Ranger Past Lives

[Mathermune]

Hi gang,

I love my artificer and I don't care who knows it.

Seeing how the synergy of the ranger past life works so well with my class of choice. I wanted to get your collective opinion on a build that is essentially an artificer in ranger's clothing utilizing heavy repeaters and rune arms etc. The reason I want to keep playing as an artificer is, basically, that I have all of the gear already. I'm aware that this build will pale in comparison to the other stuff out there. But really I just want to run him to 20 with my repeater crossbow and rune arm, hit the reset button and get my +6 to ranged attack damage on my artificer.

I won't post the full build but to quickly summarize the basic theory. It's an arti 9/ ranger 11 abomination

1 - Ranger (skill points, favored enemy, probably undead)
2-10 - Artificer (Proficiencies and rune arm use, Battle Engineer PRE, one level 4 infusion)
11-20 - Ranger. (Evasion at ranger 9, Improved Precise Shot and level 3 spell at Ranger level 11)

The character has tomes of INT and DEX +3, CON and CHA +2
All classes are available, half-orc and warforged are not.

I suppose my question would be, is this build going to cause me so many delays in getting to 20 that it will be quicker to farm out proper ranger equipment and run a better build, or will I be alright with this one?

Improvement and criticisms are welcome

[Ra'ehd]

I tried out Artificer on an alt (my main just finished 3 lives) and fell in love with repeaters and rune arm. I also want x3 ranger PL for the ranged damage.

I'm figuring I'll go 8/6/6, Ranger/Rogue/Arti. I'll start 1-6 Arti (I want the flame turret ASAP, as it's more useful lower levels) then go 7-12 Rogue (evasion, mechanic for +int dmg and better trap skills, and +dmg for Sneak Attack) then finish out the 13-20 as ranger.

I'm loving it right now. I went Helf for Pally dilly, so I have Int, Con, and Cha as main stats. Everything else is a dump stat. (This is using Insightful ref. and Force of Personality). I really like having a decent CHA, as it goes to my Will, my UMD, and my saves. I'm starting at 8 Wis and because I have a +3 tome I will be able to use the ranger ram's might buff by the time it's available.

I'll probably do a similiar build for fighter past lives and rogue past lives. (8/6/6 and 14/6 respectfully). I liked the rune arm and repeater so much that I'm even considering a 8/6/6 Monk/rogue/Arti, using repeaters, just for the monk PL. I realize that there is like 0 synergy at alll between arti and Monk.. but I love the repeater so much that I'd do it.

(EDIT: I'm actually already lvl 11 with this build, but i'm wonky atm. I'm 6arti/4rgr/1 rogue. I *was* 7 rgr, but I used a +3 heart to change out 3 levels to artificer because I hated bows and manyshot so much. My other lives will follow a 1-6 arti 7-12 rogue 13-20 ranger progression. I'm already doing quite well, despite the wonky spot I'm in right now. No issues at all soloing elite content with a healer hire.)

[Zyerz]

Hi gang,

I love my artificer and I don't care who knows it.

Seeing how the synergy of the ranger past life works so well with my class of choice. I wanted to get your collective opinion on a build that is essentially an artificer in ranger's clothing utilizing heavy repeaters and rune arms etc. The reason I want to keep playing as an artificer is, basically, that I have all of the gear already. I'm aware that this build will pale in comparison to the other stuff out there. But really I just want to run him to 20 with my repeater crossbow and rune arm, hit the reset button and get my +6 to ranged attack damage on my artificer.

I won't post the full build but to quickly summarize the basic theory. It's an arti 9/ ranger 11 abomination

1 - Ranger (skill points, favored enemy, probably undead)
2-10 - Artificer (Proficiencies and rune arm use, Battle Engineer PRE, one level 4 infusion)
11-20 - Ranger. (Evasion at ranger 9, Improved Precise Shot and level 3 spell at Ranger level 11)

The character has tomes of INT and DEX +3, CON and CHA +2
All classes are available, half-orc and warforged are not.

I suppose my question would be, is this build going to cause me so many delays in getting to 20 that it will be quicker to farm out proper ranger equipment and run a better build, or will I be alright with this one?

Improvement and criticisms are welcome

It's an interesting build. I myself am experimenting with a 8 arti/12 Ranger WF build.
He's gonna be a dual weilding DPS machine if I pull it off, but what you said, the Ranger past life works great... even more if you stack it 3 lives. Although, I see one setback there. You won't be an arti, nor a ranger. You wont be able to use each classes engame special abilities, so you'll be some peculiar specialist build, that could work great if done well. Just take it slow with the build and carefully craft a great toon.

I wish you good luck with the build and hope it works!

[Ra'ehd]

You have IPS with that build, sure, But you're only gonna have it for lvl 18 and 19. It's not really a benefit IMO.You do get Evasion with ranger, but again, not till late. I think You'd be better off going into rogue for +dps and early evasion.. Although, that would significantly change your build. Evasion, sooner off, will make you a better trapper though (It's not absolutely required, but it's nice) . For me, though, I think 6 levels of arti gives me enough of Arti that I need, but that I can still splash well into other builds.

[Mathermune]

Good points about IPS, in fact it's level 20 that I'll get it, by then I'll be level 1 again.

I wonder if I could achieve a compromise by going half elf and rogue dilettante. 3D6 sneak attack vs 3D6 from (albeit earlier) rogue levels. Then only go 10 levels in ranger and take a level in a class that gives a bonus feat or has class skills I like.

My main reason for wanting Arti/9 is lightning motes + lit II heavy repeater and Toven's Hammer and have IPS as a selected feat.

[Ra'ehd]

oops, i lumped in IPS with evasion although IPS isn't till lvl 11 ranger. But yeah, if you definitely want Lightning Motes, there really isn't much of a way to chop your levels well, because it requires you to have more ranger than arti (so 10/9 which only leaves 1 level for other classes, not much to work with)

The fighter level is a good idea. Your build, unlike mine, will prolly use DEX for to-hit, and then insightful dmg for dmg yeah? If that's the case, you may have enough starting dex to get the 19 req for IPS, which you could get by taking fighter and using that feat when you have enough BaB (not sure when that is off the top of my head) to get IPS. You also need PS, so you'd have to fit that somewhere in aswell with your feats.

[Havok.cry]

I would go 2 arti for rune arm, 6 rogue for mechanic, then 12 ranger and grab DWS just cause its there.

[Mathermune]

I would go 2 arti for rune arm, 6 rogue for mechanic, then 12 ranger and grab DWS just cause its there.

You have me beat sir, I do not know what DWS is.

Edit: Wait, let me work it out. Deepwood Sniper?

Edit2: Actually that's a good idea as well. Increased sneak and PBS range...

Plenty for me to think about. Thanks everyone.

[andreascott89]

If you have some cash...

Go 15 arti first then get 5 ranger levels. 15 arti nets you blade barrier which you ride to cap...

at 20 you LR+5 into a 10/10 arti/ranger, and then a TR will choose the ranger class...

J

[Ra'ehd]

Deepwood sniper.

IMO, I just don't think 12 lvls of ranger is worth it. There's little synergy. You still don't get IPS till lvl 19.. You can't manyshot, You aren't going to be TWF.. Ranger is pretty much giving you Rapid Shot (lvl 2), Ram's Might (lvl 4) and Deepwood Sniper (Lvl 6) + a few favored enemies. Whatever you can do to not take many more than 6 levels of ranger is going to be the best for you. After lvl 6, the benefits are Evasion at lvl 9 and PS/IPS at lvl 11, both of which come too late to be greatly useful IMO. I guess you have to, though, if you want Lightning Motes.

[Kilnedric]

Check out this thread where we talked about this idea some too:

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=358192

FYI, I went with my Rng9/Arti9/Mnk2, and enjoyed it.

(But, long-story-short, I just LR'd out of Mnk at lvl 17, mostly due to having no high level rune arms that I could use because they're perma-crafted to ML 20, except Glorious Obscenity, so I wanted to lose the Lawful alignment.)

[Mathermune]

If you have some cash...

Go 15 arti first then get 5 ranger levels. 15 arti nets you blade barrier which you ride to cap...

at 20 you LR+5 into a 10/10 arti/ranger, and then a TR will choose the ranger class...

J

This would be my perfect answer, blade barriers are great. Lets see how mu...

:-pokerface


Edit:

Check out this thread where we talked about this idea some too:

http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=358192

FYI, I went with my Rng9/Arti9/Mnk2, and enjoyed it.

(But, long-story-short, I just LR'd out of Mnk at lvl 17, mostly due to having no high level rune arms that I could use because they're perma-crafted to ML 20, except Glorious Obscenity, so I wanted to lose the Lawful alignment.)

Thanks for the link, that thread was very useful.