Charles Bronson's 'Mechanic'

[Aritukus]

'Mechanic' - an elite assassin with a strict code and unique talent for cleanly eliminating targets. It's a job that requires professional perfection and total detachment, and mechanic is the best in the business.

Hello!

The goal of this build is to maximaze the possible heavy repeater's damage output, and the most important - be stylish

13 Rouge/7 Aritificier Human (dont LIKE Warforged race, so that's not even an option for me. But could work even better!)
*the first 6 levels plain rouge, after that, next seven levels are for artificiers and the last six levels again rouge.

Attributes
*34p/build
STR 14b+2in+6enh = 22; not really more needed.
DEX 16b+3in+6enh+2ex+2ship = 27; feel free to get more (enchantments or other way around).
CON 16b+2in+6enh+2ex+2ship = 26; the more the merrier.
INT 16b+2in+7enh+3ench+2ex+1ex+2ship = 33(+5 leveling up = 38); higher=better.
WIS 8b+2in+6enh = 16 is enough.
CHR 8b+2in+6enh = 16 is enough.

All 5 atr. points into INT!

*actually, there are many variants in setting attributes; 18 base INT in vain for some of your strenght is quite a good deal, but I find this one pretty working.

Skills
Pretty much the rouge deal, so max out (all the time) DD, Search, Spot, UMD, Lockpicking and Balance and the rest points are quite random.

Feats
*Rouge:
Thoughness (human slot)
Point blank shot (1st lvl)
Rapid shot (3rd lvl)
Weapon Focus: Ranged (6th lvl)
Improved Precise shot (15th lvl)
Improved Dodge (16th lvl, rouge bonus slot)
Skill Focus: UMD (18th lvl; not important, so quite a free slot)


*Artificier:
Construct Essence (not important, but cool - 9th lvl)
Precise shot (10th lvl - artificier bonus slot)
Improved Critical: Ranged weapons (12th lvl)


Enhancements
*Rouge:
Mechanic I. & II. (and all prereq.)
Sneak attack enhancements
Search (II.) and Spot (II.)
Trap sense (IV.)
Wands & Scrolls (II.)
Wrack Constructs (I.-III., up to you)

*Artificier:
Battle enginier (and all prereq.)
UMD (II.)

Those are major, but everyone actually tinkers around, so might be a bit different even for me at lvl 20

This build does a real good amount of damage, mostly thanks to both prestigue enhancements and quite a nasty sneak attack, which improved with top gear does massive untyped damage. This rouge can easily do traps, lay traps (which with enough materials is a pretty nasty feature, mostly for the laying is never interrupted and its quite fast).

For equipment, I plan on going with Epic Utility Vest, T3 Epic Spyglass (and T1), Tharne's (then swapping for new updated set gloves/googles), HP GS Boots, Epic Mirror Cloak (or Mabar one), T3 Epic Buccaneer's Ring, Wind Howler Bracers, GS tripple acid/lightning heavy repeater and perhaps a GS helm (or i'll just keep Minos for Heavy Fortification and extra HP)

*also planning to try out Epic Hellfire Crossbow, might be nasty.

So - what do you think? It really works it's magic

[Xezno]

Was thinking about the same level split myself - maximum pew pew dmg

I would consider going max int though and take off some str. Also to really shine this build would need 3xPL ranger for a total of +6 dmg to every bolt.

Have a guildie with a 3xPL ranger and 3xPL monk lvll 15 Artificer and the dps is just sick (+9 dmg per bolt)

As for race it all depends on what self healing you can get with 7 artificer levels as a wf. Maybe if you mix in max/quicken you could rach some very good self healing.

Also i think you forgot a rogue feat. I would definatively take crippling strike - that -2con on every SA will really add some juice.

[wax_on_wax_off]

I don't see 19 dexterity to qualify for IPS.

Without Insightful Damage and Mechanic stacking I don't see the attraction of this build compared with staying pure and getting all that extra sneak attack damage. I'd even prefer 6 ranger over the artificer to build in melee combat.

[Gizeh]

taking 13 rouge levels but not a single lipstick level will make your character look cheap

[Aritukus]

I don't see 19 dexterity to qualify for IPS.

Without Insightful Damage and Mechanic stacking I don't see the attraction of this build compared with staying pure and getting all that extra sneak attack damage. I'd even prefer 6 ranger over the artificer to build in melee combat.

Insightful Strikes + Mechanic is imho a better combo. What you get for artificier levels is ability to grab his crossbow enhancements (+2 damage, +1 to-hit), prestigue (rapid shot-burst, +2 stackung enhancement, +2 stacking seeker). I think of this better then 3 dices of sneak attack (of course, missing cap, which is another +2 int or sneak attack dices), pure rouge would need go more dexterity, for hit chance, while I can use same int for damage and for to-hit bonus - which works great. Plus is Spell Circle 1-3 from artificiers and his +2 to UMD enhancement.

I might not checked that IPS correctly, my mistake. Must look at it.

*IPS fixed, I put +3 inherent there, option for either rich, or lucky.

Was thinking about the same level split myself - maximum pew pew dmg

I would consider going max int though and take off some str. Also to really shine this build would need 3xPL ranger for a total of +6 dmg to every bolt.

Have a guildie with a 3xPL ranger and 3xPL monk lvll 15 Artificer and the dps is just sick (+9 dmg per bolt)

As for race it all depends on what self healing you can get with 7 artificer levels as a wf. Maybe if you mix in max/quicken you could rach some very good self healing.

Also i think you forgot a rogue feat. I would definatively take crippling strike - that -2con on every SA will really add some juice.

Yes, thanks. Forgot that bonus on rouge. Crippling strike it is - my plan was taking that one, or skill mastery (which comes to me as useless actually). It sappes strenght tho. I dont have luxury of that time (TRing into all that classes, pretty good looking anyway)

[Xezno]

Insightful Strikes + Mechanic is imho a better combo. What you get for artificier levels is ability to grab his crossbow enhancements (+2 damage, +1 to-hit), prestigue (rapid shot-burst, +2 stackung enhancement, +2 stacking seeker). I think of this better then 3 dices of sneak attack (of course, missing cap, which is another +2 int or sneak attack dices), pure rouge would need go more dexterity, for hit chance, while I can use same int for damage and for to-hit bonus - which works great. Plus is Spell Circle 1-3 from artificiers and his +2 to UMD enhancement.

I might not checked that IPS correctly, my mistake. Must look at it.

And dont forget the use of runearm - which in the case of Towens hammer adds lightning strike to your repeater

[Aritukus]

Of course, I totally forgot use of rune-arms. Those things are just nasty. Being able to modify them via cannith is quite a feat.

To Ranger splash - this is a mechanic, a vivid or perhaps wild inspiration by the movie - and splashing a ranger, doesnt suit me. Perhaps somebody feels the same

[wax_on_wax_off]

Insightful Strikes + Mechanic is imho a better combo. What you get for artificier levels is ability to grab his crossbow enhancements (+2 damage, +1 to-hit), prestigue (rapid shot-burst, +2 stackung enhancement, +2 stacking seeker). I think of this better then 3 dices of sneak attack (of course, missing cap, which is another +2 int or sneak attack dices), pure rouge would need go more dexterity, for hit chance, while I can use same int for damage and for to-hit bonus - which works great. Plus is Spell Circle 1-3 from artificiers and his +2 to UMD enhancement.

With enough dexterity to qualify for IPS you don't need insightful strikes to hit when well geared. Of course there will be some teething while you get the gear but the times that this will matter aren't often enough to matter.

Artificer vs Ranger vs Rogue
Artificer:
+2 damage
+1 to-hit
Endless Fusillade
+2 enhancement
+2 seeker
+1d6 elemental damage

Ranger:
+6 damage vs 2 enemy types (construct and evil outsider covers it well
+2 damage vs everything (rams might)
Manyshot (comparable to Endless Fusillade but can be used unlimited amount of times)
Higher BAB (get IPS sooner and +2 attack until divine power is used)
TWF, ITWF (easy to build in a melee option)
Deepwood Sniper I or AA or Tempest I

Rogue:
+7d6 sneak attack damage (24.5 damage/shot)
+2 intelligence
2 more special feats
Don't need more dexterity to hit after qualifying for IPS
Can qualify for Mech III when/if it comes out

[Aritukus]

Nice post, Vax.

Problem is, that all the ranger cuteness in Manyshot and AA exlude the use of Heavy Repeaters - ergo, nothing for me. The melee variant is very interresting tho. Connection with ranger's Deepwood sniper was my first idea (no artificier was around), but I changed my mind.

Heavy repeater is my main goal. I like it and splashing ranger class would be a waste.

For your Artificier calculation, you missed rune-arms, so the damage goes up (with some extra features).

[Saethiar]

Have a guildie with a 3xPL ranger and 3xPL monk lvll 15 Artificer and the dps is just sick (+9 dmg per bolt)

A guildie told me that the monk PL +damage is NOT stacking with the ranger PL's; this is according to our guild founder and completionist Titanticus. Can anyone confirm this, and is it WAI?

[Bekki]

A Nice add if you can sneak it in somewhere is Great Crossbow...
There are a few nice ones out there with Crit range of 19-20...

Or does it's speed a negate it's usefulness...?

[WangChi]

taking 13 rouge levels but not a single lipstick level will make your character look cheap

If you can fit in the high-heels and fishnet stockings enhancements, along with the tube-top and mini-skirts feats, you should be ok. The DC of your trashiness will be epic.

[THOTHdha]

A guildie told me that the monk PL +damage is NOT stacking with the ranger PL's; this is according to our guild founder and completionist Titanticus. Can anyone confirm this, and is it WAI?

You can search for the posts, but MrCow has quite extensively documented and posted screen shots showing that Ranger and Monk past life damage does stack.

[Aritukus]

A Nice add if you can sneak it in somewhere is Great Crossbow...
There are a few nice ones out there with Crit range of 19-20...

Or does it's speed a negate it's usefulness...?

I've been using Great Crossbow for a while, it did work very well (for knockdowns) and damage is quite OK as well. But repeater's luxury indeed is a 3-shot. Does massive damage. Running atm lvl 12 quests on elite (so 2 lvls over my toon) and with a Green Steel Tripple lightning heavy repeater, the damage in-range of point-blank shot feat is devastating. If it goes crit and sneak attack, one bolt does around 115 raw shot damage, 1-6 lightning, 2-16 burst, 1-10 blast (could be 4-24 on vorpal), around 15-25 sneak (usually), 2-12 holy bolt, 1-6 acid attumenet and currently, 1-4 for my rune-arm. So, tops would hit around 200-220 depending on sneak on a vorpal. Even without vorpal the damage is outstanding for a range combat. And speaking for repeaters, imagine three of such shots being shot, or even more while under the EF via Artificier's prestigue.

[OldAquarian]

I prefer Half Elf - 13 rogue/6 Art/1 Ranger and adds full AA (Enh are tight so only Mech I is really doable)
This allows you to have manyshot when up, Endless Fusillade while they last and regular repeaters in between
Helf allows the +dam from vers and the +haste from rogue

[Aritukus]

I prefer Half Elf - 13 rogue/6 Art/1 Ranger and adds full AA (Enh are tight so only Mech I is really doable)
This allows you to have manyshot when up, Endless Fusillade while they last and regular repeaters in between
Helf allows the +dam from vers and the +haste from rogue

Quite a good idea. But my goal was to use heavy repeaters to (possibly, without 6 past-life passive feats) to maximaze it's potency, so I really had no 'idea' room left for bows and manyshot

[SensaiRyu]

Sorry I can't help myself...

Charles Bronson?

Why not Macgruber or Macgyver? They strike me as more mechanic than Bronson...

Actually a Macgruber mechanic would be an interesting fail build. Human/Rogue - 12/12/12/8/8/18.

[Aritukus]

Sorry I can't help myself...

Charles Bronson?

Why not Macgruber or Macgyver? They strike me as more mechanic than Bronson...

Actually a Macgruber mechanic would be an interesting fail build. Human/Rogue - 12/12/12/8/8/18.

Hehe. I'm a huge fan to both Macs, but the first one would sound lame, and the other one would be quite OP :P

Anyway, I really like the original 'Mechanic' movie, so I guess that's why