Manychant - Arcane Archer, TWF, Warchanter 11rng/8brd/1ftr

[Bardicus]

Arcane Archer's provide premiere dps while Manyshot is active. The problem is what do they do while waiting for Manyshot to refresh? Manychant is my solution to the problem. While waiting for Manyshot to refresh, Manychant is supplying the melee with songs close to what a level 20 SS or Virt would provide along with decent personal dps via the twf chain.

Manychant
11 Ranger // 8 Bard // 1 Fighter
True Neutral - Elf
36 pt build

Str - 38 (18 + 5 levels + 2 ram's + 2 rage + 2 ship + 6 item + 2 tome + 1 exc)
Dex - 34 (18 + 2 elf + 2 ranger + 6 item + 3 tome + 3 exc)
Con - 26 (14 + 2 tome + 7 item + 3 exc)
Int - 8 (eat a +2 at 7 for skills)
Wis - 8
Cha - 8

Ending HP: 469hp (324 + 30 gfl + 20 toughness item + 10 gh favor + 45 shroud + 20 rage + 20 boat)
Reflex Save: 30 unbuffed

Feats:
TWF
iTWF
gTWF
Bow Strength
Rapid Shot
Manyshot
Precise Shot
Improved Precise Shot
Point Blank Shot
WF: Slash
WF: Ranged
Power Attack
Extend
Past Life: Soldier of Faith
iCrit: Slash
iCrit: Ranged (take Toughness early and swap to iCrit:Ranged once geared at 20)

Enhancements:
1 Bard Wand and Scroll Mastery
1 Bard Energy of Music
6 Bard Inspired Attack II
3 Bard Inspired Damage II
3 Bard Inspired Bravery II
4 Bard Warchanter
1 Bard Lingering Song
6 Elven Dexterity II
6 Ranger Dexterity II
6 Elf Melee Damage II
6 Elf Melee Attack II
6 Elf Ranged Attack II
6 Elf Ranged Damage II
2 Ranger Spring Boost II
2 Ranger Favored Attack
6 Ranger Favored Damage III
1 Ranger Devotion I
5 Arcane Archer Conjure +5 Arrow
5 Arcane Archer Imbue Arrow
4 Elven Arcane Archer
80 TOTAL

UMD, Perform, Balance, Concentration at 23 ranks with plenty of points to spare

Manyshot Perks:
Great burst dps
+5/+6 bard songs
Evasion
TWF chain
+5 to hit and damage via Elf Enhancements and Paladin PL
Bard Buffs + Ram's and Resist Energy
Sprint Boost
3 Favored Enemies

[Hordo]

Misses too much of the song bonuses of a warchanter...at least level 14 bard to get it right.

Other than that, I have an AA RogueChanter (16 Bard 2 Ranger 2 Rogue) that works wonderfully well.

Too many other combos to do, but you miss out on WAY too much bard bonus to even bother with the bard in the first place.

[ShadowFlash]

Very Similar to my wife's build discussed here...
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?p=3616559
We changed our mind a couple times, so you have to scroll down a little.

We went with rogue instead of fighter for UMD, Locks, Traps, and the extra 1d6 SA.

We also went with spellsinger I instead of warchanter. We had a couple reasons for this...
1: When there's a bard in the party, it's usually warchanter and much better than her at bardishness. In these cases even her 1st tier spellsong trance is welcomed by the casters. If there's no bard in the party, a weak inspired courage is better than no inspire courage
2: We thought the spellsinger actually synergize better. With all the different buffs from both classes, wand usuage mastery, and decent self-SP-healing, the enhancements made more sense.

Our goal was not to "replace" the bard in a party per say, but there are tons of time when we don't have one in the group. You really have to plan on both scenarios when you devote 8 levels to it. Fascinate can still be maxed out nicely for solo or short-man situational CC. Spell selection needs to be studied a LOT as some spells overlap ( such as cures ) and it's important to have them available in the weaker bard slots to free up room for more important ranger spells in those very limited slots.

We're 1 dot away from the holy 16 of our build, and I've been meaning to update my thread with leveling tips and impressions. It's a VERY fun build to play and definately holds it's own.

[maddmatt70]

I prefer 12 fighter 8 bard especially when comparing the feats you chose with your 11 ranger 8 bard 1 fighter. 12 fighter 8 bard just does much more dps in my opinion. http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...ght=wolfdancer Here is a build I posted.

[maddmatt70]

Misses too much of the song bonuses of a warchanter...at least level 14 bard to get it right.

Other than that, I have an AA RogueChanter (16 Bard 2 Ranger 2 Rogue) that works wonderfully well.

Too many other combos to do, but you miss out on WAY too much bard bonus to even bother with the bard in the first place.

Not all bards are made to just run in raids. A bard with just an 8 bard split is likley more effecient in a 6 person or short person party from a dps melee perspective then a full bard is.

[ShadowFlash]

I prefer 12 fighter 8 bard especially when comparing the feats you chose with your 11 ranger 8 bard 1 fighter. 12 fighter 8 bard just does much more dps in my opinion. http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...ght=wolfdancer Here is a build I posted.

Yeah, much more DPS...but no FE's, much much much smaller SP pool, missing all the Ranger Buffs, no Lock or Trap Skills, no Evasion, and if there's a warchanter in the party, your 8 bard levels are outshone. I like it from a DPS standpoint, but we prefered the utility. With my version, she can "missing-man" slot into a group alot easier. Once you go that heavily into DPS and lose the extra utility, you start competing against the better DPSers. Kensai Power Surge is definately nice, but with Ram's might, FE bonuses, and all her defensive buffs, I'de say she can compete. Time will tell how my version holds up in endgame, but seeing as you haven't played your's according to the thread, it's hard to know how they compare other than on paper.

[ShadowFlash]

Not all bards are made to just run in raids. A bard with just an 8 bard split is likley more effecient in a 6 person or short person party from a dps melee perspective then a full bard is.

I second that, but wanna add that if going ranger, there is not much after level 11 that's worth it. You can't look at it as trying to make a bard, you're trying to augment your AA Ranger with bard skills to help himself 1st, party 2nd. Gaurunteed Bard Songs in ANY group, even though they are weaker than a heavier Bard is very nice.

[Bardicus]

I prefer 12 fighter 8 bard especially when comparing the feats you chose with your 11 ranger 8 bard 1 fighter. 12 fighter 8 bard just does much more dps in my opinion. http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php...ght=wolfdancer Here is a build I posted.

Yah, I considered that split as well and like it a good deal. However I like having evasion (I know it's a crutch!), sprint boost, and a bit better to-hit with a bow. The ability to also switch between TWF and THF depending on current itemization and the situation is nice also.

Between a decent str, ram's might, and the paladin past life I think the build ought to be able to hit with two weapons equipped in most content.

Also I think the dps will end up fairly close as long as the Ranger is fighting against a FE.

Ranger additions: +9 Favored Damage + 2 Ram's Damage + 1 Ram's Strength Bracket = 12

Kensai additions: +4 Power Surge Str + 1 Fighter Strength Bracket + 4 Weapon Spec + 2 Kensai + 1 Kensai Spec = +12 damage

The main difference being Ranger FEs are limited and Fighters have Haste Boost

[ShadowFlash]

Yah, I considered that split as well and like it a good deal. However I like having evasion (I know it's a crutch!), sprint boost, and a bit better to-hit with a bow. The ability to also switch between TWF and THF depending on current itemization and the situation is nice also.

Between a decent str, ram's might, and the paladin past life I think the build ought to be able to hit with two weapons equipped in most content.

don't slight your +6 to damage to FE's ( without the enhancements ) either...that and Ram's might = 14 STR with a bow to FE's

[Crann]

What was the reason for one level of fighter?

I am doing this same build with one level of Rogue for traps and SA and love the build so far (11/3/1 now.)

It is very much designed as a 6th man type, and I think it would add more overall DPS as a 6th man than a build with 14 levels of Bard.

I do like Matt's 12f/8b better for its DPS role, but I really like the utility mine lends with trap skills/evasion/ranger spells.

[Bardicus]

What was the reason for one level of fighter?

I am doing this same build with one level of Rogue for traps and SA and love the build so far (11/3/1 now.)

It is very much designed as a 6th man type, and I think it would add more overall DPS as a 6th man than a build with 14 levels of Bard.

I do like Matt's 12f/8b better for its DPS role, but I really like the utility mine lends with trap skills/evasion/ranger spells.

The fighter level gives me an additional feat. I want to make sure I have PL:Paladin for +3 to-hit and damage.