing in my mind for weeks now and I have to see what you guys think before I make it.

"At a glance"
-Almost complete Arcane Archer abilities(missing P shot and IP shot) with manyshot, rapid shot, bow strength, and slayer arrow.
-Decent Melee DPS via wind speed, PA, GTWF, good base damage, ToD rings, stance strikes, and sneak attack. Attack bonus that is effective in endgame including epics.
-Effective stunning fist, usable in almost all content in the game.
-Ability to use heal scrolls with a 95% chance of success. Res scrolls and restoration scrolls 100% chance of success.
-very functional trap skills
-very functional sneaking skills
-Abundant step for kiting mobs and getting to sniping perches.
-75+ raid buffed ac with no epic/extremely rare gear.
-Fully functional Intimidation that could be swapped for UMD if desired. Both could fit in if you dropped sneak skills.
-Wicked running speed with monk/ranger sprint/longstrider.
-Self buffed saves can sky rocket to the high 30s easily with ocean stance and skill boost.
-Immunity to poison/diseases as well as Improved evasion.
-Decent self healing via fists of light/healing ki and heal scrolls.
-Super versatility. Feats can easily be swapped and skills/enhancements can be relocated to make this build work for your playstyle. Drop Finesse and pump Str. and Wis. for better damage while still being able to effectively use Stunning blow and Archery... Drop Chr and Int. to focus less on versatility and more on raw power.... Swap some feats and take the dark path for more sneak damage and better DPS(touch of death).... With 20%healing amp from helf and 30% from monk this build could respec for 200% amp pretty easily.... Drop Str. and Con. and become a gimp.... The list of possibilities is vast and pretty much every version will still have at least decent DPS and good saves. I don't want to sound arrogant about my build..I'm just excited because I have a feeling this build will do very well and be a blast to play.

My version:
Helf 12/6/2 Monk/Ranger/Rogue

Stats
Str-14+2tome+6item=22
Dex-14+2tome+6item+2race+2ranger+3lvls+3stance=32
Con-14+2tome+6item=22-2sance=20
Int-14+2tome=16+6item=22
Wis-14+2enh+2tome+6item+2lvls=26
Chr-10+2tome+6item=18

Feats
Free
Bow Strength
Diehard
TWF
ITWF
Rapid Shot
Manyshot

Base
-Mental toughness(blah)
-Weapon focus(blah)
-Point Blank(blah)
-Improved Crit: Ranged(maybe combat expertise)
-GTWF
-Power Attack
-Toughness

Monk
-Finesse
-Zen Archery
-Stunning Fist

Concept
Since I tried AA I fell in love but soon realized it couldn't be the focus of my build. I needed something else to justify my toon. I think that there needs to be something I can do between manyshot bursts. I guess I could just go ranger and swing two kopeshes. That would be original....

I capped a light monk about 8 months ago and took him into a second life as a monk. Very survivable, soloable, and potentially powerful characters. I loved FoL and abundant step. Both of these abilitys make surviving way easier.

I built this guy to be the best of both classes. Using wind stance III, 2d6 base damage, Tod wrings, haste boost, and GTWF, this build could be a potent melee toon. Add in DC 34 stun and your hitting things pretty hard. On the other hand you have most of the awesome ranged feats as well as the ability to zoooom yourself to unreachable "perches" and snipe helpless mobs with slayer arrow.

With a high Dex and Wis, this build could hit the mid 50's in unbuffed ac without much effort. Not game-breaking but helpful.

Rogue Splash
I suppose rogue lvls are optional but they suit my playstyle. They give this character the option of UMD, traps, and sneak skills. I also love haste boost. Could drop rogue for barkskin. blah.

lvl Progression--------------------------------------Feats(some are taken others are free)
1-Rogue(skillz)-------------------------------------Toughness, Cleric Dilettante(no fail res scrolls and 5% fail heal scrolls)
2-Monk----------------------------------------------Zen Archery
3-Monk(I'm addicted to evasion)------------------Finesse, Point Blank
4-Ranger--------------------------------------------Bow Strength
5-Ranger(gives access to some bow use)---------Rapid Shot, TWF
6-Monk(FoL for Tear of D.)-------------------------Light Path, Weapon focus
7-Ranger--------------------------------------------Diehard
8-Ranger
9-Ranger--------------------------------------------Mental toughness
10-Ranger-------------------------------------------Manyshot, ITWF
11-Rogue
12-Monk---------------------------------------------Power Attack
13-Monk
14-Monk---------------------------------------------Stunning Fist(DC=10base+10wraps+6monk+8wis=34)
15-Monk---------------------------------------------Improved Crit: Ranged or Combat Expertise
16-Monk
17-Monk
18-Monk---------------------------------------------GTWF
19-Monk
20-Monk

Skills
With the build variation I posted it's possible to max Concentration, Balance, and Intimidate while finding room for less vital skills...

10 ranks in disable/open lock give you a 45/50 self buffed modifier(including +5 tools). 15 ranks in search also gives a 50 self buffed mod.

I think I put 12 ranks in move silently and hide. With a high dex and good items that should be more than enough.

Lastly I put enough points in jump and tumble to do back-flips and make the best use of Abundant step. I could have dropped these two skills and maxed out UMD, but with the cleric dilettante I really don't thinks it's as important.

Gear
Well this is something that I never plan out because I don't think gear should make or break a character.
I'll do my best tho...
+2 tomes across the board if possible, even chr for umd/intimidate.


Head: Minos
Cloak:+5 resist/protection or GS with purma-blur
Goggles: Tharnes/GS occasionally swapped for rogue gear
Trinket: Shimmering Arrowhead
Necklace: +6 wisdom
Armor: Icy's with alchemical AC bonus*
Bracers: Tharnes/+8's
Gloves:Epic Charged Gauntlets would be nice...+6 strength till then
Ring1:Tod ring/chattering
Ring2:Tod ring/+6 dex/Tumbleweed
Belt: +6 constitution
Boots: Gyroscopic boots**

*Until I get a good DT
**The faster I run the better for when it's time to kite. I don't know what does or
doesn't stack but monk speed+
30% boots+haste+Longstrider+Sprint Boost II=silly kiting speed. Just need to make sure I let the melees catch up eventually

Enhancements
This build will be very AP tight but there are some definite must haves in this build. The AA lines are very AP intensive as are the stances. Human adaptability boost IV is pretty important as well IMO. If you want to intimidate there are more enhancements for that as well.

Saves
Fort/Ref/Will
8/8/8 monk
0/3/0 rogue
5/5/2 ranger
5/11/8 stats
3/3/3 Icy raiment resistance
1/1/1 alchemical
22/31/23 unbuffed saves
4/4/4 GH
2/2/2 recitaion
28/37/29 Raid buffed

9 more to each with save boost+ocean stance(just for sprinting through that epic trap or whatever)

AC
10 base
11 dex
8 wis
3 monk
5 icys w/alchemical bonus
5 protection(mineral helm probly)
8 armor bracers
5 combat expertise(swapped out for either IC ranged or GTWF)(CE is also a requirement for shintao if I decide to go that path)
4 insight(GS kama)
•59• beholder...
3 chattering
3 bark potion
•65• little effort...
4 bard
2 real barkskin
1 haste
2 recitation
•74• raid buffed
5 human boost(very temporary)
1 exeptional Dex or Wis(2 if both)
•80• Temporary AC without any epic/unobtainable gear or yugoth pots/ship buffs

Intimidation
I may consider working Intimidate into this toon. Hear me out before you kick the dog.

23base+15item+5DDO store helm+4chr+3 tenacious badger+1 enh+4GH=55(enough for no-fail on the VOD orthons..maybe no-fail sully according to this thread)

55+6GS=61+5skill boost(for emergencies only)=66

Half-elves get an extra intimidation cooldown timer so I'll be attempting 1/3 more than normal or 2 chain linked quickly for very unlikely failure(awesome for when the wizard gets the agro because of the gimp tank). Only issue with Intimidate at this point is that it's sorta gear intensive and also my HPs are less than tank material. Could maybe take full improved recovery lines and put 30% on a tanking kama for better healing to make up for this. High saves and improved evasion help to minimize bulk damage from spells. Just have to rely on AC for most tanking situations.

Typical pug Raid scenario: The tank loses boss Aggro to the unprepared Barbarian/Paladin/Arcane and said character starts to run away like a sissy.... This is when I jump in, hit skill boost, chain intimidate....then with either AC gear on or Slayer arrow and manyshot going Abundant step away from the rest of the party and then hit ranger sprint boost until the rest of the group has reorganized.

Note: I don't want to be a main tank in raids. I am only taking Intimidate to help the group in an emergency situation. This build is likely more capable of dealing with aggro than whoever accidentally grabbed aggro from a boss. Repeat...I don't expect to be a "tank" in raids.

Attack bonus and Damage
2Hit
-Fist=19BaB+11 dex+5wraps+2 tumbleweed/arrowhead=37 on first swing...

-Bow=19Bab(Zen Archery)+11dex+5 GS bow+2tumbleweed/arrowhead+1 focus+1 point blank=39

Damage
-Fists=2d6(7)+5wraps+5str+5power attack≈22/hit+holy/elemental/bane damage+sneak attack damage+elemental strikes(chaining earth III and wind III)=Decent DPS considering the versatility of the build.

-Bow=1d10LightningII bow(5)+5weapon+5str+1point blank+force(≈3)+holy(7)+lighting(≈3)+elemental arrows(≈3)=32/shot.


HPs
144 (d8 ranger/monk*18)
12 (d6 rogue*2)
100 con
20 heroic
20 minos/GS mineral helm(proby more in the case of GS)
20 dusk heart(aiming low here)
22 toughness feat
20 toughness enh
10 favor
=368

I really wish I could get more but I guess I don't know how to squeeze them out of this build. Advice here would be particularly appreciated.

Comments welcome. No flames please.

[maddmatt70]

Why is your dex so high if you want zen archery? Zen archery actually lowers your to-hit with a bow with such a high dex. Improved precise shot is one of the best archery feats in ddo because it adds so much dps on trash I would recommend picking it. Is a 14 int necessary for the rogue skills? Post your stunning fist dcs?

In order to get improved precise shot a dexterity of 19 is required what this implies to me is archers in ddo should forgo wisdom because strength is so essential and dexterity is not a dump stat.

Your build trys to do so much that it likely will struggle.

[Musouka]

Why is your dex so high if you want zen archery? Zen archery actually lowers your to-hit with a bow with such a high dex.

Zen archery is taken so he can remain centered while using a bow and treat it like a ki weapon. it only uses wisdom modifier for attacks if the wisdom is higher than the dex.

[maddmatt70]

I would likely go with 2 fighter levels instead of the two rogue levels and rearrange your starting stats around. You could dump int that way and pick up the two precise shot feats. Is this character a half-elf or elf?

[Blank_Zero]

I'm thinking its a pure elf, seeing as he didn't say anything about a dilletante feat choice... I'd go for the fighter lvls here and pick up rogue dilletante for the sneak.... maybe go ninja spy as well for the monk pre, pick up tod for a 500 point close range hit as well and extra sa, cuz you definitely won't have aggro.

I could see this being a really fun build. Not the greatest thing ever, but definitely fun....might have to reallocate stats to make it viable though... ill run some numbers when I get home and post here for it.

Edit: its a HElf. Notice the con breakdown, he added barb dilletante.... dunno why though >.>o

I would like to see more details here, such as lvl progression, gear choice and skill allocations, as well as what feat where. The op is a good start, but it lacks.

[Musouka]

He did mention that it is a Helf, and if you look in his Constitution math, he has a +1 from Barbarian Dilettante.

Personally, being an Arcane Archer, you should be staying out of reach of the mobs, so there are better dilettantes to take to help you out in other ways.

[Aeolwind]

(Removed this line cause I forgot the Paladin Dil works off Chr not wis, durrr!) With ranger in there, you can almost dump stat int and not have to worry too terribly much about skills if you balance your monk/ranger/Rogue levels to make sure you can keep your skills up.

I think the benefit of this isn't "zoom to a perch", it's zoom to melee range when Manyshot is down, and back out when it comes back up lol.

This looks like a lot of fun. It has some flashes of pretty dope, but it just seems to me trying to synergize melee + bow is a PITA without being full ranger.

Blank has some nice advice though. Picking up TOD would definitely help. IIRC there was debate about tempest affecting unarmed attack as well.

[Blank_Zero]

Well, as the OP said he loved doing the Monk side of things too, this build will do that for him, albeit it will take some gear to do this well I'd imagine, as well a hefty amount of player skill. But I'm sure the OP knows this.

He did mention that it is a Helf, and if you look in his Constitution math, he has a +1 from Barbarian Dilettante.

I did notice this, please check my edit.

Personally, being an Arcane Archer, you should be staying out of reach of the mobs, so there are better dilettantes to take to help you out in other ways.

Such as? From my knowledge/experience, players who play a pure Ranged game are not as highly looked upon as those who can Manyshot, but still put the bow down whilst on Timer. This build can do so quite well imho.

IIRC there was debate about tempest affecting unarmed attack as well.

As this build is a AA split, Tempest is moot, but I do get what you were trying to say =)

All in all, I like this build and might TR a monk into one eventually just to play around with it. Another build the OP could check out is the Helves Angel build that Dark-Star posted a while ago. same split with a few key differences (Heavy Picks vs. Handwraps for example)

[Nick_RC]

I posted this on my guild website a coupla months back -needs some fine tuning(I knw I need to fit in unbalancing strike in for eg.) i'm not a big ac/monk guy I'm more a smash them in the face as hard as u can type of guy...so this build never eventuates... My buddies pretty much laughed at me cos this really isn't my style. I thought it had some potential but I don't have the time to dedicate to it. I'm on my iPhone up in the mountains so it's a pain in the ass to edit it down to the pertinent info. Hope it helps.

N


Hey guys - jsut need some advice in how to make this better. Concept is kinda cool methinks. But im not sure how well it will play. Any of you AC/monk guys could give me some valuable insight. Oh and while ive set this guy up with a tonne of epic gear I actually have it all already apart from the chrono stuff which is really just a matter of scroll farming.

Cheers

*

N


The ‘Everything(nearly) I hate in a build’ Build (Biggsexy’s TR)

Pro’s: Decent stunning fist DC (42ish), 6d6 sneak dmg, full arcane archer PRE, ToD, ninja ****.

Con’ s Half Elf. PEW PEW. Slow ass sneaking. AC. Dirty Evasion. Low HP..Will this even work?? *

*

What I want to get out of this character:

1.****** Not dominate the game. I want a toon I can run up with the newly-playing soon-to-be-wife and not destroy everything we come across solo. Not gimped but more ‘quiet pwnage’.
2.****** Play something completely different to my normal playstyle – i.e run up and hit/blast things as hard and fast as I can. I want to try being a pew pew, a half elf and a monk as my own experience with all 3 of them is limited.
3.****** Self sufficient and able to save a wipe… after all my gals gonna be playing a caster of some type so I sorta need to be able to get her out of the deep-end.

*

6 Ranger/12 Monk/2 Ftr - Arcane Archer+Ninja spy halfelf.

S – 16 +2 (tome)+6( item)+1( exc)+2( yugo)+3( abishai)+2( guild)+1 (ftr) + 1Halfelf = 34 /+3 Firestance /+2 *rage, +2 madstone = 41
D – 17 +2 (tome) +7 (item) +1(exc)+2 (guild)+1 (Rgr) =28 (+yugo if too hit not an issue) = 30
C – 11 + 2 (tome)+6 (item)+2 Guild = 21 /+2 rage+2 yugo if necessary = 28
I – 8 +2 (tome) = 10
W – 16 +5 (lvl) +2(tome) +6 (item) +3 (exc) +2 (guild) +2 (Yugo)+1 Half elf +3 monk =40 / +3 ocean stance = 43
C – 8 +2 tome +7 item
*
Feats
1(M).Rog Dilletant(HE), PA, Point Blank Shot
2(M). Zen Archery
3(F). Precise Shot, Weapon Focus Ranged
4(R). Bow Strength
5(R). Rapid Shot, 2WF
6(R). Die Hard, Toughness
7(R).
8(R).
9(R). Manyshot, I2wf, Dodge
10(M).
11(M).
12(M). I crit Ranged
13(M). Stunning Fist
14(F). Improved Precise Shot
15(M). G2WF
16(M).
17(M).
18(M). Pali Past life
19(M).
20 (M).
*
*

H – Helm of Frost –( +7 cha, gr cold resist, (+1 Exc Wisdom)
N- Sirens Charm (+2 insight saves,+4 insight AC, Prot 5, Disease Imm, Armor bonus +8)
T – Epic Gem of many facets (GFL)
Cl – Cloak of endless night ( +2 Dodge Bonus, +5 epic dr, Ghostly(10%concealment +ghost touch), Deathblock)
Be - Ravager(+6 Con +2 Seeker)
Bo – Corrosion (Toughness, +6 Wis)
Br – Scorched (Gr Fire Resist, +8 AC, Heavy Fort)
R1 – Ravager +6 Str/+1exc Str/ Holy burst
R2 – Ring of Venom (+6 Dex +4 Sneak) or x/x shocking burst
Gl – Epic Spectral gloves (+7dex/ +1 exc *dex/+4 to hit)
Gog - Ravens Sight (+4 to hit, +3 epic will, + 2 exc wis, true seeing)
Bod – 10% HA/ 20% HA/ +3 Dodge
*
AC Breakdown
*
10 Base
16 Wisdom(ocean stance)
9 dex
1 centered
2 monk
8 AC bracers
4 Shied
4 Natural (Yugo)
5 Protection
4 Insight
3 Dodge (DT)
2 Dodge (Cloak)
1 Dodge (feat)
1 Haste
1 Alchemical
3 Profane Greater might of the abishai
2 Ship
= 76
*
2 Recitation
1 rgr bark
6 DoS bulwark
4 Heroics
2 defensive fighting
*
=91
*
Stunning Fist DC 10 +10 + 15 +1 +6 = 41 – 42 in Ocean.
*
TOO HIT
20 BAB
4 GH
4 Spec Gloves
4 Ravens Sight
5 Wraps
12 -14Str
3 Pali Past life
1 Haste
2 Boat
*
Saves
*
Fort – 5(rgr) + 8(mnk) +3 (ftr) +3 (res) +7(Stat) +4 GH +1 Alch
Refl – 5 (rgr) + 8(mnk) +3 (res)+ 10(Stat) +4 GH +1 Alch
Will – 2 (rgr) + 8(mnk) +3 (res) + 15 (stat) +3 (Epic) +4 GH +1 Alch
*
Enhancements *= 78
*
Monk (47)
Jump II (3)
Tumble II (3)
ToD pres x4 (8)
ToD (4)
Ninja Spy II (6)
Elegant Crane II (3)
Master Of Flame(5)
Master of Wind (5)
Master of Ocean (5)
Adept of Rock (2)
Fist of iron (1)
Monk Wisdom I (2)
*
Ftr (5)
Ftr Str I (2)
Ftr Haste Boost (I)
Ftr Tough (I)
Ftr stun (I)
*
Ranger (4)
Sprint Boost I(1)
FE Dmg II (3)
*
Half Elf (22)
Racial Toughness II (2)
Arcane Archer (4)
Imbue Force Arrows (1)
Rog impr dilettante II (6)
Conjure +5 Arrows (4)
Slayer Arrows (5)
*
Hit Points
*
20 Base
10 AoA
30 GFL
140 con
20 Tough item
22 tough feat
30 tough enh
20 ftr
96 monk
48 rgr
20 yugo
*
=456hp…

[CrankVulcan]

Notice the con breakdown, he added barb dilletante.... dunno why though >.>o

I honestly can't think of what else to take. 20 more HP, and 2 DR/- isn't terrible tho. Maybe cleric so I can use wands/scrolls like a tenth lvl cleric? I think this character has UMD potential so cleric dil seems less desirable to me...

I NEED zen archery because if I am unbalanced holding my bow I can't abundant step or be in stance. I'll still use Dex as my main shoot stat.

Is Improved P shot really worth it? If so what could I drop?

I concidered losing one rogue lvl in favor of another monk or ranger. Monk gives 22 SR(blah). IDK I'll do more number swapping later focused on this.

High wisdom gives more sp, better stun, will save(which is lacking on this build), and more AC.

Thanks for all the helpful responses.

[maddmatt70]

I like the potential on this build concept as well Nick. I am not sure how it all fits together though. Your build post is what I would try to do as well Nick. The half-elf rogue dilletante feat and all. The dps?, stunning fiist, ac, and archery are all interesting in combination... It is the sort of build my guilddy Dark-Star would make..

[Nick_RC]

I like the potential on this build concept as well Nick. I am not sure how it all fits together though. Your build post is what I would try to do as well Nick. The half-elf rogue dilletante feat and all. The dps?, stunning fiist, ac, and archery are all interesting in combination... It is the sort of build my guilddy Dark-Star would make..

Haha funny u mention dark - I thought to PM him when I was drafting it up - it really has his style written all over it. Im not overly familiar with max ac setups etc... ive always concentrated on dps first and foremost he has a much better grip on it than I.

Yeah I really do think the split has great potential. Feats and APs are really tight (as per usual) but I think the combined arms approach really would satisfy alot of needs. I have a feeling to make this work you would want to heavily invest in past lives to make sure all those borderline stats tilted in ur favor. I never posted and worked it out better because I felt I would need to do this(many trs) to get it where it needed to be (in my eyes) and saying a build needs 6-9 past lives to make it truly uber is a little too much to ask of the forum community lol.

Combine that with the fact I refuse to play more than 2 mains and a raid/shard runner these days leaves me with nothing to build it on. (Bigg went drow palemaster and am really happy I went this route. Nice having a caster back in the stable.)

N

[Blank_Zero]

Why Pali past life Nick? wouldn't Monk PL work better here for the Fists? after all, it IS a HElf Monk...should get plenty of Heal Amp =)

[Nick_RC]

Why Pali past life Nick? wouldn't Monk PL work better here for the Fists? after all, it IS a HElf Monk...should get plenty of Heal Amp =)

1. I already had a pali life on the toon and no monk.
2. The +3 hit and dmg is better than the monk PL over 6 minutes of fIghting. Helps with too hit as well something a 'does lots of things' build lacks. Monk or pali would be great choices IMO.

N

[CrankVulcan]

The dps?, stunning fiist, ac, and archery are all interesting in combination...

That's what I was hoping. I'm a little worried about the unarmed DPS tho. Think it will be acceptable in endgame? I definitely want this character to be finesse so I'm a little worried about melee. 2d6/fist should be pretty effective when manyshot is on cooldown or when it's time to beat on the boss.

[maddmatt70]

That's what I was hoping. I'm a little worried about the unarmed DPS tho. Think it will be acceptable in endgame? I definitely want this character to be finesse so I'm a little worried about melee. 2d6/fist should be pretty effective when manyshot is on cooldown or when it's time to beat on the boss.

I think you should really go for the build that Nick posts. 2 fighter is way better because IPS is really necessary if you want to call yourself an archer. Here is how you should play this character. Stun the heck out of everything you see on epic when your manyshot is on cooldown. When your manyshot is up line up multiple mobs with improved precise shot and fire away. Your dps when your manshot is on cooldown will be less good so you will need to focus on enabling other players for trash epic mobs. On red names manyshot if it is not on cooldown and then hit away. On red names and in some raids be a kiter or an ac tank where that is useful. Emphasize your utility on raids.
Only comment I would make on Nicks build is you probably want to go a little higher strength at the expense of a little wisdom (more strength level ups) so your to hit and dps are higher especially since you likely will not have all the to hit gear.

If you have plenty of turbine points or the capacity to swap a feat the cleric-dillentante I would highly recommend while levelling up that give you close to no fail heal scrolls at level 15 and great resurrection scroll % then when you get to end game swap to rogue dilletante.

[Blank_Zero]

If you have plenty of turbine points or the capacity to swap a feat the cleric-dillentante I would highly recommend while levelling up that give you close to no fail heal scrolls at level 15 and great resurrection scroll % then when you get to end game swap to rogue dilletante.

95% Heal Scrolls, 100% Raise Dead scrolls.

Not trolling, just feeling nit-picky today Matt =)

[CrankVulcan]

you probably want to go a little higher strength at the expense of a little wisdom (more strength level ups) so your to hit and dps are higher especially since you likely will not have all the to hit gear.

If you have plenty of turbine points or the capacity to swap a feat the cleric-dillentante I would highly recommend while levelling up that give you close to no fail heal scrolls at level 15 and great resurrection scroll % then when you get to end game swap to rogue dilletante.

Why won't I have all the 2hit gear? 0.o

I didn't know that cleric dilettante was so potent. No fail res scrolls sells it for me. 95% heal scrolls is pretty uber considering no UMD investment.

I really like the rogue for the skills and trap working. I could maybe drop one lvl of rogue in favor of either one more ranger or monk lvl. I don't think would have a very good effect tho....It seemed that this build was pretty loose on feats but I guess not....

Is IP shot worth dropping IC ranged and something else? What about Improved crit for precise shot? It seems less desirable to me because of a x3 multiplier.

[CrankVulcan]

Just expanded and edited the OP. I'm really loving the build concept of this toon. I see a lot of potential. Please continue the comments so I can work out any kinks before I invest time and gear into this toon. Thanks

[MoreIdiotThanSavant]

I'm following this intently, too. Will probably make it Elf, unless I'm convinced the bugger needs to be halfblooded to work. Don't want to buy more races than I have to.

By the way, can you expand on how to skill up the trapskills? How much top of the line (and for a casual player like me, likely unattainable) gear is needed to make those relatively low numbers work? I've seen people throw around claims like "4 Open Lock is all you need" before, but I'm assuming such builds require heavy gear? I'd really want to be able to take care of the traps as I level this up.

Thanks