The Falconer universal tree is expected to be released with Update 39. This tree is not specific to any one class; like Harper Agent and Vistani Knife Fighter any character can spend points in this tree once they have unlocked access to it. It represents a character who is trained not only in Falconry, but is adept at using the hunting bird to make coordinated attacks on targets. The tree is mostly martial, but has a touch of Primal magic at the top end. The intense training required to bond with and fight with these birds of prey also hones the character's perception and ability to make pinpoint attacks.

The tree revolves around having a bird of prey; generally the dire version of a normal bird, to make extra attacks on opponents. It is designed to provide fewer big hits; the hunting bird swoops to attack seconds after you have made your weapon attack to provide extra damage and certain status effects. The gameplay flow is meant to be methodical and precise.

You can choose between five cosmetically distinct but mechanically identical birds of prey. You summon the hunting bird with a toggle. Once summoned, the hunting bird does not act like other pets currently available in DDO; it cannot be attacked, it cannot be killed while you live, it cannot generate hate, and, as a result, it does not benefit from effects that grant bonuses to "summoned creatures". Its attacks are coordinated with a melee or ranged attack you make, and it provides extra damage and some additional control effects. It follows you around until you command it to make a coordinated attack, at which time it flies off and then swoops down on its target.

The exact distribution method of this Universal Enhancement Tree is not yet decided, however, it is currently intended to be unlocked for all characters on an account that has purchased the White Plume Mountain Bonus Items from the DDO store, which is how you can gain access to it on Lamannia to try it out. The White Plume Mountain Bonus Items offer can be found in the "Account --> Adventure Packs --> Low Level" section of the DDO store or by searching for "White Plume". Give it a try and let us know how it plays!


Cores
Summon Avian Companion You have been trained to keep a hunting bird. Activate this ability to summon your companion. (Your pet cannot be attacked and cannot die. Damage it caused is attributed to you.) While your Hunting Bird is by your side, it grants you a +2 to Spot and Listen checks. Choose one:
Summon Falcon
Summon White Falcon
Summon Grey Owl
Summon Snow Owl
Summon Raven
Ability Score Choose an ability to improve:
+1 Strength
+1 Dexterity
+1 Constitution
+1 Intelligence
+1 Wisdom
+1 Charisma
Well Rounded I You gain +3 Melee Power, Ranged Power, Physical Resistance Rating, and Magical Resistance Rating. You gain +2 Spot and Listen.
Ability Score Choose an ability to improve:
+1 Strength
+1 Dexterity
+1 Constitution
+1 Intelligence
+1 Wisdom
+1 Charisma
Well Rounded II You gain +6 Melee Power, Ranged Power, Physical Resistance Rating, and Magical Resistance Rating. You gain +4 Spot and Listen.
Master Falconer You gain +2 to all ability scores and benefit from the spell Freedom of Movement. Your active Falcon attacks have a chance to reset the cooldown on Death From Above.


Tier 1
Rugged Gain +2/+4/+6 Physical Resistance Rating
Practiced Accuracy You gain +1/+2 to hit with weapons and +1/+2 to confirm critical attacks.
Hunter's Knowledge You gain a Animals as a Favored Enemy.
Out in Nature Gain +5/+10/+15 to Healing Amplification.
Wanderlust You gain +1/+2/+3 to Balance, Jump, and Swim. Rank 3: You gain +1 to Fortitude saving throws.


Tier 2
Killer Instinct I You can use your Wisdom modifier to hit with Melee and Missile weapons.
Watch the Center Grants +1/+2/+3 to Assassinate DC's
Diving Attack You and your Hunting Bird attack as one against a single target. Activate this ability to attack for +1/2/3(W) against a single target. Your Hunting Bird will follow up for an additional 3d6/6d6/10d6 damage that scales with 200% of melee or ranged power, whichever is higher. Your Hunting Bird also trips the target, causing them to become Helpless. Your target is slowed by 30% for 10 seconds whether they make the saving throw or not. Trip DC: 10 + Character Level + Wisdom modifier + Assassinate bonuses. Cooldown 20 seconds, with a 4.5 second shared cooldown with other hunting bird attacks. Choose One:
Diving Shot: Ranged Falconer Attack
Diving Strike: Melee Falconer Attack
Meticulous Weaponry Protect your items or increase your chance of recovering ammunition. Choose one:
Meticulous Weaponry: You have a [25/50/75]% chance to negate potential item wear.
Meticulous Fletching: You are skilled at enhancing, salvaging, and re-purposing your arrows, bolts, and throwing weapons. Your ammunition gains a 50/65/80% chance of returning.
Action Boost: Sprint +(30/35/40)% Action Boost bonus to movement speed for 20 seconds.


Tier 3
Killer Instinct II You can use your Wisdom modifier for damage with Melee and Missile weapons.
Tear Flesh Your bird attacks now also cause a bleed effect. Bleed: Do 1d6 damage every 2 seconds for 60 seconds. This stacks up to 10 times and scales with 200% Melee or Ranged Power.
Strike for the Eyes You and your Hunting Bird attack as one against a single target. Activate this ability to attack for +1/2/3(W) against a single target. Your Hunting Bird will follow up for an additional 3d6/6d6/10d6 damage that scales with 200% of melee or ranged power, whichever is higher. Your Hunting Bird also attempts to Blind the target, causing them to become Helpless. Your target is slowed by 30% for 10 seconds whether they make the saving throw or not. Blind DC: 10 + Character Level + Wisdom modifier + Assassinate bonuses. Cooldown 10 seconds, with a 4.5 second shared cooldown with other hunting bird attacks. Choose One:
Shoot for the Eyes: Ranged Falconer Attack
Strike for the Eyes: Melee Falconer Attack
Conditioning You gain +5% to your hit points.
Eyes of the Eagle You gain True Seeing.


Tier 4
Deadly Instinct Trance You gain an Insight bonus to damage and the DC of tactical feats equal to 1/2 of your Wisdom modifier for 30/60/120 seconds. Cooldown: 20 seconds. 5 Charges per rest. Each attack from your avian companion has a chance to reset 1 charge. Antirequisite: This ability can not be trained if you have any other Trance ability.
No Mercy: You deal 10%/20%/30% additional damage to helpless opponents.
Coordinated Strikes Choose between a melee or ranged attack that will cause your bird to rain attacks over an area, damaging and blinding all foes in the area. Choose One:
Shoot and Destroy: Ranged Falconer Attack: You make a ranged attack for +2(W), as your Hunting Bird descends to frenzy in a large area around the first target struck for an additional 10d6 damage that scales with Melee or Ranged Power, whichever is higher. Your Hunting Bird also attempts to blind each opponent struck. Blind DC: 10 + Character Level + Wisdom modifier + Assassinate bonuses. Cooldown 1 Minute, with a 4.5 second shared cooldown with other hunting bird attacks.
Coordinated Cleave: Melee Falconer Cleave Attack: You cleave all opponents near you for +2(W), as your Hunting Bird descends to frenzy in a large area for an additional 10d6 damage that scales with Melee or Ranged Power, whichever is higher. Your Hunting Bird also attempts to blind each opponent struck. Blind DC: 10 + Character Level + Wisdom modifier + Assassinate bonuses. Cooldown 1 Minute, with a 4.5 second shared cooldown with other hunting bird attacks.
Expose Weakness Attacks from your hunting bird also reduce your target's fortification by 50%.
Shared Vision You are immune to Blindness effects.


Tier 5
Dangerous You gain +10 Melee and Ranged Power.
Mark the Prey You have learned how to spot weaknesses in even the mightiest of foes. You make an attack for +5(W) on the target, marking it as prey. The marked target takes 10% extra damage from you and your allies for 10 seconds. Cooldown 3 minutes. Choose One:
Mark the Prey: Melee Attack
Mark the Prey Shot: Ranged Attack
Death from Above Your Hunting Bird swoops down and attempts to end someone's Life. You make an attack for +1/+3/+5(W), and your Hunting Bird also attacks for 50/100/200 points of damage that scales with 200% of Melee or Ranged Power, whichever is higher. The target struck makes a Fortitude saving throw, and on a failed save, dies. DC: 10 + Character level + Wisdom bonus + Assassinate bonuses. Cooldown 1 Minute, with a 4.5 second shared cooldown with other hunting bird attacks. Choose One:
Death from Above Shot: Ranged Falconer Attack
Death from Above: Melee Falconer Attack
Thrill of the Hunt Your Hunting Bird swoops down and attempts to end someone's Life. You make an attack for +1/+3/+5(W), and your Hunting Bird also attacks for 50/100/200 points of damage that scales with 200% of Melee or Ranged Power, whichever is higher. The target struck makes a Fortitude saving throw, and on a failed save, dies. DC: 10 + Character level + Wisdom bonus + Assassinate bonuses. Cooldown 1 Minute, with a 4.5 second shared cooldown with other hunting bird attacks. Choose One:
Thrill of the Hunt: Melee Falconer Attack: You strike your target for +1/+3/+5(W). If you hit, you also heal for 5%/10%/20% of your total hit points in Positive Healing. Cooldown: 20 Seconds.
Thrill of the Hunt Shot: Ranged Falconer Attack: You strike your target for +1/+3/+5(W). If you hit, you also heal for 5%/10%/20% of your total hit points in Positive Healing. Cooldown: 20 Seconds.

An instakill melee attack with a DC that can reach 100 easily against fort save isn't good enough?

An instakill melee attack with a DC that can reach 100 easily against fort save isn't good enough?  (Also it does around 1000-1200 additional damage beyond the 5[W] it added to your regular attack0

Gods, the time a dev wasted on this joke could have been spent fixing important shit.

I wonder if the bird attacks proc multiple times on multiple missiles, and/or IPS.

Of course since Steelstar is a rockstar we all know where this is going. 

Batten down the hatches and full power creep ahead!

This tree is so fucking ridiculous I don't even know where to start.

I wonder if the bird attacks proc multiple times on multiple missiles, and/or IPS.

T5 Falconer + Racial AA Terror Arrows on a Fury Shot 14 monk/6 Ranger Wisdom Based Monkcher?

Can the bird attack be Adrenalined?

Instakills for trash in high reapers + Burst DPS for reapers/bosses

Don't fret.  After they sell a few thousand units it'll be nerfed down a bit.  That's how they roll.

I see some fun possibilities here. I would have appreciated a Falcon Punch reference though.

If the Extra Favored Enemy costs the same as the one from Vistani, invest 2.  An extra +2 damage to your FE, plus adding a common mob type to your FE list is worth a couple APs.

Bird feed is high in fiber.