Good (great?) sling builds???

[Hammer_Song]

Hi builders,

I was after a halfling sling build with HiPS. I’m not super keen on the warsling sniper class but if someone can sell me on it then I’ll trust ...
At the moment I have a somewhat standard Fighter 14/Rogue3/Elemental Archer 4/Assassin 9 build in mind. Could change to a 14/3/5/8 split for more AB but less death attack damage. I’d love the Ranger camouflage feat but not sure if the investment in Ranger or Wilderness Stalker will hurt the overall build.

Thoughts, any unique ideas? Let me know ...

P.S. is there still a ranged attack penalty system ? (Due to distance, cover, etc)

[Steve]

You can try something like this: Fighter (12), Assassin (10), Elemental Archer (5), Monk (3)

AC is good, AB is high, DMG is avg. 30 per hit but you have 6 APR, Manyshot and from HiPS (Death Attack).

Best part is...you can also make it a Dwarf!

[RagingPeace]

Wisdom based:

24 ranger / 6 warsling sniper

or

21 ranger / 3 something / 6 warsling sniper


Damage should be pretty good against favored enemies if you get improved favored enemy and Bane Of Enemies.

[Tsidkenu]

It's a shame Brutal Throw does not work with slings, otherwise Ranger 30 full STR build (or even Barbarian 30!) would be the way to go.

Fighter 16/Assn 9/Elemental Archer 5, similar to that posted above, is solid in its simplicity. Fighter weapon specs for extra, constant DPS and Manyshot to exploit Death Attack.

Adding sneak attack/death attack (especially the latter due to the Manyshot Bug) is one of the best ways to boost sling DPS. Something like Rogue 16/Assn 9/ Elemental Archer 5 or even Rogue 21/Assn 9 would do fine. Wisdom-based Rogue 19/Monk 3/Assn 8 gets more movement speed for kiting. Ensure you take 17 base DEX for any wisdom/Zen archer build so as to qualify for Manyshot, essential on all ranged builds.

My final suggestions would be building off the Phantom class. Phantom 21/Assn 9 would be devastating. Dex-based for Manyshot juiciness. Not only do you get HIPS from Assassin, you also get 21/day uses of Ghost Step. This ability, combined with HIPS, makes you nigh untouchable: when you attack from HIPS and become a target, activate a Ghost Step until the HIPS cooldown resets. Attack again from Ghost Step, HIPS when you become a target. Repeat until you need to rest! A variant of this could be Phantom 24/Warsling Sniper 6, a WIS-based Zen archer with insane spotting skill potential due to Phantom Ghost Sight.

A Strongheart halfling is actually an ideal race, especially if you're going rogue or phantom. Take point blank shot & rapid shot at level 1 for 2 attacks per round and from then on you're laughing. Seriously, 2 ranged sneak attacks from level 1 is fantastic! I levelled a shortbow-using rogue/sd/oobi this way without dying once from lvl 1-24, only playing solo.

[Hammer_Song]

It's a shame Brutal Throw does not work with slings, otherwise Ranger 30 full STR build (or even Barbarian 30!) would be the way to go.

Fighter 16/Assn 9/Elemental Archer 5, similar to that posted above, is solid in its simplicity. Fighter weapon specs for extra, constant DPS and Manyshot to exploit Death Attack.

Adding sneak attack/death attack (especially the latter due to the Manyshot Bug) is one of the best ways to boost sling DPS. Something like Rogue 16/Assn 9/ Elemental Archer 5 or even Rogue 21/Assn 9 would do fine. Wisdom-based Rogue 19/Monk 3/Assn 8 gets more movement speed for kiting. Ensure you take 17 base DEX for any wisdom/Zen archer build so as to qualify for Manyshot, essential on all ranged builds.

My final suggestions would be building off the Phantom class. Phantom 21/Assn 9 would be devastating. Dex-based for Manyshot juiciness. Not only do you get HIPS from Assassin, you also get 21/day uses of Ghost Step. This ability, combined with HIPS, makes you nigh untouchable: when you attack from HIPS and become a target, activate a Ghost Step until the HIPS cooldown resets. Attack again from Ghost Step, HIPS when you become a target. Repeat until you need to rest! A variant of this could be Phantom 24/Warsling Sniper 6, a WIS-based Zen archer with insane spotting skill potential due to Phantom Ghost Sight.

A Strongheart halfling is actually an ideal race, especially if you're going rogue or phantom. Take point blank shot & rapid shot at level 1 for 2 attacks per round and from then on you're laughing. Seriously, 2 ranged sneak attacks from level 1 is fantastic! I levelled a shortbow-using rogue/sd/oobi this way without dying once from lvl 1-24, only playing solo.

Would AB be an issue for the Ph21/As9 build? Only 22 BAB with the many shot penalty seems kind of grim.

[Max Hatchet]

It's a shame Brutal Throw does not work with slings, otherwise Ranger 30 full STR build (or even Barbarian 30!) would be the way to go.

Fighter 16/Assn 9/Elemental Archer 5, similar to that posted above, is solid in its simplicity. Fighter weapon specs for extra, constant DPS and Manyshot to exploit Death Attack.

Adding sneak attack/death attack (especially the latter due to the Manyshot Bug) is one of the best ways to boost sling DPS. Something like Rogue 16/Assn 9/ Elemental Archer 5 or even Rogue 21/Assn 9 would do fine. Wisdom-based Rogue 19/Monk 3/Assn 8 gets more movement speed for kiting. Ensure you take 17 base DEX for any wisdom/Zen archer build so as to qualify for Manyshot, essential on all ranged builds.

My final suggestions would be building off the Phantom class. Phantom 21/Assn 9 would be devastating. Dex-based for Manyshot juiciness. Not only do you get HIPS from Assassin, you also get 21/day uses of Ghost Step. This ability, combined with HIPS, makes you nigh untouchable: when you attack from HIPS and become a target, activate a Ghost Step until the HIPS cooldown resets. Attack again from Ghost Step, HIPS when you become a target. Repeat until you need to rest! A variant of this could be Phantom 24/Warsling Sniper 6, a WIS-based Zen archer with insane spotting skill potential due to Phantom Ghost Sight.

A Strongheart halfling is actually an ideal race, especially if you're going rogue or phantom. Take point blank shot & rapid shot at level 1 for 2 attacks per round and from then on you're laughing. Seriously, 2 ranged sneak attacks from level 1 is fantastic! I levelled a shortbow-using rogue/sd/oobi this way without dying once from lvl 1-24, only playing solo.

Would AB be an issue for the Ph21/As9 build? Only 22 BAB with the many shot penalty seems kind of grim.

I have a Phantom 25 SD 5 Archer which is similar - better defensively but not better at attacking. The Ph21/As9 is maybe the best offensive sneak attacker you can make? You dont need to use manyshot (I dont) when attacking by sneak so the manyshot pen is not factored.

But thats a sneak attacker. You can either make a close range sneak attacker like that or you can make a long range attacker (or you can make a hybrid) - i also have an elf 25th lvl archer AA/OOBI who doesnt have HIPs

[Tsidkenu]

AB is an issue for rogue Manyshot builds, of course, but that can be remedied with a few clickies: potions of (Greater) heroism, bless and aid and thats +4-6 AB regained.

[Max Hatchet]

i guess with an assassin you do want to use the manyshot, for double death attack

[chad878262]

Warsling Sniper is great with heavy sneak attack damage build as IIRC during testing the ricochet shot will still proc sneak attacks. So out of stealth if you have something like F12/R3/A9/WSS6 you could be hitting 4 targets with death attack and 7d6 sneak/death attack dice. Or you could go R16/A8/WSS6 for more sneak dice and epic dodge and epic precision, but lower AB...

[Tsidkenu]

Chad, does Manyshot work with Riccochet Shot, or are the two independent combat actions?

Epic Precision is a must for any rogue build, mind, ranged or melee. Ranged rogues do not get so much benefit due to the fact that Crippling Strike does not affect ranged sneak attacks, yet it is a prerequisite for must-have Epic Precision.

If you wanted to build something with Wilderness Stalker, how about Rogue 13/Assn 9/ Wilderness Stalker 8? That way you can run in HIPS stealth for ultimate kiting utility.

[chad878262]

If I recall correctly they do Tsid, though would be easy enough for someone with qc access on the server to build a test character. It's been a long while since I tested, but I think I remember ricochet working with many shot and rapid shot...