The Tempest Ranger, by Illuminati

[techguru]

Is this still an effective build if you do happen to like fighting at range?

[Teech]

Wounding weapons damage a mob by 1 Con per hit. However, mobs immune to critical hits are immune to the wounding effect.

Puncturing weapons damage mobs by 1d6 per crit hit. I don't think mobs which are immune to crits are immune to puncturing. I could be wrong.

If they're not, as I believe, then a dex ranger with improved crit piercing and rapiers of puncturing are very viable.

High dex rangers can still be very proficient at range. I currently have a +20 to hit on my +2 bows. Just get the Serpentbranch from Delara's and a Silver Longbow from the Vampire and you've got a pretty good range arsenal already.

However, do note that if you are going PURE range, then a pure ranger is probably NOT the way to go. You will probably do much better with a Ranger/Fighter build.

[whysper]

Are you sure about the Dex bonus with the shield? I cannot
remember the max dex allowed by heavy/tower shields.

[Illuminati]

Is this still an effective build if you do happen to like fighting at range?

Certainly. In fact, there are many times when I pop the Silver Bow to draw agro and kill the casters, etc.

Find a nice bow and you still own.

[Illuminati]

Are you sure about the Dex bonus with the shield? I cannot
remember the max dex allowed by heavy/tower shields.

This build uses a +5 Heavy Steel or Heavy Mithral.

THERE IS NO MAX DEX LIMITATION on HEAVY SHIELDS.

Just Tower Shields (2) or Mith Tower (4). And as a Ranger you dont have the proficiency to use Tower Shields anyway.

[Dweezil]

This build uses a +5 Heavy Steel or Heavy Mithral.

THERE IS NO MAX DEX LIMITATION on HEAVY SHIELDS.

Just Tower Shields (2) or Mith Tower (4). And as a Ranger you dont have the proficiency to use Tower Shields anyway.

Illuminati get on ventrilo. No -4 to CHA based skills. Drow everywhere :O

[jakeelala]

im rolling one of these using a halfing.

what about skipping dodge and taking precision at lvl 6? I think it's a much better choice since this class is all about attack bonus.

[Sani_Medicor]

If they're not, as I believe, then a dex ranger with improved crit piercing and rapiers of puncturing are very viable.

I have a keen rapier of puncturing on my rogue right now...it's fun.

[Teech]

im rolling one of these using a halfing.

what about skipping dodge and taking precision at lvl 6? I think it's a much better choice since this class is all about attack bonus.

I play the halfling build. Posted it a couple of posts back. It rocks. Standing AC currently 37 unbuffed. (Just need to buff when logging in for UMD req equips.) Saves are at fort +16, Reflex +21, Will +11

I took BOTH dodge and precision. I think I skipped on Weapon Focus if I recall Illum's build right. I know I didn't take it.

I wouldn't give up dodge because I believe that ALL melee fighters should be at least partially AC focused, and because Dodge is a step towards Spring Atk/ SotR anyway. Which I will probably end up taking. Someday...

Thoughts on precision:
I'm currently wondering if precision was the right idea.

Partly because of a previous post where I suspect that Rangers might get something similar for free when we hit Ranger11, but also because this build has such a high dex that our bonus to hit is rarely a problem.

Unless you only live to fight elite blackguards...

I ONLY turn on precision in lvl 12 quests. In almost every other quest, I run it without precision. In some quests, I even turn on defensive fighting. (Usually when I solo.) I think I actually use that more than precision.

However, with Fighter and Paladin action boosts being the way they are, precision acts as a similar avenue for hitting high AC mobs.

Even though I rarely use it now, I'm still very much willing to give it a chance. It ties in very nicely with the build in the sense that it provides me with many options. That's what being a ranger is all about.

[Illuminati]

Not a bad call.

You do have a little balancing to do because not all mobs are Con based. Thats where the Favored Undead kick in though because you get that extra +6 damage to them at 10.

+1 AC is also huge. Believe it or not I think there is a magical difference between 41 and 40 AC. I went through getting smacked alot with 40, but when I bettered equipment to 41 it made a huge difference.

Halfling is probably the better choice for this build. But I like the story of an elf so embittered by his race that he loves killing them =)

im rolling one of these using a halfing.

what about skipping dodge and taking precision at lvl 6? I think it's a much better choice since this class is all about attack bonus.

[jakeelala]

ok well what about taking ranger 9 pally 1 for the +2 to ac and saves that stacks? with evasion that's like a double whammy benefit. THe question is, what do i lose from being a level 10 ranger?

[Tiblorian]

True Nuetral so that you can use ANY weapon without negative level

Wrong. True law, chaos, holy, and good weapons are unusable by you. You want neutral good to use all weapons.

[Deathie]

To be honest i am loving this build. Going to be level 5 today and its one of the most fun builds i've played. The only complaint i have is that everytime someone sees me they're like ***?! A RANGER IN ROBES..

Lol Then i get into an argument because every quest im on im at least 3rd in the kill list, if not higher,I rarly die or even come close to it, and i dont really like being called gimped when im obviously not. I'd just like to say to everyone, Yes, i agree, I could get slightly higher AC in armor. Yes I understand that armor has the exact same resists as robes. But you cant swap out armors as quickly as robes and its so nice being able to swap out a stability robe for a spell resist robe right before i take down that hobgoblin witchdoctor, or a fire resist robe before taking out the mino shaman, and then back to the stability before moving on, all in a matter of seconds.

Its just so annoying in every group some jerk says hey you could be wearing a mith. chain shirt for 2 extra AC, whooptie doo guy. I dont care. Lets just move along.

[Timberbee]

I'm playing this build to, and am loving it. For a bit I dumped the robes as well, though, I only had one comment on them, and this was from a fellow ranger (Archer focus). I found a +3 adman Chainmail suit, wore that for a bit until I discovered that wearing nothing at all subtracted just -1 or -2 from my AC! Put on my robes and my +4 WW bracers and I was set! If I am recalling correctly I am currently at either 22 or 23 AC with no shield, and 26 or 27 with a +3 Heavy Steel. I just hit level 6.2 and am, quite frankly, amazed. Still new to DDO, was getting frustrated with my rogue/fighter builds, and rogue / ranger ones but... VERY pleased with my pure Ranger. Trying to save up to buy a rapier of puncturing, though, my frost weapons are performing quite well, and looking to garner some flaming, etc.

Thanks for the build!

[Illuminati]

im rolling one of these using a halfing.

what about skipping dodge and taking precision at lvl 6? I think it's a much better choice since this class is all about attack bonus.

As long as you have equipment to get you (including +5 Barkskin) to 41 AC, go for it.

I would be a little careful and plan to 20th level though. If they ever fix the rate of fire, you only need Mobility to get Shot on the Run.

[Illuminati]

True Nuetral: Holy, Anarchic, Axiomatic without a neg level.
Would have to UMD: Pure Good, Choas, True Law

I would chose True Nuetral again on any toon since I like to use Anarchic and Holy.

[Illuminati]

Hehe, you will get used to it when they see the kill count =)

What is worse? Killing the dragon for the Kundurak Delving Suite (+6 Mithral Chain Shirt, 16 AB total) and its a robe =)

Once you start Hasting, Removing Curses, etc. with those robes youll have some fun.

To be honest i am loving this build. Going to be level 5 today and its one of the most fun builds i've played. The only complaint i have is that everytime someone sees me they're like ***?! A RANGER IN ROBES..

Lol Then i get into an argument because every quest im on im at least 3rd in the kill list, if not higher,I rarly die or even come close to it, and i dont really like being called gimped when im obviously not. I'd just like to say to everyone, Yes, i agree, I could get slightly higher AC in armor. Yes I understand that armor has the exact same resists as robes. But you cant swap out armors as quickly as robes and its so nice being able to swap out a stability robe for a spell resist robe right before i take down that hobgoblin witchdoctor, or a fire resist robe before taking out the mino shaman, and then back to the stability before moving on, all in a matter of seconds.

Its just so annoying in every group some jerk says hey you could be wearing a mith. chain shirt for 2 extra AC, whooptie doo guy. I dont care. Lets just move along.

[Illuminati]

Thanks!

Once you hit level 9 and get some of the Static Equip in the game you will peak over 40.

Because your attack is so high, remember to keep moving while your attacking (circle around the enemy). This will give you a -4 to attack but it gives it to them also.

I'm playing this build to, and am loving it. For a bit I dumped the robes as well, though, I only had one comment on them, and this was from a fellow ranger (Archer focus). I found a +3 adman Chainmail suit, wore that for a bit until I discovered that wearing nothing at all subtracted just -1 or -2 from my AC! Put on my robes and my +4 WW bracers and I was set! If I am recalling correctly I am currently at either 22 or 23 AC with no shield, and 26 or 27 with a +3 Heavy Steel. I just hit level 6.2 and am, quite frankly, amazed. Still new to DDO, was getting frustrated with my rogue/fighter builds, and rogue / ranger ones but... VERY pleased with my pure Ranger. Trying to save up to buy a rapier of puncturing, though, my frost weapons are performing quite well, and looking to garner some flaming, etc.

Thanks for the build!

[Illuminati]

Wrong. True law, chaos, holy, and good weapons are unusable by you. You want neutral good to use all weapons.

Sorry but you are wrong =)

True Nuetral can use: Holy, Anarchic, Axiomatic without any penalty.
*all 2d6 damage enhancements

True Nuetral will have to UMD: Pure Good, Choas, True Law
*all 1d6 damage enhancements

[Timberbee]

I mistakenly chose Lawful Good (doh!) as my alignment, likely when I was switching back and forth in breed from Elf to Halfling. How bad did I gimp myself, or, is it simply a matter of not being able to use some equipment?

And, I do move around a great deal! Just a natural tendancy. I rarely, if ever, attempt to truel tank something. Good to hear its a tactic of choice. I am more and more loving this build. Did Dalera's Tomb with a great group the other day. Was disapointed by my damage vs. the Ghostly skels but was VERY happy against the Wights and Wraiths. I could see that here to weapon choices were very important. In the end I reconciled myself to this and did the best I could to assist a very good fighter in our group. We had two excellent guides, one of whom took the lead, and a super team throughout. Despite my own negativety towards damage, survivability WAS there, and the ease with which this build killed the Wights gave hope to bettering a kill rate against the skels with the right equipment.