The Spellbow: 12/6/2 wizard ranger rogue AA build

[wazabadoo]

*** This is a work in progress, constructive criticism is always welcome. ***

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 3.8.2
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Level 20 Lawful Good Elf Male
(2 Rogue \ 6 Ranger \ 12 Wizard) 
BAB: 13\13\18\23
Fortitude: 13
Reflex: 12
Will: 9

                  Starting            Ending          
Abilities        Base Stats         Base Stats        
(32 Point)       (Level 1)          (Level 20)        
Strength             16                 23            
Dexterity            10                 10            
Constitution         16                 18            
Intelligence         14                 16            
Wisdom                8                  8            
Charisma              8                  10            

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 7

                  Starting            Ending          
                 Base Skills        Base Skills       
Skills           (Level 1)          (Level 20)        
Balance               0                  0            
Bluff                -1                 -1            
Concentration         3                  4            
Diplomacy            -1                 -1            
Disable Device        n/a               26            
Haggle                1                  4            
Heal                 -1                 -1            
Hide                  0                  0            
Intimidate           -1                 -1            
Jump                  3                  7            
Listen               -1                 -1            
Move Silently         0                  0            
Open Lock             n/a               10            
Perform              n/a               n/a            
Repair                2                  3            
Search                4                 26            
Spot                  1                  4            
Swim                  3                  6            
Tumble                n/a               n/a           
Use Magic Device      1                 23            

Level 1 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Empower Spell
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot

Level 2 (Wizard)

Level 3 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons

Level 4 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: STR

Level 5 (Wizard)
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Spell Focus: Necromancy

Level 6 (Wizard)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness

Level 7 (Wizard)

Level 8 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: STR

Level 9 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Maximize Spell

Level 10 (Wizard)

Level 11 (Wizard)

Level 12 (Wizard)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy
Feat: (Wizard Bonus) Quicken Spell

Level 13 (Wizard)

Level 14 (Wizard)

Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons

Level 16 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR

Level 17 (Ranger)

Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Precise Shot

Level 19 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant

Level 20 (Ranger)

This my try at a viable Arcane archer build focused more on the "arcane" part than most AA builds, using the new dot spells to make it more competitive dps-wise than other AA builds without resorting to melee.

Initially I thought about just fitting the AA prereqs in an otherwise standard Wiz(high DCs) build, but felt that the low bow damage didn't fit with the spirit of it. After a bit of tweaking, this is what I came up with.

My character is now lvl 10 and is quite fun to play, expecting to have him capped sometime next weekend.
Still a bit blurry on endgame gear, enhancements and even the viability of the build, but one thing is certain, ths build would benefit greatly from the abishai set, making great use of both the strenght bonus for bow damage and the evocation caster level bonus for the dots. If the build doesnt end up good I can just grab a wizard or ranger PL easily enough, which makes this experiment at least worth the time.

strenghts:
Self-healing through vampire form and death aura/negative energy burst
Full-blown trapmonkey
Spellcasting for easy leveling haste/buff bot in raids
better dps than most AA builds(and safe)
Great soloability
Highest running speed to a monk there is (longstrider, expedicious retreat, haste, sprint boost )

Weaknesses:
So far, I've hit patches where the to-hit just didn't cut it.
Aggro. With manyshot, all your dots stacked and steady bow dps, -threat gear is gonna be a must. Expecting to have to actually use the wizards -threat enhancements combined with vampire form's (-25%)

breakdowns:
(since my endgame layout isnt set in stone yet, this includes basic easy to obtain gear(+6s, minos, GS etc... except for an epic thorlord, the SoS of bows.))
hp:
20 heroic
140 con mod
60 ranger
12 rogue
48 wizard
23 toughness
10 GH favor
20 racial toughness 2
20 toughness(minos)
45 shroud hp
10 palemaster
30 GFL

438: squishier than I would like, but not as bad as it could be.

strenght:
16 base
5 lvl
2 tome
6 item
2 rage
2 ram's
2 vampire form

36(+13) self-buffed with a +1 except on an epic slot

bow damage:
8 enhancement
9 base(thornlord)
4 extra(thornlord)
13 str
2 ram
6 favored
1 pb
2 elven enh.

45 average damage, 70 W/slaying arrow

I'm a bit fuzzy on # of bow attacks per minute and dot spells' dps calculations, If anyone has a link to some numbers please post it.

Overall, I believe this is a very polyvalent build with enough dps to be able to fill many roles in every quest currently in the game.

[garlor]

your manyshot arrows depend on your bab, your bab with 12 wizard levls and 2 rogue will be low, you should check that

[wazabadoo]

yeah, Ive actually put full ranks in UMD just for divine power scroll usage, but the short duration makes it kinda meh. Instead of trying to keep divine power up at all time, it might be better to just use a scroll right before manyshot. If the build ends up okay (and so far it is), I might just grab a fighter past life for the active feat.

[Darknark]

I'd advise against using vamp form, the 4x light damage is a bit too much of a flaw to be taking in exchange for 2 str. Wraith form has none of the stat benefits, but has 25% incorprealty which Iirc stacks with displacement (or blur). (Its been ages since I used wraith form, but I think I remember seeing 'incorporeal' and 'displaced' or 'blur' come up on my screen at the same time).

Edit: Also, DP clickies are nice too.

Max emp dots will do some nice DPS

[unbongwah]

Self-healing through vampire form and death aura/negative energy burst

As a ranger, you can already use Cure wands; with UMD, you'll eventually be able to use Heal scrolls. Given the vampire's vulnerability to light spells, I don't consider self-heals in undead forms to be a major advantage for this sort of build.

So far, I've hit patches where the to-hit just didn't cut it.

With base DEX 10 and low BAB from wiz lvls, I'm not surprised; and I suspect it will get worse over time. I definitely would've dropped some CON for more DEX. Any way to add Imp Prec Shot while you're at it?

Aggro. With manyshot, all your dots stacked and steady bow dps, -threat gear is gonna be a must. Expecting to have to actually use the wizards -threat enhancements combined with vampire form's (-25%)

Subtle Spellcasting only applies to spells; I'm not sure if vampire threat reduction applies to ranged attacks. Regardless, though, you're right about aggro mgmt being an issue!