|
Post by gruntgruntson on May 8, 2006 1:34:01 GMT
Hi All. I am trying to bulid an Arcane Archer, but so far have been struggling. Currently, I have : 1Wizard 10Ftr 11AA Str 12 Dex 25 Con 10 Int 14 Wis 8 Cha 8 It is very demoralising to stand next to a spell-chucker, watching them thow out Wails, Wilts, Maxed Chain Lightning etc. while I pop a few mundane arrows or some very expensive arrows, or some mediocre infinite arrows, my 3 fireball arrows, and Death Arrow (this was put in for a joke, right?), watching tanks bash away for all they are worth, WMs critting like there is no tomorow. Add into this no GMW for arrows (AA gets its own bonus), no flameblade/darkfire, can't use alchemists fire, no Keen arrows and it sems like a very expensive way of doing very little damage. Am I missing something? Can someone enlighten me as to the benefits of being an archer, and some advice on how to attain them please? I'm not looking for full builds (although that would be nice!) or walkthroughs, just some ideas of what i shoudl be looking at. My main ideas are to have as high a Dex as I can, for big AB and AC, the ability to run and dodge around combat if things get hairy, as HP will be low and resistances/saves will not be the best. Imbue Arrow sounds like a good ability, but is very limited on how many can be used (re: similar spells/Dev crit/Ki Damage/WW attack), and Hail does not seem to do enough damage to warrant using against all but the weakest of foes. Am I just expecting too much? All advice gratefully received.
|
|
|
Post by FunkySwerve on May 8, 2006 2:14:50 GMT
AA is not one of the more powerful classes on HG atm, but it does have three advantages - they can hit anything, easily, for consistent damage, they can attack at range when needed (and it is, occasionally, with plans to make it more advantageous as areas are added), and they do not suffer damage from standard damage shields. You won't find any good unlimited arrows until later, but there are some nice ones out there. Their abilities will improve with all the noncasters when feats and asbilities are scaled up to 60 like spells were. Funky
|
|
|
Post by hiryuu on May 8, 2006 2:29:55 GMT
AA's main draw is the massive AB, but I agree that it just isn't that compelling.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, having tried a Fighter AA, I see no way to make it a viable build. I suppose you could try a sling wielder but, otherwise, that lack of shield is going to kill you. The build pretty much needs to be Monk (Wisdom AC), or Rogue or Bard/SD (Self-Concealment).
My AA, Zenon, is 20 Monk/1 Wiz/19 AA. It's a decent build, but he can't tank and he can't dish like my other characters, so I don't play him much.
|
|
|
Post by Phantanya on May 8, 2006 14:37:20 GMT
epic dodge would make AA a little less squishy.....
|
|
|
Post by Delfestra Ruinvorn on May 8, 2006 16:06:41 GMT
Can't they get epic dodge with the stupidly high dex?
|
|
|
Post by Phantanya on May 8, 2006 18:14:04 GMT
I dunno...but I dont think so...I thought epic dodge was for thieves and fighers only. I could be wrong...wouldn't be the first time....
Peace, Phantanya
|
|
|
Post by Balduvard on May 8, 2006 18:16:48 GMT
All you need for Epic dodge is tumble, 25 dex, and defensive roll (Rogue or SD level 10)
...never trust the game/manual.
|
|
|
Post by hiryuu on May 8, 2006 18:34:58 GMT
Epic Dodge Prerequisite: Dex 25, Tumble 1, 21st level, Defensive Roll, Improved Evasion
Defensive Roll restricts it to some blend of Rogue or SD (or 30 Fighter here on HG). Since AA needs an arcane caster level, Bard is the logical choice in a SD build, since it has a 3/4 AB. Epic Dodge only negates one hit per round, so it won't save you without at least reasonable AC.
|
|
|
Post by doomsdaybringer on May 8, 2006 22:37:52 GMT
a blend of 19 rogue/2 wiz/ 19aa is the best defence i can think of....(i have one at lvl 32 for the pure purpose of getting capped dragon gear) if plan and level right you can have epic dodge and as well as conceal v at lvl 40.....
|
|
|
Post by irongolem on May 9, 2006 11:21:43 GMT
A suggestion... take a gander at this build. Before ye groan at the fact it's on the epic builders guild (a lot of people don't like those builds, I like to use them for inspiration on new concepts); bear in mind this is the one build that I have had a lot of success with in the past. Biggest drawback is, no collateral damage. HOWEVER, this is a concept that stands on it's own two feet in most situations. My own experience (limited though it is with archers), has led me to conclude that either you have low damage, high versatility; OR high damage and virtually no versatility (eg, rog16/wiz2/AA22). The former is a fair chunk easier to level, while the other.. ends up being one nasty peice of work once complete. I think I've seen a well constructed rog-aa (rog29/wiz1/AA10) end up around ~60ab with a reasonable bow, but doing something daft like 110hp using only 1gp arrows. Imagine the capacity with good arrows..
|
|
|
Post by holla on May 9, 2006 12:28:50 GMT
I have seen a couple of chars with the build doomsday has suggested and it does do well. I've not done this myself but AAs being elven can use rapiers, why not take shield prof and weapon finesse/focuses in LLs and just quickslot for those situations where the ac is needed? AAs tend to have close to maxed dex so ab should be ok considering this would in effect be a secondary weapon. Also consider taking improved expertise(not that I have actually tested on a ranged character myself) as the -10 to ab really shouldn't be an issue for AA.
Holla.
|
|
|
Post by hfb on May 9, 2006 12:35:53 GMT
Greetings,
I concur with doomsdaybringer: 19 rogue, 2 wiz, 19 aa. Maxes rogue bonus feats, ensures rogue is the control class for LL, sufficient aa lvls to pump the ab, and a wizzie lvl post 20 for max spell craft pre-LL. Decent special teams build.
This is the build of my rogue. She is now semi-retired and her only job now is openning big chests. She has sc5, ed, esf-ol and disable device, and a good ac. However, even with the big quivers, her dmg out put is very light, but she doesn't miss (much) even on her last arrow. She was my first chara here and sentiment and locksmithing keep her around more than anything else.
I really like the AA as a concept and have been thinking of a bard with some AA and some Monk. Bard 35, AA 4, M1 (4 lvls AA pre-20 gets max number of attacks and Monk for AC and evade) or with progressively less AA for more bard song. Bards are very very good to have around with a party of any sort, especially casters since the bard can lower the saves of enemies (wail, implosion, etc.) and can buff up the party. The bard::feel-good enabler.
Cheers,
The Dancer
|
|
|
Post by hfb on May 9, 2006 12:47:17 GMT
Greetings, Sry bout the double post, but I think the dr from sd might land at 5th lvl and not 10th which I think is the lvl at which ie hits. Oh, and never trust the manual Cheers, The Dancer
|
|
|
Post by doomsdaybringer on May 9, 2006 21:46:33 GMT
I have seen a couple of chars with the build doomsday has suggested and it does do well. I've not done this myself but AAs being elven can use rapiers, why not take shield prof and weapon finesse/focuses in LLs and just quickslot for those situations where the ac is needed? AAs tend to have close to maxed dex so ab should be ok considering this would in effect be a secondary weapon. Also consider taking improved expertise(not that I have actually tested on a ranged character myself) as the -10 to ab really shouldn't be an issue for AA. Holla. .... that is not possible... you can not enter improved expertise or normal ecpertise while equiped with ranged weapon
|
|
|
Post by gruntgruntson on May 10, 2006 1:32:16 GMT
Thanx for the replies. It does look like AA trades in a whole buncha damage in return for hitting every time. I'm not sure whether it is worth it - depends on what you're facing, I suppose. I'll build up Norfina Soul-Spike, if only becuase I would like AA to work 8o) As an alternative, I have been looking at a rogue archer, based upon the Bioware build: 4ftr/16 rg/1ftr/18rg/1ftr (used to have SD in, I chose to lose HiPS). While the enemy are suceptible to Sneak, and the AB is enough .. lots of damage. As soon as they are Sneak Immune, or AC high enough ... zip. Not knowin the high levels of the module, I'm not sure whch approach will work better. 19rg/2wiz/19AA ? hmmm ... defintaely somethign to consider. Doesn't it compromise damage for AB (and vice versa)? In PnP games I have found this can sometimes lead to not enough AB to hit, and even if you do hit, not enough damage to mean anything ... Or maybe the mix is right - enoguh AB to hit most times, enough Sneak to cause significant wounds. #gets out calculator, mashes keys for a while ... #notices 2:30AM #goes to bed
|
|