A question about class splits

[TheLegendOfAra]

So on my mains current Ranger life I went with my own AA build.
12Ranger/6Monk/2Arti
AA, 10Kstars, Whirling Steel Strike and all that stuff.

I'm currently about 60K from cap and I've been reconsidering my split.
Looking at it I've been trying to weigh the pros/cons of the following splits
12Ranger/6Monk/2Arti
Gives me 1 more spell slot for Cure Moderate Wounds, which with my heal amp hits me for around 50ish without any spellpower what-so-ever.

11Ranger/7Monk/2Arti
Gives me Wholeness of body, which works well in between fights while soloing for topping off my HP bar without having to waste heal scrolls/pots. (does monk get an extra feat at 7 as well? Can't remember for sure..)

11Ranger/6Monk/3Arti
Gives me +1 UMD, Wrack construct(if I take it), and possibly a level 2 spell slot for elemental weapons?
(Not sure what level Arti's get level 2 spells, but the scrolls for level 2 Artis spells are No UMD check for Arti level 2 soo.. )

Really just looking for input on what you would do, or if I missed anything with these splits?

[karl_k0ch]

My AA has a 11/6/3-split.

Thanks to UMD, CMW is not that important. The main benefit from 12 Ranger is +1 to all saves, imho. The most important level 3 ranger spell is CMW anyway, so it's not a great loss to stop at 11.

Monk 7 only gets Wholeness of Body as a feat, and unfortunately no saves bonus at all. Apart from Void Strike II, there is no new Enhancement at monk 7.

Arty 3 is only +1 Will (which is the one which needs the most improvement), but the Elemental weapons are a really nice damage bonus. On top of this, you get +1 UMD as an enhancement.

I opted for more damage and being closer to the magic 39.

[TheLegendOfAra]

My AA has a 11/6/3-split.

Thanks to UMD, CMW is not that important. The main benefit from 12 Ranger is +1 to all saves, imho. The most important level 3 ranger spell is CMW anyway, so it's not a great loss to stop at 11.

Monk 7 only gets Wholeness of Body as a feat, and unfortunately no saves bonus at all. Apart from Void Strike II, there is no new Enhancement at monk 7.

Arty 3 is only +1 Will (which is the one which needs the most improvement), but the Elemental weapons are a really nice damage bonus. On top of this, you get +1 UMD as an enhancement.

I opted for more damage and being closer to the magic 39.

Ah okay, that's pretty much what I was thinking as well. Although I think with my current set up I probably won't need any more UMD. I'm sitting at 37 right now at level 19. lol But if it's really just a choice between CMW and Elemental weapons, I'll take the damage. I don't get hit much with this build anyways, so heal scrolls are more than enough.


Although I would have to disagree with you. On any split that can do traps, The spell that gives you +10 to spot is amazing on any build that semi dumped spot to get all there other skills maxed.

[Furare]

Apart from Void Strike II, there is no new Enhancement at monk 7.

That's not true. Improved Recovery II. Whether you value that or not is your choice, but it's definitely there. :P

[karl_k0ch]

Although I would have to disagree with you. On any split that can do traps, The spell that gives you +10 to spot is amazing on any build that semi dumped spot to get all there other skills maxed.

Yeah, you're right, this is a useful spell indeed. Especially on this kind of build it's doubly useful: You can see hidden mobs and shoot at them and you can spot traps better.

[Bart_D]

Interesting... When I got my archer to level 18 she was Art1/Ranger11/Monk6 because I knew I wanted something from those levels (and eventually a ranger PL) and had not really planned ahead. Looking at benefits from taking 1-2 levels in each of the three classes, I chose to take another 2 artificer levels because I liked Elemental Weapons and the other options really didn't seem to offer anything very useful.

[TheLegendOfAra]

Yeah, you're right, this is a useful spell indeed. Especially on this kind of build it's doubly useful: You can see hidden mobs and shoot at them and you can spot traps better.

Agreed. Although I was thinking more on the side of actually finding traps before I run face first into them. lol
Outside of Heroic quests I don't know where many of the traps are. Mainly because on my previous toons I have always had such high saves that even on EE I could usually /dance in most traps without a problem. lol

@Bart_D:
That's what I've been leaning towards as well. While the extra healing amp from 7Monk would be nice, it'd be overkill tbh. My heal scrolls are already hitting me for over 300 each.

I've also been kind of annoyed that I couldn't scroll elemental weapons onto my bows. XD
Hadn't thought of that before I TR'd so I had 2 stacks of the scrolls just collecting dust. lol