Quick Idea for a ranged build

[JohnRove]

Was wondering how viable this would be for a STR-based Ranged Character

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Level 20 Neutral Good Half-Orc Female
(20 Fighter) 
Hit Points: 342
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 14
Reflex: 13
Will: 5

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             18                    26
Dexterity            18                    24
Constitution         14                    15
Intelligence          6                     6
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma              6                     6

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 8
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 20
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 20
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 20

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               6                    18
Bluff                -2                     1
Concentration         2                     5
Diplomacy            -2                     1
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -2                    -2
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  4                     7
Intimidate           -2                     1
Jump                  4                     9
Listen               -1                    -1
Move Silently         4                     7
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair               -2                    -2
Search               -2                    -2
Spot                 -1                    -1
Swim                  4                     8
Tumble                n/a                   n/a
Use Magic Device     n/a                   n/a

{\b {\ul Notable Equipment }} \par Verik's Necklace \par Minos Legens \par Bloodstone \par Disease Immunity Belt of Greater False Life \par Verik's Ring \par Dexterous Gloves \par Striding Boots \par Proof against Poison Ring of Springing \par Ethereal Bracers \par Elocator's Habiliment (Upgraded) \par Blindness Ward Goggles \par Silver Longbow \par  \par Level 1 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Point Blank Shot


Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 4 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Bow Strength


Level 5 (Fighter)


Level 6 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Rapid Shot
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Specialization: Ranged Weapons


Level 7 (Fighter)


Level 8 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Manyshot


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons


Level 10 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Precise Shot


Level 11 (Fighter)


Level 12 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Weapon Specialization: Ranged Weapons
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons


Level 13 (Fighter)


Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Precise Shot


Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons


Level 16 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Superior Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons


Level 17 (Fighter)


Level 18 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons


Level 19 (Fighter)


Level 20 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Slashing Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost III
Enhancement: Fighter Extra Action Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost III
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost IV
Enhancement: Fighter Weapon Alacrity
Enhancement: Kensei Longbow Mastery I
Enhancement: Kensei Longbow Mastery II
Enhancement: Kensei Longbow Mastery III
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy III
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei II
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei III
Enhancement: Fighter Greatsword Specialization I
Enhancement: Fighter Greatsword Specialization II
Enhancement: Fighter Longbow Specialization I
Enhancement: Fighter Longbow Specialization II
Enhancement: Orcish Extra Action Boost I
Enhancement: Orcish Extra Action Boost II
Enhancement: Orcish Extra Action Boost III
Enhancement: Orcish Strength I
Enhancement: Orcish Strength II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength III
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness III
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness IV

[Alektronic]

Define viable? To wit, why would u prefer to play this build over either a 20ranger or 18fighter/1ranger/1caster? Is it just for flavor?

That aside, looks fine.

[JohnRove]

Sorry, I should have clarified this in my intro post. I want it to be pure for fighter capstone and because I am currently focusing on pure builds. And I have gotten a little bored with TWF and THF pure fighters but really like the fighter class. I simply wanted to have something that could use its bow to good effect but be able to pull out a Gsword when it is absolutely pointless to range things. As for why not ranger, I have found my ranger to recently be too low on HP count so went with fighter. I will prob be TR'ing my current ranger to a ranged spec 20 Rgr one of these days just for the amusement of it, this is meant to be a new diversion.

[Kourier]

Sorry, I should have clarified this in my intro post. I want it to be pure for fighter capstone and because I am currently focusing on pure builds. And I have gotten a little bored with TWF and THF pure fighters but really like the fighter class. I simply wanted to have something that could use its bow to good effect but be able to pull out a Gsword when it is absolutely pointless to range things. As for why not ranger, I have found my ranger to recently be too low on HP count so went with fighter. I will prob be TR'ing my current ranger to a ranged spec 20 Rgr one of these days just for the amusement of it, this is meant to be a new diversion.

The thing is, you can't get arcane archer without splashing on a fighter...

[JohnRove]

You also can't get AA as a Half-Orc

[Malison]

I find it hard to call a character a viable archer when he gives up 25 average damage per arrow, especially in favor of a melee-centered capstone.

That said, this could be a viable toon who happens to have an archery option.

[Alektronic]

Agree with Malison. Maybe if you developed a second aspect of the build, some ideas...

-you could consider using multiple ranged weps (like the weapons master posted by... am sirgog?) to good effect. Like repeaters for crit effects, bows when on manyshot, and throwing axes when tanking for shield benefits.

-hi str means you could also take the combat feats (SB, imp trip, sap) for some CC while MS is off timer.

-hi dex and more feats may mean u could offtank as a SB?

Just throwing some ideas out there. I hate playing focused builds unless they are min/maxxed cuz then there's no denying my gimpnacity . At least by diversifying, you get to justify urself through the utility argument.

[krackythehoodedone]

The idea to use the feat rich Ftr to produce an excellent Archer with a speciality backup has been visited many times.

Please look at the Helves Angel build by DarkStar as Imho the best of this type of build around Atm. It basically does everything your build does plus AA plus a whole load of extra bonusses for the Tr's.

A Greatsword version would be Np even tho the basic build has either Scimmies or Khopeshes for backup.

Giving up on the 500 point arrow is not really viable with the build choices available today

Unfortunately you are not going to get the best results whilst sticking to your ''pure'' requirements

[JohnRove]

I really appreciate the input and will consider it. However, I should point out this is not intended to be a min/max build, it is just something fun for me to toy around with and a chance to play something I have never really tried before.

Also, if this build sees the light of day, it will not be PUGging anywhere, it like my sorc will be limited to guild or solo runs. I have outside of game issues that cause me to avoid PUGs most of the time outside of raids and this is reinforced further with Sub-Optimal Builds. My sorc is currently acid/lightning speced, likely switching to Earth Savant with force after U9.

Part of the allure of this build is going to hopefully be my ability to solo with it by taking out dangerous enemies from a distance using high-ish dmg from str and Slaying/GB arrows. Stunning blow is something I considered and absolutely love on my current fighters, but it can't be activated with a ranged attack and my str is not going to be super high which means lower DC's. Imp Trip is out because getting to 13 INT on a Horc will mean reducing my dex or str even further which would impede either my damage or my ability to take bow feats.

I chose slashing and with it gswords as my backup weapon because I have several lying around ever since my main ftr got his SoS and uses it almost exclusively.

To clarify my initial question, do you think this build will be able to survive enough solo to be worth the time to actually think of it's name?

[Blktom]

I personally have made a lot of different bow builds that were not AA builds (2 Ranger/18 Fighter, 20 FvS (silver flame), 18 Barb/2 Ranger, 6 Deep Woods/14 Assassin, ect...) and they can do 100-150 points of damage on crits with the right suffix/prefix bow, but they are not AA lvl damage that is doing 500+ with slayer arrows. It is just the sad truth that there is really only one viable bow build.

I mean, the others are great, don't get me wrong. You can do alot of damage at low to mid level and out agro all the melee people, specially when Many Shot kicks in. You really are competitive to a AA damage wise till he gets slayer arrows, then your done. Now your a support guy who is not really doing alot for most fights or depending on your gear to not make you a total gimp (and that same gear would be /oh/ so much better on a AA... why I hate gear builds). The Favored Soul at least had full caster levels (no bow strength) and could still do all the buff spells and heal, but all of his feats were bow feats, not meta-magic (I made it a human, so atleast I got Quicken and 7 Bow feats).

I applaude you for trying, but there is only one destination for archers... Arcane Archer. At least there you have half a dozen ways of getting to it.

[Alektronic]

With ranging (on a non AA), u trade dps for survivability in my experience. I could get through most higher lvl content (nix Amrath, tp devils suck for ranging). I just have a strong melee option, so often don't range unless the situation calls for it.

In a nutshell: your dps will be hi enough, but I'd bet you'd have alot more fun with a ranger 20 AA or some other AA variant if you wanted to go the ranged route. Fighter 20, unfortuntately, doesn't bring alot to the archer table imo (from my experience using a bow on a tempest). Good luck in ur travels .

[Therigar]

IMO this is an example of a build that will benefit from Ranger with the AA PrE.

1. Improved survivability thanks to self buffs and innate healing capabilities plus evasion. Nothing should be killing you in 1 shot. IMO the higher HP you'd gain with fighter doesn't trump barkskin, ram's might, elemental protection & resistance, freedom of movement, self healing and evasion.

2. Optional use of all fighting styles. TWF is entirely free, ranged is almost free, THF is still a viable option.

3. Increased damage. Favored enemy trumps almost everything unless Turbine makes a big left turn with U9.

However, it should still do acceptably since it is mostly a THF STR build. I'm assuming you're opting for greatsword because you have a SoS. Otherwise I'd suggest the higher crit profile of falchions.

[PestWulf]

You might also consider the Bow Barbarian build. If you are thinking of using a 2hander for when you want to do damage anyway, a rage centered barbarian investing in bow feats will net you some serious offense.

I was pretty shocked by Shade's thread on the 100+ STR challenge. I hadn't really considered before how much the barbarian can really net and the fact that while frenzied any longbow he wields will be a x6 damage on a 19 to 20.

I know the Bowbarian builds have been around for a long time, I just hadn't really given them much of a look thinking I understood what they were about. But...I really didn't understand what kind of numbers they could actually generate on a sustained basis. With great con and rages being pretty much perma between shrines....I must say it's a pretty attractive ranged character in my view.

[krackythehoodedone]

Check out posts by Soulstabber.

His Bowbarian has posted screenshots of 1000 damage for one arrow.

Awesome one to one missile damage..and good melee option, but not enough feats for imp precise shot

But again not a pure build. 18 barb FB..1 Rgr and one..any class that gives a blue bar really..I think Soulstabber has gone Wiz and plans Bard on final TR.

So not really what the OP wanted.

I looked at the build, and yes John your proposed build will do generally what you require

I think posters are struggling with the fact that for just a tweak or two it could be much more effective

[Therigar]

I was pretty shocked by Shade's thread on the 100+ STR challenge.

IMO it is a mistake to think that you can get to some of the builds that people put out on the forums. Even Shade's STR challenge build comes with the caveat that he's had to invest a lot into it.

Many people, both new players and long-time players, get caught up in the "WOW!" of build posts. They go right out and try to duplicate the builds and end up with big piles of FAIL!

What Shade demonstrated is that obscene STR is possible. But you need to take a look at gear and other elements of the build's profile. Just like obscene AC or saves these things can be done if you have the experience, plat, time, support and gear.

That is a lot of stuff to need and the journey from character creation to realization of potential can be a long and ugly one.

[-Satureon-]

IMO it is a mistake to think that you can get to some of the builds that people put out on the forums. Even Shade's STR challenge build comes with the caveat that he's had to invest a lot into it.

Many people, both new players and long-time players, get caught up in the "WOW!" of build posts. They go right out and try to duplicate the builds and end up with big piles of FAIL!

What Shade demonstrated is that obscene STR is possible. But you need to take a look at gear and other elements of the build's profile. Just like obscene AC or saves these things can be done if you have the experience, plat, time, support and gear.

That is a lot of stuff to need and the journey from character creation to realization of potential can be a long and ugly one.

Well said, long time not seen similar good explanations about blueprints.
Prefer if everyone do his/her own build what fit on the person too.