Highest Damage with a Bow

[Therigar]

With a bow, are you sure the kensai would be more damage than the helves angel? If not/so please tell me how the helves angel isn't as powerful. Also would it work with just a normal elf nto a half elf.

Yes, kensai is more damage than half-elf.

Half-elf dilettante has to generate 2 points of damage and 1 point increased critical weapon threat per hit to match kensai. Show me how that occurs in sustained, non-situational combat. It doesn't.

Normal elf is better than half-elf because of the elven bow enhancement line that gives +2 to hit and to damage. Again, half-elf dilettantes don't give that on a sustainable basis.

[Fishcatch22]

Normal elf is better than half-elf because of the elven bow enhancement line that gives +2 to hit and to damage. Again, half-elf dilettantes don't give that on a sustainable basis.

And you don't get -2 Con, and save APs for other things. +2 to-hit and damage isn't great enough to me to justify the CON penalty; but then again I don't usually look to max out DPS.

[sephiroth1084]

Therigar, did you actually look at the Helves Angel?

[drac317]

Bow ranger ranger not always means ranged, and ranged is not always a ranger. the two are not mutally exclusive.

Notable AA gear includes:

- The Amrath AA ring and necklace set is better for non-ranger AA,as it doesnt stack with capstone
- The black dragon scale armor from Gianthold is not bad but will cap your dex without ftr armor mastery, and alacrity doesnt stack with haste
- The quiver from the Abbot raid same as above
- The tumbleweed ring will latter be replaced by AA set and arrowhead
- Silverbow from the Temple of Vol quest is sweet if you dont have any other bows
- A Greensteel Lit II bow
- Windhowler bracers would be better if they get epic treatment or just dropped the save altogether and make it 5d6 on a crit and the clickie is useless, change it to a sonic arrow clickie version of flame arrow to be useful
- Bloodstone or Shimmering Arrowhead trinkets
- Raven's Eye item set from Red Fens have very little benefit for using two slots

my thoughts

[Therigar]

And you don't get -2 Con, and save APs for other things. +2 to-hit and damage isn't great enough to me to justify the CON penalty; but then again I don't usually look to max out DPS.

That is certainly worth considering and might even motivate some, but the question is about highest damage with a bow. I could be completely wrong and the original post really wants to know about a 1 shot situation. But, I take that to mean sustained DPS via bow. And, in that situation every + to hit and to damage along with every boost to critical threat counts.

So, elf arcane archer should always win over half-elf arcane archer because of the elf bow enhancements for sustained damage.

Half-elf will have some situationally higher DPS depending on dilettante and enhancements. It could possibly work out higher if it can generate a 4 point shift in STR that is "always on" as opposed to triggered or limited by number of available actions. I just don't see that in an "always on" scenario.

Regardless, it is certainly all flavor and OP may in fact prefer situationally higher DPS on the assumption that he can almost always maintain that situation. Barbarians, for example, always assume they can rage as often as needed.

[drac317]

i dont see why everyone is figuring crits into sustained dmg

they are situational at best unless the mob is held in some fashion.

12ftr/6rgr/2mnk-kensaiII/AA with power surge,rams might,zen archery in fire stance is more sustained then counting on crits even with 18-20/*3 on a bow imo.

[Therigar]

i dont see why everyone is figuring crits into sustained dmg

they are situational at best unless the mob is held in some fashion.

12ftr/6rgr/2mnk-kensaiII/AA with power surge,rams might,zen archery in fire stance is more sustained then counting on crits even with 18-20/*3 on a bow imo.

Isn't that special.

But, see my earlier post. Anyone planning AA that takes more than 1 level of ranger does not know what they are doing.

BTW, do you know what the word "sustained" means? If so, please explain how power surge figures into the equation.

[drac317]

[quote=Therigar;3561888]Isn't that special.

But, see my earlier post. Anyone planning AA that takes more than 1 level of ranger does not know what they are doing.your opinion and we know know what those are like

BTW, do you know what the word "sustained" means? If so, please explain how power surge figures into the equation.yes i know powersurge is a clickie, real easy to get about 7-8mins worth, so more sustained the praying for a crit[/quote]
and i wasnt joking when i said 3rgr past lives in the 2nd post.

[sephiroth1084]

Isn't that special.

But, see my earlier post. Anyone planning AA that takes more than 1 level of ranger does not know what they are doing.

BTW, do you know what the word "sustained" means? If so, please explain how power surge figures into the equation.

Because there aren't many places where 8 minutes of a bonus isn't long enough. Even fewer where getting than bonus in 1 minute increments isn't enough (as opposed to a single block of 8 minutes).

Ranger 6 is giving +2 damage from Ram's and providing 5 free feats. That's pretty significant. Six fighter levels would be 3 feats.

[drac317]

Because there aren't many places where 8 minutes of a bonus isn't long enough. Even fewer where getting than bonus in 1 minute increments isn't enough (as opposed to a single block of 8 minutes).

Ranger 6 is giving +3 damage from Ram's and providing 5 free feats. That's pretty significant. Six fighter levels would be 3 feats.

fixed that,but yea my point exactly,nice to know someone got it.

[Therigar]

Well, you certainly are entitled to be wrong.

Criticals are always included when doing DPS calculations because the entire math depends on probabilities and predictible, average damage. It is seldom the case that DPS is calculated based on auto-critical situations or that DPS is calculated on 100% fortification. These are sometimes determined, but usually just as a tool for comparison.

DPS most commonly calculated against no fortification or against 50% fortification. That is because this represents the most common situations in the game. In both the normal progression of attacks will result in critical hits and these can be reliably included into the damage calculations.

Not understanding this probably explains why you have your poorly informed opinion. But, you are still entitled to it.

[Brennie]

- The Amrath AA ring and necklace set is better for non-ranger AA,as it doesnt stack with capstone (According to THIS POST and THIS POST they do actually stack. Infact, according to those posts, the Ranger Capstone stacks with every other attack speed bonus available to ranged players.)
- The black dragon scale armor from Gianthold is not bad but will cap your dex without ftr armor mastery, and alacrity doesnt stack with haste (The previous posts confirm that haste doesn't stack with Alacrity, and Black Dragon scale is made useless by both Haste and the Quiver, and considering that its so *hard* to get black dragonscale armor, and a pain in the keister to repair it, I'd agree with your assessment. However, who cares about capping dex? its not like it affects you reflex saves or to hit or anything, just means less AC)
- The quiver from the Abbot raid same as above (Disagree strongly. Quiver takes up an otherwise never-really-useful slot, gives you a much better capacity than you woudl otherwise have, and gives you an alacrity boost for every moment you don't have haste on. Why would you *not* get the quiver? Sure it doesn't stack with haste, but its amazing otherwise)
- The tumbleweed ring will latter be replaced by AA set and arrowhead Agreed. Ring slots are precious.
- Silverbow from the Temple of Vol quest is sweet if you dont have any other bows (Its the best DPS bow til you get your LitII. Especially good for Manyshotting Harry, Sully, and the like, with appropriate ammo)
- A Greensteel Lit II bow
- Windhowler bracers would be better if they get epic treatment or just dropped the save altogether and make it 5d6 on a crit and the clickie is useless, change it to a sonic arrow clickie version of flame arrow to be useful (What else are you gonna stick in a Bracer slot? The DPS gain is pretty fantastic, with a nice static to-hit and damage, and then a little bit of "on vorpal strike" to go along with it. I routinely see 40-50 sonic damage even on endgame stuff. Combine +5 AA arrows, x3 crit, slayer arrow, and windhowler, and your 20's will be rockin the house!. Also, the clicky isn't useful for damage, but it sure gets rid of enemy firwalls, fogs, clouds, and disco balls (?) pretty well!)
- Bloodstone or Shimmering Arrowhead trinkets

my thoughts

My thoughts on your thoughts in yellow

[Anneliese]

Personally, I like the 18 barbarian / 1 fighter or ranger / 1 bard for high damage on 1 target

Feats:
WF: Ranged, PBS (for AA)
Power Attack, Cleave (for frenzied berserker)
Rapid Shot, Manyshot, IC:Ranged (for more damage)
bow strength (ranger level or fighter feat)


Pros/Cons:
+High damage without a bow (power attack+frenzied berserker III + Min2)
+Vicious does not reduce your HP on ranged attacks (6D6 extra damage per shot)
+High strength due to Rage
+With Barbarian speed and sprint boost, you can run fast if needed
+High DR (+8/-)
+UMD as a classskill (Heal scrolls)

+/- No Toughness - but you are a D12 class, and get +3 con enhancements, +4 con from rage and +3 con from rage enhancements (+10con is +200hp at level 20)

-No evasion
-Cannot use many magical items while raged
-Missing Precise Shot & IPS (can be very nice in situations where you line up multiple mobs)


IMHO, missing PS/IPS is the main downside to this build.

[drac317]

My thoughts on your thoughts in yellow

only going to really disagre on the silverbow-yes its nice,but an icyburst shockingburst of puregood pust out more constent dmg and is just as sick on crits

[ArchStriker]

Lol, lots of posts and "thoughts" on the matter. Thanks guys.

[Ogmar01]

Thought you might like this link to an archer post

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...64#post3491164

[Talon_Moonshadow]

i dont see why everyone is figuring crits into sustained dmg

they are situational at best unless the mob is held in some fashion.

12ftr/6rgr/2mnk-kensaiII/AA with power surge,rams might,zen archery in fire stance is more sustained then counting on crits even with 18-20/*3 on a bow imo.

That's not entirely true.

Crits maybe a little difficult to factor in, but crits a majority of DPS comes from crits.

Although i think it is worthwhile to take into account non-crit DPS as well.

[krackythehoodedone]

I believe the highest DPS purely Bow build available today (mainly cos run out of feats to do anything else) would be the 18 Barb FB3/1Ftr/Wiz or even Bard. Check out posts from Soulstabber with sreenshots of 1000 dam from a single arrow.

I think probably the most rounded Archer build about today is the Helves Angel which uses a feat rich build to max out Ranged Manyshot and some kickass Melee DPS in between.

Dont build an archer without all the bow feats especially Imp Precise Shot

Easy Stat calculator for Archers. Go with 30 dex endgame if ur not planning epics. Go for 36 with Epics and you'll hit pretty much everything. At least 14 Con and barring any other special requirements its Str Str Str baby

[Thrudh]

First, anyone building arcane archer and taking more than 1 ranger level does not know what they are doing.

You don't know this game as well as you think you do.

[ArchStriker]

I've already started but if I reach level 20 and like the toon. I'll TR into that.