The Fascinating Ranger Exploit

[JasonJi72]

The Fascinating Ranger Exploit

Half-Elf 18 Ranger 1 Bard 1 Fighter

Str 18 +5Lv, +1 En, +6 It, +2 Tm (32)
Dex 15 +1 En, +2 Tm, +6 It (24)
Con 15 +1 En, +2 Tm, +6 It (24)
Int 12 +2 Tm (14)
Wis 08 +2 Tm, +6 It (16)
Cha 08 +2 Tm, +6 It (16)

1. Bard1 (Bard and Fighter Past Life), Bard Dilettante, Toughness
2. Rgr1 (Bow Str)
3. Rgr2 (2WF, Rapid Shot), WP Kopesh
4. Rgr3 (Diehard)
5. Rgr4
6. Rgr5 O2WF
7. Rgr6 (I2WF, Manyshot)
8. Rgr7
9. Rgr8 Imp Crit Slashing
10. Rgr9 (Evasion)
11. Ftr1 Point Blank Shot
12. Rgr10 WF Ranged
13. Rgr11 (G2WF, Imp Precise Shot)
14. Rgr12
15. Rgr13 Power Attack
16. Rgr14
17. Rgr15
18. Rgr16 Maximize
19. Rgr17 (Hide in Plain Sight)
20. Rgr18

Skills:

Maxed: Perform, UMD, Move Silent, Concentration
Others: Hide, Balance, Jump, Spot

Spells:

1. Resist Energy, Ram’s Might, Jump, Summon Ally I
2. Prot from Energy, Barkskin, Mass Camouflage
3. Cure Moderate Wounds, Wild Instincts
4. Freedom of Movement, Cure Serious Wounds



Enhancements:

Ranger Sprint Boost I (1) Ranger Skill Boost II (2)
Human Versatility I (1) Ranger Skill Boost III (3)
Ranger Skill Boost I (1) Human Adaptability II (Str) (4)
Ranger Favored Damage I (1)
Ranger Favored Defense I (1)
Ranger Devotion 1 (1)
Imp Perform I (1)
Elven Arcane Fluidity I (1)
Ranger Desert Lore I (1)
Ranger Swamp Lore I (1)
Ranger Tundra Lore I (1)
Bard Extra Song I (1)
Bard Energy of Music I (1)
Ranger Dexterity I (2)
Human Versatility II (2)
Human Imp Recovery I (2)
Racial Toughness I (1)
Human Adaptability I (Con) (2)
Racial Toughness II (2)
Human Imp Recovery II (4)
Imp Bard Dilettante I (1)
Ranger Devotion II (2)
Ranger Devotion III (4)
Ranger Favored Damage II (2)
Ranger Favored Damage III (3)
Ranger Arcane Archer I (4)
AA Conjure +2 Arrows (1)
AA Imbue Force Arrows (1)
AA Imbue Acid Arrows (1)
Fighter Toughness I (1)
Fighter Haste Boost I (1)
Fighter Attack Boost I (1)
Fighter Critical Accuracy I (1)
Imp Bard Dilettante II (2)
Racial Toughness III (3)
AA Conjure +3 Arrows (1)
AA Imbue Explosive Arrows (1)
AA Conjure +4 Arrows (1)
AA Imbue Terror Arrows (1)
AA Conjure +5 Arrows (1)
AA Imbue Slaying Arrows (1)
Human Versatility II (2)
Human Versatility III (3)
Human Versatility IV (4)
I am thinking about making something like this for my third life (possibly final life for this character). Having started him as an AA Ranger/Bard/Rogue, I would like to get back to his roots a bit, since I think I will stop TR’ing him. The option is also left open just in case I decide to make a completionist, but I am probably too casual a player to do that. Besides, I would rather also have a multiple life caster instead of putting all of my eggs into one basket.

To make this build for a 32 point character, just drop strength to 16 and don’t worry about the past lives. I will be making one like that in order to do a test run anyway. For a 28 point build, drop con and dex to 14.

I do not have access to the planner atm (I wrote this at work… shhh…), so I apologize if the enhancements are hard to follow. I had to write it that way to account for prereqs and stuff. That is also why I don’t have a detailed layout of my skills.

No tomes are required for this build, but I included them since I plan on this being a final version of that particular character. However, a +2 tome for intelligence and strength is highly encouraged (also con, dex, wis, and cha since this guy uses all stats). 

This build is loosely based on the Exploiter build, but is different enough not to be able to list it in that thread, but I must give credit where credit is due. The main reason I chose not to go with tempest like the exploiter was because of feat deprivation. I lost a feat by taking half elf, and I really wanted to fit in maximize to boost self healing. This build will not have as high of an ac, but it does offer some very reliable cc in the form of fascinate. With the right gear you could still get decent ac by using a shield. If you wanted to convert this character into an ac viable build, then swap power attack for combat expertise, put level stats into dexterity, rearrange your enhancements for more dexterity, and use a shield.

Why make this build and not an exploiter or bard? Well, that has been done… repeatedly. I was trying to think of some way to take advantage of my bard past life, and maybe work in the bard dilettante ability (the bard dilly is the only one that forces you to take a class level due to the need for a high perform). The idea of a non-bard using fascinate effectively just… well fascinated me. What can I say?

Won’t I lose a lot of dps by not taking rogue and or rogue dilettante? Possibly, but I will also have a lightning II bow and slaying arrows; since I am built primarily for melee anyway, my dps will not be abysmal. Stealth and fascinate are pretty sweet when it comes to setting up a mob for improved precise manyshot of death.

I see this character as a caster killer who sings a song while sneaking past the guards with my rogue buddy to kill the shamans, then helps the party clean up the mess. There is a reason rangers are classified as specialists.

Why did I take 18 levels of ranger and not 12 or so? I did consider that. The main reason I took so many ranger levels was for freedom of movement and cure serious wounds. I am also stretched very thin on skill points as it is. Fewer ranger levels would force me to change the way I want to play this character, and therefore, would not be the same character.

I have learned enough about this game to realize that it is better to build a character to your own play style, than to adjust your play to match a build you read from the forums because it is a ‘better’ build on paper. What works best for one person is not necessarily what works best for another.

Anyway, just trying to think outside the box, and make something a little different that may (or may not) be effective.

Cheers Mate!

EDIT: I just noticed that I had Human Versatility II listed twice. Sweet! 2 more AP.

[karl_k0ch]

At first glance, Bard Dilly looks odd. At second glance, it makes some sense since it grants 3 songs. Will the number of songs stack with the Bard's songs per day, or enhancements?

As an AA, it seems odd to me not to pick up IC: Ranged.

As a Half-Elf, it seems odd to me why you need to take 18 ranger levels, instead of

• 17 (-1 all saves, loses some spell points, and a 1st level spell)
• 16 (all of the above, no hiding in plain sight, loses some SP)
• 15 (all of the above, -1 to two saves, loses some SP, loses a 2nd level spell).

Either way, you still have 4 FEs, and FoM and CSW, and access to the full AA PrE due to the racial enhancements.

I think that a second Fighter level wouldn't hurt (IC: Ranged), and two more Bard levels could open up a free Dilly feat, since 3 Bard also grants 3 songs. On top of this, there are more options for enhancements (Inspired Attack, Inspired Damage, Lingering Song) which could improve your style further.

My choice for such kind of build would probably be 15/3bard/2fgt with a non-bard dilly, or 15/4 fgt/1 bard with a bard dilly, taking Weapon Spec: Slashing, or Ranged, as the final fighter feat, if you want to emphasize one kind of fighting style.