Cupid's Fiery Archer Bard 6/RDD 10/AA 24

[fooflamfinnegan]

If cupid were to have an army, this would be one of his elite guard. Love is dangerous, baby!

Anyway, I noticed there weren't a lot of AA builds here, and I've been wanting to do something with RDD for a while but not the usual. This is version #4, which I've not actually playtested outside of the Hall of Training. I'm also working on a Wis based version of this (with Monk instead of RDD) that I'll call Zen Marksman...if it ever comes out decent that is.

Also, please note I only posted up to level 40 since I don't really have any toons past 41, and after 40 would be pretty straight forward for this toon (more DEX!). Skill points after this are pretty much your bag as well. Not sure if you still get more out of a higher tumble to AC, so maybe save those extra 9 skill points for after 40.

Race: Wild Elf - free Point Blank Shot feat, gains +2 con, -2 Int.
This works because you can start with a higher Int, gaining more skill points initially before you relog for racial effects and have a lower INT (cheesy, but I ain't turning free skill points down).

You could also do basic elf, but this way you get an extra feat and it let's you come up with a cool background.

Starting stats:
STR 10
DEX 20
CON 10 -> 12
INT 12 ->10
WIS 8
CHA 12

Ending stats:
STR 18
DEX 38
CON 14
INT 12
WIS 8
CHA 14

Ending HP: 432
AC: 38 (naked)
BAB: 30/25/20/15
AB: 55/50/45/40 (with basic non-magical bow)
Once you find decent gear for dodge, AC Mod, Nat Armor

Now for the level progression...

1 - Bard 1
Lore 4, Perform 4, Spellcraft 4, Tumble 4, UMD 4
Feat: Toughness

2 - Bard 2
Lore 1, Spellcraft 1, Tumble 1, UMD 1
spells: Grease, Protection from Alignment

3 - Bard 3
Lore 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, UMD 1
Feat: Weapon Focus - Longbow
Spells: Expeditious Retreat

4 - Bard 4
Dex +1 = 21
Lore 1, Perform 1, UMD 1
Spells: Cat's grace, Bull's Strength

5 - Bard 5
Lore 1, Perform 1, Spellcraft 1, UMD 1
Spells: Belagorn's Iron Horn, Ghostly Visage

6 - RDD 1\Bard 5
Spellcraft 2
Feat: Blind-Fight

7 - RDD 2\Bard 5
Spellcraft 1, Spot 1

8 - RDD 3\Bard 5
Dex +1 = 22
Spot 2

9 - RDD 4\Bard 5
Spot 2
Feat: Rapid Shot

10 - AA 1\RDD 4\Bard 5
Spot 4

11 - AA 2\RDD 4\Bard 5
Spot 4

12 - AA 3\RDD 4\Bard 5
Dex +1 = 23
Spot 2
Feat: improved Critical - Longbow

13 - AA 4\RDD 4\Bard 5
Spot 1

14 - AA 5\RDD 4\Bard 5
Spot 1

15 - AA 6\RDD 4\Bard 5
Spot 1
Feat: Iron Will or Dodge

16 - AA 7\RDD 4\Bard 5
Dex +1 = 24
Spot 1

17 - AA 8\RDD 4\Bard 5
Spot 1

18 - AA 9\RDD 4\Bard 5
Spot 1
Feat: Iron Will or Dodge

19 - AA 10\RDD 4\Bard 5

20 - RDD 5\AA 10\Bard 5
Dex +1 = 25
Spellcraft 10

21 - AA 11\RDD 5\Bard 5
feat: Great Dex I

22 - RDD 6\AA 11\Bard 5
Spellcraft 5

23 - RDD 7\AA 11\Bard 5

24 - RDD 8\AA 11\Bard 5
Dex +1 = 27
Feat: Great Dex II

25 - RDD 9\AA 11\Bard 5

26 - RDD 10\AA 11\Bard 5

27 - AA 12\RDD 10\Bard 5
Feat: Epic Weapon Focus - Longbow

28 - AA 13\RDD 10\Bard 5
Dex +1 = 29

29 - AA 14\RDD 10\Bard 5
Feat: Great Dex III

30 - AA 15\RDD 10\Bard 5
Feat: Great Dex IV

31 - AA 16\RDD 10\Bard 5

32 - AA 17\RDD 10\Bard 5
Dex +1 = 32

33 - AA 18\RDD 10\Bard 5
Feat: Greate Dex V + VI

34 - AA 19\RDD 10\Bard 5

35 - AA 20\RDD 10\Bard 5

36 - AA 21\RDD 10\Bard 5
Dex +1 = 35
Feat: Great Dex VII

37 - AA 22\RDD 10\Bard 5
Feat: Great Dex VIII

38 - AA 23\RDD 10\Bard 5

39 - AA 24\RDD 10\Bard 5
Feat: Armor Skin

40 - Bard 6\RDD 10\AA 24
Dex +1 = 38
Perform 2, Spellcraft 15, Tumble 35, UMD 35 (9 misc)

I stopped at 21 spot (20 total due to low WIS) because you really won't need more than this for various places (Lev ring, etx). Tumble and UMD are maxxed, as well as Spellcraft which will snag you a bonus +7 vs spells. You end up with 9 misc skill points left over, put them where you will. I did Craft Armor, since you'll probably find a few rings, belts, etc to help this out allowing you to deck out your toon in style.

- You get the immunity to Paralysis, Sleep, and 100% Fire dmg from RDD. As for AA ability DC's:

Imbue Arrow (unlimited) DC = 29
Seeker Arrow - unlimited
Death Arrow DC = 39

- Bard's Song gives you +1 Attack, +2 dmg, +1 Will, Reflex & Fort, +1 skills. Though it won't last long, you get 6 songs. Not great bonuses, but sometimes that extra skill point kicks in nicely (for the rogue in the party who needs a little boost to get that trap).

I don't know how well this will do in the Hell's, Desert, etc since I've not really played toons past 41. I've deleted quite a few and keep creating more until I get the toon that's just right (i.e. will survive past 40). Any constructive comments\criticisms will be greatly appreciated!

[atomicsomething]

You'll find many comments on RDD Arcane Archers here
You wont get far past immo due to the lack of defensive capabilities.

[Yomi]

The 10 RDD levels are nice, but I see two immediate issues: (1) no evasion, (2) no conceal. The traditional AA (e.g. 1 wiz, 10 monk, 29 AA) typically comes with self conceal 5 for undispellable permanent 50% conceal as well as improved evasion from the 9th monk level. That last combined with the AA's excellent reflex saves means you get to bypass a lot of traps and breath attacks. Without that the beholders electric traps are going to be annoying among other things.

The AC is another issue, especially without conceal. You're going to be about 7 points behind (swag based on 9 wis + 2 monk - 4 draconic armor). That's not huge, but ever bit of AC does help and 116 vs. 123+50% conceal will be very noticeable. I'd prefer a 16 CON, but 14 is livable.

My traditional AA did OK in the first Hells level (Tiamat), but she did get hit some -- mitigated a lot by being an archer not a front-line tank, so usually had zero or one things attacking, not five. If you have druid conceal on and stay back with the shifter(s), your build should survive.

You definitely want to max out base tumble, but AA builds won't be able to add any more in LL's since it's not a class skill (assuming you properly brought it to 40 like your build). The +save bonus from spellcraft is part of the +20 save cap. So it's good at low levels and if you don't have great equipment, but at some point it's a waste since your equipment will add up to +20 or more. UMD is questionable -- with bard levels you should be able to already read any arcane scroll without UMD, and your UMD is probably not going to be high enough to let you use things like Dachy staves (an advantage of the 1wiz variant). But it does allow you a bit more gear flexibility so not a waste. I'd also highly recommend looking into discipline -- there are a number of places that require discipline check, typically of about 80, and if you don't make them Bad Things happen. So pumping discipline to 43 then adding equipment for the difference is pretty usual. I like getting Lore to 55+ to be able to ID things, but I admit that's a total luxury.

[fooflamfinnegan]

atomicsomething said:

You'll find many comments on RDD Arcane Archers here
You wont get far past immo due to the lack of defensive capabilities.

blah...that's what I figured. Wanted to make something different and interesting, sick of using other peoples builds, but you're right with the after 40 bit. Thanks.

[fooflamfinnegan]

sti15 said:

The 10 RDD levels are nice, but I see two immediate issues: (1) no evasion, (2) no conceal. The traditional AA (e.g. 1 wiz, 10 monk, 29 AA) typically comes with self conceal 5 for undispellable permanent 50% conceal as well as improved evasion from the 9th monk level. That last combined with the AA's excellent reflex saves means you get to bypass a lot of traps and breath attacks. Without that the beholders electric traps are going to be annoying among other things.

The AC is another issue, especially without conceal. You're going to be about 7 points behind (swag based on 9 wis + 2 monk - 4 draconic armor). That's not huge, but ever bit of AC does help and 116 vs. 123+50% conceal will be very noticeable. I'd prefer a 16 CON, but 14 is livable.

My traditional AA did OK in the first Hells level (Tiamat), but she did get hit some -- mitigated a lot by being an archer not a front-line tank, so usually had zero or one things attacking, not five. If you have druid conceal on and stay back with the shifter(s), your build should survive.

You definitely want to max out base tumble, but AA builds won't be able to add any more in LL's since it's not a class skill (assuming you properly brought it to 40 like your build). The +save bonus from spellcraft is part of the +20 save cap. So it's good at low levels and if you don't have great equipment, but at some point it's a waste since your equipment will add up to +20 or more. UMD is questionable -- with bard levels you should be able to already read any arcane scroll without UMD, and your UMD is probably not going to be high enough to let you use things like Dachy staves (an advantage of the 1wiz variant). But it does allow you a bit more gear flexibility so not a waste. I'd also highly recommend looking into discipline -- there are a number of places that require discipline check, typically of about 80, and if you don't make them Bad Things happen. So pumping discipline to 43 then adding equipment for the difference is pretty usual. I like getting Lore to 55+ to be able to ID things, but I admit that's a total luxury.

Discipline is definitely a good idea, and something I was debating about (nothing sucks more than getting hit more because of a taunt). Forgot about tumble not being an AA class skill.

As I said earlier, I was thinking about doing a monk version of this but with WIS. Only thing that sucks is once again not getting any dex based feats...*sigh* and I really liked the image of a flying archer.

Thanks for commenting.