anyone still do bowbarian builds?

[WruntJunior]

Aside from the MT or Arcane Prodigy (both eating a feat) it is this comment about PS and IPS that I see in virtually every thread on AA. And, no matter how I (or others) try to work around those it always seems to come back to them being absolutely essential to most posters.

Next issue for me is the one of "how do you hit anything?" If the build passes on DEX then to hit drops. No sense having an AA if it is missing.

Now, I know that with the AC revamp the to hit element has been modified. But, it is still a concern IMO.

This is my biggest issue...I could live without IPS if using manyshot for only burst DPS...but PS is almost essential.

I think the best bowbarian would be a 12 barbarian/6 ranger/2 artificer (honestly, unless your saves are high enough for evasion, the extra feat is better).

[unbongwah]

What's the delta when comparing AA w/o FBIII, FBIII w/o AA and AA w FBII but slayer arrows?

Honestly, there are so many variables when it comes to DPS - esp. once you factor in EDs - that I don't really know how to crunch the numbers. In this thread there's a debate about what's the best bow for a "casual" (non-AA) Manyshotter, and the answer is "it depends."

Instead, I look at the opportunity costs associated with certain build decisions. I.e., would an FB III AA w/Slaying Arrows have higher ranged DPS than a non-AA FB III? Yes - but the AA FB III had to take WF:Ranged and either sorc PL or a caster splash which the non-AA build did not. Those two feats could instead go towards, say, boosting your melee DPS or adding Toughness or whatever.

On the non-AA FB III I posted, I tried to minimize the melee DPS sacrifice - I think the only thing I lose is barb capstone and I get Haste Boost as a consolation prize - while managing to squeeze in Manyshot. Had I switched to, e.g., a HE TRed from sorc, I would've had to drop the THF chain to squeeze in WF:R and sorc PL. [I could then add rog dilly for 3D6 SA as a consolation prize, but I'm not convinced that makes up for the DPS loss of dropping THF chain.]

How about ftr 12/barb 6/ rgr 2. Not sure if this is a true bowbarian, but it might be interesting to stack rage with power surge.

Another possibility is ftr 12 / barb 6 / arty 2: you lose 3 feats by dropping rgr splash, but can make a true AA bowbarian. Feats get tight, but doable, I think. Although one of the appeals of making a bowbarian is trying to get the extra crit multiplier while Raged from FB II/III; you don't get that w/only barb 6.

The thing with monkchers is that they have to max wisdom right? So your damage per shot is considerably less? And the monkcher absolutely must melee every cycle, not only to build up ki for 10k stars, but also because their single shot arrows are likely not doing that much damage.

Depends on how you build it. A STR-based monkcher would have higher melee DPS & more dmg per hit; while a WIS-based monkcher has higher DCs for Stunning Fist & ToD and higher proc chance on 10K Stars. For ki, outside of melee, in Master & GM Ocean stance you passively regen ki while in Earth stance you regen ki when hit; Enlightenment from GMoF also provides passive ki generation.

I recommend checking out wowo's monkcher thread. He has a lot more experience with actually playing them than I do.

[HungarianRhapsody]

If you've found a way to combine monk with barb, I'm all ears...

They turned off the possibility of Monk/Barbarian mutliclass when they made the veteran airship no longer a tavern.

I think it was only possible for a month or two (although I'm a little fuzzy on how long it actually lasted).

[unbongwah]

Still another option: barb 12 / rgr 6 / arty 2:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.16.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 25 True Neutral Half-Elf Female
(12 Barbarian \ 6 Ranger \ 2 Artificer \ 5 Epic) 
Hit Points: 349
Spell Points: 245 
BAB: 19\19\24\29\29
Fortitude: 16
Reflex: 14
Will: 8

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 25)
Strength             18                    27
Dexterity            16                    20
Constitution         14                    16
Intelligence          8                     8
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma              8                     8

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+3 Tome of Dexterity used at level 11

Level 1 (Artificer)
Feat: (Half-Elf Dilettante) Half-Elf Dilettante: Rogue
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot


Level 2 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead


Level 3 (Ranger)
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 4 (Ranger)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 5 (Ranger)


Level 6 (Ranger)
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Giant
Feat: (Selected) Weapon Focus: Ranged Weapons


Level 7 (Ranger)


Level 8 (Artificer)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 9 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Piercing Weapons 


Level 10 (Barbarian)


Level 11 (Barbarian)


Level 12 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Weapon Fighting


Level 13 (Barbarian)


Level 14 (Barbarian)


Level 15 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Cleave


Level 16 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 17 (Barbarian)


Level 18 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Precise Shot


Level 19 (Barbarian)


Level 20 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost I
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost II
Enhancement: Barbarian Damage Boost III
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Acid Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Explosive Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Force Burst Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Slaying Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Imbue Terror Arrows
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage III
Enhancement: Barbarian Extend Rage IV
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Extra Rage III
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack II
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Attack III
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage I
Enhancement: Barbarian Power Rage II
Enhancement: Barbarian Frenzied Berserker I
Enhancement: Barbarian Frenzied Berserker II
Enhancement: Improved Rogue Dilettante I
Enhancement: Improved Rogue Dilettante II
Enhancement: Human Adaptability Strength I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery I
Enhancement: Human Improved Recovery II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage I
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Damage II
Enhancement: Ranger Favored Resistance I
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +2 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +3 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +4 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer: Conjure +5 Arrows
Enhancement: Elven Arcane Archer I
Enhancement: Artificer Energy of Creation I
Enhancement: Ranger Dexterity I
Enhancement: Barbarian Improved Trap Sense I
Enhancement: Barbarian Improved Trap Sense II
Enhancement: Artificer Wand and Scroll Mastery I


Level 21 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Great Cleave


Level 22 (Barbarian)


Level 23 (Barbarian)


Level 24 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Overwhelming Critical


Level 25 (Barbarian)

Taking a ftr splash instead of arty would net you 1 extra feat (Mental Toughness for AA pre-req & e.g. Toughness or IC:Ranged), Haste Boost I, and +1 STR enh; but you would lose UMD (and whatever trap skills you invested in). Or you could drop IPS; that would let you lower base DEX and squeeze in IC:Ranged, Toughness, or a tactics feat.

EDIT: I took IC:Pierce to use rapiers & heavy picks; you could take IC:Slash instead to use scimitars or khops if you squeeze the prof in.