Druid Caster Archer

[elroyj08]

I really enjoy playing an arcane archer. I wanted to start another character and this time I wanted to try a druid. I'm not TR'ing, this is going to be a first life. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a build that combined a caster druid with an arcane archer? I've looked and can't find anything. There was a few builds that I looked at and the one that caught my eye was Gingerspyce's build. It's a solid caster build with a touch of melee. But it uses a human for the extra feat. I was thinking of going helf to get the AA line. I wasn't sure if I needed to splash in monk for the extra feats (Zen archery) or even ranger. I'd like to try and stay mainly a caster with part melee and part ranged (for AA and paralyzing). If anyone can point me in the right direction, or has some advice on what to do with feats, that would be great. I appreciate all comments.

[unbongwah]

I'd like to try and stay mainly a caster with part melee and part ranged (for AA and paralyzing).

IMHO, you're trying to do too much on one build. Druids are a feat-constrained class; but heavy MCing to add feats waters down their spellcasting. I posted a druid 13 / rgr 6 / ftr 1 build a while ago; the goal there was a self-sufficient TWF+archery build, sort of a "super-ranger" with better buffs & heals than regular rgr gets. I've also come up with "drunkchers" - i.e., monk 6 / druid <x> AAs - where the focus is ranged DPS + druid buffs & heals; e.g., rgr 1 / monk 6 / druid 13 (Regenerate & ice elem form for Freezing Spray -> Manyshot w/icy-bursted longbow).

[Wh070aa]

Problems
1)Animal forms work badly with archery.
2)Casting+archery means delays in both casting, and shooting.
3)Druid spell targeting/upkeep. Its pain in the ass, even without cycling special shots.
4) you want caster/archer/melee. That's stretching yourself pretty tin, and you wont have feats/enchantments(especially elf AA thats 50 enchantment points wasted right there) for all of this.

Zen archery gives just to hit. Its not that good on feat starved character. Also you need Dex for archery feats anyway (like 21 for combat archery, and 19 for IPS).

What kind of archery (repeter, shuriken, bow ?) and what kind of melee you want?

You will probably want(in non specific order)
1)Emp healing(/quicken/empower)
2)Point blank shot
3)Precise shot
4)Improved precise shot (19Dex)
5)IC:ranged
6)Maximize
7)Precision(/rapid shot)

8)Combat archery (21 DEX, epic)
9)Epic whatever (Owerwelm crit?)
You are missing out on any spell DC feats, and some spell damage. If you want melee, splash fighter/monk. (Pajamas/evasion. or heavy non metal armor/shields).

Enchantments-
14 in racial (for AA), 32+ in AA, 23 Herald (for SLA's probably?), Leaves you 11 points (probably in AA for capstone, leaving you with 1 free point).

Idk if the build is any good, because I haven't done it, since low levels are not good. Just listed you Caster/archer feats. I would not recommend this.Melee/caster till 13, then respec to casting/archery wen you get elemental forms maybe?

Stats 16+dex, max Wis, Max con.

I would go by this
https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...asi-tank-build
Only replace tank, and less important caster feats with archery feats. Its still not weary fun in my opinion, and lacks trapping. I am probably not the best advice giver on this however. Look up some monkcer treads, they have similar tings in them. Be warned the more you splash , the less your spells will do.

In worst case, do 6monk/6ranger/8druid or something.

[Rush007]

Elf to get arcane archer, and easy dex

Water elemental primary form

Highlights of build
water elemental + mantle + icespells = snare and -4 saves which will help with earthquake and paralyzing arrows
child of nature 1 hp sla based off wisdom snare (if it isn't bugged)
level 9 caster
free SP's from runebow and soulmagic
capable DC's for CC
healing

Cons
spell damage is low from no metamagics
build takes awhile to develop
low hp's
no outstanding destiny, shiradi would be best but meh

17 druid for level 9 spells
2 fighter for feats and heavy armor
1 ranger for bow strenght

STATS - 32 point build
str 8
dex 18
con 12
int 8
wis 18 Levels up here
cha 8

+ 3 dex tome needed for combat archery

FEATS - not in leveling order just a generic list

7 normal
Point Blank shot
Precise shot
Spell Focus Evocation (for evocation twists for DC)
Improved Precise shot
Quicken
Improved Critical Ranged
Manyshot

2 fighter
Rapid shot
Precision

3 epic
Combat Archery
Empower healing
Overwhelming Critical

2 destiny
Toughness (first lifer)
Doubleshot

ENHANCEMENTS

This is rough here, 14 is tied up just to get to AA.

Core
14 Elf
41 Arcane Archer

25 left

[elroyj08]

Just from looking at what I wanted out of this I knew I'd be stretching it thin. It just might be too much to ask from one character. Thank you to all for looking at this and the advice. If anyone else has some words of wisdom, let me know.

[Wh070aa]

Just from looking at what I wanted out of this I knew I'd be stretching it thin. It just might be too much to ask from one character. Thank you to all for looking at this and the advice. If anyone else has some words of wisdom, let me know.

Remember, you can respec your enchantments, and switch out a feat or 2(there is 3 day cool down, so 2 is pushing a bit). You can take a melee feat, and enchantments early on, and then respec with a bit of plat, and dragonshard/free feat respec, so the first levels are not as bad. This way you get the early game bonuses from beast forms, and late game bonuses from archery.

[Stkestrel]

Just from looking at what I wanted out of this I knew I'd be stretching it thin. It just might be too much to ask from one character. Thank you to all for looking at this and the advice. If anyone else has some words of wisdom, let me know.

While I agree with the above, I absolutely love my Elf Druid Caster/Archer. It's not the most powerful or the most of anything but it's fun to play and has decent survivability. The one recommendation I'd make is start archer heavy in the beginning and then go spell heavy later on. For enchantments, I take only enough for paralyzing arrows/+4 enchantment and then dump into Season's Herald. I went pure druid. For feats, buff toughness/mental toughness and then metamagics. I use zen archery but it's a problem for the reasons stated.

I do have the benefit of playing with a rogue/artificer most of the time who spams flame turret and has a tricked up pet. Combat goes - shoot to paralysis and then rain spells at leisure, shooting to continue paralysis when necessary or to save precious spell points, low on druids regardless. Having pets and summons is also useful (the artificer pet is hard to kill) and mobs are attracted to the turret.