Warcane archanter with gtwf 12 bard / 6 ranger / 2 fighter

[Perikeles]

Update: Since the expansion and more feats being available it is easier now to get both IPS and Extend. With +4 tomes being more common (+3 being really common) it takes off a lot of the pressure on the build. With how the stats were in this build it's a lot easier to get 19 dex for ips by switching around the stat allocation or just using the statpoints you get from epic levels.


So during a sauna evening (a drunken one) a question was posed. It went something like this "What kind of a build would be cool for an arcane archer?"

Racial AA would be the way to since it opens up the build for more combinations. We ended up selecting half-elf.
We started discussing the merits of different class bases and should it be multiclass or not. We decided on bard as a base class because of what it can bring to the table just from being there. We wanted to give the build manyshot since it is a big dps boost AND fun!. Then considering how boring it'd be to just manyshot things and pew pew in between for 1 minute 40 seconds (or pike as tempting that is). We wanted to give it 'some' melee capabilities too! Now you are thinking well that it will starved for feats! So a deep splash was in order. Six ranger levels would give us Bow strength, Rapid shot, twf and itwf (and some misc feats). Getting itwf from ranger levels enabled us to just spend 1 feat on gtwf once we had 17 dex. (base 15 or 14 if you have a +3 tome)

Going warchanter II was also a logical choice for the build to compensate for the loss of song buffs Improved inspire courage +2 and +3.
Also the reguired feats for the AA and WC prestiges are hard to fit into 7 feats a half-elf gets. So it became obvious 2 more feats were reguired.
Enter 2 levels of fighter for the combat feats.

Added bonus for having half-elf is getting the diletante feat for which rogue diletantte feat is a good choice and the chance to select between elf dexterity and human adaptability for stats is great too.
For 6 AP you can increase your diletante SA from 1d6 to 3d6 sneak attack.

What is needed for prestiges
Warchanter: Power Attack, Weapon Focus (one of the melee versions)
Arcane Archer: Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus: Ranged
That is 4 feats out of 9
You are left with the options of selecting: Toughness !, Imp crit slash(or whatever you prefer), Imp crit ranged, GTWF, Oversized twf, Exotic weapon proficiency.

The build looks something like this (switch in your own weapon/feat preferences) I'm sure there is a optimal feat selection order but I was lazy.

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.11.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Half-Elf Female
(2 Fighter \ 6 Ranger \ 12 Bard) 
Hit Points: 292
Spell Points: 415 
BAB: 17\17\22\27\27
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 17
Will: 9

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(36 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             18                    25
Dexterity            14                    19
Constitution         16                    17
Intelligence         10                    12
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma             10                    10

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 13

Level 1 (Bard)
Feat: (Half-Elf Dilettante) Half-Elf Dilettante: Rogue
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Bard
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Bard
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Automatic) Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Dismiss Charm
Feat: (Automatic) Fascinate
Feat: (Automatic) Half-Elven Keen Senses
Feat: (Automatic) Half-Elven Mixed Heritage
Feat: (Automatic) Half-Elven Social Graces (ALL)
Feat: (Automatic) Heroic Durability
Feat: (Automatic) Inspire Courage
Feat: (Automatic) Light Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Longsword
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Rapier
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Shortsword
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Shortbow
Feat: (Automatic) Shield Proficiency (General)
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Sneak


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
Feat: (Automatic) Defensive Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Heavy Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency (ALL)
Feat: (Automatic) Medium Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Sunder
Feat: (Automatic) Tower Shield Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Trip


Level 3 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Point Blank Shot
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 4 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Automatic) Bow Strength
Feat: (Automatic) Wild Empathy


Level 5 (Ranger)
Feat: (Automatic) Rapid Shot
Feat: (Automatic) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Feat: (Automatic) Diehard


Level 7 (Ranger)


Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
Feat: (Automatic) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Manyshot


Level 10 (Bard)


Level 11 (Bard)
Feat: (Automatic) Inspire Competence


Level 12 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Bard)


Level 14 (Bard)
Feat: (Automatic) Suggestion


Level 15 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 16 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Automatic) Improved Inspire Courage


Level 17 (Bard)
Feat: (Automatic) Inspire Greatness


Level 18 (Bard)
Feat: (Selected) Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Khopesh


Level 19 (Bard)


Level 20 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Automatic) Song of Freedom
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Acid Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Explosive Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Burst Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Slaying Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Terror Arrows
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery III
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage III
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song III
Enhancement: Bard Warchanter I
Enhancement: Bard Warchanter II
Enhancement: Improved Rogue Dilettante I
Enhancement: Improved Rogue Dilettante II
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Constitution I
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Versatility II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +2 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +3 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +4 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +5 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Bard Wand and Scroll Mastery I

Cons:
- Short buff durations. Haste is just a bit over a minute. But is long enough for most purposes.
- No full song buffs that are available to fullblown warchanter bards but comparable to others.
- A bit shorter song durations.
- Less time to pike
- Only lvl 4 spells no GH but you can 95% scroll it at lvl 12 bard even without UMD
- No improved precise shot (if you like that kind of thing)
- Terrible offensive spell DC
- Kinda bad at healing spells. Not enough AP to go for the enhancements. Scroll healing is still viable.
- Needs a lot of build points

Pro:
- Good hp pool (My bard has around 497 without buffs)
- Loads of things to do while not singing songs
- Good enough spell list
- Good ranged and melee capabilities
- Adaptability
- It's quite easy to get enough UMD for heal scrolls and more
- Makes people go "*** kind of bard that is?"


Fitting in enough build points is hard unless you have a hero or legend build but I guess you could make it work champion.
I don't recomend this build if you don't have patience for short buffs (you could take extend if you REALLY want to) and doing a bit of everything.

[Teharahma]

Level 20 True Neutral Half-Elf Female
(2 Fighter \ 6 Ranger \ 12 Bard) 
Hit Points: 322
Spell Points: 457 
BAB: 17\17\22\27\27
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 17
Will: 10

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             15                    24
Dexterity            15                    18
Constitution         15                    18
Intelligence         12                    14
Wisdom                8                    10
Charisma             12                    14

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               6                    27
Bluff                 1                     2
Concentration         6                    27
Diplomacy             1                     2
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle                5                    25
Heal                 -1                     0
Hide                  2                     4
Intimidate            1                     6
Jump                  6                    30
Listen               -1                     0
Move Silently         2                     4
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform               5                    25
Repair                1                     2
Search                1                     2
Spot                 -1                     0
Swim                  2                     7
Tumble                6                    15
Use Magic Device      5                    25

Level 1 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+4)
Skill: Concentration (+4)
Skill: Haggle (+4)
Skill: Jump (+4)
Skill: Perform (+4)
Skill: Tumble (+4)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+4)
Feat: (Half-Elf Dilettante) Half-Elf Dilettante: Rogue
Feat: (Selected) Toughness
Feat: (Automatic) Attack
Feat: (Automatic) Dismiss Charm
Feat: (Automatic) Fascinate
Feat: (Automatic) Half-Elven Keen Senses
Feat: (Automatic) Half-Elven Mixed Heritage
Feat: (Automatic) Half-Elven Social Graces (ALL)
Feat: (Automatic) Heroic Durability
Feat: (Automatic) Inspire Courage
Feat: (Automatic) Light Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Longsword
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Rapier
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Shortsword
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency: Shortbow
Feat: (Automatic) Shield Proficiency (General)
Feat: (Automatic) Simple Weapon Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Sneak


Level 2 (Fighter)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
Feat: (Automatic) Defensive Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Heavy Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Martial Weapon Proficiency (ALL)
Feat: (Automatic) Medium Armor Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Sunder
Feat: (Automatic) Tower Shield Proficiency
Feat: (Automatic) Trip


Level 3 (Fighter)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Point Blank Shot
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 4 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+3)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Construct
Feat: (Automatic) Bow Strength
Feat: (Automatic) Wild Empathy


Level 5 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Rapid Shot
Feat: (Automatic) Two Weapon Fighting


Level 6 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+1.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Slashing Weapons
Feat: (Automatic) Diehard


Level 7 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+1.5)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 8 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+2)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider


Level 9 (Ranger)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
Feat: (Automatic) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Feat: (Automatic) Manyshot


Level 10 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+4)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 11 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+4)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Inspire Competence


Level 12 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 13 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+3)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 14 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+3)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Suggestion


Level 15 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+3)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Extend Spell


Level 16 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+3)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Improved Inspire Courage


Level 17 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+2)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+1)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Inspire Greatness


Level 18 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 19 (Bard)
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)


Level 20 (Bard)
Ability Raise: STR
Skill: Balance (+1)
Skill: Concentration (+1)
Skill: Haggle (+1)
Skill: Jump (+1)
Skill: Perform (+1)
Skill: Tumble (+2)
Skill: Use Magic Device (+1)
Feat: (Automatic) Song of Freedom
Enhancement: Fighter Haste Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Acid Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Explosive Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Slaying Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Terror Arrows
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Attack II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Bravery III
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage I
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage II
Enhancement: Bard Inspired Damage III
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song I
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song II
Enhancement: Bard Lingering Song III
Enhancement: Bard Warchanter I
Enhancement: Bard Warchanter II
Enhancement: Improved Rogue Dilettante I
Enhancement: Improved Rogue Dilettante II
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Constitution I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Versatility I
Enhancement: Human Versatility II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness III
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +2 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +3 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +4 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +5 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer I
Enhancement: Bard Energy of the Music I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I
Enhancement: Bard Wand and Scroll Mastery I

Khopesh swapped for Extend, pretty much the same in every way, starting stats a bit different. I like having maxed skills, mostly balance for Titan etc, enough tumble for backflips. :'D

[karl_k0ch]

Everytime I see a 12-bard-based warchanter, I cry a little bit, as you lose spell slots, and valuable attack and damage bonuses. Personally, I find tier 2 of Warchanter lacking; if you take 14+ levels on a warchanter, it makes sense to me to pick it up, but it offers not enough to actually consider 12 bard to be an actual sweet spot.

I see that the feats are too tight to actually allow 14 levels of bard. So please consider this: What do you lose by dropping 4 levels of bard (for only 8 bard)? You lose lvl 4 spells, and the length of buffs, but your Inspire Courage, for example, will be as good as the one of a lvl 12 bard. This allows you to go either 8/6/6 for kensai 1 (either ranged or melee), or if you consider this to be too pricey in the AP department, just for 2 free feats (WS: ranged, WS: Slashing, PS and IPS come to mind). Alternatively, you could also go 11 Ranger/8 Bard/1 Fgt, and get GTWF, PS and IPS for free, essentially having the same feats as in the OP plus an additional FE, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot and a better selection of ranger spells (Jump and Elemental Resists come to my mind foremost).

[Perikeles]

I lose some adaptability from losing fom and ddoor. I lose medium armor = no asfl. I lose the doublestrike song .. well not that I'd miss that a lot. But yeah. I'd lose a number of songs that would basically make you use a anthem for longer if the quest dragged out. I'd also lose a lot on the buff duration. I do like the utility that those lvl 4 spells DO give the build.

I don't see a real need for a better jump spell since it caps at 40 anyway. Or the elemental resists really with how easy it is to get ship resists these days or use pots.

I'm not saying this is the best build but it is a fun one to play with how adaptable it is. You are however feel to build your own anyway you like.

[karl_k0ch]

You are right, there are some Warchanter2 perks I hadn't thought about before, and I agree that having some versatility is always a good choice.
In particular I missed the option to use nice medium armor as Marilith Chain, and Epic Cavalry Plate. (You can actually see why I was missing that: I'm a bit addicted to evasion toons.)

I see the benefits more clearly, and I do not see an option how to fit in the full twf line, warchanter 2 and TWF at the same time in a better way than your OP it does. It is pity that you can't pick up IPS which is considered to be one of the biggest ranged DPS boost by some players, but the build is solid as it stands.
Personally, I'd probably switch the class order so that I take the second fighter level after the 7th or 8th bard level (maybe even after the 11th one), so that I get the important bard buffs as soon as I can.

[cru121]

14 bard / 6 ranger
lose EWP and oversized TWF
save money on khopeshes