Post by Lythe Featherblade on Jun 6, 2009 2:34:48 GMT
It seems to me when building a ranger these days, it's the choice between a high CS DC, or being a uni tank. I've played maxed dex CS rangers, zen rangers, uni tanks, semi-uni tanks, AA rangers, loot rangers... and when I got my first 2x demi 3 months ago, I decided I needed to push the limits.
When I started out on this build, I had a few goals:
- have a great CS DC
- be able to tank anything (str/dex checks)
- good AC
- great damage
- NOT be just another wemic
- few or no compromises
- take into account upcoming weapon changes
Ironically, my build ended up very similar to my first Str ranger, the original 'Ware the tears' and probably one of the first str rangers on the server. Since called shot has been introduced, rangers have only seen decreases (I don't consider foe-bane, so the only real positive addition is the +1DC PoM bracers, which still eat up a valuable gear slot) so the original builds are obsolete and current builds struggling to get near where rangers used to be.
With that I'm hoping rangers are considered 'balanced' now. The only upcoming change I can see is the weapons change proposed, where weapons smaller than your character only do half strength modifier damage. While the change will hit wemics hardest (and was possibly influenced by wemic rangers), this build won't notice a thing.
To really make this work, I pooled all my resources, and took advantage of what I could. So... if you want to try this, be prepared to have the following:
- 2x demi
- kolyarut
- called shot pandect
- strongheart
- str or dex artifact
- stygian razor
After I had built mine, Yue was looking for a ranger idea, and studied this build. The biggest flaw this build has is saves are decent for hells, but not quite good enough for Aboleths. So my build I'll call the Offensive variant, and the modification Yue came up with, the Defensive variant.
Offensive variant
Koly half-orc
Starting stats
base str 17, dex 16, con 10, int 10, wis 14, cha 6
subrace str 22, dex 21, con 14, int 12, wis 12, cha 4
Half-Orcs
- All half-orcs receive the Toughness feat for free.
- All half-orcs receive the Blooded feat for free, which allows them to acquire Legendary Skill Affinity Tumble.
+2str –2int –2cha
"Kolyarut" (secret Beyond UltraRare)
- FC: Fighter
- STR +5, DEX +5, INT +2, CON +4, CHA -2, WIS -2, free feat: Dodge, free feat: Mobility, free feat: Spring Attack, speaks Abyssal, speaks Celestial, speaks Infernal
Starting stats (subrace): Str 17(22) Dex 16(21) Con 10(14) int 12(10) wis 12(12) Cha 8(4)
all levelup stats into Str
1 Luck of Heros
3-18 iron will, exotic weapon proficiency, Weapon focus (katana),Lightning reflexes, improved critical, extended spell ,
1,5,10,15, 20 favored enemy each time
21 armor skin
23 @ Favored Enemy*
24 Great str 1
25 @ Favored Enemy*
26 @ Favored Enemy
27 great str 2
29 @ Favored Enemy
30 great str 3
30 @ Favored Enemy*
32 @ Favored Enemy*
33 great str 4
35 @ epic weapon focus*
35 @ Favored Enemy*
36 great str 5
38 @ bane of enemies*
39 Great str 6
40 @ epic prowess*
42 LSA tumble
45 legendary weapon focus
48 Legendary Will
51 Legendary Luck
54 great dex 1
57 Great str 7
60 Great str 8
Items – blindfight pandect, dex arti. To use str arti, drop 2 great str and pick up 2 great dex instead.
Final stats including double demi, dex arti
str 66, dex 40, con 34, int 28, wis 28, cha 20
AC 137 (strongheart, asmo arti and druid BUR armor, -2 for ranger BUR armor, -1 for swamp devil hide, keynari woodsman leather)
CS DC 56 (57 with PoM gloves)
Saves fort 63, ref 62, will 63
Ab 98 (against enemies, 96 against non-enemies)
1190 hp
Skills:
Discipline 63
listen 63
tumble 63
hide 63
Last 60ish, split between concentration and either craft armor or craft weapon. I went 40 concentration and haven't failed a check.
There is no room for parry, but being a str ranger, I get critical immunity from a spell. The high AC means for normal mobs I don't have to worry about crits.
------------------------------------------
When I started out on this build, I had a few goals:
- have a great CS DC
- be able to tank anything (str/dex checks)
- good AC
- great damage
- NOT be just another wemic
- few or no compromises
- take into account upcoming weapon changes
Ironically, my build ended up very similar to my first Str ranger, the original 'Ware the tears' and probably one of the first str rangers on the server. Since called shot has been introduced, rangers have only seen decreases (I don't consider foe-bane, so the only real positive addition is the +1DC PoM bracers, which still eat up a valuable gear slot) so the original builds are obsolete and current builds struggling to get near where rangers used to be.
With that I'm hoping rangers are considered 'balanced' now. The only upcoming change I can see is the weapons change proposed, where weapons smaller than your character only do half strength modifier damage. While the change will hit wemics hardest (and was possibly influenced by wemic rangers), this build won't notice a thing.
To really make this work, I pooled all my resources, and took advantage of what I could. So... if you want to try this, be prepared to have the following:
- 2x demi
- kolyarut
- called shot pandect
- strongheart
- str or dex artifact
- stygian razor
After I had built mine, Yue was looking for a ranger idea, and studied this build. The biggest flaw this build has is saves are decent for hells, but not quite good enough for Aboleths. So my build I'll call the Offensive variant, and the modification Yue came up with, the Defensive variant.
Offensive variant
Koly half-orc
Starting stats
base str 17, dex 16, con 10, int 10, wis 14, cha 6
subrace str 22, dex 21, con 14, int 12, wis 12, cha 4
Half-Orcs
- All half-orcs receive the Toughness feat for free.
- All half-orcs receive the Blooded feat for free, which allows them to acquire Legendary Skill Affinity Tumble.
+2str –2int –2cha
"Kolyarut" (secret Beyond UltraRare)
- FC: Fighter
- STR +5, DEX +5, INT +2, CON +4, CHA -2, WIS -2, free feat: Dodge, free feat: Mobility, free feat: Spring Attack, speaks Abyssal, speaks Celestial, speaks Infernal
Starting stats (subrace): Str 17(22) Dex 16(21) Con 10(14) int 12(10) wis 12(12) Cha 8(4)
all levelup stats into Str
1 Luck of Heros
3-18 iron will, exotic weapon proficiency, Weapon focus (katana),Lightning reflexes, improved critical, extended spell ,
1,5,10,15, 20 favored enemy each time
21 armor skin
23 @ Favored Enemy*
24 Great str 1
25 @ Favored Enemy*
26 @ Favored Enemy
27 great str 2
29 @ Favored Enemy
30 great str 3
30 @ Favored Enemy*
32 @ Favored Enemy*
33 great str 4
35 @ epic weapon focus*
35 @ Favored Enemy*
36 great str 5
38 @ bane of enemies*
39 Great str 6
40 @ epic prowess*
42 LSA tumble
45 legendary weapon focus
48 Legendary Will
51 Legendary Luck
54 great dex 1
57 Great str 7
60 Great str 8
Items – blindfight pandect, dex arti. To use str arti, drop 2 great str and pick up 2 great dex instead.
Final stats including double demi, dex arti
str 66, dex 40, con 34, int 28, wis 28, cha 20
AC 137 (strongheart, asmo arti and druid BUR armor, -2 for ranger BUR armor, -1 for swamp devil hide, keynari woodsman leather)
CS DC 56 (57 with PoM gloves)
Saves fort 63, ref 62, will 63
Ab 98 (against enemies, 96 against non-enemies)
1190 hp
Skills:
Discipline 63
listen 63
tumble 63
hide 63
Last 60ish, split between concentration and either craft armor or craft weapon. I went 40 concentration and haven't failed a check.
There is no room for parry, but being a str ranger, I get critical immunity from a spell. The high AC means for normal mobs I don't have to worry about crits.
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