Rogue Archer Scout

[Hawk87]

I am working on a build for rogue archer scout. It must be F2P, so a 28-point build, no tomes, no premium classes etc.

Primary goal: Good ranged damage dealing
Secondary goal: Good sneaking/scouting ability to spot mobs
Tertiary goal: Good mobility/roofwalking for getting somewhere high and out of range of the mobs where I can snipe down at them whenever possible
Not interested in: Melee or spellcasting, this is a pure archer build except when I HAVE to pull out some blades

Before anyone says it, yes I know that this kind of ranged dps will not compare with the best melee dps characters, but I don't care. I enjoy the role of an archer, so let's just make the best use of the game mechanics possible for my desired role.

I picked Human for the skills and extra early feat, and general balance. I left CON low because I don't intend to get involved in the melee too much, kiting, hiding or roofwalking wherever possible, but I added Toughness just in case. Put everything I can into STR and DEX, trying to keep them roughly even. The rogue levels are for improved skills like Hide, Spot and Move Silently, improving DEX and as a bonus I got Assassin. The fighter levels are for maximising my longbow damage, improving STR, and all the extra feats I needed to make it a decent archer. The splash ranger is for the archery type feats and TWF which could come in handy if they manage to reach me.

Anyways, have I made any glaring errors with this build? Will it fit the bill?

Constructive criticism is welcome, but please include facts and explanation not just an opinion. Thank you.

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Moggeth Hawk
Level 20 True Neutral Human Male
(12 Fighter \ 6 Rogue \ 2 Ranger) 
Hit Points: 254
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 18\18\23\28\28
Fortitude: 13
Reflex: 18
Will: 5

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(28 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 20)
Strength             16                    23
Dexterity            18                    23
Constitution         10                    10
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma              8                     8

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
                 Base Skills         Modified Skills
Skills           (Level 1)            (Level 20)
Balance               8                    11
Bluff                -1                     3
Concentration         0                     2
Diplomacy            -1                     1
Disable Device       n/a                   n/a
Haggle               -1                    -1
Heal                 -1                    -1
Hide                  8                    33
Intimidate           -1                     1
Jump                  7                    20
Listen               -1                    -1
Move Silently         8                    31
Open Lock             n/a                   n/a
Perform              n/a                   n/a
Repair               -1                    -1
Search                3                     4
Spot                  3                    27
Swim                  7                    10
Tumble                8                    11
Use Magic Device     n/a                   n/a

Level 1 (Rogue)
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot
Feat: (Human Bonus) Toughness
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training I
Enhancement: Improved Hide I
Enhancement: Improved Move Silently I


Level 2 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Dodge
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost I
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking I
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness I


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Armored Agility I
Enhancement: Improved Search I
Enhancement: Improved Spot I
Enhancement: Rogue Improved Trap Sense I


Level 4 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Mobility
Enhancement: Improved Balance I
Enhancement: Improved Tumble I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength I


Level 5 (Ranger)
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Dexterity I


Level 6 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Shot on the Run
Enhancement: Fighter Armor Mastery I
Enhancement: Fighter Flanking Mastery I


Level 7 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Manyshot
Enhancement: Fighter Attack Boost II
Enhancement: Fighter Critical Accuracy II
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness II


Level 8 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy I
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity I


Level 9 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Specialization: Ranged Weapons


Level 10 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Precise Shot
Enhancement: Kensei Longbow Mastery I
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength II


Level 11 (Rogue)


Level 12 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: DEX
Feat: (Selected) Improved Precise Shot
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness III


Level 13 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Rogue Subtle Backstabbing I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Training II
Enhancement: Improved Hide II
Enhancement: Improved Move Silently II


Level 14 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Fighter Longbow Specialization I


Level 15 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Power Critical


Level 16 (Rogue)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Rogue Faster Sneaking II


Level 17 (Fighter)
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Improved Two Weapon Fighting
Enhancement: Human Greater Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Fighter Strength III
Enhancement: Fighter Toughness IV


Level 18 (Fighter)
Feat: (Selected) Oversized Two Weapon Fighting


Level 19 (Rogue)
Enhancement: Rogue Assassin I
Enhancement: Rogue Sneak Attack Accuracy II


Level 20 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: DEX
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Greater Weapon Specialization: Ranged Weapons
Enhancement: Kensei Longbow Mastery II
Enhancement: Fighter Kensei II
Enhancement: Rogue Dexterity II

[Rusty_Can]

Primary goal: Good ranged damage dealing

Then you will want Arcane Archer PrE.

In order to qualify for it, you need:
- Race: Elf or Half-Elf; human should qualify if/when the fabled "enhancement pass" hits the live servers.
- Classes breakdown: you need a blue bar and, depending on the class providing it, you may need Mental Toughness feat.

Proposed solution: 12 fighter - 6 ranger - 2 rogue elf, Kensai II - Arcane Archer V.

[unbongwah]

Please see my ftr 12 / rgr 6 / rog 2 AA build. Hasn't been updated in a long time, but it's enough to give you the gist of the build, I think.

[honkuimushi]

The biggest improvement I can think of is taking Arcane Archer, as has been mentioned. That requires Elf or Half-elf and spell points so you can take Mental Toughness. That would require a Fighter 12/ Ranger 6/ Rogue 2 build. Elf also gets a couple of enhancements to boost bow damage.

I do see a flaw in your strategy though. You won't be able to stand off in most quests. The devs have made several passes through quests to eliminate any perch spots or other sniping spots. The are tons of ambushes where mobs don't spawn until you physically enter the area and enemies that are inactive and invulnerable until you enter melee distance. For that reason, you will probably need some melee ability. You can kite, but that's not always the best strategy. In any case, I wouldn't start with less than 12 Con and I'd probably take GTWF and a melee improved Crit as well. You should have enough feats with 12 Fighter levels. If you have to, you could drop the Shot on the Run chain, which adds very little.

For stats on a 28 point build without tomes, I'd probably go:
Str 16
Dex 16
Con 12
Int 14
Wis 8
Chr 8

With level ups in Dex. The reason I added so much to Int is that I would go for trap skills and probably UMD. The skill points are tight, but being able to disable traps and open locks will be much more important to completing quests and getting around obstacles than balance or tumble. UMD allows you to use a lot of items that you wouldn't be able to. Without an Int tome, you may not be able to max you trap skills, but you should be able to get most of the traps on normal, which is what it looks like you're aiming for.

That might eat into your stealth skills, but stealth in this game depends more on player skill than skill points. If you're good at it, you can do amazing things. If you aren't it's just frustrating. One of the best stealth players actually used a Wizard for most of his stuff. 10 points in the skill plus your Dex, buffs and gear will probably allow you to stealth through most things, if you have the player skill for it. I find stealth really annoying with opening door or pulling levers always breaking stealth and the fact that once a mob picks up on you, it's impossible to lose him. Even if you run back to the beginning of the quest, re-stealth and sneak back in, he'll know exactly where you are. And once you attack, stealth is gone. Every mob in the group will know exactly where you are and come running straight for you, if they can.

I hope that's helpful. Good luck.

[unbongwah]

Please see my ftr 12 / rgr 6 / rog 2 AA build. Hasn't been updated in a long time, but it's enough to give you the gist of the build, I think.

Just updated these builds. Have a look-see.

[blerkington]

Hi,

I wouldn't recommend starting with an 18 DEX on a 28pt build. I think the cost to your other stats is too high for a very marginal increase. From the way you've described your concept it sounds like you believe that maximum DEX is important, but you won't notice the one point difference in the long run.

If you were to spend some of those points in CON instead, your HP total will go up. That will increase your survivability, because when you solo you are usually the main focus of monsters' aggro. Perching is not possible all of the time, will not protect you from all attacks, and makes for very, very slow progress in some quests on harder difficulties.

Spending some more stat points on INT will allow you to take advantage of your rogue skills. It really seems a shame to take those rogue levels then not invest in highly useful rogue skills like UMD and Open Locks. You may not have the skill points to be a trapper, but the two skills I've mentioned (a couple of points in OL and full ranks in UMD) can be very useful.

You could solve a lot of the problems with this build by going elf or half elf (so you can qualify for Arcance Archer, for better damage output with the bow) and possibly changing your class levels to make ranger your main focus to deal with the skill point shortage, eg a 12 Ra/6 Ft /2 Ro build. If you did it that way, your self-sufficiency would also go up because of the healing and damage mitigation spells available to rangers.

Anyway, good luck with it.

Thanks.