Wizard Bow User for PL

[Alfhild]

I need to get a Wiz PL out of the way on my main who is loaded with ranged gear. So I thought of doing 6 levels of Ranger and concentrate on ranged. I realize the build is far from optimal and exceedingly squishy, but will at least have decent CC via Paralysing Arrows.

11/6/3 Wizard/Ranger/Bard
Chaotic Good Human


Level Order

1. Bard            6. Ranger         11. Wizard         16. Wizard
2. Ranger          7. Ranger         12. Wizard         17. Wizard
3. Ranger          8. Wizard         13. Wizard         18. Wizard
4. Ranger          9. Wizard         14. Wizard         19. Bard
5. Ranger         10. Wizard         15. Wizard         20. Bard


Stats
               36pt     Tome     Level Up
               ----     ----     --------
Strength         8       +5       4: WIS
Dexterity       16       +5       8: WIS
Constitution    12       +5      12: WIS
Intelligence    14       +5      16: WIS
Wisdom          18       +5      20: WIS
Charisma         8       +4      24: WIS
                                 28: WIS

Skills
          B  R  R  R  R  R  R  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  B  B
          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
         ------------------------------------------------------------
Perform   4     1  2  1  1  1     1½ 1½ 1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Spellcr   4           1  1  1  4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Spot      2  3  1  1  1  1  1           ½  ½  ½  ½  1  1  1  1  4  3  23
UMD       4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Search    2  1  3  1  1  1  1                                      1  11
Heal      2  3  1  1  1  1  1                                         10
Jump      3                 1                                          4
Hide      4                                                            4
Move Si   4                                                            4
Tumble    1                                                            1
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         36  9  9  9  9  9 10  6  6  6  6  6  6  6  7  7  7  7 11 11


Feats

 1        : Point Blank Shot
 1 Human  : Quicken Spell
 2 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Undead
 3        : Precision
 6        : Past Life: Bard
 6 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
 8 Wizard : Spell Focus: Enchantment
 9        : Zen Archery
12        : Improved Critical: Ranged
12 Wizard : Maximize Spell
15        : Greater Spell Focus: Enchantment
17 Wizard : Empower Spell
18        : Improved Precise Shot
21 Epic   : Combat Archery
24 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
26 Destiny: Epic Spell Power: Force
27 Epic   : Epic Spell Focus: Enchantment
28 Destiny: Doubleshot
29 Destiny: Harbinger of Chaos
30 Epic   : Great Ability: Wisdom
30 Legend : Scion of: Feywild


Spells

Wizard
   1. Jump, Magic Missile, Nightshield, Protection from Evil, Hypnotism
   2. Flaming Sphere, Invisibility, Knock, Resist Energy, Otto's Resistible Dance
   3. Chain Missiles, Displacement, Haste, Sleet Storm, Heroism
   4. Fire Shield, Remove Curse, Dimension Door, Ice Storm
   5. Protection from Elements, Teleport, Eladar's Electric Surge
   6. Tenser's Transformation, Disintegrate
Ranger
   1. Ram's Might, Camouflage
Bard
   1. Cure Light Wounds, Focusing Chant, Hypnotism

Enhancements (80 AP)

Deepwood Stalker (36 AP)
    • Far Shot, Sneak Attack, Sniper Shot
         1. Stealthy III, Increased Empathy III, Versatile Empathy I
         2. Improved Weapon Finesse, Melee/Range Power Boost III
         3. Thrill of the Hunt III, Aimed Shot, Wisdom
         4. Killer III, Merciful Shot, Leg Shot, Wisdom
         5. Heavy Draw, Strikes Like Lightning, Head Shot

Arcane Archer (28 AP)
    • Arcane Archer, Morphic Arrows, Metalline Arrows
         1. Conjure Arrows, Shock Arrows
         2. Force Arrows II, Elemental Damage
         3. Terror Arrows, Soul Magic, Elemental Damage, Wisdom
         4. Banishing Arrows, Paralyzing Arrows, Smiting Arrows, Elemental Damage, Wisdom

Spellsinger (13 AP)
    • Spellsinger, Music of the Sewers
         1. Studies: Magical I, Lingering Songs III
         2. Wand and Scroll Mastery III, Marigold Crown: Yellow
         3. Spell Song Trance

Human (3 AP)
    • Damage Boost, Wisdom


Destiny 
FotW or Shiradi


Twists of Fate (27 fate points)
   1. Grim Precision (Tier 3 Shadowdancer)
   2. Pin (Tier 2 Shiradi)
   3. School Specialist: Enchantment (Tier 2 Magister)
   4. Dance of Flowers (Tier 1 Flowers)
   5. Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)

Any suggestions or any glaring oversights I may have overlooked?
I am using an upgraded Pinion and will be farming for some Enchant focus gear as well as some potential WIS upgrades to my current gear setup which along with the build is giving me a 68 Paralyse DC (including Tenser's -2 and Spell Song +1)

[Enoach]

Looks like fun would love to hear how it works out. I currently run an Elf Ftr/Wiz 12/8 split using the AA/EK trees Currently Dex based but have been thinking of focusing more Int and wisdom with the dc changes to AA.

[Alfhild]

Thanks Enoach, will let you know how it goes once I rid myself of my current Pallie life.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if Perfect Single Weapon Fighting's extended Vorpal range (a) works while wielding a bow and (b), if (a) is true, increase the chance of PK procs from Terror Arrows?

[unbongwah]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if Perfect Single Weapon Fighting's extended Vorpal range (a) works while wielding a bow

It does not. "While Single Weapon Fighting, your vorpal threat range is increased by +1." SWF is melee-only.

[Eth]

It would be a shame if you don't use this chance to play in zombie form. It's only 6 AP!

There is no drawback for shooting a bow in zombie form, the attack speed penalty only applies to melee attacks.
But what's even better is that zombie form lets you hit small targets with IPS that you wouldn't hit otherwise. Due to the way zombies hold a bow the projectiles are actually traveling a bit lower.
...and undead immunities are just sweet.

Also, you are a zombie shooting a bow. Comon. What's not to love.

[unbongwah]

It would be a shame if you don't use this chance to play in zombie form. It's only 6 AP!

First problem is OP is AP-constrained: anything they drop costs DPS or Paralyzing DCs. Still, I suppose they can drop WIS x2 from human & AA tree; then drop Spellsong Trance.

Then the question is where do they slot Negative Spellpower? Obviously, they can't use a Madstone Skull; other than random lootgen rings & gloves, any suggestions for named gear?

[Eth]

Then the question is where do they slot Negative Spellpower? Obviously, they can't use a Madstone Skull; other than random lootgen rings & gloves, any suggestions for named gear?

In your weapon like most builds? You simply switch from positive to negative or do I miss anything you would need positive spellpower for?
This also saves a twist since you can ditch cocoon.

[unbongwah]

In your weapon like most builds?

I prefer to save weapon slots for either DPS or DR-breaking augs and put Spellpower into other gear slots.

[Alfhild]

My Pinion actually has Meteoric Star Ruby currently slotted. As for Zombie form, I could definitely use it as a heroic levelling tool by rearranging my level progression to go 6Rgr/3Wiz. Paralysing DCs will be more forgiving on Heroic so I do not have to invest in the Bard APs at all until later. Were I to try Zombie at Epic and Legendary, I would sacrifice Spell Song Trance, Scroll Mastery and Heavy Draw for the loss of 1 DC and some DPS.
As for higher levels, I need to see how my gear selection stocks up since gear slots will be at a premium due to needing WIS, Enchant DC, Spellpower and DPS enhancing gear. Also I would want to try to consolidate Spell Focus items for swapping out where Paralysing DCs are not needed. Thus going with a Band Immaterial with GSF slotted over Brazenband for instance even though it loses 1 DC.
There is definitely some flexibility including scrounging 11 AP to fit into Archmage to get Magic and Chain Missile SLAs for running in Shiradi.
My Paladin life is currently at 27 so by the weekend I can farm some gear and ITR to start the build.

[Kantia]

I'm planning on playing a life as a vampire arcane archer, but as a 20 wiz. I won't be pushing the AA crowd control like Paralyze, but instead using Wizard spells for CC.

https://www.ddo.com/forums/showthrea...-Arcane-Archer

Like you, APs are very tight. I like your idea of putting in six levels of ranger - that would give easier access to AA (I need 14 in Elf just to get there!), and obviously you'll have access to DWS which I won't.

If you're starting from level 1, then I think yours will be a much more playable build through heroic. My idea really only comes together around 14-15, so starting as an iconic will work for me.

[Alfhild]

I'm planning on playing a life as a vampire arcane archer, but as a 20 wiz. I won't be pushing the AA crowd control like Paralyze, but instead using Wizard spells for CC.

Your playstyle will be a caster. Mine will be purely bow with spells only for buffage (and heal if I go Zombie). 6 Ranger levels gives access to DPS but my Wiz DCs and Spell Pen will be non-existent.
Now that Gnome Iconic is coming out and has +2 WIS and +2 INT and starting as a Wizard, I tempted to wait until then.

[Alfhild]

Having come back from a 6 month hiatus and not having tried playing a low level Ranger is some time, I can only say I am having a blast playing a L4 Ranger with 1 level of Bard. I only have access to Terror Arrows at the moment but on HE it is very reliable CC with the benefit of an instakill on a nat20. On HH and HN, I am just doing elemental imbues and oneshot trash from a distance. Playing a lowbie Ranger, who uses bows exclusively, has never been more fun.

[Saekee]

If the goal is to slow trash mobs with paralyze, why not do a thrower with 3 monk instead of bard? Against trash, use tier 5 frost (crits slow mobs); the shimmering arrowhead (crits slow also) and tendon slice somewhere on gear. All three stack and can be used further with shirardi slowers like Frosty & Pin for near immobilization. It is flavor but could be fun. High dex throwers shoot more projectiles which then proc these effects more.

Use the level 2 Shadow star (it has an insane crit profile) on all trash with ToEE set (offhand), the bow with zen archery on bosses. Max dex benefits from Tensers. I would skip PM entirely. This would work even better with 6 monk for 10K so 8 wiz for PL.

I did something like this before the AA pass and it was fun (FoTW so use adrenaline on bosses).

[Alfhild]

If the goal is to slow trash mobs with paralyze, why not do a thrower with 3 monk instead of bard? Against trash, use tier 5 frost (crits slow mobs); the shimmering arrowhead (crits slow also) and tendon slice somewhere on gear. All three stack and can be used further with shirardi slowers like Frosty & Pin for near immobilization. It is flavor but could be fun. High dex throwers shoot more projectiles which then proc these effects more.

Use the level 2 Shadow star (it has an insane crit profile) on all trash with ToEE set (offhand), the bow with zen archery on bosses. Max dex benefits from Tensers. I would skip PM entirely. This would work even better with 6 monk for 10K so 8 wiz for PL.

I did something like this before the AA pass and it was fun (FoTW so use adrenaline on bosses).

I wanted to get higher enchant DCs but actually intend next life to give a 2Fighter/6Ranger/12Monk a go next life. Besides, I have already taken a Bard level.