Please rate my build

[wlmartin]

First some notes

1 : I intend on pure, no splashes even if i can grind some extra damage out, I want DPS but I want pure more
2 : I will intend on getting the regular boosts to HP that one expects (Minos, DV, GS Item, False Life Item)
3 : I will intend on getting a +6 Dex, Str, Con & Wis item
4 : All of my tomes are set -1 level from when they take because since I TR, the tomes are preloaded and act on the same level you get them so you can apply the INT bonus to your skills immediately unlike having to level, eat the tome and wait a level
5 : I am aware I left a .5 on balance, and I might tweak that or not, not important
6 : I left jump at 7 because with Ranger Jump spell and +6 Item, I can get to 40 which is the max
7 : I probably dont need most of the skills I have but a good swimmer, be able to avoid upcomming traps, be able to spot enemies and also be able to do some nice sneaking past bad guys is good for a Ranger
8 : Unsure if my favored selection is good or bad, please advise

Overall I think it is a good build and will hold itself at End Game.
Please advise what you think

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.12.02
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 20 True Neutral Elf Male
(20 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 304
Spell Points: 454 
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 15
Reflex: 22
Will: 7

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(34 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    18
Dexterity            18                    30
Constitution         14                    16
Intelligence         10                    12
Wisdom               10                    12
Charisma              8                    10

Tomes Used
+1 Tome of Strength used at level 2
+1 Tome of Dexterity used at level 2
+1 Tome of Constitution used at level 2
+1 Tome of Intelligence used at level 2
+1 Tome of Wisdom used at level 2
+1 Tome of Charisma used at level 2
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 6
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 6
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 6
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 6
+2 Tome of Wisdom used at level 6
+2 Tome of Charisma used at level 6

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               6                    21.5
Bluff                -1                     0
Concentration         6                    26
Diplomacy            -1                     0
Disable Device        n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -1                     0
Heal                  0                     1
Hide                  8                    33
Intimidate           -1                     0
Jump                  4                     7
Listen                0                    14
Move Silently         8                    33
Open Lock             n/a                  n/a
Perform              n/a                    n/a
Repair                0                     1
Search                0                     3
Spot                  3                    26
Swim                  7                    27
Tumble                n/a                  n/a
Use Magic Device     n/a                    n/a

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Past Life) Past Life: Sorcerer
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot


Level 2 (Ranger)


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons


Level 4 (Ranger)


Level 5 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Elemental


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Past Life: Arcane Prodigy


Level 7 (Ranger)


Level 8 (Ranger)


Level 9 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons


Level 10 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider


Level 11 (Ranger)


Level 12 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 13 (Ranger)


Level 14 (Ranger)


Level 15 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Chaotic Outsider
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 16 (Ranger)


Level 17 (Ranger)


Level 18 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Toughness


Level 19 (Ranger)


Level 20 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Construct
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost I
Enhancement: Ranger Sprint Boost II
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Acid Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Explosive Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Burst Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Slaying Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Imbue Terror Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Master of Archery
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity I
Enhancement: Elven Dexterity II
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Attack I
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Attack II
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage I
Enhancement: Elven Ranged Damage II
Enhancement: Racial Toughness I
Enhancement: Racial Toughness II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Attack II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage III
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage IV
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance I
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Conjure +2 Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Conjure +3 Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Conjure +4 Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer: Conjure +5 Arrows
Enhancement: Ranger Arcane Archer I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion I
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion II
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion III
Enhancement: Ranger Devotion IV
Enhancement: Ranger Energy of the Wild I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity II
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity III

[Rogann]

Ill give it a 1 pew pew out of 5 pew pew's.

[Paryan]

A few quick things,

Take some skill points out of swim: and add a point or 2 into tumble. there are a few cases where being able to tumble even a little will be helpful, but you cannot do it without 1 point in it.

You could also take the swim points and max UMD as best you can. With a few other swappable items (persuasion, golden cartoush, etc) you'll be able to use lower level arcane scrolls with some degree of success.

You may want to plan on some enhancements to rapiers or scimatars (for an elf) as it's very hard to remain "ranged" especially when you're in close quarters or if playing with others who don't want to chase things chasing you. Don't neglect weapons other than bows and all the TWF feats rangers get for free.

EDIT: Also saw 2 toughness feats....I know elves are hard hit in the HP department, but you could use one of these for maximize or empower healing. This would go a long way to making self healing more viable. You could also use it for Imp. Crit slashing or piercing based on melee weapon choices....

[wlmartin]

A few quick things,

Take some skill points out of swim: and add a point or 2 into tumble. there are a few cases where being able to tumble even a little will be helpful, but you cannot do it without 1 point in it.

You could also take the swim points and max UMD as best you can. With a few other swappable items (persuasion, golden cartoush, etc) you'll be able to use lower level arcane scrolls with some degree of success.

You may want to plan on some enhancements to rapiers or scimatars (for an elf) as it's very hard to remain "ranged" especially when you're in close quarters or if playing with others who don't want to chase things chasing you. Don't neglect weapons other than bows and all the TWF feats rangers get for free.

EDIT: Also saw 2 toughness feats....I know elves are hard hit in the HP department, but you could use one of these for maximize or empower healing. This would go a long way to making self healing more viable. You could also use it for Imp. Crit slashing or piercing based on melee weapon choices....

It does make me smile when people say "Wait... you can't be an archer all the time, you need a melee backup" but what about Arcanes? No-one says to them "Wait... you can't be a caster all the time, what about running out of mana? - you need a melee backup"

My BaB and high + weapons should do me OK if I need to switch to melee although I don't see it since I will be focused on range.

I will consider going the UMD route, wasnt thinking about the lowbie arcane spells for UMD, was more focused on using them Heal etc and discounted that i didnt need so will revisit that. Also I dont want to waste a slot on a +6 cha item and my cha is quite low so UMD wont be high.

I could invest in tumble but I honestly don't feel the need to use it. And at low levels the degree of tumble is pitifull. Would rather have a cool swim speed, yes less optimized but I dont need everything min/maxed.

Not going to focus on healing feats only because I dont anticipate needing it much. Although switching toughness for something more useful might be worth considering.

[Noctus]

It does make me smile when people say "Wait... you can't be an archer all the time, you need a melee backup" but what about Arcanes? No-one says to them "Wait... you can't be a caster all the time, what about running out of mana? - you need a melee backup"

Well, Arcanes dont run out of mana every 21 secs, but a Ranger is out of Manyshot after 20 secs have passed, out of a 120secs cooldown. And out of manyshot Archery-damage sucks, plain and simple.

Thats why.

[Kinerd]

Not going to focus on healing feats only because I dont anticipate needing it much. Although switching toughness for something more useful might be worth considering.

Maximize will be much, much, much, much more useful than another 22 HP.

There is also NOTHING wrong with using your bowzie all the time.

Wrong is a charged word. Let's just say "demonstrably, objectively inferior". A 20 ranger fires a bow about 1 time a second and generates TWF hits about 3 times a second. The best case for Lit 2 slaying arrows is roughly...
+25 (slaying)
+9ish (Lightning Strike)
+7 (Holy)
+7 (Shock)
+4 (ing Burst and Shocking Blast)
=
+52

We can then solve to see what your other sources of damage would have to be to break even...
(x + 52) * 1 = 3 * x
52 = 2 * x
x = 26

14 from Favored Enemy, 5 from Power Attack, at least 12 from Strength, and you're better off with plain +5 Scimitars outside of Manyshot. If you build lit 2 scims, it's no contest.

[KainLionheart]

Heya,

I understand the not wanting to Melee thing. I have a friend who only uses a bow, and ok so maybe it isnt always as good as swapping to melee, (and yes chasing him and mobs around when he has aggro and is back tracking everywhere is annoying as hell, but ce la vie) but at the end of the day you have to have fun, if you like shooting **** and the peopel in your party are happy with that, then shoot ****. All the time

Given that I would reconsider Power Attack, it doesnt work for ranged (according to the wiki anyway) and you could drop one of the toughness feats although not really sure what for off the top of my head. I know you said you wasnt considering it, but...
Empower healing maybe? Its nice to be able to do a bit of self healing, with a bit of heal amp and an item you could likely heal yourself for 100 ish or so with a CSW. The items that boost healing power (I cant remember the name, its early in morning and I have had sweet FA sleep) are easy enough to craft. Superior Devotion or something liek that. And you will have a decent amount of Spell Points to throw around. With 20 min buffs the spare blue bar could be used for something constructive

Otherwise its a decent enough AA build. Might be worth putting 2 points in STR as you level up and only 3 in DEX instead of 5. Bit of extra damage never really hurt anyone (well except the mobs) but its personal preference.

Food for thought anyway.

[karl_k0ch]

If you are interested in a pure ranged AA build, Ranger is not necessarily one of the most direct choices - it's advantage is that the Manyshot downtime (which undoubted exists) can be filled with reasonable melee dps, especially against favored enemies.

While Arcanes can learn to manage their SP output, and drink pots, there is not much you can do in the 100 seconds after manyshot was used, except for waiting.

Manyshot is just that good, or to put it the other way around: Regular ranged damage is just that bad.

On my ranger, I went initially with 17 Str and 17 Dex, all level ups in Str. This provides better ranged damage, and also helps on the melee department.

[wlmartin]

If you are interested in a pure ranged AA build, Ranger is not necessarily one of the most direct choices - it's advantage is that the Manyshot downtime (which undoubted exists) can be filled with reasonable melee dps, especially against favored enemies.

While Arcanes can learn to manage their SP output, and drink pots, there is not much you can do in the 100 seconds after manyshot was used, except for waiting.

Manyshot is just that good, or to put it the other way around: Regular ranged damage is just that bad.

On my ranger, I went initially with 17 Str and 17 Dex, all level ups in Str. This provides better ranged damage, and also helps on the melee department.

I am only interested in making an Archer
If someone could show me a fighter than specs better than a Ranger for feats and such I would take that but AA ranger seems the best

Was considering taking quick draw, unsure how much it would shrink the manyshot timer down as havent explored it.

I want a ranger that just soaks damage off of his targets and some Rangers I have grouped with have really proven that is possible.

I want DPS
I want to do it with a Bow (not a Crossbow)
I thought AA ranger would be the best build

[Kawai]

I am only interested in making an Archer
If someone could show me a fighter than specs better than a Ranger for feats and such I would take that but AA ranger seems the best

Was considering taking quick draw, unsure how much it would shrink the manyshot timer down as havent explored it.

I want a ranger that just soaks damage off of his targets and some Rangers I have grouped with have really proven that is possible.

I want DPS
I want to do it with a Bow (not a Crossbow)
I thought AA ranger would be the best build

It's your game, babe. Build what you LIKE.
First: a great starting point:
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=263907
There are alternatives to pure Ranger... Kensai and especially 10kStars.
However, there is NOTHING wrong with a properly built pure Ranger.

There is also NOTHING wrong with using your bowzie all the time.
(Once youve built Greensteel and better, especially.)

• Slaying arrows and LitII strikes on a properly geared Archer pwn the use of two scimmies everytime.
• There's also the duties of crowd control. A good paralyzer at lvl 10 is nice to have, along with other specialty bowz.

---Gaining aggro on multishot is what everyone freaks about.

• Learn to circle-strafe (Ranger speed helps a lot here) instead of kiting. Keeping the meatwagons between you and the target... lining up as many targets as possible and targeting the caster in the back... etc etc...

-Build what you like... and go from there, and ENJOY.

[karl_k0ch]

Currently, the top notch AAs are monkbased or monksplashed, making use of the 10k stars enhancement. If you are not interested in that (which is understandable), you could go with 18 Fighter/1 Artificer (or Bard, or Wizard)/1 Ranger. Elf-based is completely viable.

That kind of build has 7 regular feats, and 10 Fighter bonus feats. Since 1 Ranger grants bow strength, you can spend your feats on the following things (in no particular order):

Toughness(es)

Weapon Focus: Ranged
Greater Weapon Focus: Ranged
Superior Weapon Focus: Ranged
Weapon Specialization: Ranged
Greater Weapon Specialization: Ranged

Improved Critical: Ranged

Rapid Shot
Point Blank Shot
Manyshot

Precise Shot
Improved Precise Shot

This leaves still room for 6 more feats, for example Power Critical (with the Combat Change it will become a stacking +2 seeker feat), and even some melee feats if you feel like it.

The main reason to go Kensai instead of pure ranger is that not all mobs you fight are favored enemies, thus the flat +14 damage (2 WS, 2 GWS, 2 WS Enh, 4 Power Surge, 1-2 Fighter Enh, 3 kensei), stacking seeker and better to hit as well as the haste boost against all mobs compete very well against a ranger's +14 damage against only favored enemies and the +3 damage of Ram's Might.

[WeiQuinn]

For Favored Enemies you picked Undead, Elementals, Constructs, Evil Outsiders and Chaotic Outsiders...

Chaotic Outsiders are unnecessary with Evil Outsiders, unless they've added a non-Evil Chaotic Outsider to the game.

You could replace it with Aberrations or Giants.

[Vordax]

Chaotic Outsiders are unnecessary with Evil Outsiders, unless they've added a non-Evil Chaotic Outsider to the game.

The eladrin in running with the devils are chaotic good outsiders, but choosing a favored enemy for just this one quest would be silly. Of course a solo archer trying to kill the self-healing eladrin may need this bump in dps.

[barecm]

Being a relatively decent dps with bow only as an AA pure ranger will require top end gear. Relative to average gear AAs since all other forms of combat yield higher dps. Be prepared for lots and lots of grind. It could take a long while to get what you need for certain items.

[blerkington]

Hi,

Aside from the points other people have made here, I'd say the main flaw in your build is your dex is too high and your str is too low.

Your str is what drives what damage you do with your bow, as well as in melee. I'd reconsider where you're putting your levelling points.

Thanks.