Bow is even fun on a fighter: Quick and dirty kensai horizon walker

[Strimtom]

Hello, I am Strimtom. I make build, you play build, and today we have archer horizon walker. I would like to preface that this isn't the best version. In fact, if you want a better version, I will link a great resource at the end of this for a really good strong understand on bows in DDO as of right now.

However, I have my build to show that I did for funsies and you can do on a first lifer, right now!



Now the build:

PDK Horizon 32
18/2 Fighter/Rogue
Purple Dragon Knight


Level Order

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


Stats
. . . . . . . .32pt . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . --------
Strength. . . . .8. . . .4: DEX
Dexterity . . . 18. . . .8: DEX
Constitution. . 14. . . 12: DEX
Intelligence. . 16. . . 16: DEX
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . 20: DEX
Charisma. . . . .8. . . 24: DEX
. . . . . . . . . . . . 28: DEX

Skills
. . . . . F. R .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .F .R. F. F. F. F. F
. . . . . 1. 2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Disable . . .5. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .23
Search. . 2. 3 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
UMD . . . 2. 3 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Open Lo . . .1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 . . . . . . . . 10
Jump. . . 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Swim. . . 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Balance . 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Perform . 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Tumble. . 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .24 12. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6 12. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6


Feats

.1. . . . : Point Blank Shot
.1 PDK. . : Precise Shot
.1 Fighter: Rapid Shot
.3. . . . : Precision
.3 Fighter: Weapon Focus: Ranged
.5 Fighter: Weapon Specialization: Ranged
.6. . . . : Dodge
.7 Fighter: Manyshot
.9. . . . : Improved Critical: Ranged
.9 Fighter: Greater Weapon Focus: Ranged
11 Fighter: Mobility
12. . . . : Shot on the Run
13 Fighter: Greater Weapon Specialization: Ranged
15. . . . : Improved Precise Shot
16 Fighter: Power Critical
18. . . . : Superior Weapon Focus: Ranged
18 Fighter: Weapon Focus: Thrown
20 Fighter: Weapon Specialization: Thrown
21 Epic . : Combat Archery
24 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
26 Destiny: Pierce Damage Reduction: Adamantine
27 Epic . : Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Doubleshot
29 Destiny: Pierce Damage Reduction: Cold Iron
30 Epic . : Epic Reflexes
30 Legend : Scion of: Ethereal Plane


Enhancements (Spent: 78 +0r +0u / Max: 80 +0r +0u AP)

Horizon Walker (41 AP)

• Mark Target, Improved Marking, Greater Marking, Dauntless Marking, Dimension Door, Horizon
  1. Eye for Accuracy II, Opening Shot III, Conjure Arrow
  2. Walker Training I, Take the Opening, Skilled Navigator III, Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
  3. No Step Missed III, Two Places At Once, Hunter's Focus, Tenacious Hunter III, Dexterity
  4. Walker Training II, Corner the Quarry I, Dexterity
  5. Feywild Attunement, Banish the Quarry, Misty Step, Powershot, Improved Archer's Focus

Kensei (31 AP)

• Kensei Focus: Archery, Spiritual Bond, Strike With No Thought, Power Surge, One Cut
  1. Weapon Group Specialization: Archery, Action Boost: Haste Boost III
  2. Weapon Group Specialization: Archery, Improved Dodge III
  3. Critical Mastery II, Weapon Group Specialization: Archery, Athletic Mastery III, Shattering Strike: Shattering Shot I, Dexterity
  4. Weapon Group Specialization: Archery, Strike at the Heart, Dexterity

Falconry (2 AP)

• Summon Avian Companion: Falcon
  1. Hunter's Knowledge

Vistani Knife Fighter (2 AP)

• Knife Expertise
  1. Undead Hunter

Purple Dragon Knight (1 AP)

• Damage Boost

Mechanic (1 AP)

• Arbalester

Destiny (24 AP)

Shiradi Champion

1. Stay Frosty II, Healing Spring III, Illusion of Well Being I, Dexterity
2. Fey Spring I, Fey Form I, Dexterity
3. Whirling Wrists III, Dexterity
4. (none)
5. Track I, Stand and Deliver, Nerve Venom III
6. Hunt's End

Twists of Fate (26 fate points)

1. Martial Hymn (Tier 4 Fatesinger)
2. Meld into Darkness (Tier 3 Shadowdancer)
3. Dance of Flowers (Tier 1 Flowers)
4. Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)

If you need more detail and not a simple first life horizon walker, please view Carpone's Excellent Write Up

[PrinceOfAsphodel]

Did someone hack Strimtom's account or did he actually call bows fun? Lol. In all seriousness, I'm glad the bow buffs have created a variety of new builds.

[Fenix93]

One question... if I wanted to make a "Non Iconic" character, does the build work the same? or is it only designed to be done with an iconic character?

[FuzzyDuck81]

One question... if I wanted to make a "Non Iconic" character, does the build work the same? or is it only designed to be done with an iconic character?

There's nothing on that build that requires PDK, though unless you're human, you'd need to drop a feat, i'd suggest power critical as the least important one there, though depending on playstyle preferences you could even ditch improved precise shot (on my own DWS/HW ranger archer i never use IPS).

[Kodwraith]

Also this may be obvious, but if you're a non-iconic character, take the rogue level first for way more skill points at the start. Strim's build takes the fighter level first because it's a PDK. On a not iconic, take Rogue first.

[Ganak]

Outstanding as usual Strim!

[Ghalleon]

With the fact that the heroics are a bit rough, is it merely just a matter of push through the early levels with hirelings until you get to level 6+ to at least have some of the build ready?

[NemesisAlien]

Why thrown?
Why Ethereal Plane?

Disclaimer: Not finding fault, wanting to know the reason for non ranger type builds.

[magaiti]

Why thrown?
Why Ethereal Plane?

Disclaimer: Not finding fault, wanting to know the reason for non ranger type builds.

Weapon focus Thrown = 2 ranged power. Not the best way to spend a feat, but Fighter 20 got plenty.

Ethereal Plane gives 5 ranged power and 6d6 sneak damage.
This can potentially be better than 20 RP and 2 damage from Arborea.
Whether you can realize this sneak damage without enhancements expanding your point-blank range is a question to the OP though.
AFAIK neither HW nor Kensei (nor PDK nor Shiradi) have ways of expanding sneak/point blank range.
base ranged sneak range is 15 meters which is pretty short.
Edit: ah well, arbalester (mechanic core 1) expands by 5 meters. Not much but something.

Ethereal also gives ghost touch and lesser displacement, can be valuable to a first lifer.