TRing my Arty

[Gonzo120]

I have reached the limit of MY arty in his second life (lvl 21) and will TR again for the 3rd. He is a pure arty halfling and I need some direction as where to go next so that the 2 Arty past lives will benefit the new character. No wiz/monks. Rogues are rather dependent on groups most of the time. I know what MY limits are with artys and that excludes epics. I'd like to run something I might be able to take into epics this time and survive. I had a ranger in mind but I want to make sure I don't want to waste any past life benefits with one. Suggestions with reasons and basic starting instructions would be of much help. I have never multiclassed before so if the new character encompasses multiclassing I'd take any instructions in the reasoning and mechanics in that too. I do not prefer a ranger over anything. I am leaving my options open to suggestions.

[TheGuyYouKnow]

arti passive past life bonus is very general +1 int skills and umd that pretty much any class can make use of. so it depends on what you want your end class to be for this character, if its arti then ranger past lives are very beneficial (+2 damage with ranged weapons per life, for a max of +6 damage)

i personally really enjoy my arti, 10 rogue 2 arti 8 ranger, gaining the ranged abilities from arcane archer and deepwood sniper(namely slayer arrow and called shot) and a decent amount sneak attack damage.
this combination can be changed up for pretty much the same character for the ranger artificer and rogue past lives,
ranger: 8rng/6arti/6rog
arti:12arti/6rng/2rog
rogue:10rog/8rng/2arti
the idea:mainly using repeating crossbows with abilities from the ranger trees so you basically get 3x the effect as well as getting free ranged feats including manyshot when its off cooldown(not really worth it until you get 3 arrows per shot)

called shot(Sniper Shot): Ranged Attack: Performs a ranged attack with +2[W], a +4 bonus to-hit, +2 to critical threat range, and +2 to Critical Damage Multiplier. The target will become vulnerable to sneak attacks for four seconds. (Cooldown 6 seconds)
lets you use your sneak attack while soloing as well as being a very stong ability on its own

Arrow of Slaying: Ranged Archery Attack: Performs a ranged attack with +250 damage. (Cost: 20 spell points. Cooldown: 20 seconds.)
+750 damage, plain and simple, can crit for fun times

[Enoach]

Currently I'm doing a Bard/Artificer/Rogue combination. I have the following past lives - Arti 2x, Druid, Bard and Barbarian.

I am currently 13/2/2 Bard/Artificer/Rogue

I've been able to keep most of my rogue skills up, but I found the main advantage is that I get to continue to use my assorted Repeaters and Rune Arms. Trapping this life with evasion. Getting to try out the Swashbuckler Tree. The tricks I learned as an Artificer for scroll buffs help keep my skills in top form.

Since I went with this build I decided to use the Shadar Kai as a base as in this case taking Rogue as the First Level was going to happen

Starting Attributes
14 STR
14 DEX
12 CON <- Yes this is low compared to what some would go with but I'm banking my Barbarian PL helps here
14 INT
08 WIS
16 CHR

Currently Level 17 and enjoying the build - UMD solid enough at Level 15 to use Level 6 Scrolls without UMD specific gear thanks to the +2 Scroll UMD from the Artificer Level as well as the +2 from the Artificer PL.

Leveling Order
1 Rogue
2 Artificer
3 - 13 Bard
14 Artificer
15 Rogue
16 - 17 Bard

You will want to level the Rogue Skills like DD/OL/Search/Spot during your Rogue and Artificer levels as UMD, Balance, Concentration and Bluff are Bard Skills.

I'm still debating on one more rogue or artificer level at 20 to clean up rogue skills, but this means giving up level 6 spells.

[Gonzo120]

arti passive past life bonus is very general +1 int skills and umd that pretty much any class can make use of. so it depends on what you want your end class to be for this character, if its arti then ranger past lives are very beneficial (+2 damage with ranged weapons per life, for a max of +6 damage)

i personally really enjoy my arti, 10 rogue 2 arti 8 ranger, gaining the ranged abilities from arcane archer and deepwood sniper(namely slayer arrow and called shot) and a decent amount sneak attack damage.
this combination can be changed up for pretty much the same character for the ranger artificer and rogue past lives,
ranger: 8rng/6arti/6rog
arti:12arti/6rng/2rog
rogue:10rog/8rng/2arti
the idea:mainly using repeating crossbows with abilities from the ranger trees so you basically get 3x the effect as well as getting free ranged feats including manyshot when its off cooldown(not really worth it until you get 3 arrows per shot)

called shot(Sniper Shot): Ranged Attack: Performs a ranged attack with +2[W], a +4 bonus to-hit, +2 to critical threat range, and +2 to Critical Damage Multiplier. The target will become vulnerable to sneak attacks for four seconds. (Cooldown 6 seconds)
lets you use your sneak attack while soloing as well as being a very stong ability on its own

Arrow of Slaying: Ranged Archery Attack: Performs a ranged attack with +250 damage. (Cost: 20 spell points. Cooldown: 20 seconds.)
+750 damage, plain and simple, can crit for fun times

Perhaps I don't understand multiclassing(theory/mechanics) well enough to apply it yet. Thank you for the direction to go...I'll work on learning the steps to get me there. Thank you very much.

[Gonzo120]

Currently I'm doing a Bard/Artificer/Rogue combination. I have the following past lives - Arti 2x, Druid, Bard and Barbarian.

I am currently 13/2/2 Bard/Artificer/Rogue

I've been able to keep most of my rogue skills up, but I found the main advantage is that I get to continue to use my assorted Repeaters and Rune Arms. Trapping this life with evasion. Getting to try out the Swashbuckler Tree. The tricks I learned as an Artificer for scroll buffs help keep my skills in top form.

Since I went with this build I decided to use the Shadar Kai as a base as in this case taking Rogue as the First Level was going to happen

Starting Attributes
14 STR
14 DEX
12 CON <- Yes this is low compared to what some would go with but I'm banking my Barbarian PL helps here
14 INT
08 WIS
16 CHR

Currently Level 17 and enjoying the build - UMD solid enough at Level 15 to use Level 6 Scrolls without UMD specific gear thanks to the +2 Scroll UMD from the Artificer Level as well as the +2 from the Artificer PL.

Leveling Order
1 Rogue
2 Artificer
3 - 13 Bard
14 Artificer
15 Rogue
16 - 17 Bard

You will want to level the Rogue Skills like DD/OL/Search/Spot during your Rogue and Artificer levels as UMD, Balance, Concentration and Bluff are Bard Skills.

I'm still debating on one more rogue or artificer level at 20 to clean up rogue skills, but this means giving up level 6 spells.

Thanks for the information. I'm not that proficient in the art of multiclassing. The mechanics and theory are unknown to me. Even as an Arty I never much used scrolls no matter how high I got my UMD. I did but not in times of meele and not for offensive/defensive purporses, more in preporation for meele. I don't have the time nor the ability to key in scrolls while fighting. I'd be dead by the time the scroll took affect. Oh, I have never tried to run a bard have no idea exactly what a bard is composed of. Thanks for your help...I have learned one thing for sure..I need to learn more.