From Sniper to Archer?

[Jace Solo]

Current points are allocated here.
(at level 16), your base skill bonuses, ranks and goals are:
Skill Name | Actual Actual
| Bonus Ranks Goals In-Game Time to Goal
Armor Use..........................| 78 17 17
Combat Maneuvers...................| 40 8 8
Ranged Weapons.....................| 128 34 34
Ambush.............................| 120 30 30
Physical Fitness...................| 70 15 15
Dodging............................| 54 11 11
Harness Power......................| 70 15 15
Survival...........................| 70 15 15
Stalking and Hiding................| 120 30 30
Perception.........................| 128 34 34
Climbing...........................| 25 5 5
Swimming...........................| 25 5 5

Spell Lists
Minor Spirit.......................| 3 3

Spell Lists
Ranger.............................| 12 12
Training Points: 137 Phy 0 Mnt


I wanted to move away from hiding and stalking. Get armor to 27 for brig. Bring up some ranger spells. Survival and FA to level and bringing the rest to like level, etc.

Q is, anything else I need to do? What about Ambush? Does that still contribute to AS or just aiming?

Anything else?

Thanks

[zhelas]

Brig is 30 armor ranks. Though it is true that 27 ranks will give you the lowest possible hinderence. You will still have a movement penalty for not having 30 ranks.

As a ranger Archer, (Unless you are more magical) I would make your eventual goal to get 70 ranks of armor and get into augmented chain. Chain has a better CVA -8 if i remember right. Plus its crit protection is better than brig which means you can take a better hit in augmented chain than brig. Broken arms means you normally can't shoot.

The standard build for a Ranger Archer is the following
2x Range
2x Perception
-1x Ambush - In some folks eyes this is optional. Yes you will start to see AS benefits when you have over 40 ranks. It isn't just for sniping. Yes the AS bonuses are small. But if it is the difference between a rank 2 crit on a creature verus a rank 3 crit.. I want all the help I can get. My ranger is 1x in Ambush. His post cap goal is to be 2x in ambush.

Being over 1x in Ambush is VERY expensive. Spell 613 does help you for only being 1x in ambush.

-Combat Maneuvers: I would get your core goals completed first before considering Combat Maneuvers. In other words. You probably won't need thim until you are atleast 50 if not 60.

Why? Cmans for archer rangers stink. You will need them eventually souly for Defensive purposes.

Don't bother with Multi Fire. Though a cool idea. I would rather have an aimed eye shot verus multi fire which can't be aimed.

-Dodging: make sure you are .75 to 1x in Dodging. That with Mobiles is great.

-Spells.

Personally, I would be 1x in spells. I would move my spirit spells into my ranger spells. Why? It is very easy to get blues and a powerful look. If you are hunting around the landing just walk into TSC and ask for them. Most of the people there will provide you those spells for free. Shoot even ask for a shot of Dims from the Empaths or clerics.

You want to have 640 at level 40. That spell is fantastic. Not only does it add to your DS but has a chance to block an attack and poison the attacker.

At level 40 switch over to minor spirit spells. Get up to 130. What should you do next? I don't see a reason for getting 140 since they nerfed it. It only lasts 1 min per cast. I would probably then switch back and 1x in ranger spells.

Hiding and Stalking:

That was your big question. My ranger is level 60. He is currently 2x in Hiding and Stalking.

How much do I use this skill now? Only for Roleplay, against a grizzled creature, and when I did a bandit bounty.

I have a lot more success from shooting in the open. My ranger wears 509 + 606 and carries haste amulets. Using these and shooting from the open with his composite bow gives him a 1 second aimed eye shot!

I see at this level that my hiding and stalking is a pool of points that I can borrow from to put elsewhere if I want to.

Society:
Have you given much thought about what society you wish to join?
My personal favorite is Guardians of Sunfist.
Weighted Arrow shots.
HCP on your armor though temporary
Sigil of Mending to heal you when you are wounded
Sigil of Determination which will allow you to shoot even with broken arms
Sigil of Escape

If you are going to be in Sunfist, I would recommend on your physical fitness to be atleast 1.5x with the post cap goal of 2x in Physical fitness.

If you are going to be in COL or Voln. Be atleast 1x in Physical fitness for semi redux.

Peace

[kookiegod]

Having 2 archers, one rogue and one ranger, both having zero stalking and hiding , i tend to have some pretty strong opinions.

1) heavy armor. My ranger is 17 and has 30 ranks already for brig, and my rogue is in metal breastplate @ 44.

2) physical training - never enough, 1x min on the ranger, more on a rogue.

3) dodge - 1x on my ranger, 3x on the rogue

4) magical skills - I have MIU only on the ranger now, and 30 ranks MIU/AS on the rogue to take advantage of scrolls, imbeds, magical toys etc.

5) ambush - I skipped it, even on the rogue. Its cheap, but for the TP's
invested, the return wasn't there. I'll post their trainings below.

6) CMANs - yah, skip it on the ranger, not worth much, and on the rogue, I did wspec1, stunman (i hate this one in the guild), and mobility.

7) Society - Sunfist. The rogue is in CoL and I just gotta bite the bullet and do it, but I'm doing it with the ranger at the moment, my current project.

Any weird ranks are various enhancives.

Ranger
-------
(at level 17), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 120 30
Ranged Weapons.....................| 140 40
Ambush.............................| 45 9 (migrating to 0)
Physical Fitness...................| 99 23
Dodging............................| 86 19
Magic Item Use.....................| 50 10
Harness Power......................| 82 18
Spirit Mana Control................| 78 17
Survival...........................| 86 19
Perception.........................| 136 38
Climbing...........................| 70 15
Swimming...........................| 70 15
First Aid..........................| 86 19

Spell Lists
Ranger.............................| 18

Rogue
------
(at level 44), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 190 90
Shield Use.........................| 15 3
Combat Maneuvers...................| 146 46
Ranged Weapons.....................| 196 96
Physical Fitness...................| 169 69
Dodging............................| 240 140
Arcane Symbols.....................| 120 30
Magic Item Use.....................| 120 30
Harness Power......................| 131 35
Elemental Mana Control.............| 10 2
Disarming Traps....................| 192 92
Picking Locks......................| 192 92
Perception.........................| 192 92
Climbing...........................| 105 25
Swimming...........................| 90 20
Training Points: 0 Phy 7 Mnt (6 Mnt converted to Phy)