Revisiting the Elven Ranger for New Players

[Doutrinador]

[QUOTE=Doutrinador;5713400]I need past life sorcerer for completionlist. Would be EH/EE viable one sorcerer / ranger build? Using spell power and spell critical for elemantel arrows? maybe one lvl of cleric for DM.


anyone?

[Enderoc]

To be honest an int and wisdom based arcane archer is probably your best bet if you have access to harper tree to increase both ranged and spell power...I would even splash 2 levels of Warlock for UMD and Spellcraft. I mean once you pick up that second level of warlock you got plus 5 UMD granted and it allows you to max both. Makes up for Charisma dump. Maybe 6 fighter, 2 warlock, 12 Ranger....and you are gold. You have the armor, access to tier 5 AA, maxed UMD, Heal, Spellcraft, enough skill points, and extra feats. Just make sure you have enough Dex for combat Archery. So minimum starting 14 with one level up and plus 6 tome.

[Doutrinador]

To be honest an int and wisdom based arcane archer is probably your best bet if you have access to harper tree to increase both ranged and spell power...I would even splash 2 levels of Warlock for UMD and Spellcraft. I mean once you pick up that second level of warlock you got plus 5 UMD granted and it allows you to max both. Makes up for Charisma dump. Maybe 6 fighter, 2 warlock, 12 Ranger....and you are gold. You have the armor, access to tier 5 AA, maxed UMD, Heal, Spellcraft, enough skill points, and extra feats. Just make sure you have enough Dex for combat Archery. So minimum starting 14 with one level up and plus 6 tome.

Need the Sorcerer past life.

[CrackedIce]

To be honest an int and wisdom based arcane archer is probably your best bet if you have access to harper tree to increase both ranged and spell power...I would even splash 2 levels of Warlock for UMD and Spellcraft. I mean once you pick up that second level of warlock you got plus 5 UMD granted and it allows you to max both. Makes up for Charisma dump. Maybe 6 fighter, 2 warlock, 12 Ranger....and you are gold. You have the armor, access to tier 5 AA, maxed UMD, Heal, Spellcraft, enough skill points, and extra feats. Just make sure you have enough Dex for combat Archery. So minimum starting 14 with one level up and plus 6 tome.

I agree in principle but not in practice. There is just not enough ap to go around for deepwood and AA if you splash and go into Harper. Are you assuming not going through racial? How if you are discussing level 12 ranger. I myself am 15 ranger 4 fighter and 1 wizard so I see the benefits of splashing in the way you say. But there just is not enough ap to go Harper. Why would you give up killer and advanced sneak attack in Deepwood for Harper? What is your ap breakdown for your suggestion?

[adrian69]

I need past life sorcerer for completionlist. Would be EH/EE viable one sorcerer / ranger build? Using spell power and spell critical for elemantel arrows? maybe one lvl of cleric for DM.

anyone?

I am not sure that it would be, but I have a similar theorycraft with a wizard, but the pass made it obselete before it was ever done. I think there are better way to do a sorc probably. the problem with ranger is you need 12 levels and 21 points in dws and/or tempest. I did my sorc life as an abridged BF Tukaw. 14 sorc 4 paladin 2 x (can be monk, fighter, fvs, whatever). 16 str/16 con/ 17 charisma. Level ups in charisma and I spec'd acid and beat things in cloudkill. This isn't an EE solo build. I don't see a problem with trying 8-12 sorc/6 ranger/2-6x (rogue, fighter, monk or paladin probably). It'll just have to be really planned out.

[unbongwah]

I need past life sorcerer for completionlist. Would be EH/EE viable one sorcerer / ranger build? Using spell power and spell critical for elemantel arrows? maybe one lvl of cleric for DM.

It's an interesting idea. I've kicked around AA / caster builds based on Shiradi: typical MM spam plus arrows to supplement; free SPs from Soul Magic + Moonbow to help make up for the heavy MC. I haven't thought too much about how to build it, though: maybe sorc 12 / rgr 6 / FvS 2? 14 APs racial, 41 APs racial AA, 4 APs Warpriest, 21 APs Savant?

To be honest an int and wisdom based arcane archer is probably your best bet if you have access to harper tree to increase both ranged and spell power...I would even splash 2 levels of Warlock for UMD and Spellcraft. I mean once you pick up that second level of warlock you got plus 5 UMD granted and it allows you to max both. Makes up for Charisma dump. Maybe 6 fighter, 2 warlock, 12 Ranger....and you are gold. You have the armor, access to tier 5 AA, maxed UMD, Heal, Spellcraft, enough skill points, and extra feats. Just make sure you have enough Dex for combat Archery. So minimum starting 14 with one level up and plus 6 tome.

The main problem is AP shortage. At this point, given the importance of Doubleshot now, I consider the AA capstone a must-have on a MCed AA build, which costs a minimum of 55 APs (14 racial + 41 AA). With 12 rgr lvls, there's also strong incentives to spend at least 21 APs DWS: extra PBS range, +4d6 SAs, +1 crit range, extra dmg from Favored Hunter and Thrill of the Hunt. At which point, there's only 4 APs left: not even enough to reach T2 Harper. You could ditch DWS entirely, but I'm not convinced that's an improvement; I'd probably just max Killer instead.

[Doutrinador]

I am not sure that it would be, but I have a similar theorycraft with a wizard, but the pass made it obselete before it was ever done. I think there are better way to do a sorc probably. the problem with ranger is you need 12 levels and 21 points in dws and/or tempest. I did my sorc life as an abridged BF Tukaw. 14 sorc 4 paladin 2 x (can be monk, fighter, fvs, whatever). 16 str/16 con/ 17 charisma. Level ups in charisma and I spec'd acid and beat things in cloudkill. This isn't an EE solo build. I don't see a problem with trying 8-12 sorc/6 ranger/2-6x (rogue, fighter, monk or paladin probably). It'll just have to be really planned out.

Thx for reply.

[RS-Makk]

The Shadow Tempest

Just when I had convinced myself to TR into a pure Human Dex based human (think the 'Divine Cuisinart' but Dex based).. you had to go post this and get me all undecided again. I'm struggling with the trading off of the extra DPS that I'd lost not having the human damage boost or KTA (that seems to me it would be a LOT of damage when it's all said and done).. and, while I know I can get displacement from shroud clickies.. there's just something sexy about going with the elf dragonmark.

[Avaran]

Why quicken spell and empower healing? Anything better for a ranged Ranger?

[Enderoc]

Maximize, Empower spell...
unlike empower healing works for both your cure spells and adds damage due to increased spellpower to your arrows right? http://ddowiki.com/page/Maximize_Spell

You may also now apply this individually to any spell or spell-like ability it applies to by rightclick the spell and enabling it through the dropdown menu.

If Maximize works with Cleric Positive Auras (a non listed spell), it should work with imbues to catch up with warlocks in my opinion.

[unbongwah]

Why quicken spell and empower healing? Anything better for a ranged Ranger?

Empower Healing works with ED healing abilities like Rejuv Cocoon, Light the Dark, and Renewal; Max & Emp do not. Quicken is so you don't need to make a Concentration check when using CSW; EE mobs in particular hit so hard they render Concentration largely useless.

You could take Weapon Focus Ranged + Thrown for +4 Ranged Power; or rearrange feat order to take Dodge / Mobility / Shot on the Run for extra Dodge % and +3 Ranged Power.

If Maximize works with Cleric Positive Auras (a non listed spell), it should work with imbues to catch up with warlocks in my opinion.

Max & Emp work with Pos Energy Burst, but not with PE Aura; only Emp Heal boosts PEA. I've no idea why you would think metamagics should boost imbues; after all, they don't affect Eldritch Blasts or Spiritual Retribution, which are only boosted by Spellpower the way imbues do.

[Avaran]

Bump. Can moderator sticky this?

[Apollos713]

Any particular reason for choosing corrosive arrows over another type, like shocking? I'm not up to date on game-wide mob immunities.

[unbongwah]

Any particular reason for choosing corrosive arrows over another type, like shocking?

Not really: it all depends on what content you run (i.e., mob immunities), your gear (i.e., what you use for Spellpower), and (if you take Imp Elem Arrows) which debuff effect you want.

[Apollos713]

Not really: it all depends on what content you run (i.e., mob immunities), your gear (i.e., what you use for Spellpower), and (if you take Imp Elem Arrows) which debuff effect you want.

Thanks for the answer. I was wondering if you looked at how these synergize with the new legendary feats, if one was preferable. Or is that the kind of thing that it doesn't matter too much since resetting enhancements is so cheap?

[unbongwah]

I haven't been paying attention to U29 yet, so I have no opinion on the new feats. Besides, it's early days; there will doubtless be a lot of changes between now and go-live, so I don't see much point in worrying about it yet.

[pappo]

After U23 goes live, you will no longer need Great Cleave (or STR 23) for Overwhelming Crit. So for a pure drow rgr that's focused on archery, I'd probably do Point Blank Shot (1), Precision (3), Dodge (6), Improved Crit:Ranged (9), IC:Pierce (12), Emp Heal (15), Quicken (18), Overwhelming Crit (21), Combat Archery (24), PTWF (26). You need base DEX 21 to take CA, so figure out what combo of tome(s) & build pts gets you there; plus enough CON not to die, ofc. Everything else goes into STR.

Enhancements: 41 APs into AA (Slaying Arrow, capstone); 21 APs into Tempest (100% offhand proc, +3% Dodge from Imp Dodge); 11 APs into DWS (Sniper Shot, +Pos Spellpower, some sneak atk bonuses); last 7 APs sprinkled as you see fit. Though naturally, feel free to experiment as you level; you may find you prefer, say, the ranged special atks in DWS over AA imbues and shift APs accordingly.

Unbongwah - Thanks for this information. I followed that feat and enhancement list and leveled to 20. It was a lot of fun. Instead of going into Epics, I decided to try another Drow Elf build for my second life. I wanted to try Ranger/Rogue for some trapping skills, and optional xbow use.
My question is what you would recommend for enhancements for a ranger/rogue build who is not going Tempest. I am trying AA, DWS, and Elf tree and wondered what you would do. I am a 16Ranger/3Rogue now, but just don't seem to be getting much DPS out of the bows. The only named bows, I have so far, are the Elite Roadwatch Bow, Bow of Sinew, and a Elite Tortured Livewood bow.
Right now I have 37 pts in AA, and 32 in DWS, and 4 in Elf.
Feats now, I have IPS, IC Ranged and Piercing, TWF, and ITWF. I 'm thinking I messed up taking too much TWF feats, since I am only doing ranged DPS.
Any help would be appreciated.

[unbongwah]

I am a 16Ranger/3Rogue now, but just don't seem to be getting much DPS out of the bows.

This thread is meant for pure rgrs; I suggest ED37's TT thread for MCed advice.

[Marshal_Lannes]

You have listed some ideas for the classic archer AA/DS and a Tempest with some archery T/DS, what is your idea for an archery first Tempest 2nd elven ranger? I am envisioning T5 DWS 36-40 pts, elf (w/DMs) 12+ APs, a few in AA for arrows at least and an elemental imbue and how much in Tempest? Attack method ranged first then melee on crippled, pinned enemies if need be. This build would be too squishy to stand in toe to toe with full strength mobs on tough quest content. Oh and would the classic long sword even be worth considering?

[pappo]

This thread is meant for pure rgrs; I suggest ED37's TT thread for MCed advice.

Unbongwah - Thanks for the link, but I don't want to do any Tempest TWF. I wanted to play as a pure ranged archer, with some rogue for traps and maybe sneak attack bonuses.