Preparing new life Pure ranger vs Ranger18/Rogue 2 or Ranger 15+/Fighter x/Rogue x

[Szordrinn]

Hello everyone,

I am planning the new life of my main character. He is on a bard life with 3 past lives (fighter, monk, paladin) and 2 epic past lives (primal colors of the queen and martial doublestrike). He has +7 supreme tome as well. After reincarnating, i will have the PDK past life and a bard one.

I'm looking for a ranger life with a small focus on ranged and a strong melee option, eventually trap skills if not too much sacrifice. I want the toon to be self sufficient as i mostly play solo.

After taking a look to ranger enhancements, DWS seems a good balance between melee and ranged. I thought about going for DWS with paralyzing arrows and a bit of tempest. Weapons would be ranged and light melees.

Maybe it can be an option to add some fighter levels for feats and stalwart stance and some rogue for trap skills.

Do you have some ideas on the build ? (all races available)

Thanks

[dummeskind]

I think Chose Ranged or Meele but dont mix it in my Mind.

Im running a Ranged 10Ranger/4Arti/6Rogue atm with a Divine Artilery and i shoot the **** out of Mobs.

I didnt think the Rogue is a big help in Meele.

On Meele dont ask me^^ but i think 12 Ranger 8 Fighter Tempest Kensai Enhance??

[hp1055cm]

Rogue will get you trapping, UMD and evasion for 2 levels. I usually take Rogue 1st level (for the extra build points) and then again around 7-9 for the second level (To use your build points most efficiently). A Ranger has spot and seach skills so those will be no problem, but disable device and UMD you will have to max using 1/2 points. Fortunately Rangers get a lot of skill points as well so you will have enough.
For Elite you will have to keep all 4 of these maxed, but you can skimp on spot if you know where the traps are.
Unlock you can get by with 10 skill points (at level 20) invested if you have a good item to help.
UMD gets you scroll (& wand) healing, resurrection and some other spell buffs.
You can add 1 or 2 more Rogue levels in the mid teens to help max your skills, but you don't get much else from doing this so avoid it if you can.
Rogue ranged is also a thing but I've never played one so can't say much about it. Word is that they do good DPS. (downgraded from great dps recently)

Fighter makes you tougher and gives you more feats. It blends well with most other classes, but particularly with Melee builds. Kensai is okay, but unnecessary for a Ranger since Tempest is a better tree. Stalwart might work for you (Its kinda like Sacred Defender) but it's somewhat geared toward heavier armor types and you will be in light armor and no shield.
People usually take 3 or 6 levels on a multi-class but it varies. (The trees break points are 3-6-12-18 for the cores)

Ranger Tempest is a pretty solid tree and you will want to grab the tier 5 enhancements from here if you are going to melee. The Tempest Capstone is also pretty good so evaluate what you might gain by passing it up.

I have never used the DWS tree so I can't say much about it except that Archers seem to do better in groups rather than solo, especially considering the current aggro mechanics in place. It used to be that you could single out mobs and pick them off one at a time until the mob was more manageable to run in and melee with but now you will find it hard to get away with that anymore.
Unless you like kiting around in circles or you have a way to finish mobs off fast (like playing on normal) then you will find yourself surrounded by mobs in melee range.
Arties are a better choice for soloing as a ranged character if you ask me - but I haven't played an Archer in like 5 years.

If you are gonna TR at 20 then Multi-class is definitely the way to go and the 30% XP bonus from trapping is well worth the investment. If you are going on to Epics, especially EE, then you can do it but it takes experience.

You should look around for some builds and pay attention to the feats and enhancements that are important for each class.
Posting builds is not my thing so I can't help you there. Look in the Class forum here or do a google search.

Humans and Elfs are good races for rangers. Humans get an extra feat and an action boost, plus a heal amp. Elves get Long sword and Longbows bonuses, a Dexterity bonus and some good enhancements. Elves in particular have Dexterity to damage in their tree.

[giftie]

For a ranged Ranger, I wouldn't go below 18 levels and losing out on +1 crit multiplier. The capstones of both DWS and AA are both quite good, so I wouldn't splash unless you really want trapping. And if you do, you don't need to take 2 Rogue levels, since you already get evasion (albeit at level 9), and will be extremely short on AP. A better option might be one level of Artificier (for trap skills, lever puller, Enchant Weapon and Magical Training), and one level Barb (run speed), Cleric/FvS (Divine Might) or Fighter (feat).

[Hobgoblin]

just as a note

dont forget about arti

you get evasion as a ranger so you dont need that

arti gets you bonus ranged feats, trapskills and a lever puller

[Saekee]

I am planning 8 rogue/12 ranger tempest.

8 rogue gets you improved uncanny dodge as an awesome defense eternal clickie cooldown. Couple that with the tempest dodge parrying with 12 ranger--it will give you some great durability. Make sure to take the feat: improved feint; it is awesome now; use right before Dance of Death.

Yes, 18 and capstone are poweful but not if you are dead.

[tc12]

just as a note

dont forget about arti

you get evasion as a ranger so you dont need that

arti gets you bonus ranged feats, trapskills and a lever puller

Yes, arti splash is great - especially if you go INT-based. Harper line means INT can be used for hit/damage as well as perma damage boost (2 min clickie with well under 2 min cooldown) from Know the Angles. Go Insightful Reflexes to move your evasion there too. Lots of skill pts being INT-based to make maxing out the trap skills easy. And more spell points for healing with the INT/Arti splash. Being Ranger you get most ranged feats free so don't even need the normal minimum DEX score. One stat wonder build. Final bonus of this: with DEX tempests, you're limited to light weapons for using DEX stat, with Scimitars the one built-in exception. No such limit once you go Harper/INT. Break out 2 warhammers for skelly beating and still get all your bonuses. Switch to bow for manyshot burst damage and that's covered too. Ton of synergy INT/Arti/Harper.

TC

[Wh070aa]

I say ranger 10, Arti 2, fighter 8, Harper/kensai with splash in Deepwood. Ranger 11, rogue 1, fighter 8 also works, if you don't have tomes for taking IPS, or don't want to invest in dex and combat archery (you probably should tho)

Also Ranger 18/Arti 2 is better than rogue 2, because you don't need evasion from rogue. There is also Ranger 12, rogue 6, arti 2 option, or Ranger 12, arti 8 option, depending on how much spell castling you want to do.

Also are you going to 20, or are you trying for build that works in epics? Because if you want to go to epics the level 18 (or 20) capstones become actually viable then, but if you are just going up to 20 fighter (or rogue) splash gives you way more bang for your buck.

[unbongwah]

I'm looking for a ranger life with a small focus on ranged and a strong melee option, eventually trap skills if not too much sacrifice. I want the toon to be self sufficient as i mostly play solo.

Given stated build goals, I would use something like this:

Shadow Tempest Trapper
18/1/1 Ranger/Fighter/Rogue
True Neutral Elf


Level Order

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


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

Skills
         Rg Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Fi Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn
          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
         ------------------------------------------------------------
Disable   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Search    4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1     2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Spot      4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1     2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Hide      4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1        2  2  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
Open Lo   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1              1  2  1  2  1  2  1  22
Move Si   4                 1  1     2  2  2  3  1     2     2     2  22
Balance   4                                                            4
Jump      4                                                            4
Swim      4                                                            4
Tumble    4                                                            4
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         44  9  9  9  9  9 10 10  6 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 11 11


Feats

 1        : Point Blank Shot
 3        : Precision
 6        : Least Dragonmark: Shadow
 9        : Improved Critical: Slashing
 9 Fighter: Improved Critical: Ranged
12        : Extend Spell OR Two Weapon Defense
15        : Quicken Spell
18        : Empower Healing Spell
21 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic   : Combat Archery
26 Destiny: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
27 Epic   : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Doubleshot
29 Destiny: Dire Charge OR Deific Warding
30 Epic   : Epic Reflexes OR Past Life: Rogue
30 Legend : Scion of: Ethereal Plane

 2 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Undead
 6 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Giant
12 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
17 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Construct OR Aberration


Enhancements (80 AP)

Tempest (39 AP)
Shield of Whirling Steel, Tempest, Graceful Death, Deflect Arrows, Whirlwind
Improved Defense II, Whirling Blades
Improved Parry III, Whirling Blades, Sprint Boost III
Storm Dancer, Whirling Blades, Dexterity
Storm Tempest, Elaborate Parry III, The Growing Storm III
Dual Perfection, Cuts: A Thousand Cuts III, Dance of Death III

Deepwood Stalker (23 AP)
Far Shot, Sneak Attack, Exposing Strike, Advanced Sneak Attack
Stealthy III, Tendon Cut I
Survivalist, Improved Weapon Finesse, Melee/Range Power Boost III
Survivalist, Thrill of the Hunt III, Favored Hunter II
Killer II

Elf (12 AP)
Elven Accuracy, Elven Dexterity
Phiarlan Dragonmark Focus III, Valenar Weapon Training
Lesser Dragonmark of Shadow
Greater Dragonmark of Shadow

Arcane Archer (6 AP)
Arcane Archer, Morphic Arrows
Conjure Arrows, Corrosive Arrows


Destiny (24 AP)

Legendary Dreadnought
Legendary Tactics III, Extra Action Boost III, Constitution
Constitution
Critical Damage III, Haste Boost III
(none)
Advancing Blows, Devastating Critical
Master's Blitz, Pulverizer

Twists of Fate (35 fate points)
Sense Weakness (Tier 4 Fury)
Grim Precision (Tier 3 Shadowdancer)
Balanced Attacks (Tier 3 Primal)
Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)

DEX-based scimitars + longbows. Trap skills, tier-5 Tempest, usual DWS bonuses, Shadow DMs, Morphic Arrows is for the +1 crit range from Pulverizer. So in LD, scimitars are 14-18/x3 19-20/x5, bows like Pinion are 15-18/x3 19-20/x5. If you have Harper and don't have a ton of extra racial APs, you'll have to decide between Morphic Arrows, Displacement, or Know the Angles, since APs are tight enough as it is.

You mention wanting Paralyzing Arrows, but that 22 APs; anything which chews up over 25% of your Enhancements is not a "small" investment, IMO. So decide which you're really focusing on, melee or archery.