Balanced AA build. Your review please.

[Roguish_Existence]

With all the talk about AA's it made me want to bring back my original toon Bowman Trueshot from when the game launched in 2006. My plan is to rebuild him somewhat balanced according to the way the game progresses in ranged vs melee damage. To do this I am using a 32 point Elf build with a +2 Tome of Supreme ability at level 7. I plan on starting out with 17 in STR and DEX. Using ability ups in STR and enhancement ups in DEX, topping out at 24 in both at level 20. I also plan on taking OTWF at 12 and Power attack at 15, seeing as how prereqs for AA consume this early half of this is build and ranged damage output vs melee damage output starts to fade around this level range. Hopefully this makes for a smooth transition into the phase where you would find yourself putting down the bow and picking up the blade more. The only feat I could not regretfully fit was IC: Slashing weapons. To do this I would more than likely have to sacrifice Toughness. Please help me by finding any flaws in my design and suggesting improvements and the reasoning behind them. Thank you.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.09.02
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Bowman Trueshot
Level 20 True Neutral Elf Male
(20 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 282
Spell Points: 445 
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 19
Will: 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             17                    24
Dexterity            17                    24
Constitution         14                    16
Intelligence          8                    10
Wisdom                9                    11
Charisma              8                    10

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

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               5                    18
Bluff                -1                     0
Concentration         6                    26
Diplomacy            -1                     0
Disable Device       n/a                    n/a
Haggle               -1                     0
Heal                 -1                     0
Hide                  3                     7
Intimidate           -1                     0
Jump                  5                    20
Listen               -1                     2
Move Silently         3                     7
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                    n/a
Repair               -1                     0
Search               -1                    25
Spot                  3                    25
Swim                  3                     7
Tumble                4                     8
Use Magic Device      1                    11

Level 1 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Jump (+2)
Skill: Spot (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+2)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I


Level 2 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I


Level 3 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Defense I


Level 4 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion II
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I


Level 5 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II


Level 6 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Mental Toughness
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer I


Level 7 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage II


Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild II


Level 9 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Acid Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Conjure +2 Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II


Level 10 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II


Level 11 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III


Level 12 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Explosive Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Conjure +3 Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild III


Level 13 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Attack II


Level 14 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack II


Level 15 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Construct
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Burst Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Terror Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance I
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Conjure +4 Arrows


Level 16 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage IV


Level 17 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion III


Level 18 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Slaying Arrows
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Conjure +5 Arrows


Level 19 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+0.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Search (+2)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+0.5)
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity III


Level 20 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+3)
Skill: Search (+1)
Skill: Spot (+1)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Elemental
Enhancement: Ranger Master of Archery
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II

[unbongwah]

I would start base stats 18 / 16 / 14 / 8 / 8 / 8. Swap OTWF for IC Slash; with full BAB, near-max STR, racial to-hit enhs to scimitars, FE bonuses, etc., you shouldn't have an issue hitting things even w/PA on. I would probably take Toughness sooner though; I don't like being squishy.

[Grifarr]

My AA is a very similar build altough I use rapiers and took improved crit and not OTWF. Overall I am very happy with the build in both ranged and melee modes. I know I'm not doing as much dps in melee as a kensei fighter etc but when coupled with many shot damage I know I am contributing my fair share. When the minus to hit becomes an issue on higher AC mobs I do one of 3 things or a combination of them in extreme circumstances:

1. Hit them with my improved destruction bow before I engage them thus offsetting the -4 to hit
2. Swap in a short sword in my off hand removing the -4 but also losing some crit range and racial modifiers to the offhand weapon
3. Turn off power attack removing it's minus to-hit