E: The Deadly Archer
Updated Fri, Feb 13, 2009 by Darkgolem
The Deadly
Archer
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Guide to Ranger Enhancements
By DarkgolemRangers are a deadly class, and, depending upon the situation, better than a regular fighter or paladin. The reason this is the case, is because Rangers use less resources. Not only are they able to damage many opponents faster than your standard front line type, they do so without wear to their bows, without the concern of using massive amounts of healing and other support spells being used on them. However, in addition to their combat prowess, they also can provide support. They can slow or stop opponents with their fascinate ability (especially if they take certain enhancements), they can scout, and they can heal and use other protective spells upon themselves and their allies. With the choice of particular enhancements, these abilities are increased enormously, and can customized to fit particular facets of a rangers variety of abilities.
The Basics
A quick summary for those unfamiliar with the way enhancements work for DDO is in order. First, you get 4 action points every level. They are earned gradually as you work your way to your next level. You use these action points to purchase enhancements. You much qualify for an enhancement to purchase it. Enhancements require a certain amount of action points to already have been spent, less powerful similar enhancements and sometimes for you to have a feat, before you can purchase them. Because of the requirements for various enhancements, you should plan on how you wish to spend your action points when you begin character creation.
Choosing
Your Role
There are three
basic specializations that apply to rangers. Once is regular
combat with ranged weapons, another is specialization against certain
foes, and the final and third is the "scout/skillster". Pick what
you want to do, but remember that rangers often end up ok at
everything, even when aiming for a certain goal regarding what role
they will play in a party.The Ranged Master
The ranged master's
specific role is that of a ranged combatant. Certainly, they
might be competent with their scouting skills, their animal empathy,
and fighting favored enemies, but in the end, the ranged master's goal
is to put as many arrows as possible into their foes as quickly as
possible.- Ranger Energy Resistance Boost - At times the ranged master is going to be attracting a lot of spells and (in some cases) attacks from archers armed with elemental ranged weapons. This enhancement makes this nuisance go from a deadly threat to a minor irritation, at best.
- Ranger Tundra/Desert/Swamp lore - all of these enhancements are useful, for the same reason Ranger Energy Resistance Boost is useful. However, these are passive, always effective, making them overall more useful. When taking these, probably the Desert and Swamp lore enhancements are more valuable. Acid damage is usually light, but a damage over time. With a little swamp lore, you can ignore this type of damage in many cases. Fire damage is very common, meaning you will get the most out of this ability, since it will be used.. a lot.
- Ranger Dexterity - ranged weapons use dexterity to hit. Enough said.
- Ranger Sprint Boost - Being able to keep away from fast opponents
is key for a ranged master. Ranger spring boost almost ensures
this in every case.
The Hunter
While the Ranged Master
might concentrate, overall, upon ranged combat, the hunter concentrates
upon favored enemies. While views on this differ from person to
person, probably the most useful of all favored enemies are
giants. Found at all levels after level 1, you will always be
facing these enemies. Since favored enemies differ in
nature overall, your going to need to vary your enhancements somewhat
depending on what group of enemies you have dedicated yourself to
slaying. For example, giants tend to have a poor armor class,
making Ranger Favored Attack less useful than against undead. If
you choose undead as your favored enemy, your going to want all the
bonuses to hit you can get... certain types are quite well armored.- Ranger Favored Attack - hitting your opponents is critical for a hunter. Hunters tend to make up for damage dealing with accuracy and speed of attack.
- Ranger Favored Damage - assuming you can hit your favored enemy, and quickly, then this enhancement is gold, since it makes each successful attack just that much more effective.
- Ranger Favored Resistance - this is situational depending upon your favored enemy. If your favored enemy has a lot of effective spells and effects, such as a type of outsider or undead, by all means take this. The only one who will regret is your local bartender, since he or she will have lost a lot of business.
The Master of the Wild
The master of the wild is
a ranger with an emphasis on a combination of skills and
abilities. While not as deadly or focused as the hunter or ranged
master, the master of the wild is overall better at scouting, dealing
with enemies outside of combat, and supporting his or her party.- Ranger Vermin Empathy - being able to turn off a group of spiders or similar vermin is a huge deal. These creatures are very hard to deal with, especially in numbers, and if a party is able to deal with them piecemeal, it greatly increases that parties survivability.
- Ranger Elemental Empathy - the danger of elementals are their area attacks. Mephit breath and elemental fireballs have sent droves of adventurers to their local tavern. If you can gain the ability to make these creatures wait patiently for their turn at the end of your bow, get it.
- Extra Empathy - this is a nice enhancement, but consider not taking too much of this. Frankly, vermin are not so common as to need a large amount of investment in this ability.
- Ranger Spot/Hide/Move Silently/Jump/Etc - these skill bonuses
vary widely in their usefulness. Certainly a bonus is nice, but
decide before you make your character how much you want to invest in
these. Personally, I like a large jump bonus, because it helps
with kiting, and being a living spring is fun.
The Enhancements
|
Name |
Cost |
Progression |
Requirement |
Benefit |
|
Ranger Energy Resistance Boost 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
(30 Second Cooldown) Activates this ability to gain energy resistance 8 for 20 seconds. |
|
Ranger Energy Resistance Boost 2 |
2 |
10 |
Ranger level 4, Ranger Energy Resistance Boost 1 |
(30 Second Cooldown) Activates this ability to gain energy resistance 10 for 20 seconds. |
|
Ranger Energy Resistance Boost 3 |
3 |
21 |
Ranger level 7, Ranger Energy Resistance Boost 2 |
(30 Second Cooldown) Activates this ability to gain energy resistance 12 for 20 seconds. |
|
Ranger Energy Resistance Boost 4 |
4 |
32 |
Ranger level 10, Ranger Energy Resistance Boost 3 |
(30 Second Cooldown) Activates this ability to gain energy resistance 15 for 20 seconds. |
|
Ranger Extra Action Boost 1 |
2 |
28 |
Ranger level 11, Ranger Skill Boost 4 or Ranger Energy Resistance Boost 4 or Ranger Spring Boost 4 |
You can use each of your Ranger action boosts an additional time between resting. |
|
Ranger Extra Action Boost 2 |
4 |
48 |
Ranger level 14, Ranger Extra Action Boost 1 |
You can use each of your Ranger action boosts 2 additional times per rest. |
|
Ranger Skills Boost 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
(30 second cooldown) Activate this ability to receive a +2 bonus to skills for 20 seconds |
|
Ranger Skills Boost 2 |
2 |
10 |
Ranger level 4, Ranger Skills Boost 1 |
(30 second cooldown) Activate this ability to receive a +3 bonus to skills for 20 seconds |
|
Ranger Skills Boost 3 |
3 |
21 |
Ranger level 7, Ranger Skills Boost 2 |
(30 second cooldown) Activate this ability to receive a +4 bonus to skills for 20 seconds |
|
Ranger Skills Boost 4 |
4 |
32 |
Ranger level 10, Ranger Skills Boost 3 |
(30 second cooldown) Activate this ability to receive a +5 bonus to skills for 20 seconds |
|
Ranger Sprint Boost 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
(30 second cooldown) Activate this ability to receive a running speed bonus for 20 seconds. |
|
Ranger Sprint Boost 2 |
2 |
10 |
Ranger level 4, Ranger Sprint Boost 1 |
(30 second cooldown) Activate this ability to receive a running speed bonus for 20 seconds. |
|
Ranger Sprint Boost 3 |
3 |
21 |
Ranger level 7, Ranger Sprint Boost 2 |
(30 second cooldown) Activate this ability to receive a running speed bonus for 20 seconds. |
|
Ranger Sprint Boost 4 |
4 |
32 |
Ranger level 10, Ranger Sprint Boost 3 |
(30 second cooldown) Activate this ability to receive a running speed bonus for 20 seconds. |
|
Ranger Swamp Lore 1 |
1 |
3 |
Ranger level 2 |
You gain energy resistance of 2 versus acid, or improved your existing resistance by 2. |
|
Ranger Swamp Lore 2 |
2 |
18 |
Ranger level 6, Ranger Swamp Lore 1 |
You gain energy resistance of 4 versus acid, or improved your existing resistance by 4. |
|
Ranger Swamp Lore 3 |
3 |
36 |
Ranger level 10, Ranger Swamp Lore 2 |
You gain energy resistance of 6 versus acid, or improved your existing resistance by 6. |
|
Ranger Tundra Lore 1 |
1 |
3 |
Ranger level 2 |
You gain energy resistance of 2 versus cold, or improved your existing resistance by 2. |
|
Ranger Tundra Lore 2 |
2 |
18 |
Ranger level 6, Ranger Tundra Lore 1 |
You gain energy resistance of 4 versus cold, or improved your existing resistance by 4. |
|
Ranger Tundra Lore 3 |
3 |
36 |
Ranger level 10, Ranger Tundra Lore 2 |
You gain energy resistance of 6 versus cold, or improved your existing resistance by 6. |
|
Ranger Desert Lore 1 |
1 |
3 |
Ranger level 2 |
You gain energy resistance of 2 versus fire, or improved your existing resistance by 2. |
|
Ranger Desert Lore 2 |
2 |
18 |
Ranger level 6, Ranger Desert Lore 1 |
You gain energy resistance of 4 versus fire, or improved your existing resistance by 4. |
|
Ranger Desert Lore 3 |
3 |
36 |
Ranger level 10, Ranger Desert Lore 2 |
You gain energy resistance of 6 versus fire, or improved your existing resistance by 6. |
|
Ranger Elemental Empathy |
2 |
10 |
Ranger level 4, Ranger Extra Empathy 1, Favored Enemy (Elemental) or Ranger Extra Empathy 4 or Ranger Energy Resistance Boost 3 |
You can use this ability to pacify elementals, much like you pacify animals with Wild Empathy. |
|
Ranger Extra Empathy 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
You gain the ability to use Wild Empathy 1 additional time per rest. |
|
Ranger Extra Empathy 2 |
2 |
10 |
Ranger level 4, Ranger Extra Empathy 1 |
You gain the ability to use Wild Empathy 2 additional times per rest. |
|
Ranger Extra Empathy 3 |
3 |
21 |
Ranger level 7, Ranger Extra Empathy 2 |
You gain the ability to use Wild Empathy 3 additional times per rest. |
|
Ranger Extra Empathy 4 |
4 |
32 |
Ranger level 10, Ranger Extra Empathy 3 |
You gain the ability to use Wild Empathy 4 additional times per rest. |
|
Ranger Favored Attack 1 |
2 |
18 |
Ranger level 6 |
When attacking a favored enemy you receive a +1 bonus to attack. |
|
Ranger Favored Attack 2 |
4 |
40 |
Ranger level 12, Ranger Favored Attack 1 |
When attacking a favored enemy you receive a +2 bonus to attack. |
|
Ranger Favored Damage 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
When attacking a favored enemy, you receive an additional +1 bonus on damage rolls. |
|
Ranger Favored Damage 2 |
2 |
14 |
Ranger level 5, Ranger Favored Damage 1 |
When attacking a favored enemy, you receive an additional +2 bonus on damage rolls. |
|
Ranger Favored Damage 3 |
3 |
29 |
Ranger level 9, Ranger Favored Damage 2 |
When attacking a favored enemy, you receive an additional +3 bonus on damage rolls. |
|
Ranger Favored Damage 4 |
4 |
44 |
Ranger level 13, Ranger Favored Damage 3 |
When attacking a favored enemy, you receive an additional +4 bonus on damage rolls. |
|
Ranger Favored Defense 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
When attacking a favored enemy, your receive a +1 bonus to armor class. |
|
Ranger Favored Defense 2 |
2 |
22 |
Ranger level 7, Ranger Favored Defense 1 |
When attacking a favored enemy, you receive a +2 bonus to armor class. |
|
Ranger Favored Defense 3 |
3 |
45 |
Ranger level 13, Ranger Favored Defense 2 |
When attacking a favored enemy, you receive a +3 bonus to armor class. |
|
Ranger Favored Resistance 1 |
1 |
3 |
Ranger level 2 |
When making a saving throw against a spell or effect from a favored enemy, you receive a +1 bonus on saving throws. |
|
Ranger Favored Resistance 2 |
2 |
26 |
Ranger level 8, Ranger Favored Resistance 1 |
When making a saving throw against a spell or effect from a favored enemy, you receive a +2 bonus on saving throws. |
|
Ranger Favored Resistance 3 |
4 |
48 |
Ranger level 14, Ranger Favored Resistance 2 |
When making a saving throw against a spell or effect from a favored enemy, you receive a +3 bonus on saving throws. |
|
Ranger Vermin Empathy |
2 |
2 |
Ranger level 2, Ranger Extra Empathy 1, Favored Enemy (Vermin) or Ranger Extra Empathy 4 or Ranger Desert Lore 2 or Ranger Swamp Lore 2 |
You can use this ability to pacify vermin, much like you pacify animals with Wild Empathy. |
|
Ranger Heal 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
Grants a +1 bonus to Heal skill. |
|
Ranger Heal 2 |
2 |
10 |
Ranger level 4, Ranger Heal 1 |
Grants a +2 bonus to Heal skill. |
|
Ranger Heal 3 |
3 |
25 |
Ranger level 8, Ranger Heal 2 |
Grants a +3 bonus to Heal skill. |
|
Ranger Heal 4 |
4 |
40 |
Ranger level 12, Ranger Heal 3 |
Grants a +4 bonus to Heal skill. |
|
Ranger Hide 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
Grants a +1 bonus to Hide skill. |
|
Ranger Hide 2 |
2 |
10 |
Ranger level 4, Ranger Hide 1 |
Grants a +2 bonus to Hide skill. |
|
Ranger Hide 3 |
3 |
25 |
Ranger level 8, Ranger Hide 2 |
Grants a +3 bonus to Hide skill. |
|
Ranger Hide 4 |
4 |
40 |
Ranger level 12, Ranger Hide 3 |
Grants a +4 bonus to Hide skill. |
|
Ranger Jump 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
Grants a +1 bonus to Jump skill. |
|
Ranger Jump 2 |
2 |
10 |
Ranger level 4, Ranger Jump 1 |
Grants a +2 bonus to Jump skill. |
|
Ranger Jump 3 |
3 |
25 |
Ranger level 8, Ranger Jump 2 |
Grants a +3 bonus to Jump skill. |
|
Ranger Jump 4 |
4 |
40 |
Ranger level 12, Ranger Jump 3 |
Grants a +4 bonus to Jump skill. |
|
Ranger Move Silently 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
Grants a +1 bonus to Move Silently skill. |
|
Ranger Move Silently 2 |
2 |
10 |
Ranger level 4, Ranger Move Silently 1 |
Grants a +2 bonus to Move Silently skill. |
|
Ranger Move Silently 3 |
3 |
25 |
Ranger level 8, Ranger Move Silently 2 |
Grants a +3 bonus to Move Silently skill. |
|
Ranger Move Silently 4 |
4 |
40 |
Ranger level 12, Ranger Move Silently 3 |
Grants a +4 bonus to Move Silently skill. |
|
Ranger Search 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
Grants a +1 bonus to Search skill. |
|
Ranger Search 2 |
2 |
10 |
Ranger level 4, Ranger Search 1 |
Grants a +2 bonus to Search skill. |
|
Ranger Search 3 |
3 |
25 |
Ranger level 8, Ranger Search 2 |
Grants a +3 bonus to Search skill. |
|
Ranger Search 4 |
4 |
40 |
Ranger level 12, Ranger Search 3 |
Grants a +4 bonus to Search skill. |
|
Ranger Spot 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
Grants a +1 bonus to Spot skill. |
|
Ranger Spot 2 |
2 |
10 |
Ranger level 4, Ranger Spot 1 |
Grants a +2 bonus to Spot skill. |
|
Ranger Spot 3 |
3 |
25 |
Ranger level 8, Ranger Spot 2 |
Grants a +3 bonus to Spot skill. |
|
Ranger Spot 4 |
4 |
40 |
Ranger level 12, Ranger Spot 3 |
Grants a +4 bonus to Spot skill. |
|
Ranger Swim 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
Grants a +1 bonus to Swim skill. |
|
Ranger Swim 2 |
2 |
10 |
Ranger level 4, Ranger Swim 1 |
Grants a +2 bonus to Swim skill. |
|
Ranger Swim 3 |
3 |
25 |
Ranger level 8, Ranger Swim 2 |
Grants a +3 bonus to Swim skill. |
|
Ranger Swim 4 |
4 |
40 |
Ranger level 12, Ranger Swim 3 |
Grants a +4 bonus to Swim skill. |
|
Ranger Devotion 1 |
1 |
0 |
Ranger level 1 |
Grants a 10% increase to the effectiveness of your healing spells. |
|
Ranger Devotion 2 |
2 |
10 |
Ranger level 4, Ranger Devotion 1 |
Grants a 20% increase to the effectiveness of your healing spells. |
|
Ranger Devotion 3 |
3 |
21 |
Ranger level 7, Ranger Devotion 2 |
Grants a 30% increase to the effectiveness of your healing spells. |
|
Ranger Devotion 4 |
4 |
32 |
Ranger level 10, Ranger Devotion 3 |
Grants a 40% increase to the effectiveness of your healing spells. |
|
Ranger Energy of the Wilds 1 |
1 |
11 |
Ranger level 4 |
Grants a 20 point increase to spell points. |
|
Ranger Energy of the Wilds 2 |
2 |
26 |
Ranger level 8, Ranger Energy of the Wilds 1 |
Grants a 40 point increase to spell points. |
|
Ranger Energy of the Wilds 3 |
3 |
41 |
Ranger level 12, Ranger Energy of the Wilds 2 |
Grants a 60 point increase to spell points. |
|
Ranger Dexterity 1 |
2 |
2 |
Ranger level 2 |
Grants a +1 increase to Dexterity score. |
|
Ranger Dexterity 2 |
4 |
16 |
Ranger level 6, Ranger Dexterity 1 |
Grants a +2 increase to Dexterity score. |
|
Ranger Dexterity 3 |
6 |
30 |
Ranger level 10, Ranger Dexterity 2 |
Grants a +3 increase to Dexterity score. |
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