What do I do with this guy?

[mckennaric]

There are a couple decent ranged ranger builds in the forums that you can check out. Strimtoms Acid Arrow is the most famous and popular build and works pretty well. Klueges Ranged ranger is also a very nice build that focuses a little more on ranged power and double shot. Rich's Ranged Ranger is good too although that is the build I posted so I could be biased and I usually run it mostly in epics/endgame. But if you check out those three builds you'll see a lot of similarities and things that all the builds agree on which are safe bets as things you should be doing.

Other than that feel free to keep asking questions and experimenting on your own and welcome to the ranks of the ranged rangers!

-Rich

[Losttsol]

I was just made aware that I have a lesser heart of wood and a +20 lesser heart of wood in my inventory. Not exactly sure how this works, but I'm thinking it will let me totally respec my character aside from base stats? Is that right?

[C-Dog]

Before addressing your Q, know that it's MUCH easier to level now than when you left. Reported times for 1 to 20 drop toward something like 3 days, and casual players can easily make it happen in a month (if that's their goal, less than 1 level a night). So taking an alt to 20, getting the Past Life, a +2 Ability Tome (at 1750 favor), and then rebuilding with 34/36 build points should be considered. It's not as intimidating a prospect as it used to be.

This saves the HoW(s) for when you really need them, when you've made a mistake (lesser) or want to get a past life for some unattractive class with something you enjoy more (+20), or in the future when something really shiny shows up and you just have to change - then you're set.

I was just made aware that I have a lesser heart of wood and a +20 lesser heart of wood in my inventory.

All characters now start with one (1) Lesser Heart of Wood. Any character that existed before the Enhancement Tree revision (U19, latter half of '13) received a +20 Heart.

Not exactly sure how this works, but I'm thinking it will let me totally respec my character aside from base stats? Is that right?

It's important to understand how the lesser works, because the +20 is an awkward "improvement" on that process.

The lesser allows you to "erase" your character, but (this is the important part!) it remembers all the classes you took in order. Then it allows you to "rebuild" that character, one level at a time, taking the same classes you took before. So, you can redo stats, feats, skills, etc etc - but you have to take the same classes, in that order, which are all on record.

A +# Heart does the exact same thing, using the exact same procedure, BUT you can also change the class for a number of levels up to that #. The trick is that you can never break the "3 classes max" multi-classing rule - and, exactly as in the Lesser Heart, the process remembers all the classes you had taken, present and future, and considers all those through the whole process, every level you "redo". So, you can change a A/B dual-class into a A/B/C multi because you're never going over "3 classes max". Same with changing an AB into an AC, since, again, you never go over "3", and actually remove the 3rd before you end.

But it's when you add "D" that things get tricky! You can't change a A/B into a A/C/D or even a C/D if, at any level, present or future, your classes would include A+B+C+D - because that's four, and that breaks the rule. You have to remove the last example of that unwanted class (B) as you add the first example of the 4th (D), thus keeping the current total of classes, including present and future levels, at a max of 3. You have to remove the last trace of B as you add the first level of D, so A+B+C = 3 before, and A+C+D = 3 after, remembering this includes all future levels as well.

(In practice, this means that to change some multi-class mix ABC to multiclass mix XYZ can require more than 1 Heart - first to remove some of the unwanted multiclasses, the later to swap the new ones in. It all depends on "when" you took the class(es) you want removed, and when you want to add the new class(es). Can take some mental acrobatics to get it done.)

Think of how the lesser works, understand that the process counts all classes for present and future levels, plan your build with a Character Planner (so you have a concrete, no-surprises blueprint to follow), and you'll be fine.

[LavidDynch]

I was just made aware that I have a lesser heart of wood and a +20 lesser heart of wood in my inventory. Not exactly sure how this works, but I'm thinking it will let me totally respec my character aside from base stats? Is that right?

Save them. Your build are a-okay for heroics.

[Losttsol]

Save them. Your build are a-okay for heroics.

I got two of them and have a Ranger 11, so I think I can use the regular one. My problem is I can't find the **** grove of reincarnation or whatever it's called. I went into the Hall of Heroes in the Martketplace and searched everywhere inside, but couldn't find it. Where exactly is it there?

Next question. I ran solo The Spawn of Whisperdoom last night. It is a level 11 quest and I'm level 11, so figured this would be good to get going again. I got a only little over 6000XP and some bonus XP for killing stuff, but was underwhelmed. What level quests should I be doing solo to get more XP? I did a Gianthold quest the other night which seems better, but that place is a mess. I just ran around killing stuff and happened upon a quest and did it. I just grabbed a couple hirelings, but haven't used them yet. Should I be doing level 12/13 stuff with a hireling to advance faster? I have tried grouping, but it's hit or miss it seems. Back in the day there would be a line of people waiting to do almost anything, but not so much now.

[Losttsol]

So I went ahead and respec'd this guy with the lesser heart of wood. I followed the Strintom Acid Arrow build fairly closely, but not exact. I've been liking him much better. Here are his current stats at Level 12 now with gear.

STR: 10
DEX: 28
CON: 22
INT: 8
WIS: 12
CHA: 8

Haven't found a tome yet and looking for a higher wisdom item to get him to 14 in that category. I did find a piece of cake in my inventory that creates the cake lovng Djinni. I saw where I can get a tome from him for the cake, but I kind of like making him appear. I see a lot of people stop and look at him when I summon him. Also ran the Cult quest for the Silver Bow three times, but that hasn't dropped yet. Do have a +3 Thundering Shortbow of Pure Good which does OK damage, but really need something better.

[C-Dog]

Also ran the Cult quest for the Silver Bow three times, but that hasn't dropped yet.

That bow will help a lot, and can last until late heroics.

Put up an LFM w/ something like "Ranger needs Silver bow, pls pass" - no guarantee, but increases your odds significantly. If you can handle the grindiness, that should be your #1 short-term goal.

[Losttsol]

That bow will help a lot, and can last until late heroics.

Put up an LFM w/ something like "Ranger needs Silver bow, pls pass" - no guarantee, but increases your odds significantly. If you can handle the grindiness, that should be your #1 short-term goal.

So, I drank one of those potions that gives you better loot chances before running the quests. Don't know if that helps with named loot. I ran solo w/hireling at normal, hard, then elite. Does it give me a much better chance by running elite or should I just get through fast on normal? Normal and hard were fairly simple. Elite kicked my *** a little, because the trap damage went way up.

[Sunnie]

So, I drank one of those potions that gives you better loot chances before running the quests. Don't know if that helps with named loot. I ran solo w/hireling at normal, hard, then elite. Does it give me a much better chance by running elite or should I just get through fast on normal? Normal and hard were fairly simple. Elite kicked my *** a little, because the trap damage went way up.

It's enough to drink those potions just before you interact with the chest. Named items have a slightly higher chance to drop on higher difficulties, but I believe it's unknown just how much. People generally agree it's not a high enough chance, though. Also, did you run the quest "Into the Mists" in House J yet? After you exit the quest through the gate at the end there's an NPC in the Barovia wilderness who gives you a free weapon. Silver damage type, 1.5[W] + 3d10 undead bane + 3d6 holy + 3d6 fire. They're a very solid choice and easily available.

[Losttsol]

It's enough to drink those potions just before you interact with the chest. Named items have a slightly higher chance to drop on higher difficulties, but I believe it's unknown just how much. People generally agree it's not a high enough chance, though. Also, did you run the quest "Into the Mists" in House J yet? After you exit the quest through the gate at the end there's an NPC in the Barovia wilderness who gives you a free weapon. Silver damage type, 1.5[W] + 3d10 undead bane + 3d6 holy + 3d6 fire. They're a very solid choice and easily available.

I ended up getting the Silver Bow finally. I did a few speed runs on normal and got it on my 4th try (7th overall). I will definitely check out that quest though. Thanks.

[C-Dog]

I ran solo w/hireling at normal, hard, then elite. Does it give me a much better chance by running elite or should I just get through fast on normal? Normal and hard were fairly simple. Elite kicked my *** a little, because the trap damage went way up.

There is a big jump from Hard to Elite (and (imo) another from R2 to R3) - increases in difficulty don't seem perfectly "smooth".

But, yes, higher difficulties (including higher R#'s) do noticeably increase the % for named drops. Most vets agree that running Elite or better is the "only" way to go, but it's also true that completing on Hard is infinitely better than failing on Elite.*

(* Remember that a quest will stay open for a short while (5 min?) after you leave it. So, if your soul is bound close by (and not on Reaper), you can die, release, heal up fast, and dive back in to complete the quest. Repeat as often as it takes. You'll lose some XP, but if just farming for items or the Favor that isn't affected at all.)

Grats on the bow!

Note that the free Barovian Weapon is ML 10, and you only get 1/life. Choose wisely, you won't get another until you buy Ravenloft and TR.

[Losttsol]

There is a big jump from Hard to Elite (and (imo) another from R2 to R3) - increases in difficulty don't seem perfectly "smooth".

But, yes, higher difficulties (including higher R#'s) do noticeably increase the % for named drops. Most vets agree that running Elite or better is the "only" way to go, but it's also true that completing on Hard is infinitely better than failing on Elite.*

(* Remember that a quest will stay open for a short while (5 min?) after you leave it. So, if your soul is bound close by (and not on Reaper), you can die, release, heal up fast, and dive back in to complete the quest. Repeat as often as it takes. You'll lose some XP, but if just farming for items or the Favor that isn't affected at all.)

Grats on the bow!

Note that the free Barovian Weapon is ML 10, and you only get 1/life. Choose wisely, you won't get another until you buy Ravenloft and TR.

So Thanks, I got the Barovian Longbow. It seems slightly better than the Silver Longbow at least against the stuff out in the woods after doing the Mists quest. Is there any reason to use the Silver Longbow when I now have the Barovian?

[C-Dog]

Is there any reason to use the Silver Longbow when I now have the Barovian?

In theory, yes, but in practice probably(?) no - the deciding factor requires number crunching skills that I don't have. (And I could be confoozled on (part of) this - I'm sure someone will correct me if so.)

Barovian weapons pile on the additional bonus damage - 1.5[W], +5 Enhancement Bonus, Holy 3d6, Fiery 3d6 - and Undead Bane 3d10 and Silver on top of that (not sure if the "Silver" counts for ranged attacks). However, it has a standard 1 in 20 crit profile, so the damage is a "flat" add, rarely multiplied via Crits.

The Silver Longbow only adds +3 Enhancement and +2d6 Holy - and a base d10 damage (vs. d8 for most bows), so it relies on its greatly improved crit profile (18-20), giving it a much higher chance of multiplying damage. However, you have to contribute that damage from Class, Enhancement and other gear (Deadly, Seeker, etc).

So, in theory, if your build/gear can boost the additional damage, then at some point(!) the crits make the Silver Longbow superior. But that would take some doing.