The Sun Valkyrie 20 Favored Soul Arcane Archer Elf

[IronClan]

You can spam level 1 nimbus of light, level 3 searing light level 4 holy smite in between your SLAs.

Forgot this. Look almost every objection to this build posted so far has been clearly addressed in the OP. See "mana dump mode".

[Symerith]

Actually, my favored soul AA has Shiradi. No, not as many procs as wiz/sorc spamming those missiles, but still, whoa, a lot. My build is just archon with bow (and rapid shot, manyshot, etc much more bow specced than this build), and I do still get a nice amount, more than other AA's because of the archon (and occasional divine punishment, blade barrier, cometfall, etc.) Pretty sure this build is at least casting 1 spell/sec, so you can get around as many procs as I do, not only that, but when you're getting many off your procs off spells instead of the bow, they get spell power boost too.

I just tested, avenging light does proc shiradi (with spell power on procs) when twisted as well.

By the way, my fvs archer is 17 fvs/2 rgr/1 wiz.

Wizard allows you to bypass the Mental Toughness requirement for AA. (Btw, those spell point enhancements each SP class gets called "Energy of the ____", you can't take them from more than one class at once. Due to that, and the fact that you need the FvS version to take AoV, the only enhancement you can take to bypass the MT requirement for AA is Elven Arcanum. Basically meaning wizard is the only multiclass that works this way and it only works on pure elf.) Also you get the free metamagic feat. So 1 Wizard is worth 2 feats.

Monk gives the one free feat (Precision, Toughness and Zen Archery are really the only ones that can be useful to ranged, and so you may not be making optimal use of that feat anyway, unlike both Wizard feats, since it frees up a normal feat and no favored soul can go without any metamagics)

My comment was that on such an AA, the number of shiradi procs generated is very low compared to a shiradi sorc. You have roughly 2 procs per second, the shiradi sorc has an average of 4 times what you have.

Just a general comment, there seems to be a DPS competition on the forums that doesn't really exist in the game. I've never met a Shiradi specced caster that smirked because I had 15 kills to their 25, while I kept them from dieing 3 or 4 times or raised them when I didn't (stuff happens, I drop the ball sometimes, just like everyone. Of course sometimes "the ball" isn't wearing heavy fort, has 8 con, or is TR training and is still wearing ML11 gear). I've also never run with a Melee Soul that smirked at my bow, while doing all the healing work from within the pile...

I have met more than a few Melee souls that did no healing work within the pile, or for that matter outside of it, and I've regularly run into two particular melee souls on Thelanis who start every quest with words to the effect of: "BTW I don't heal" and "Are you a healer, because I don't heal"... One is kinda expected heavy multiclass but one of them is a pure 20 FvS, both of them seemingly are forced to make their own "BYOH" LFM's due I'm guessing to the "popularity" of saying that .

I know, and have run with some very skilled melee souls who heal well, so if you run one and happen to be reading this, please don't take offense to my generalized comment, I would expect you've run into the same thing yourself.

Take it or leave it But the way I see it is I always try to give advice so that people can build the most efficient toon possible. When you know there's a massive difference in terms of raw DPS btw this build and a shiradi sorc, and that a well built monkcher will be extremely survivable to the point where he doesn't need a heal bot...
So the first thought is.. try to explain this guy that he'll be better off by making one of those more "traditionnal" builds.
But what I'm seeing now is that you want to play a toon that maximizes the number of shiradi procs generated per second on a healer platform. To me, it looks like a fun build, that requires a lot of mario skills to make it work, but I still don't think it's very efficient :P

[nni]

Forgot this. Look almost every objection to this build posted so far has been clearly addressed in the OP. See "mana dump mode".

The point is that you can add normal searing light to your rotation (so it's SLA -> Searing light -> Avenging light -> Nimbus), which will not only provide around the same dps as using a bow, with negligible sp cost, all the while helping you charge your ardor stacks faster.

I have a nova soul at the moment and while my rotation only includes SLA, Avenging light and nimbus, I find that that is enough to charge divine wrath whenever it comes off-timer. I can even add a rebuke foe right after the Divine Wrath and STILL be able to cast divine wrath when it comes off-timer. In addition you are probably throwing a few healing spells here and there, so I wonder how many bow shots you're getting in between all that spell-casting.

Basically you gain some minor sp free dps, while giving up increased survivability from shield (+shield mastery feats) and race as well as being more restricted in the spell power types you can have (since you're restricted to the trinket slot).

It just doesn't seem like a worthy trade-off.

[IronClan]

As have others, I wonder whether you're giving up too much (Elf squishiness, enhancement choices, WF: Ranged feat selection) to gain AA for what you admit is more of an afterthought, your ranged DPS.

I wonder if you couldnt achieve the same effect with thrown weapons, which lets you dump Elf for any race, and Dex for some more STR and get at least some bonus damage. You could take Quickdraw and/or Rapid Shot instead of WF: Ranged and/or PBS (depending how often you plan on being within PBS range), or take QD, RS, and PBS if you went Human, with the obvious usual Human bonuses (healing amp, Versatility) to boot. You wouldnt need to spend all those enhancements on the AA line. You could still wield a shield with your thrower, so you'd be doing some basic ranged DPS with autoattack that actually has a damage-boost component, not just 1d8 with a Vorpal effect, and you could craft throwers that boost your spellpower, or use Cormyrians that have Spellplague and other CC effects.

This is a cool idea, I like it, might do that on an Alt. Twist in the throwing alacrity ED

On the bow side, there's some flavor here for sure (as mentioned in the OP) but there's also synergy. +4 damage from Elf and FvS bow damage enhancements, DEX synergy with Elf, and of course AA obviously. I have a version of this build that is not AA but the no fuss no muss +5 arrows and slayer arrows adds to the enjoyment of playing it.

Here's the way I look at it, and why it appeals to me: with Quicken Max and Empower (and being SP efficient due to SLA's) I have all the good stuff I need to max out the light spell damage. Everything else is just stuff I would A) make healing more SP efficient with (Empower Healing meta but I don't honestly feel the lack of this meta, I rarely need to drink pots) or use for "whatever". That gap in DPS between the SLA's used to be filled with fully meta'd Searing Light and Nimbus that drained SP faster than I cared for.

I know the bow is doing me good because it regularly kills things when the lasers are cooling down. Slayer Arrows, and 150-180 point crits are non trivial DPS additions because they are not costing me light spell power or healing (at least in a way I find significant). I can use more SP and boost DPS... I always have that option, and I use it frequently when I know a shrine is close or the group is not using my SP to fill red bars.

BTW I am only just working out Seeker gear and exceptional seeker, and I am going to go from 19-20 to 17-20 crit range here in about 10k XP when I can take Improved Crit Ranged. The crits are going to get bigger and double in frequency. Would love to put Bow Strength in there but Archers Focus and 20% crits would have to go. Not sure if that trade off is worth it.

[IronClan]

It just doesn't seem like a worthy trade-off.

Funny thing I've personally found in this game, is that a lot of things that don't seem that great (especially if you're listening to the forums) can often surprise you. Conversely there's a lot of stuff around here people fawn over that I just don't get (like Conc op, or only putting 5 ranks in jump or long cool down burst DPS or Pali smites etc.).

Chalk it up to subjectivity, everyone has differing tastes and that's great, I personally value fluidity and seemless action, which to be honest is not in great supply in DDO, it's a complex game full of clickies and disjointed animation constrained movements and attacks.

This build shreds laser PEW PEW ranged damage at a rate that feels powerful and is more fun to play for me than I can explain in a forum post. This and my monk are closest thing to smooth/fluid action builds I've managed to get in DDO.

Coming off a Sword and shield healer build that was more about standing around while healing and jumping into the action when it didn't matter (when being incapped killed or knocked down/stunned wasn't going to cause a raid to wipe), I will say there's a world of difference in the relative feeling of power.

The early build that used purely spells was constantly getting into SP trouble, and unquickened spells in the rotation killed the "rotation" and made it play very disjointed and uneven. In mana dump mode (see OP) the DPS shines but needs to be used judiciously, as even Searing Light and Nimbus with DOT's quickened etc. will eat up 3600 plus SP in no time.

To tell the truth if Turbine allowed me to hot bar the same spell with two different meta magic configurations I might try to use only spells, and vary the meta's based on whats going on. But that's not the case, and I've found it to play better just having a "mana dump mode" in addition to a normal and SP saving mode.

[unbongwah]

To tell the truth if Turbine allowed me to hot bar the same spell with two different meta magic configurations I might try to use only spells, and vary the meta's based on whats going on.

Umm, it's pretty easy to do this. Drag & drop the spells to your hotbars, then right-click on them to see the metamagics available; you can set them to "always on" or "always off," which ignores whether or not you've toggled the metas elsewhere. Thus you could have one bar of unmeta-ed spells for your standard DPS rotation, and another set for your "mana dump" mode.

[ZeebaNeighba]

Umm, it's pretty easy to do this. Drag & drop the spells to your hotbars, then right-click on them to see the metamagics available; you can set them to "always on" or "always off," which ignores whether or not you've toggled the metas elsewhere. Thus you could have one bar of unmeta-ed spells for your standard DPS rotation, and another set for your "mana dump" mode.

Also nice to keep one heal with all your spell power metamagics and quicken on it so you have it ready in an "Oh ****" moment, then keep your SP efficient heals also.

[IronClan]

Umm, it's pretty easy to do this. Drag & drop the spells to your hotbars, then right-click on them to see the metamagics available; you can set them to "always on" or "always off," which ignores whether or not you've toggled the metas elsewhere. Thus you could have one bar of unmeta-ed spells for your standard DPS rotation, and another set for your "mana dump" mode.

Was the pedantic "umm" necessary? A little chest puff up before the information? The last time I tried to have two different hotbars of the same spells with two different meta magic configurations the changes to one always effected the other identically.

If this has changed, that's awesome as it will help more than just this character.

[Tanhausen]

Ever since I got my Epic Elite Road Watch Bow I was thinking about TR-ing my FvS to a Ranger but couldn't bring myself to do it. Then I came across your thread, OP - Favored Soul Arcane Archer...Brilliant!

I lesser reincarnated and now run with a Sun Valkryie, and I'm pretty happy with her.

Thanks!

[IronClan]

Ever since I got my Epic Elite Road Watch Bow I was thinking about TR-ing my FvS to a Ranger but couldn't bring myself to do it. Then I came across your thread, OP - Favored Soul Arcane Archer...Brilliant!

I lesser reincarnated and now run with a Sun Valkryie, and I'm pretty happy with her.

Thanks!

Well I'm glad someone decided to try it, it's a little hard to explain the attraction on a forum, as it's not entirely about DPS, and numbers are often the main thing on forums.
Its a lot about how it plays and is a lot about how enjoyable it is to main heal the party while ALSO walloping stuff for 4 digit purple crits, that cost ZERO or 3sp and sustained damage and slayer arrows while the "lasers" are on cooldown.

Almost named the build "Laser Valkyrie" but sounded too techie.

[ZeebaNeighba]

Was the pedantic "umm" necessary? A little chest puff up before the information? The last time I tried to have two different hotbars of the same spells with two different meta magic configurations the changes to one always effected the other identically.

If this has changed, that's awesome as it will help more than just this character.

Ever since the day I accidentally right clicked on my hotbar and saw the metamagic settings, I have been putting differently metamagicced heals on my hotbars.

It works now, and I don't know when it ever didn't.

[IronClan]

It works now, and I don't know when it ever didn't.

Apparently when I tried it May have been a bug who knows.