arti/rogue

[Kadriel]

Is rogue mechanic int damage to xbows currently stacking with artificers insightfull strike, meaning we can get both damage and to hit based on int?

[unbongwah]

yes

EDIT: although as a ranged build you want to get Imp Prec Shot if you can, which requires base DEX 19. I think Rapid Shot reqs. base DEX 13. Just in case you think going this route means you can dump-stat DEX entirely...

[decease]

watch out when fighting beholder or any other mosnter that dispell your buff XD

[Abilbo]

I have a 14/6 Artificer/Mechanic and I love this build.

I have a base 13 dex, but did not see a reason to take it to 19 to get Improved precise shot. I am willing to agree to the fact that IPS is handy as all get out, when you are leveling, and you can actually do some insane DPS with this, in a crowded room but when you do, you will bring the wrath of all the mobs to you, which can be a bad thing. Come level 20, when you start doing end game raids, and Epic challenges, you will find that you do not use IPS as much as you might think. There are others that will disagree with me, but IMHO it is not needed.

Maximize your INT. Taking the feat Insightful Reflexs Lets you use your INT modifier as your Reflex modifier is very handy. In a good group, you can get your Reflex skill to mid 40's with little effort.

Without to much effort, you can get your character to a 40 intel. Thats +15 to hit and +15 to damage using your Repeater. Stand in PBS range, and your set. You can get your INT higher, using pots and higher tomes, but a 40 intel is not hard to reach.

Also, by rasing your INT to 40, its your key stat to your search and disable skill, meaning you will find everything you look for, and disable it without an issue. I think there is on Giant Hold quest that has an insanely high disable, and I did not test the box to see if i could get it, but other than that, I have not found anything i couldn't disable.

With most "specialist" classes you are forced to split your stat points between 3 or more stats. The advantage to the 14/6 Arti/Rogue is that you only have to get your Dex to 13. My character was 3 lives of ranger, for the +2 stacking ranged damage. I rolled an Artificer taking Dex 12, Con 20, INT 18 and only needed a +1 Dex tome to get my dex where it needed to be. I did eat a +2 STR/WIS/CHA tome, because i had them to spare, and wanted to help get my spot skill up, my UMD skill up and make it so I wasn't burdened. All 3 tomes here are not needed for the general build, they just come in handy. The STR tome now isn't needed so much as Ingriedents and Collectible bags weigh so little.

This build is very fun to play. The only real downside to it, is that you do not gain access to your level 6 spells. If you are going to focus on ranged DPS and that is your style of play, you won't be missing much.

[Abilbo]

watch out when fighting beholder or any other mosnter that dispell your buff XD

The nice thing about many arti buffs, is that they go on your weapons and armor, and are NOT dispelled by beholders. Cast a Byeshek buff on your repeater, and you break the DR of Beholders and mindflayers.

[goodspeed]

Ya know that's not a bad idea. Never thought of the 6 splash for that purpose. cheers.

[djsonar919]

I have a base 13 dex, but did not see a reason to take it to 19 to get Improved precise shot. I am willing to agree to the fact that IPS is handy as all get out, when you are leveling, and you can actually do some insane DPS with this, in a crowded room but when you do, you will bring the wrath of all the mobs to you, which can be a bad thing. Come level 20, when you start doing end game raids, and Epic challenges, you will find that you do not use IPS as much as you might think. There are others that will disagree with me, but IMHO it is not needed.

.

First off, I'm glad you like your build. That's the most imprtant thing in this game is to have fun. However, I strongly disagree with your statement about IPS. Yes, you can grab aggro from a bunch of mobs. However, I'll enlighten you on the perfect way to handle this situation with a pure arti. Go rambo crazy firing away at mobs. When the mobs aggro on you, drop a Blade Barrier. (Your build does not have this spell.) The mobs walk into it, then you back out, the mobs get hit again. Jump over the mobs pulling them back into the BB and back towards the melees. The mobs get hit even more walking back through the BB. The melees run up smack the mobs a few times and kill them quickly because your Arti just took huge chunks out of the mobs hp with little to no damage to them.

Further more, in epic challenges, use a Xbow of Ash on groups of mobs to neg level them all during IPS bursts without costing the spell caster anything. This scores huge points with them. Use a Vaccuum Xbow to completely wipe enemies off the screen with multiple IPS bursts. This makes everyone happy when it procs.

I agree with you that IPS is not "needed" but to take one feat that turns all your ranged attacks into AOE attacks that can cause a ton of havoc to mobs in a game that is all about destroying the bad guy ASAP is needed more than what I believe you think.