The Lion in the Grass (Ranger 60)

[DragonChyld]

This is a dex ranger build which is based off of Lythe's (Elven Warder) build, with some major changes, found here

highergroundpoa.proboards3.com/index.cgi?board=builds&action=display&n=1&thread=6941

The purpose of the build is to make a Wemic Pure ranger more focused on damage output towards non crit immune enemies.

Pros: AC right at 134 dualing in light armor, AB hovering at 90 w/ Blade Thirst. Crits 11-20 X 3 with Scimmys, 7 ATT a round, Imp evasion, Ranger Posi damage bonus, +14 self weapon Buff

Cons: VERY Feat tight, Extended Blade thirst is still short duration, slightly low HP

"Wemic" (secret Beyond UltraRare; changes to Dynamic Appearance)
- FCs: Barbarian, Ranger
- STR +4, DEX +6, CON +2, WIS +2, CHA -4, free feats: Weapon Finesse, Called Shot, Epic Skill Focus Hide, Taunt, Listen, increases character size to large
- Wemics cannot raise the Lore skill until legendary levels.

Starting stats/Sub/60 with gear
STR 16 (20) [38]
DEX 18 (24) [56]
CON 8 (10) [26]
INT 8 (8) [20]
WIS 12 (14) [26]
CHA 8 (8) [20]
First 6 points into STR, rest into DEX

Feats
1 Blooded,
3-18 Power att, Cleave, Weapon focus (Scimmy), Improved critical, Great Cleave, Extend Spell
1,5,10,15, 20 favored enemy each time
21 Overwhelming Crit
23 @ Favored Enemy*
24 Dev Crit
25 @ Favored Enemy*
26 @ Favored Enemy*
27 Great dex 1
29 @ Favored Enemy*
30 Great dex 2
30 @ Favored Enemy*
32 @ Favored Enemy*
33 Great dex 3
35 @ epic weapon focus
35 @ epic prowess
36 Great Dex 4
38 @ blinding speed
39 Iron Will
40 @ bane of enemies

42 LSA tumble
45 Epic Fort
48 legendary weapon focus
51 LSF Enchant
54 legendary will
57 Great dex 5
60 great dex 6

Saves @ 60
Fort: 60
Reflex: 64
Will: 58

Skilz
Max all
Tumble (after LL)
Hide
Listen
Discipline


~ DC

[simpetar]

I have few thoughts about this build:
1) Why maxing hide? For conceal from camouflage? Is it not based solely on caster level for rangers and druids?
2) Did you mean to read the enchantment book? If not, you will need to take SF and GSF which will cost you two feats, which you do not have. If yes, you do not need to take ESF in LLs which will save you one feat -->
3) I would probably consider choosing bastard swords instead of scimmies. They seem to have better damage types on them, the crit range is only 19-20 but multiplier x3 and you can finesse them too, since you are large.

Cheers
Simpetar

[DragonChyld]

Here are the answers as best I can to your questions

1.

Mass Camouflage
- Duration is now CL turns.
- When cast by a Druid on himself, grants CL% concealment up to 40%, +1% per 2 CL above 40.
- For all others, grants concealment to the target according to the below table:

CL Concealment
1 (15 + (Hide skill / 4))%
20 (20 + (Hide skill / 4))%
40 (25 + (Hide skill / 4))%
50 (30 + (Hide skill / 4))%
60 (35 + (Hide skill / 4))%

2. Yes in fact I did mean to read the enchantment book, And I intended on taking ESF in LL so that I could take LSF Enchant as the feat at level 51, making my Bladethirst +14

3. Where did you see that bastard Swords have a X3 multiplier on them? According to the Wiki they are 19-20 X2 and I could find nothing in the HG Documentation to indicate they had been changed. Also bastard Swords require the Exotic Weapon proficiency, which I did not have room for.

~ DC

[simpetar]

1. Yes, this was just not very clear to me.

2. I may be wrong, but does the enchantment book not give the ESF for free? That means you do not need to take the ESF as feat, thus freeing space for one feat (for exotic proficiency in pre-epic, if you arrange feats this way, or any other)

3. I checked bastard swords in-game (halls of training); with IC, overhelming crit, devastating crit and keen (from blade thirst) you will get 14-20/x4. Of course, bastard swords are just my personal preference and I admit scimmies have their rightful place in the world as well.

Cheers
Simpetar

[Trazik]

Something seems wrong to me ... dex-based with scimitar and only 38 Str Unless I am missing something, you should use a finessable weapon and take Weapon Finesse feat.

[simpetar]

Wemics get Weapon Finesse for free and they are large, thus able to finesse all medium weapons.

[Lythe Featherblade]

This build makes me wonder if I should redo my zeny str build.. overall very similar, as I have the same crit range, same AC, main differences being wemic has about 4 more AB (you should find yourself around 95ish if you do actual testing) and seems a better universal tank while my str build (under 'Ware the Tears' in forums) has the advantage of critical immunity. That said, with minor tweaks this build could also be a nice str build with critical immunity, without giving up much

[DragonChyld]

I feel this is a strong build. However I think the only reason that I did not make a STR ranger is because I would be wasting the weapon finesse feat on Wemic.

I have been weighing the STR vs DEX question for Rangers, and I feel very confident that STR is by far the better choice. The damage is far superior as well as being able to have your own crit immunity. AC is not really a question as STR rangers can easily get very good AC. I can't help but wonder what redeeming qualities being a Dex ranger has over a STR ranger.

That aside, I was told by somebody who is pretty experinced that they thought that this was the best Dex build they have ever seen

~ DC

[Lythe Featherblade]

The biggest advantage the dex ranger has is being able to swap to a bow and still use called shot with a reasonable AB. With hells tagged str and dex rangers, I can say from experience that it can be a pain when there's a fight you don't want to be in melee range of, and all you do with a bow is miss, when a single hit would force a called shot roll. The 2nd advantage being a dex ranger has is with the ease of getting decent AC, you have more flexibility for other things while a Str ranger is forced to pump dex/wis for AC or end up a paper tiger (at least prior to strongheart/asmo gear, which is beyond most players).

I do envy your build, and am wishing myself I had wemic to play around with. All I have for consolation is that if I do find it, I'll have 2 BUR race rangers already, of which I'm sure I won't have problems sacrificing 1 to reincarnate into a wemic.

This is a very nice build, the only changes I'd personally do is dropping 2 starting dex to dump 6 points between con and int.. right now I'm leveling my first ranger without animal empathy and really miss it (planning on int arti at 55), or search would be very valuable in the hells for the hidden loot now, especially as there are many ranger usable items with decent +search.

[goraxe]

what is this ranger posi damage you speak of? I've searched and haven't found anything about it perhaps you could enlighten the n00b?

[Lythe Featherblade]

Blade Thirst
- Duration is now (CL * 3) rounds.
- Enhancement bonus increases to +6 at CL20, and the weapon becomes Keen.
- Enhancement bonus increases to +12 at CL40 and the weapon receives (CL / 4) vampiric regeneration.
- GSF Enchantment increases the bonus by +1, and LSF Enchantment increases the bonus a further +1.
- GSF Transmutation allows bludgeoning and piercing weapons to be affected.
- For the Ranger's own weapon, does 1d4 + (CL / 2) positive damage to favored enemies onhit at CL20.

[goraxe]

thanks!

[wnxstrikefighter]

Aren't you going to be over the maximum dexterity bonus in light armor with this build? If that is the case aren't you wasting about 4 dex other then for reflex saves??

[dragonlance007]

Reflex saves AND AB from DEX. So not really a waste imo, his ac is not going to be a problem at all and he needs all the AB he can get.

~DL

[DragonChyld]

On top of that you pick up 8 AC from wis by wearing Light Armor.

~ DC