Arcane Archer 15 / Ranger 10 / Shadowdancer 05

[ZeeSquaredOverX]

Howdy!

I had the typical wayfarer "good gal" ranger archetype and was content with her RP and build, the latter more so after Kenji helped me tweak it to be both fun and optimal for me. Though I always wondered what if the same concept had a dark side?

After seeing this thread and finding out about the "Drow Ranger" Traxex from DOTA; I got inspired to make an Arcane Archer 15 / Ranger 10 / Shadowdancer 05. I see her as the complete opposite of my original ranger: A shadow archer who only cares for herself and those she deems worthy.



I was wondering if I could get some help optimizing her as much as possible. I would like the class choices to stay as-is due to the RP. (Her last name will be Shadowshot after all). I'm hoping it can also work out to be a decent build for PvE and possibly PvP, though the former is more likely.

So far this is what I have:

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Race: Elf (Drow)
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Class: 15 Arcane Archer / 10 Ranger / 05 Shadowdancer

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Description
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"I walk alone, but the shadows are company enough."

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Main Attributes
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STR: 10
DEX: 18 
CON: 14 
WIS: 12
INT: 12 (14) Drow Bonus
CHA: 08 (10) Drow Bonus

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Gifts
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+2 ECL for being a Drow.
+1 ECL from Gift of Craftsmanship (+10 crafting points).

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Skills
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33 Discipline
33 Hide
33 Move Silently
10 Search
33 Spot
30 Tumble

... Not sure where to put the rest.

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Class Progression
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01 Ranger        01 Bundle of iron arrows: +1 Piercing damage.
                    Archer Path: Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Rapid Reload
02 Ranger        02
03 Ranger        03
04 Ranger        04 +2 Bonus Ranger Damage (Archer Path)
05 Ranger        05 Bundle of steel arrows: +2 Piercing damage.
06 Ranger        06
07 Ranger        07 
08 Shadowdancer  01
09 Shadowdancer  02 Darkvision, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge I
10 Shadowdancer  03 Shadow Daze, Summon Shadow
11 Arcane Archer 01 Enchant Arrow I
12 Arcane Archer 02
13 Arcane Archer 03 Enchant Arrow II
14 Arcane Archer 04
15 Arcane Archer 05 Enchant Arrow III
16 Arcane Archer 06
17 Arcane Archer 07 Enchant Arrow IV
18 Arcane Archer 08
19 Arcane Archer 09 Enchant Arrow V (Capable of bypassing damage reduction.)
20 Arcane Archer 10
21 Arcane Archer 11 Enchant Arrow VI
22 Arcane Archer 12
23 Arcane Archer 13 Enchant Arrow VII
24 Arcane Archer 14 AA Bonus Feat
25 Arcane Archer 15 Enchant Arrow VIII
26 Shadowdancer  04 Shadow Evade
27 Shadowdancer  05 Hide in Plain Sight, Defensive Roll, Uncanny Dodge II, Tumble Dump (30), Spellcraft Dump (15)
28 Ranger        08
29 Ranger        09
30 Ranger        10 Bundle of damask arrows: +3 Piercing damage, Discipline Dump (33)

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Feats
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01 Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Rapid Reload [Archer Path]
   Strong Soul
   Favored Enemy: Half-Orc [Ranger]
03 Weapon Focus: Longbow
05 Favored Enemy: Halflings [Ranger]
   Studied Enemy: Human [Ranger Arelith Feature]
06 Dodge
09 Mobility
   Called Shot [Archer Path]
10 Favored Enemy: Elves [Ranger]
   Studied Enemy: Half-Elves [Ranger Arelith Feature]
12 Blind-Fight
15 Iron Will
18 Improved Critical: Longbow
21 Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow
24 Epic Prowess, Epic Will [Arcane Archer 14 - Bonus Feat]
27 Blinding Speed
30 Great Dexterity

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Gear
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* Ashwood Longbow
	Damage: 1d8 Piercing 20x3
	Dexterity +2
	Attack Bonus: +3
	Massive Criticals: 2d10
	Mighty +4
	Runic 

* Penumbral Vestment
	Material: Cloth
	Armor Bonus: +3
	Skill Bonus: Move Silently +4
	Skill Bonus: Hide +4
	Shadow Shield (13) 2 uses/day
	Usable by: Shadowdancer
	Increased UMD Requirement (45) 

... Not sure what else.

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Crafting - Fletcher
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47 Carpenter
13 Herbalism
08 Forging
01 Art Crafting
01 Tailoring

Thanks to Kenji's guide to the assembly templates; I can't help but pick this for an archer.

I love PvP but noticed that while I've been playing on Arelith thus far I've yet to participate in an event that has caused me to either be killed or to kill another player. Mind you this was on the "good" ranger though. I imagine as a Drow things might be different. (Say I ever visit the Surface at night ... instant death I hear, etc). I still like to build her with an inevitable fight in mind.

Thank ya'll so much for your time. Thank you too, Kenji, for helping me with the other ranger's build! I appreciate all input.

[sexy and brooding dark lord]

Hello! I haven't played NWN for a while so some of my information might be a bit out dated, but I'll try to help you as much as I can.

First of all I don't think your level spread is very ideal, but since you seem kinda set on it I'll cut it short:

1) Your ranger caster level is very low. Cats grace, camouflage and One with the Land you cast will be dispelled very easily.
2) You'll pierce DR, but your overall damage will be on the lower compared to archer builds.
3) You have no UMD or any defensive tools other than HIPS

About your leveling plan:

1) It's not possible as it is. Shadow dancer requieres you to have 10 points in tumble, which isn't a ranger or arcane archer skill. Earliest you can grab shadowdancer is level 18.
2) If you push ranger 10 to epics, you can grab 1 extra epic ranger feat instead. You can use it to switch your feats a bit and grab ESF: Disc. Since you are not a strength build you really shouldn't skip it.

About gear:
1) You'll want to use ranger armor that gives +2 str imho. Since you need 18 STR score to get the most use out of the +4 mighty property of your bow and you are already a bit short on damage.
2) Fine elven boots with +1 AC enchanted should be another item you seek. Try to grab gear with as much as +discipline on them as humanly possible and enchant them further (i.e. Gloves of Discipline, Duelist Cape or Sergants Cape)

About your feats and skills:
1) I'd prioritize fort save instead of will. Since you have no spellcraft, umd and a rather low con, you are in risk of getting killed by save or die spells very easily.
2) I'd drop spot for cross-classed spellcraft for saves. You can get true seeing by using a divine poymorph ward and becoming an umberhulk.

And as a drow you can grab a special minor gift to get +2 con instead of crafting (Which you should imho)

Thats what I can tell in first glance... hope it helps.

[Shadowy Reality]

He can use divine wands due to ranger. That means deathward and all that.

[ZeeSquaredOverX]

Ah! Thank you! I see the mistakes. I'll fix them.

He can use divine wands due to ranger. That means deathward and all that.

I didn't even realize that was possible. Thank you for the suggestion!

[Jagel]

Sd only requires 5 tumble, though. 10 hide, 8 ms and 5 tumble

[ZeeSquaredOverX]

Sd only requires 5 tumble, though. 10 hide, 8 ms and 5 tumble

Oh! Great! The cross-class ranks into Tumble to get Shadowdancer via Ranger shouldn't be -too- bad then.

[Jack Oat]

Do Gift of Melee Magthere as a Drow instead of crafting. -2 CHA, +2 CON

Move Ranger 8/9 to level 8/9 IOT net your Called Shot sooner. Also you can't take SD until you have Mobility anyway, which you're listed as taking at 9 on SD 2.

Use your Arcane Archer bonus feat on Great Dexterity (not Epic Will), use your freed up feat at 30 for Epic Skill Focus: Discipline.

Use your Ranger 10 bonus feat (which comes at lvl 30) on Epic Prowess. Use your freed up feat at lvl 27 on either Armor Skin or Epic Skill Focus: Hide/Move Silently/Spot. The latter of those should put you fairly high and able to see most stealthers who don't do a direct feat investment.

As for gear, you'll be using the Ranger tunic more probably. 4 AC, free barkskin, +2 STR (toward your Mighty), and Runic for either +1 CON or Unisave.

[ZeeSquaredOverX]

Thank you so much, Jack and everyone! I didn't even see that I had the free Called Shot feat down there at Level 29 and mixed up feats and level progression for Shadowdancer! This is why I appreciate ya'll taking a look at the build. It means a lot.

As for Drow ... I have a modest RP of 20. I play Dungeons and Dragons Online where Drow just roam the surface and no one bats an eye. It's a different world though. Ideally I'd love her to be a Drow as it fits the character perfect. Though I was wondering if it's recommended for a new player to go that route and experience the Underdark? I was thinking as an alternative she can be a Moon Elf. I've been reading the Definitive Drow Policy. I understand it and like the rules. I guess I'm just afraid of change heh.

[CosmicOrderV]

Take the definitive drow policy with a grain of salt. A lot has of the underdark's atmosphere has changed since it was originally incepted. That said, if you are hoping to regularly be on the surface as a drow, definitely my expect some flak because of it. Otherwise, rp it accordingly and have fun!

[Jack Oat]

While I'm not one to usually post about RP avenues in the Builds & Mechanics subforum, I will say that you should definitely not take it with a grain of salt. The admin team has stated before, on numerous occasion, that the policy stands. That said, Mithreas's comment on there rings true: interactions don't always have to be hostile.

If you're playing a Chaotic Neutral style Drow who doesn't really care for politics of the UD and treats the Underdark as a "kill-or-be-killed" or "find the people I can work with safely" environment, you should be fine. Just don't expect Surfacers to ever trust or work with you unless they're likewise inclined.

There have been recent examples of Drow doing characteristically non-Drow things (albeit with the Good alignment reward) and getting, essentially, smacked for doing so. In the past when these instances have happened the Admin team usually reminds players of the policy via announcement such as here primarily and to a lesser extent implied here and here.

The policy has not changed, and should be maintained/upheld by the playerbase for the quality of the server.

[ZeeSquaredOverX]

Thank you all so much for all the help and advice on Drow. I'll apply the changes and keep it all in mind. Thanks again!

[Kenji]

I wanted to throw this in before I forget:
Ranger 7 / AA 18 / SD 5

Pre-epic: Ranger 6 / AA 10 / SD 4

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Level 1~6	Ranger
Level 7~16	AA
Level 17~20	SD
Level 21~26	AA
Level 27	SD	(Tumble dump)
Level 28~29	AA
Level 30	Ranger (Discipline dump)

This way, saves are maximized with all even levels, you also gain an extra feat from AA 18 and extra AB/dmg, ranger's lvl7 woodland stride is retained, but the losses are Called Shot and Damask Bundle. Steel should still do.

Note: Tumble will still have to be CC'd