Arbalester Rogue Build - Suggestions for heading to 20+ levels

[Careall]

Currently I have a 1st life fairly high DPS Level 16 Elf Rogue Mechanic using a Great Crossbow. Feats currently are PBS, Rapid Reload, Quick Shot, Improved Crit, Improved Evasion, Skill Mastery, and Toughness x2.
Used Mechanic to power up the Great Bow, and I have vorpal great crossbow, which crits on 15-20 and vorpal crits on 19-20, tons of backstab dice and enough range that sneaking is usually irrelevant. Trapping abilities are so-so for most at-level dungeons with the mech skill boost available if needed. My typical great crossbow shot at this level is doing around 300 (200 + backstab dice) on first hit for backstab and 200 after that. I am thinking about adding in a few fighter levels to pick up Precise Shot and Precision.

The problem is, as I head towards 20 and look at Epic Destinies, I am not too impressed. Shadow Dancer seems to be the best ED, but only so-so for this build - nothing particularly attractive except Int bonuses and Ranged power. The other two EDs a rogue qualifies for are even less exciting. So I am thinking of reincarnating and changing two levels to grab six levels of something else so I can leverage another ED... but what? Also, after looking over some of the other ED's, I'm not sure the trade-off is worth losing the Level 18 and 20 Core Mechanic Enhancements.

As I haven't played too much Epic content, are there any suggestions on how to proceed for an Epic Noob?

Wait.. That's not sounding how I meant it.

[Taurnish]

Look at the benefits for ranged characters under Shiradi

[Wipey]

I just capped first life mechanic for lulz ( because I don't have enough characters obviously ).
Silver Slinger + Double Cross, then Needle from Raider's Box ( or you can just go for tier 1 TF repeater at 22 ), Divine Artillery at 28.
Legendary Dread + repeater first for sure. Then Shiradi 3 for Pin, Primal Avatar 3 with Cocoon, Fury 3.
Maxed LD for Silver bypass at 26, maxed Fury and Shiradi for Doubleshot at 28, maxed all Primal for Harbringer of Chaos at 29 and Arborea at 30.

I had trouble with Blitz on great crossbow but it was great with repeater. At 28 Divine Artillery is ridiculous in any destiny.
Went with Combat Archery at 21, OC at 24, ISA at 27.

Pin, Cocoon and Scream as first twists.

[Saekee]

Start in Legendary Dreadnaught. It is one of the best EDs for mechanics (and a lot of builds). When you get to the tier to unlock Shiradi, level shiradi until you unlock Pin (twist Pin; you can also twist Otto's whistler from there eventually if you like but since this is your first trip in epics, you will not have enough fate points to do so) and stay in Shirardi until you unlock the ability to shift over to Primal Avatar. Do primal avatar until you can twist cocoon from there.

Then go back to Dreadnaught until you hit cap.

You will at least have Pin and Rejuv cocoon which is very nice.

When you finish at cap, epic reincarnate into Shadowdancer as a dex-based dragonmarked elven assassin, using 12 AP in elf, 43 or whatever in assassin, and the rest in acrobat.

edit: ninja'd by Wipey

[Careall]

Thanks all for the recommendations. Much appreciated.

[unbongwah]

Currently I have a 1st life fairly high DPS Level 16 Elf Rogue Mechanic using a Great Crossbow. Feats currently are PBS, Rapid Reload, Quick Shot, Improved Crit, Improved Evasion, Skill Mastery, and Toughness x2.

I would've skipped the Toughnesses. Also you're missing Precision, Precise Shot, and Improved Prec Shot.

I am thinking about adding in a few fighter levels to pick up Precise Shot and Precision.

Just make sure you take rog 18 for Expert Builder; that +2 crit multiplier bonus is going to be a big deal to your gt xbow DPS.

Another possibility: since Artificer is on sale this week for 75% off, you could buy it and take an arty splash. You'll want to swap Rapid Reload for one of your missing ranged feats, since you get that free with arty 1. Rog 18 / arty 2 is a solid split; opening up Spellcraft as a class skill might allow you to max it out to boost Spellpower for one of the Plane of <X> Legendary feats.

The problem is, as I head towards 20 and look at Epic Destinies, I am not too impressed. Shadow Dancer seems to be the best ED, but only so-so for this build - nothing particularly attractive except Int bonuses and Ranged power.

The others recommended LD, but it can be hard to sustain Blitz with a gt xbow (or so I'm told), due to lower RoF; so if you plan to stick with them, I would also consider Divine Crusader or FotW. DC's good for focusing on Doubleshot (Zeal of the Righteous + Celestial Champion) and the extra crit range makes your gt xbow 14-20/x4; plus you gain some self-heals from Sacred Ground. FotW's Adrenaline / Unbridled Fury are always good for burst DPS.

If you don't have Harper, I was thinking of something like this.

Phiarlan Mechanic
18/2 Rogue/Artificer
Lawful Good Elf


Level Order

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


Stats
               34pt     Tome     Level Up
               ----     ----     --------
Strength         8                4: INT
Dexterity       17       +4       8: INT
Constitution    14       +2      12: INT
Intelligence    18       +2      16: INT
Wisdom           8               20: INT
Charisma         8               24: INT
                                 28: INT

Skills
          R  A  A  R  R  R  R  R  R  R  R  R  R  R  R  R  R  R  R  R
          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
         ------------------------------------------------------------
Concent      5              1  1  2  2  2  2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Spellcr      2  4        2  1  2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Disable   4     2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Open Lo   4        3  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Search    4     1  2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Spot      4        3  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Bluff     4        1  2  2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Hide      4           4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Move Si   4        2  2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
UMD       4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Heal      1                                   1  1  1  1½ 1½ 1½ 1½ 1  11
Balance   2                 1                                      1   4
Jump      4                                                            4
Swim      4                                                            4
Tumble    4                                                            4
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         48  8  8 13 13 13 13 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 15 15 15 15 15


Feats

 1        : Point Blank Shot
 3        : Rapid Shot
 6        : Precision
 9        : Precise Shot
12        : Improved Critical: Ranged
12 Rogue  : Improved Evasion
15        : Least Dragonmark: Shadow
15 Rogue  : Opportunist
18        : Improved Precise Shot
18 Rogue  : Crippling Strike
21 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic   : Combat Archery
26 Destiny: Epic Spell Power: Acid
27 Epic   : Improved Sneak Attack
28 Destiny: Doubleshot
29 Destiny: Embodiment of Order
30 Epic   : Insightful Reflexes OR Epic Damage Reduction
30 Legend : Scion of: Plane of Earth


Enhancements (80 AP)

Mechanic (40 AP)

Arbalester, Tanglefoot, Targeting Sights, Improved Detection, Expert Builder

Sharpshooter, Lacerating Shots III
Sharpshooter, Wand and Scroll Mastery III, Skill Boost III
Sharpshooter, Intelligence
Sharpshooter, Fletching III, Leg Shot, Intelligence
Sharpshooter, Rapid Fire III, Sniper, Mechanical Reloader

Assassin (25 AP)

Knife in the Darkness, Dagger in the Back, Assassin's Trick

Sneak Attack Training, Stealthy II
Venomed Blades III, Sneak Attack Training, Damage Boost III
Critical Mastery III, Sneak Attack Training
Killer III, Sneak Attack Training

Elf (12 AP)

Elven Accuracy

Phiarlan Dragonmark Focus III, Keen Senses II
Lesser Dragonmark of Shadow, Nothing Is Hidden II
Greater Dragonmark of Shadow

Thief-Acrobat (3 AP)

Staff Control

Fast Movement


Destiny (24 AP)

Divine Crusader

Bane of Undeath, Interrogation, Purge the Wicked
Consecration III, Flames of Purity II
Sacred Ground, Empyrean Magic, Blessed Blades
No Regret, Crusade
Castigation, Heavenly Presence, Celestial Champion

Twists of Fate (36 fate points)

Grim Precision (Tier 3 Shadowdancer)
Otto's Whistler (Tier 3 Shiradi)
Pin (Tier 2 Shiradi)
Lithe (Tier 2 Shadowdancer)
Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)