Arachnophilia, or, What A Charming Ranger!

[SirValentine]

So all you poor Wizards and Sorcerers can't charm all those cute little Scorpions and Spiders with your much-vaunted Charm Monster spell. But Rangers can, with Charm Animal! And so, I present to you:


Arachnophilia

The Enchantment-based Elf Ranger 14 / Bard 6




Str 14
Dex 16
Con 12
Int 10
Wis 18 + level-ups
Cha 8




Feats:


Heroic Feats:
Spell Focus: Enchantment
Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment
Heighten
Completionist
Past Life: Arcane Initiate
Past Life: Bardic Dilettante
Quicken


Epic Feats:
Epic Spell Focus: Enchantment
Great Wisdom
Great Wisdom


Destiny Feats:
Guardian Angel
Mass Frog




Enhancements:


Elf, 8 AP spent, including:
T2 Enchantment Lore


Spellsinger, 32 AP spent, including:
Level 3 core
Level 6 core
T2 Yellow Marigold Crown
T3 Spellsong Trance
T5 Prodigy


Arcane Archer, 22 AP spent, including:
T3 +1 Wisdom
T4 +1 Wisdom


Deepwood Stalker, 12 AP spent, including:
T3 +1 Wisdom


6 more AP to spend wherever.




Epic Destiny:
Exalted Angel for:
+6 Wisdom
+3 DCs




Wisdom breakdown:
18 base
7 levels
6 Epic Destiny
3 enhancements
6 tome
2 Completionist
2 Great Wisdom feats
11 Enhancement
3 Insightful
1 Exceptional
2 Profane
2 guild ship buff
2 Lasting Ability potion
2 Yugoloth potion
2 twist Acute Instincts + drink Rage pot
2 twist x2
--
71 (+30 Wisdom modifier)




Enchant DC:
14 base (including Heighten)
1 Arcane Initiate (Wiz purchased PL feat)
1 Bardic Dilettante (Bard purchased PL feat)
3 Exalted Angel
3 Twist Enchantment Specialist from Magister
3 Spell Focus + Greater + Epic
6 Thunderforged Longbow with +6 Enchantment DC on Tier 2
2 augment
1 Profane (Shadowscale armor)
1 Ship buff
1 Elf Enchantment Lore
2 Spellsinger cores 3 & 6
1 Spellsinger Marigold Crown
2 Spellsinger Prodigy
1 Spellsong Trance (self-buff)
30 Wisdom bonus
--
73 DC on Charm Animal!




Oh, wait, Epic monsters almost instantly break out of charms due to that pre-U14 left-over game mechanic, Epic Ward.


Never mind, then.

[Blackheartox]

I blame myself for actually expecting something.

Over keep in mind. If it has pc in it, it cant be good
Change to drow and il approve

[Eth]

Best build since swim-cleric.

[Zachski]

For some reason I was under the impression this used Wild Empathy. But you're using the Charm Animal spell. Hmm.

Okay, question: Why not Druid? They get access to the spell, too.

[cru121]

what this build needs is more wisdom synergy and dps! here's how:
1) active PL druid: flame blade!
2) tempest second core: makes scimitar light weapon => swashbucklable!
3) SWF swashbuckling with wisdom to damage!

also, consider maximize for Spike Growth for quests without targets to charm! you don't want to be a one-trick pony, right!?

also, I am trying to fit in more exclamation marks per sentence than FranO! but it's hard!!

[CThruTheEgo]

Nice build OP. I predict this will become the new FotM.

also, I am trying to fit in more exclamation marks per sentence than FranO! but it's hard!!

lol

[SirValentine]

Since a few people had questions or suggestions:

Change to drow and il approve

What would Drow get me, besides 4 less build points? Main point was to get the Enchantment Lore enhancement, and yes, Drow gets that too, so it's not a horrible change, but is there any upside? And, Elf does have Arcanum, plus some bow improvements, that could be useful.

...you're using the Charm Animal spell. Hmm.


Okay, question: Why not Druid? They get access to the spell, too.

Because a caster Druid is good enough not to be a ridiculous flavor build. What's the fun in posting a normal, viable build?

1) active PL druid: flame blade!

No feat available for that; don't want to give up Quicken for it, and every other feat is essential to maximum Enchantment DC!

2) tempest second core: makes scimitar light weapon => swashbucklable!
3) SWF swashbuckling with wisdom to damage!

Not enough AP for all that.

also, consider maximize for Spike Growth for quests without targets to charm! you don't want to be a one-trick pony, right!?

Oh, certainly I'd use other spells as well. Spike Growth is a good suggestion.


I'd also suggest using archery as secondary focus for DPS when not charming stuff.

[moo_cow]

Thinking about tr ing into this build. Do you think I could make it work as a dwarven build?

[SirValentine]

Thinking about tr ing into this build. Do you think I could make it work as a dwarven build?

Yes...it's not ideal though. Elf or Morninglord is best-suited for it, with Drow close behind. Other races will behind at least one DC behind. Though if you want to make that trade-off for more hit points, etc., I guess that's a possibility. Personally, I hate to give up a point of DC for ANYTHING.

[kpak01]

Is this build still viable? I mean, as viable as it was back then?

What changes should you make to fit modern DDO almost 5 years later?

[C-Dog]

It was never "viable", nor meant to be. It was a niche build that (if you read above) got a few laughs and not much else.

So... yes, as "as viable as it was back then", which is to say "not very".

Any of these would be leagues better:
o https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...=1#post5759361

[SirValentine]

Is this build still viable? I mean, as viable as it was back then?

It was never intended as a optimized power-gamer build. But "viable" might be a pretty low bar, so sure. Especially if you pick up and use Paralyzing Arrows from Arcane Archer as your secondary focus.

What changes should you make to fit modern DDO almost 5 years later?

Change race to Aasimar or Scourge for +4 Wisdom. Throw in some Human/Aasimar PLs for more Wisdom. (Complete Racist if you're really ambitious.) Pick Feywild as your Legendary feat. Totally different modern gear based mostly on Sharn/Ravenloft stuff...set bonus, Sentient Weapon, et cetera. Run in Magister with full Enchantment-boosting line.

I haven't, and don't plan to, run a detailed breakdown on what kind of Enchantment DC you could hit, but probably in the 110s? That would also give you decent Paralyzing Arrows in addition to the build-defining Charm Animal.

[Pilgrim1]

Improved Wild empathy does not break in epic content. I have no idea if the duration is decreased in reaper content. Its on a 1 min cooldown with a 5 min duration of effect. It is a charisma DC, i think CL + charisma mod. I don't think the animals get additional saves to break free, but its been a really long time since i looked into it.

I would sugest a 18/1/1 druid wolf/fvs/fighter. Use longswords and charisma in PDK. You get trance, charisma as your main stat, strong healing, and a viable DPS toon outside of the charming. Also druids have a handfull of pet friendly spells so maybe you can make your animal tank for you and you can heal them? Just bring lots of enervation scrolls along so you can actualy land your charm.

[SirValentine]

Improved Wild empathy...
...
I would sugest a 18/1/1 druid wolf/fvs/fighter...

I think you're missing the point. But that's OK I guess, because the point is over 4 years past due anyway.