copying to here http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?p=3693203

Right, so I’ve decided to try out making an AA. I had a tempest ranger and I had more fun when using my bow than when I was fighting melee. But I’m not sure about a couple of things.

How much DEX should I need? I want to pull away as few points from STR as possible. What base should I go for on STR and DEX? Level-ups go where? What should I shoot for on my reflex save?

I got 2 feats left over for melee. What would be better, khopesh and IC or power attack and IC using scimitars? That’s a lot of extra base damage with the scimitars, but still, khopesh. And with khopesh I get more to-hit from not using power attack and I will have more AP from not using the weapon enhancement lines. My STR will be low so my to-hit will be low, especially if I’m going to dual wield large weapons. But on the other hand I’m not rich so it will be easier to find good scimitars of the AH, I did not make much plat from the cove and I’m totally broke. Decisions decisions.

JC wrote on Apr 1^st, 2011 at 8:43pm:

.15?

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Really? The vast majority of AAs I've run with take 8 con

Do you guys think i could get away with putting all my level-ups into strength? or maybe half and half.

Arkat wrote on Apr 2^nd, 2011 at 4:32pm:


Yes.

But honestly. All lvls in STR.

Your stat choices should be based a bit on how you play.

If you want to melee most of the time and then just pull out the bow for the occasions where it will deal more damage or is needed for safety, just build for melee with a slight bump to dexterity when you start.  Push your level-ups into strength. There are a few items to help with the to-hit problem you may end up with during epics.

If you want to make an archer that kites mobs and never puts the bow down to maximize their damage, max out your dex, put all level ups into dex, and then punch yourself in the groin until you bleed.

Personally, I think I ended up with 4 level-ups into Str and 1 into Dex this last life. Would have had both at odd numbers otherwise. Adjustable human stat bonuses means I won't be kicking myself if I end up with a +3 or better tome on those stats. You'll have less to tweak if you go elf.

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exactly, that's why I'm trying so hard to make it suck less.

I just rolled my first ranger, I called him Drillpew

The aim of the build is to piss Stainer off, so hopefully the AA focus will achieve this

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Or go the extra step and do H-Elf bard/rogue mechanic and only swap between repeaters and longbows. Don't forget to UMD Ice Storm whenever possible.

Chris79 wrote on Apr 10^th, 2011 at 8:21pm:

i have a crit rage2 bowbarian that uses bows and repeaters all the time and switches to SoS to melee it is fun to play but to be worth a shit now the 18ftr 1 bard 1 barb is the best way to AA