No One Expects the Sharnish Inquisitives!

[unbongwah]

"Really? You're opening with a bad pun and a stale Monty Python reference? Better reroll your thread, Gramps."

Me:


There's already been plenty of discussion about the best DPS options for the new Inquisitive tree. You won't find any of those builds in here. Instead, you're going to find a bunch of gimp flavor builds for my own amusement or in response to other people's requests for specialized builds.

Build Index

Artificer: Inquisitive Mastermaker
Barbarian:
Bard: Desperado
Cleric:
Druid:
Favored Soul:
Fighter:
Monk:
Paladin:
Ranger:
Rogue:
Sorcerer:
Warlock:
Wizard:

Weapons

For the first time in, well, ever, light and heavy crossbows are actually desirable in DDO.

https://ddowiki.com/page/Category:Light_Crossbows
https://ddowiki.com/page/Category:Heavy_Crossbows

A really good heroic crossbow (particularly for Dashing Inquisitives) is Ratcatcher. It's one of the few crossbows with an inherent x3 multiplier and it's got an extra crit range bonus. So it becomes a 14-20/x4 weapon when you have Improved Critical Ranged Weapons (+2 crit range) + level 12 Inquisitive core Enhancement (+1 crit range & multiplier).

[unbongwah]

Someone on Reddit asked about a pure Artificer build with Renegade Mastermaker as the primary tree for party / raid support, but with Inquisitive for ranged DPS rather than being meleeficer. So here's a shot (ha) at that.

Race: any could work, but the obvious choices are Warforged (magic robot FTW), human (extra feat), or drow / gnome (extra INT).
Requirements: Harper, Artificer, Warforged (or other P2P race if you go that route)

Inquisitive Mastermaker
Artificer 20
True Neutral Warforged


Stats
               32pt     34pt     36pt     Tome     Level Up
               ----     ----     ----     ----     --------
Strength         8        8        8                4: INT
Dexterity       16       16       16       +5       8: INT
Constitution    16       17       18               12: INT
Intelligence    18       18       18       +2      16: INT
Wisdom           6        6        6               20: INT
Charisma         6        6        6               24: INT
                                                   28: INT

Skills
          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
         ------------------------------------------------------------
Concent   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Repair    4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Spellcr   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Disable   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Open Lo   2  2     2     2     3     2     2     2     2     2     2  23
Search    4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Spot      4  1  1  1  1  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
Haggle                            1  1  1  1  1  1  1     2     2  2  13
Diplo           1     1     1     1     1     1     1  1  1  1  1     11
Tumble    1                                                            1
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         32  9  9  9  9  9  9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 11 11 11


Feats

 1        : Point Blank Shot
 3        : Precision
 4 Arti   : Adamantine Body
 6        : Insightful Reflexes
 8 Arti   : Precise Shot
 9        : Maximize Spell
12        : Quicken Spell
12 Arti   : Improved Critical: Ranged
15        : Spell Focus: Evocation
16 Arti   : Improved Precise Shot
18        : Greater Spell Focus: Evocation OR Past Life: Wizard OR Completionist
20 Arti   : Empower Spell OR Heighten Spell
21 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic   : Burst of Glacial Wrath
26 Destiny: Epic Spell Power: Electricity
27 Epic   : Combat Archery
28 Destiny: Doubleshot
29 Destiny: Arcane Warrior
30 Epic   : Epic Damage Reduction OR Construct Exemplar
30 Legend : Scion of: Plane of Air


Enhancements (80 AP)

Renegade Mastermaker (41 AP)
Renegade Defender, Alchemical Shield, Cure Serious Admixture, Constructive Conduit, Radiant Forcefield, Mass Unbreakable Forcefield
Cure Light Admixture III, Easily Fixed, Supporting Construction III
Armor Mastery III, Converter
Conjure Component, Reinforced Armor III, Shielding Construct, Intelligence
Reconstruct III, Embed Component III, Warding Construct, Intelligence
Cure Critical Admixture, Forcefield: Unbreakable, Paragon Body, Regeneration Construct, Mastermaker

Inquisitive (31 AP)
Inquisitive, Hit the Streets, Mind Like Iron, True Seeing, Undaunted
Dual Shooter, Law on your Side
Crossbow Adept, Observation, Improved Law
Crossbow Adept, Shoot First, Improved Observation, Stop in the Name, Intelligence
Crossbow Adept, Ask Questions Later, Martial Inquisition, Greater Law

Harper Agent (8 AP)
Agent of Good I
Harper Enchantment, Strategic Combat
Know the Angles III

Pros: Inquisitive critical threat range bonuses comes from their level 12 core Enhancement, whereas Battle Engineer's is in the tier-5 and capstone. So you can go RMM as primary tree and still gain those bonuses.
Cons: Ranged DPS is obviously lower than it would be if you went all-in on Inquisitive and Battle Engineer. Giving up No Holds Barred / Endless Fusilade is a heavy blow to burst DPS. Again, this is a party-support toon with high survivability which pew-pews, not a max-DPS ranged toon.

[unbongwah]

<build goes here>

[unbongwah]

The sequel to El Mariachi.

The goal here is a first-life ranged bard with good party support capabilities.

Race: any works, I went with drow for the stat bonuses. Human is a good alternative (extra feat, Ranged Power Boost); so is gnome (+INT, lower to the ground).
Requirements: Harper tree for INT to damage. The +2 DEX tome is necessary for stat pre-reqs and can come from Favor. The INT tome is optional but recommended for the extra skill points.

Desperado (U42)
18/2 Bard/Rogue
True Neutral Drow


Level Order

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


Stats
               28pt     Tome     Level Up
               ----     ----     --------
Strength         8                4: INT
Dexterity       18       +2       8: INT
Constitution    12               12: INT
Intelligence    18       +3      16: INT
Wisdom           8               20: INT
Charisma        12               24: DEX
                                 28: INT

Skills
          R  B  B  B  B  B  B  B  B  B  B  R  B  B  B  B  B  B  B  B
          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
         ------------------------------------------------------------
Perform   2  2  2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1     2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Concent   2  3  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1     2     2     2     2  1  23
Disable   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Open Lo   4                               11     1  1  1  1  1  1  2  23
Search    4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Spot      4     1  2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Diplo     4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1     2  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      2           1  1  1     1     1        1     1     1        10
Balance   4                    2     2                                 8
Jump      4                                                            4
Tumble    4                                                            4
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         48 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 15 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 14


Feats

 1        : Rapid Reload
 3        : Point Blank Shot
 6        : Precise Shot
 9        : Precision
12        : Improved Critical: Ranged
15        : Quicken Spell OR Rapid Shot
18        : Improved Precise Shot
21 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic   : Combat Archery
26 Destiny: Holy Strike OR Pierce Damage Reduction: Silver
27 Epic   : Insightful Reflexes OR Empower Healing Spell
28 Destiny: Doubleshot
29 Destiny: Embodiment of Law
30 Epic   : Epic Damage Reduction OR Empower Healing Spell
30 Legend : Scion of: Arborea


Enhancements (80 AP)

Inquisitive (41 AP)
Inquisitive, Hit the Streets, Mind Like Iron, True Seeing, Undaunted, Master Inquisitive
Dual Shooter, Conjure Bolts I, Law on your Side
Crossbow Adept, Observation, Improved Law
Crossbow Adept, Ask Questions First, Improved Observation, Stop in the Name, Intelligence
Crossbow Adept, Shoot Later, Dashing Inquisition, Greater Law
No Holds Barred, Arresting Assault, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Jaded, Diplomatic Immunity

Warchanter (14 AP)
Skaldic: Constitution, Weapon Training, Song of Heroism
Poetic Edda II, Enchant Weapon
Arcane Shield Chant III, Sprint Boost I
Ironskin Chant III

Harper Agent (12 AP)
Agent of Good I, Intelligence
Harper Enchantment, Strategic Combat
Know the Angles III
Strategic Combat

Swashbuckler (12 AP)
Confidence, Swashbuckling, Uncanny Dodge
Blow By Blow: Range III, Tavern Shanties I
Fast Movement, Double Shot Boost I
Dashing Scoundrel

Mechanic (1 AP)
Arbalester

Drawbacks: this build is a bit feat-starved and we're not really setup to take full advantage of the extra bard levels. There's not even enough APs for the level 18 bard enhancements. So multiclassing with ranger or fighter for the extra feats would help and also open access to their respective trees.

[unbongwah]

<build goes here>

[unbongwah]

<build goes here>

[unbongwah]

<build goes here>

[unbongwah]

<build goes here>

[unbongwah]

<build goes here>

haha j/k there's no monk-quisitive builds

[unbongwah]

<build goes here>

[unbongwah]

<build goes here>

[unbongwah]

<build goes here>

[unbongwah]

<build goes here>

[unbongwah]

<build goes here>

[unbongwah]

Vampire Cop - c'mon, I can't be the only one who remembers that show, can I?

Vampire Cop
16/4 Wizard/Artificer
True Neutral Drow


Level Order

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


Stats
               32pt     Tome     Level Up
               ----     ----     --------
Strength         8                4: INT
Dexterity       16       +5       8: INT
Constitution    14               12: INT
Intelligence    20       +4      16: INT
Wisdom           8               20: INT
Charisma        10               24: INT
                                 28: INT

Skills
          A  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  W  A  W  W  A  W  W  W  W  A
          1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
         ------------------------------------------------------------
Concent   4  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Spellcr   4  1  1     2     2  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1     2     2  1  23
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  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  23
Spot      4  1     2     2     1  1  2     2     1  2  1     2     2  23
UMD       4                    1        1  6        6              5  23
Open Lo   4                                   1  1     1  1  1  1  2  12
Diplo     2     1     1     1     1     1     1        1  1     1     11
Balance   1                                                            1
Tumble    1                                                            1
         ------------------------------------------------------------
         36  8  8  9  9  9  9 10 10 10 10 12 10 10 12 11 11 11 11 13


Feats

 1        : Point Blank Shot
 2 Wizard : Extend Spell
 3        : Precise Shot
 6        : Precision
 6 Wizard : Maximize Spell
 9        : Rapid Shot
11 Wizard : Quicken Spell
12        : Insightful Reflexes
15        : Improved Critical: Ranged
18        : Completionist OR Greater Spell Focus: Necromancy
18 Wizard : Spell Focus: Necromancy
20 Arti   : Improved Precise Shot
21 Epic   : Combat Archery
24 Epic   : Overwhelming Critical
26 Destiny: Epic Spell Power: Negative
27 Epic   : Ruin OR Epic Damage Reduction
28 Destiny: Doubleshot
29 Destiny: Arcane Warrior
30 Epic   : Greater Ruin OR Epic Reflexes
30 Legend : Scion of: Shadowfell


Enhancements (80 AP)

Inquisitive (41 AP)
Inquisitive, Hit the Streets, Mind Like Iron, True Seeing, Undaunted, Master Inquisitive
Dual Shooter, Conjure Bolts III, Law on your Side
Crossbow Adept, Observation, Improved Law
Crossbow Adept, Shoot First, Improved Observation, Stop in the Name
Crossbow Adept, Ask Questions Later, Martial Inquisition, Greater Law
No Holds Barred, Arresting Assault, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Jaded, Diplomatic Immunity

Eldritch Knight (Wizard) (13 AP)
Eldritch Strike, Spellsword, Imbue the Blade
Improved Mage Armor III, Item Defense I
Improved Shield III, Mystic Wards I
Arcane Barrier

Harper Agent (12 AP)
Agent of Good I, Intelligence
Harper Enchantment, Strategic Combat
Know the Angles III
Strategic Combat

Pale Master (11 AP)
Dark Reaping, Zombie Form, Vampire Form
Spell Critical, Negative Energy Conduit III
Bone Armor III

Drow (3 AP)
Spell Resistance
Arcane Fluidity II

[Pilgrim1]

<cleric build goes here>

15 cleric with luck domain for displacement and no investment dc boosting. 2 arti for rune arm and feat. 3 fighter of feats.

41 ap into inquisitor
25ish to falconry for wisdom attack and dmg and trance.
Leftovers in kensi or defender or racial.

Wisdom focused, con secondary. Some dex for feet pre-request. Ranged dps, healing, and if you have the PL cc options to.

[Tilomere]

<build goes here>

haha j/k there's no monk-quisitive builds

An inquisitive monk levels faster 1-20 than a shuriken or bow monk, since there is no bow or shuriken equivalent of Ratcatcher.

[Ulfo]

since there is no bow or shuriken equivalent of Ratcatcher.

Seriously? Any low-ML Vorpal shuriken, better of Feeding or of Deception, best - same with red slot. 8)

[droid327]

I feel like all of these are going to fall into very similar templates...

20 XXX Gnome (or desired RPL)
INT > CON > 19 DEX for IPS
41 Inq 12 Harper 27 (something)
PBS PS/IPS IC:R RS RL Precision

The only thing that will flavor the build is 27 AP for T4 in one class tree (or racial or VKF if there's nothing synergistic, ie Druid) plus whatever spells or special abilities your class levels get you

Arti (BE), Ranger (DWS), Fighter (Kens), Rogue (Mech) lend themselves to actual synergy with Inqui, ie not just a gimp flavor build

FvS (War Soul) and Barb (Rav) have lesser synergy that can define a somewhat separate niche; WIS/CHA-to-dmg and Blood Strength/+2 crit range, respectively. Barb Inqui was actually pretty fun to play through Heroic on Lama with all the self heal procs Sorc and Wiz (EK) also somewhat synergistic, though that seems like its giving up too much from both sides to include the other.

Bard (WC), Pal (Sac Def), Warlock (ES) seem like the class is just piggybacking on the tree, being themselves...no real interplay or they're redundant with Inqui bonuses

Druid (meh), Cleric (WP) and especially Monk (neh) seem like they're actively fighting with the playstyle.

[SocratesBastardSon]

Druid (meh), Cleric (WP) and especially Monk (neh) seem like they're actively fighting with the playstyle.

I have to disagree with droid327 here, at least for Cleric.

I followed a suggestion by one of the devs that said they were playing a Cleric or FvS (can't remember which) with t5/Core 6 Inq, and t4 Falconry. Then I recalled an old build unbongwah had created, which combined ranged with Earthquake. Well, hello Cleric and Earth Domain! So that's what I did: Cleric 18/Arti 2 (I can't speak to Druid as I don't play them much.)

I chose human for the extra feat, two levels of arti for the trapping, a few AP into BE, and rune arm use. He's level 22 currently and it's a fun, varied, and surprisingly robust build. Healing, trapping, potent ranged dps, and CC with Earthquake. He builds a mighty fine kill pit with Earthquake, Blade Barrier, Consecration, and if there's a friendly Mage around, Web makes it even better. It's the perfect time for No Holds Barred.

If you have some racial APs to spend, Gnome and Color Spray adds more CC alongside Earthquake and GCommand.

The main drawbacks are spreading yourself across so many Spell Schools for your CC (evocation, enchantment, and if gnome, illusion) requires a lot of past lives in order to be effective, and you need WIS, INT, and CHA, not to mention CON. If you want IPS, then DEX has to be in there too, so STR is your only real dumpstat. But when you have so many skills and abilities to draw from, that's hardly surprising.

I have not taken this into high reaper content, nor do I expect it would be a good Legendary raid build. Low reaper solo is a piece of cake. Mid-reaper has been fine, although I have to focus more on party healing at that point rather than dps. Nothing surprising there.

It's definitely a Jack-of-All-Trades approach, but I never once felt ineffective because of that. There's always something this build can do.