"Strimtom's Acid Arrow", Maximum Bow DPS, F2P/new player Friendly

[LrdSlvrhnd]

Good to know that there is a big damage difference. It didn't look like there should be -- 1d6 + bonus die + on crit isn't that different than 1d8 + bonus die on paper.

But once you multiply all the dice, and factor in the spellpower, it adds up. You're looking at an average of +1 per die per arrow, so +7 once you have all the enhancements (with an additional +2 or the crit, if you go with AA T5 instead of DWS); multiplied by spellpower so, say, +21 even at 200 spellpower which you can get fairly early on in your adventuring career. And then you factor in doubleshot and hitting with 2 or more arrows...

I just went down to play with the dummy, and I'm doing +50 or so more with acid arrows vs. force, with a fairly negligible difference between acid and force spellpowers. With each arrow. It adds up *really* quickly. (And that was just a test run of 10 or so shots with each, before I either got tired of waiting for the dummy to reset, or accidentally killed it.)

Also, as unbongwah said, ghostly does stack with blurry/displacement. It's multiplicative, though, not additive; it effectively provides 8% with blurry (10% of the 80% that blur leaves unconcealed) and 5% with displacement (10% of 50%).

[unbongwah]

Also, as unbongwah said, ghostly does stack with blurry/displacement. It's multiplicative, though, not additive; it effectively provides 8% with blurry (10% of the 80% that blur leaves unconcealed) and 5% with displacement (10% of 50%).

That's true of all miss chances in DDO, as each defense is rolled against in turn; and if any one of them succeeds, you avoid the hit.

So let's say you have 20% concealment (Blur), 10% incorporealty (Ghostly), and 10% Dodge. [For simplicity's sake I'm ignoring AC.] So your chance of being hit is (1.0 - 0.2) * (1.0 - 0.1) * (1.0 - 0.1) = 64.8% chance of being hit.

If you upgrade that to 50% concealment (Displacement), 25% incorporealty (Shadow Veil or wraith form), and 25% Dodge, then that becomes (1.0 - 0.5) * (1.0 - 0.25) * (1.0 - 0.25) = 28.125% of being hit. A significant upgrade, obviously, but you didn't hit a 100% miss chance from "50% + 25% + 25%" because that's not how probability works.

Also remember that some enemies can bypass these defenses; e.g., mobs with True Seeing ignore concealment. Which is another reason to invest in multiple defenses rather than relying on only one.

[Rhysem]

If you're referring to Ghostly items: yes, it does stack, as Blur/Displacement are concealment bonuses, while Ghostly is an Incorporeal bonus.

I'm apparently bad at reading because I swore I read them and went, "oh, same bonus, nevermind."

[Rhysem]

Okay, part of my problem between acid arrows and force arrows has been revealed to be reaper. I'd been running on reaper for the first time (just came back after being gone a year and change), duoing with a friend and the acid damage just wasn't that big vs force. Then we re-ran 3bc on elite, over-leveled for some quick heroic xp.

HOLY COW ACID HITS HARD.

I didn't expect to "run and gun" elite, but its totally doable.

Now I just need to pick up a new silver longbow so I can drop in ghostbane and have the one bow to rule them all.

I'm thinking about trying to work up a steam controller profile. There's a lot less buttons to mash here and I'm wondering if that'd be viable and still effective. I know a friend I'd love to lure back, but it'd be easier if we could find something for his beau to play too. She doesn't enjoy WASD but does play console games, so something sufficiently button-poor to be on a controller could be a contender... Anyone have advice/a mapping?

[Illiamfryn]

How does this build perform dps wise between lets say paralyzing monkcher, arti repeater, mechanic rogue and shuriken thrower? Can anyone answer this question?

[Strimtom]

How does this build perform dps wise between lets say paralyzing monkcher, arti repeater, mechanic rogue and shuriken thrower? Can anyone answer this question?

It is worse than all those.

Monkcher had better uptime on manyshot.
Atari repeater has better base damage and can avoid immunities with spells.
Mechanic crits harder in fury if the wild and has better CC.
Shrunken does more damage because the mechanic is busted.

I'm thinking about trying to work up a steam controller profile. There's a lot less buttons to mash here and I'm wondering if that'd be viable and still effective. I know a friend I'd love to lure back, but it'd be easier if we could find something for his beau to play too. She doesn't enjoy WASD but does play console games, so something sufficiently button-poor to be on a controller could be a contender... Anyone have advice/a mapping?

I have used xpadder to play fighter, It works pretty well.

[unbongwah]

I'm thinking about trying to work up a steam controller profile. There's a lot less buttons to mash here and I'm wondering if that'd be viable and still effective.

I haven't seen any advice specifically for Steam controllers. But we do have an ancient thread about playing DDO with a gamepad which might still be helpful.

And basically you are correct: the fewer buttons you need to use in combat, the easier it is to come up with a setup which works with a gamepad. Classic example is pure barb: left stick moves; right stick aims; face buttons for Cleave attacks; shoulder buttons for other special attacks; D-pad for potions or buffs like Rage, Frenzy, etc.

[Rhysem]

Spellpower -- maximize/empower/intensify -- claim to modify your spell power. Does it effect the AA imbues? I imagine 'no' given it isn't called out in the guide's feats section, yet... I wonder... was it tested or assumed?

[Mindos]

Spellpower -- maximize/empower/intensify -- claim to modify your spell power. Does it effect the AA imbues? I imagine 'no' given it isn't called out in the guide's feats section, yet... I wonder... was it tested or assumed?

Strong no.

[unbongwah]

Spellpower -- maximize/empower/intensify -- claim to modify your spell power. Does it effect the AA imbues?

No. Metamagics only affect spells and SLAs. There are a few magical abilities which are boosted by your base Spellpower but not by metamagics: e.g., AA imbues, Spiritual Retribution, Ameliorating Strike.

When it comes to Terror & Paralyzing Arrows: the DCs for those are boosted by Spell Focus Enchantment feats and other DC bonuses like gear or Enchantment Specialist from Magister (hence why it's a common Twist for AAs); but not by Heighten nor Embolden Spell.

[Rhysem]

Too bad. Some of my feat picks in epic feel pretty weak.

[Mindos]

Too bad. Some of my feat picks in epic feel pretty weak.

http://ddowiki.com/page/Scion_of_the_Plane_of_Earth

(the key part there is: Scales with spellpower...)

[Rhysem]

Sure, but as the builder, I don't plan to play at 30 much. I have approximately 1 trillion past lives still to get, so when I hit 30 its flip time. (or at least once I have enough heart seeds...)

[Swimms]

Is this still a viable build for a Heroic Ranger PL?

[Kodwraith]

Is this still a viable build for a Heroic Ranger PL?

Viable? Yes, very much so. Up to level 20, I get almost as much dmg from the acid as I do from the arrows themselves. Paralyzers (tier 4) and force arrows (for ghost touch) are a nice bonus. You can take all the archery feats, slots Corrosion and insightful corrosion on your gloves, then do Impulse on a necklace. If you have the full Slaver's pack and a high level toon, you can make a full set of Slaver's gear at ML 8 in about six speed slaver's runs. I wear this until level 11 when my Greensteel kicks in.

Build still works works great and works on all races pretty well.

It likely isn't "optimal" in terms of DPS output, but pure ranger with bow still works. If you want to run nothing but R10 solo all the time, then this is not your build, but its fun and easy to gear.

[Swimms]

Viable? Yes, very much so. Up to level 20, I get almost as much dmg from the acid as I do from the arrows themselves. Paralyzers (tier 4) and force arrows (for ghost touch) are a nice bonus. You can take all the archery feats, slots Corrosion and insightful corrosion on your gloves, then do Impulse on a necklace. If you have the full Slaver's pack and a high level toon, you can make a full set of Slaver's gear at ML 8 in about six speed slaver's runs. I wear this until level 11 when my Greensteel kicks in.

Build still works works great and works on all races pretty well.

It likely isn't "optimal" in terms of DPS output, but pure ranger with bow still works. If you want to run nothing but R10 solo all the time, then this is not your build, but its fun and easy to gear.

Perfect, exactly what I was hoping for with the emphasis on easy to gear. Thank you for the reply and yes I have been meaning to farm up ML8 slavers gear so maybe this will give me a reason to do it while I am lvl 30.

[Kodwraith]

Perfect, exactly what I was hoping for with the emphasis on easy to gear. Thank you for the reply and yes I have been meaning to farm up ML8 slavers gear so maybe this will give me a reason to do it while I am lvl 30.

It took me about a day to farm out a 5 piece set that I share between a ranged and a melee toon. It's easy with a 30 warlock. You can literally walk through the quests with your aura on.

[LrdSlvrhnd]

Nah, don't do impulse necklace. Make swap gloves. No real need to take up two slots when you only need one type at a time!

[arpendragon]

What about ice damage with the new Bow?

Void, the Endless Cold Raid Long Bow
Damage Dice: 5(1d8+3)
Crit Profile: 20/x3
Frozen Aether This weapon was forged of malevoant ice, and enemies struck with it are afflicted by its curse. This weapon can inflict ten stacks of Cold damage over time, with one stack expiring at a time.
Chilling 9d6
Cold Vulnerability On Hit: Applies a stack of Cold Vulnerable. This effect may only occur on-hit once a second.
Clicky: Conjure Ice Arrow Summons this bow's Icy Arrow, the Frozen Terror, which has a chance to conjure a frozen gale on a natural 20. This arrow will disappear on logout.
Purple Augment Slot
Red Augment Slot

Anyone have tested yet?

[Strimtom]

What about ice damage with the new Bow?

Void, the Endless Cold Raid Long Bow
Damage Dice: 5(1d8+3)
Crit Profile: 20/x3
Frozen Aether This weapon was forged of malevoant ice, and enemies struck with it are afflicted by its curse. This weapon can inflict ten stacks of Cold damage over time, with one stack expiring at a time.
Chilling 9d6
Cold Vulnerability On Hit: Applies a stack of Cold Vulnerable. This effect may only occur on-hit once a second.
Clicky: Conjure Ice Arrow Summons this bow's Icy Arrow, the Frozen Terror, which has a chance to conjure a frozen gale on a natural 20. This arrow will disappear on logout.
Purple Augment Slot
Red Augment Slot

Anyone have tested yet?

As far as I know, none of the bow effects scale with cold spellpower. Cold vulnerability is just regular vulnerability; It isn't specific to cold damage. It functions the same as cold vulnerability from the returning snowball.

This bow is likely better than a morninglords bow, but I would still stay acid to use it.