So, I'm nearing 20 on my elf tempest, which has been a blast to play through heroics, but will I suspect be too squishy for epics. I want to try and get at least a couple of EPLs before the level 30 cap increase hits, and I also want to get in another ranger and a SDK PL (plan would be to do two ETRs followed by an ITR). The most fun I've had recently in this game has been with my mech, and I have most of the gear I need for it, so this is what I ended up coming up with. I may end up burning one of the +5 hearts in order to test it out in the next couple of days, but I could certainly use some feedback.

I'm mostly umming and ahhing about the two extra levels of ranger. I like FoM a lot, as getting completely stuck is one of the few things that caused me deaths in EEs on my pure, but really, how much content is it actually relevant in? I can always use Orcish Privateers from 24 onwards if it's a major issue (don't have any of the more exotic gearing options), and with a two paladin splash I could pick up +8 saves which would mitigate against holds. The obvious alternatives are:

1. 2 fighter for +2 feats, but I'm not really sure what I'd spend these on.
2. 2 Monk for ditto + an annoying uncentred icon every time I log on.
3. 2 Pally as mentioned for +8 saves.
4. 2 Arti for +1 feat + lever puller + runearm

The last two seem the most logical to me. But I've almost certainly been over-thinking it, and may well have missed something juicy that would synergize well elsewhere.

None of the possible class changes is likely to alter the enhancement picks; although on that note I would have liked to pick up Assassin's Trick as well as snipershot, but I'm not sure I can see a way to fit in full T5 mech + Improved Sneak Attack + KTA (I can do it if I only take one rank in KTA and skip the third survivalist in DWS, but 1 rank in KTA would be pretty annoying), and I'm also not sure I'll need it: On pure mech, I could keep up pretty much permanent sneak attack with trick + deception procs + the occasional bluff, so I don't see why it would be any different with what is essentially a better version of trick.

[EDIT: Quick note, I will have IPS in the level 15 feat slot until level 18 when I will swap it out]

Anyway, let me know what you think.

The Mechanical Fucking Machine
14/6 Ranger/Rogue
True Neutral Shadar-kai


Level Order

1. Rogue . . . . . 6. Ranger. . . . .11. Rogue. . . . . 16. Ranger
2. Ranger . . . . .7. Ranger . . . . 12. Rogue . . . . .17. Ranger
3. Ranger . . . . .8. Ranger . . . . 13. Rogue . . . . .18. Ranger
4. Ranger . . . . .9. Ranger . . . . 14. Rogue . . . . .19. Ranger
5. Ranger . . . . 10. Ranger . . . . 15. Rogue . . . . .20. Ranger


Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ---- . . --------
Strength. . . . .8. . . .+6. . . .4: INT
Dexterity . . . 15. . . .+6. . . .8: INT
Constitution. . 17. . . .+6. . . 12: INT
Intelligence. . 18. . . .+6. . . 16: INT
Wisdom. . . . . .8. . . .+6. . . 20: INT
Charisma. . . . .8. . . .+6. . . 24: INT
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: INT

Skills
. . . . .Rg Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn Rg Rg Rg Rg Rg Rn Rn Rn Rn Rn
. . . . . 1 .2 .3 .4 .5 .6 .7 .8 .9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
Balance . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Bluff . . 4 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1 .1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Disable . 4 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1 .1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Heal. . . 2 .2 .2 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1 .1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Hide. . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 .4. 5 .1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Move Si . 4 . . . .2 . . 2. . .3 .1 .1 .1. 1 .1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Open Lo . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 .6. 4 .1 .½ .½ .½ .1½ 22
Search. . 4 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1 .1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Spellcr . 2 . . . . . 1. . .1 . . 1. . .1. 1 .1. . .1. . .1 . . 1. . .11
Spot. . . 4 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1 .1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
Swim. . . 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . 2. . .1 . 7
Tumble. . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
UMD . . . 4 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1 .1. 1 .1. 1 .1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 23
. . . . .------------------------------------------------------------
. . . . .48 10 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 14 15 15 15 15 14 14 14 14 15


Feats

.1. . . . : Insightful Reflexes
.2 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Undead
.3. . . . : Precision
.6. . . . : Rapid Reload
.6 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Giant
.9. . . . : Improved Critical: Ranged
12. . . . : Point Blank Shot
15. . . . : Maximize Spell
16 Ranger : Favored Enemy: Evil Outsider
18. . . . : Quicken Spell
21 Epic . : Overwhelming Critical
24 Epic . : Combat Archery
26 Destiny: Holy Strike
27 Epic . : Epic Reflexes
28 Destiny: Doubleshot


Spells

Ram's Might, Jump, Merfolk's Blessing

Cure Light Wounds, Barkskin

Cure Moderate Wounds, Neutralize Poison

Freedom of Movement

Enhancements (80 AP)

Mechanic (39 AP)

• Arbalester, Tanglefoot, Targeting Sights
• Sharpshooter, Lacerating Shots III
• Sharpshooter, Improved Traps III, Wand and Scroll Mastery III
• Sharpshooter, Use Magical Device I, Intelligence
• Sharpshooter, Fletching III, Leg Shot, Intelligence
• Sharpshooter, Rapid Fire III, Sniper, Mechanical Reloader

Deepwood Stalker (26 AP)

• Far Shot, Sneak Attack, Sniper Shot, Advanced Sneak Attack
• Stealthy III, Increased Empathy III, Versatile Empathy I
• Survivalist, Melee/Range Power Boost III
• Survivalist, Favored Hunter III
• Survivalist, Killer III

Harper Agent (15 AP)

• Agent of Good I, Intelligence
• Harper Enchantment, Strategic Combat
• Versatile Adept III, Know the Angles III
• Versatile Adept II

Destiny (24 AP)

Divine Crusader

Bane of Undeath, Interrogation, Purge the Wicked

Consecration III, Flames of Purity III

Sacred Ground, Blessed Blades

No Regret, Crusade

Castigation, Heavenly Presence, Celestial Champion

Twists of Fate (14 fate points)

Grim Precision (Tier 3 Shadowdancer)

Pin (Tier 2 Shiradi)

Rejuvenation Cocoon (Tier 1 Primal)

Do you have an Eternal FoM pot?
If that's a deciding factor for the extra 2 levels over 13th and 14th Ranger levels,
because both spell and pot can get dispelled. Yes, I know spell is better than pot because you can recast on demand.

There are also Kundarak FoM boots which are great at lvl9 for heroic and lvl20 for epic.

I would probably go for +2 artie levels myself. I like that you can slot a runearm in your offhand and get to use an extra piece of inventory. Extra augment slots too.

Yeah, you're probably right. As I said I don't have the VoN boots, and I'm not likely to get them in the next 3 or 4 days, nor do I have the eternal pot, I wasn't around for card dupalooza. As I said, I'm not sure it matters that much. The Orcish Privateer boots are actually not bad from level 24, and I'm sure I can cope most of the time just with the Harper clicky (if it fucking works, seems to only be about 50% of the time, and then only on holds).

Ok, so say I splash the two arti levels, what would you do with the feat? Weapon Focus: Ranged for a miniscule amount of RP? Empower Heal for coccoon/buffing CLW/CMW to reasonable effectiveness?

EDIT: Ooh, and I've just thought, Corruption of Nature will actually be really nice to go along with my Spellsight, if you catch my drift.

Rubbinns wrote on Oct 28^th, 2015 at 11:07am:


Won't be able to afford the enhancements, and even with them how is it 8 charges? Might be being an eejit here, but I count 5: 1 base, 3 from enhancements and 1 from endless loh? I think I have to give up too much for this. But even the one LoH is nice for sure.

EDIT: I tell a lie. I guess I could at least work the enhancements in. I guess it will come down to how much an LoH hits for compared to cocoon. It might be worth swapping one out for the other, but I don't think I'm going to be seeing numbers in even the hundreds range. Base will probably only be something like 20, and I doubt I'll get (even at a push) more than 200% hamp, so I'd only be looking at 60 off an LoH, whereas with easy boosts to devotion abounding in DWS cocoon should do something like 150 per tick even at level 20.

Won't be spending long enough at 28 for it to make much of a difference in all likelihood, I will pretty much just be farming heart seeds which only takes a couple hours.

Ah, didn't realise you got extra charges from endless LoH, been a long time since I capped out US (it's probably worth updating the wiki as it's not clear). As I said in the edit above, I will have empower heal (maximise in heroics, switch to empower heal after 20), +60 pos from DWS, +30ish from heal skill and augment (I'm pretty sure I have a +8 slotted in one of my bits of levelling gear), +100ish from either red aug or fetish, I think cocoon works out better for this build.

Wipe wrote on Oct 28^th, 2015 at 1:24pm:


Was that before the recent pass though? I really want 12 ranger for the crit boost if possible. I could probably go 5 rogue to pick up 3 pally and take int to damage in harper... but I wouldn't have the AP to pick up improved defensive stance I don't think... I'll have a fiddle in the planner.

I figured the 4th core in DWS makes up for losing core 5 in mech, as well as gaining sniper shot, which is freaking awesome. Spent most of yesterday evening in Night Revels with my warlock alt getting keys, so I haven't got to 18 yet, which was where I was going to respec to try it out.

Maybe you're right though. The EPLs are the important bit to be honest, I can always get another ranger heroic later, that way I can just ETR then HTR into a shadar'kai 18/2 or pure. That'll get me my second doubleshot PL which would be very nice.

Yeah, you're absolutely right. Fuggit, I won't waste the +5 heart then. Probably better saving it for getting PLs I really don't want to do.

I knew there was a reason I came to this place

And the donuts, don't forget the donuts dude.