At a glance, you could move up BoE some thirteen levels.
Agreed. Bane is the *only* reason to take all those ranger levels instead of fighter. To then postpone is odd.
And while I understand the desire for 20 dex, the 8 con and HP total is painful. I don't see how 1AB for 40 HP is not an acceptable trade.
Quote: Posted 12/17/08 00:22 (GMT) -- onion eater
At a glance, you could move up BoE some thirteen levels.
Agreed. I understand wanting to save it for your bonus Ranger feat, but if you are playing this guy 1 to 40 there is no way you can let that feat fall all the way until the end.
Secondly, I would say go STR based. I'm a believer. I used to play DEX based Rangers, but now I wouldnt do that unless it involves Rogue or Assassin - maybe not even in those cases either. You can still get a decent DEX score, say 18 or 20, and wear a chain shirt.
While normally I agree on the STR based ranger thing, here I don't. He's going Arcane Archer, so I don't see how being Strength based helps at all, since it will crush the advantage of being an AA. Unless you're trying for one of those Devestating Crit bow builds, I don't see the point for STR based Arcane Archers.
01: Ranger(1): Luck of heroes, Favored Enemy: Elves, 02: Ranger(2) 03: Ranger(3): toughness 04: Ranger(4): DEX+1, (DEX=21) 05: Ranger(5): Favored Enemy: Humans 06: Ranger(6): wf shortbow 07: Ranger(7) 08: Ranger(8): DEX+1, (DEX=22) 09: Ranger(9): Stealthy, {Improved Two-Weapon Fighting} 10: Ranger(10): Favored Enemy: Halflings 11: Ranger(11) 12: Ranger(12): DEX+1, Point Blank Shot, (DEX=23) 13: Ranger(13) 14: Ranger(14) 15 ranger15 blind fight 16 ranger16 17: Bard(1): 18: ranger 17 IC shortbow 19: ranger18 20: ranger19 21: Ranger(20)Epic Weapon Focus: Shortbow 22: AA1 23: AA2 24: Ranger(21): DEX+1, BOE 25: AA3 26: AA4 27: AA5 Epic dodge 28: AA6 29: Arcane Archer(7) 30: Arcane Archer(8 Epic Prowess 31: Arcane Archer(9 32: Arcane Archer(10 33: Arcane Archer(11): Great Dexterity I, (DEX=29) 34: Arcane Archer(12) 35: Arcane Archer(13) 36: Arcane Archer(14): DEX+1, Great Dexterity II, (DEX=31) 37: Bard 2 (tumbe 40 and UMD 40) 38: Arcane Archer(15) 39: aa16 40: aa17
(/quote)
Since you are using Ranger for BoE get it early. Focus on Attacking feats (you can go those epic skills, but i dont really like them, esp 3 in this feat starved build).
Take bard levels to gain the skill dump benefits. And focus on AA in epic.
I know i missed a few aa bonus feats, but you can fill those in. I hate cutting directly on your build, but it was fastest way to tweak it. You WILL want to add in those below and make the feat changes that you want (epic skil foci ) You asked for a PLAYABLE build and this IS a version that is playable. How do i know? I am GOOD (minus some feat fixes that youwould do.
To make it even more playable, you can take Halfelf and suffer from not exactly as much dex. THis would avoid an xp penalty (from lv 15 in your version and 17 in above). You could take wiz in the versions here to avoid xp penalty IF YOU CARE. I like bard for tumble and umd
OH, TAKE 40 TUMBLE for +8 to AC (dodge). You stoped at +6 for some reason (since it is basically free AC with the bard class).
hope this helps you alittle.
REMEMBER, the above ISNT COMPLETE. It requires you to add in epic AA feats and to add in the silly epic skill foci feats (i know they arent silly, just not when other feats are more helpful). _________________
This post is for general information purposes only, and does not constitute a legal opinion or render any legal advice. It may not be relied on for any purpose, and gives rise to
Quote: Posted 12/17/08 01:25 (GMT) -- RangerSG
While normally I agree on the STR based ranger thing, here I don't. He's going Arcane Archer, so I don't see how being Strength based helps at all, since it will crush the advantage of being an AA. Unless you're trying for one of those Devestating Crit bow builds, I don't see the point for STR based Arcane Archers.
Good points.
Quote: Posted 12/17/08 06:47 (GMT) -- avado
OH, TAKE 40 TUMBLE for +8 to AC (dodge). You stoped at +6 for some reason (since it is basically free AC with the bard class).
Thanks for the huge post avado .
In regards to 40 Tumble... I did take 40 tumble! But on my leveling chart it says to add 30(on top of the previous 10) so that might of confused you.
Also, I need ranger BoE pushed back so far so that I can dump discipline! Uhh..
Yeah!
Thanks for all the replies guys.. I'm considering them.
Also, I need ranger BoE pushed back so far so that I can dump discipline! Uhh..
Yeah!
You need level 21 Ranger for BoE; so even with a final Discipline dump in your original build you could have taken BoE at level 30-ish _________________ -4SakN
The Moonshae Isles - Forgotten Realms A Role Play, Low Magic world
Edited By 4SakN on 12/17/08 19:14
Quote: -- 4SakN
You need level 21 Ranger for BoE; so even with a final Discipline dump in your original build you could have taken BoE at level 30-ish
27: Ranger(21): Bane of Enemies 28: Ranger(22): DEX+1, (DEX=27) 29: Arcane Archer(6) 30: Arcane Archer(7): Epic Skill Focus: Move Silently 31: Arcane Archer(8) 32: Arcane Archer(9): DEX+1, (DEX=28) 33: Arcane Archer(10): Great Dexterity I, (DEX=29) 34: Arcane Archer(11) 35: Arcane Archer(12) 36: Arcane Archer(13): DEX+1, Great Dexterity II, (DEX=31) 37: Arcane Archer(14): Great Dexterity III, (DEX=32) 38: Arcane Archer(15) 39: Bard(2): Great Dexterity IV, (DEX=33) 40: Ranger(23): DEX+1, Epic Weapon Focus: Shortbow, (DEX=34)
4Sakn.. I know BoE is available at Ranger(21) but I don't know any Bonus Feat I could squeeze into lvl 40, and I don't want to lose Epic Skill Focus: Spot.
I honestly don't believe Epic Weapon Focus is necessary seeing as ANY Arcane Archer character is going to have Massive AB with a Bow...
Anyways
Thanks for the replies.
Edited By DarkInfernoo on 12/17/08 21:48
Bane of enemies Type of Feat: (Epic) Class Prerequisite: Ranger 21 Specifics: Any weapon the character wields against any of their Favored Enemies is treated as a bane weapon for that creature type (+2 to hit and an additional +2d6 damage).
That being the benefit of Bane, would it not be better to just take more levels of arcane archer for the flat AB and damage bonus they get against every single monster instead of the 5 favored enemies? You get more bonus epic feats that way too. Bane of enemies is allright I guess, but it seems over-valued.
I agree honestly. If you're pushing Bane back that far, it's a waste in this build. Drop the extra ranger levels and go full-on Arcane Archer.
The *only* reason to take 21 levels Ranger is Bane. ESF: Spot can be taken on any regular feat level. Bane is ranger only. And honestly, you're a bard, you can emulate the ESF with Clairvoyance at will.
Wouldn't the balance between AB and damage be something like Fighter5/Bard16/AA19?
At least that's somewhere around the archers I used to play.
with discipline, song, Cursesong, EWSm UMD and more.
Pretty sure it beats taking so much Ranger and BoE that late.
The AA levels alone gives the same AB as Ranger(-1 for Pre-Epic BAB), and Fighter (+6)+ AA(+2) will be hard to trump with bane anyway. Add to that a way better bardsong, and cursesong + all the buffs needed, included Warcry. Just a thought. _________________ We are sons of Odin, and the fire that we burn inside is the legacy of warrior-kings who reign above in the sky I will lead the charge, my sword into the wind Sons of Odin fights to die and live again
Oh dear...here's another question.
Does 1 lvl bard qualify for AA? I thought you had to be able to cast 1st lvl arcane spells. That is, minimum 2 lvls bard before taking AA.
Quote: Posted 12/19/08 00:07 (GMT) -- RangerSG
Oh dear...here's another question.
Does 1 lvl bard qualify for AA?
Yes, it does. _________________ They can't stop us Let them try For Heavy Metal We will die
Ok, thanks.
) You asked for a PLAYABLE build and this IS a version that is playable. How do i know? I am GOOD 
(minus some feat fixes that youwould do.
.
