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Hey guys Orignally I was trying to make a Ranger, Seeker or Hunter more controlly because a player asked me to help him with making a controller that uses a Bow and has an Arcane feel to it....I'm still doing that but it dawned on me that maybe it would be easier to make a Controller that uses a bow.

I still don't know the answer but here's what I came up with. (Here's the other build thread community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...)

 I have NO idea what to do for the Paragon Path and I have left the 10th feat slot open in case a multiclass feat is needed for a good one....Lastly ignore the stats just me checking out stat pre-reqs for feats.

Now along with the request for a bow the player would also much prefer to be an elf (Eladrin, Elf, Half-Elf,etc.) but I'm open to suggestion if other races have more synergy (aside from having Int/Wis as a racial boost)

Here's the party (all are currently Lvl 6) the player will be with most of the time (other players come sometimes but these are the regualrs)

- Thri-Kreen Monk that focuses on being able to use multiple FoBs and boosting the damage they deal as much as possible including by changing it into ongoing damage and taking mostly multi-hit/target attacks

- Paladin|Warlock focused on mounted charging combat and has been built thusly....a major damage dealer and an adequete defender (has mostly immediate reactions abilities primarly using Virtuous Strike when charging although Paladin's Wrath+Decree of Khirad is a Deadly Combo)

- Pixie Ardent focused on making everyone around her that much more awesome...primarily rides on the Paladin (Teeny target Feat)

- An Avenger which focuses on insane accuracy and crit-fishing (I didn't build this one)


Anyways here's the build...I'm open to any suggestion as long as it has the "Arcane Archer" feel and is viable...preferably able to keep up with the rest of the party.

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Althaea, level 11
Elf, Artificer|Wizard
Hybrid Artificer: Hybrid Artificer Will
Elf Subrace: Wild Elf
Select option: Subtle Step
Select option: Group Awareness
Background: Durpar (Durpar Benefit)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 15, Con 15, Dex 16, Int 25, Wis 20, Cha 15.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 14, Con 14, Dex 13, Int 20, Wis 17, Cha 14.


AC: 22 Fort: 17 Reflex: 22 Will: 22
HP: 66 Surges: 8 Surge Value: 16

TRAINED SKILLS
History +17, Perception +19, Arcana +17, Dungeoneering +15, Religion +17

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +8, Bluff +7, Diplomacy +7, Endurance +7, Heal +10, Insight +10, Intimidate +7, Nature +12, Stealth +8, Streetwise +7, Thievery +8, Athletics +7

FEATS
Level 1: Bow Caster (house ruled to work with all Arcane abilities)
Level 2: Improved Initiative
Level 4: Weapon Proficiency (Greatbow)
Level 6: Bow Expertise
Level 8: Mark of Storm

POWERS
Hybrid at-will 1: Beguiling Strands
Hybrid at-will 1: Magic Weapon
Hybrid encounter 1: Illusory Obstacles
Hybrid daily 1: Sleep
Hybrid utility 2: Shield
Hybrid encounter 3: Shocking Feedback
Hybrid daily 5: Smokepowder Blast
Hybrid utility 6: Energy Conversion
Hybrid encounter 7: Gale-Force Infusion
Hybrid daily 9: Mirage Arcana
Hybrid utility 10: Blur

Items: No idea but get to start with a lvl 5, 6 & 7 item since thats what eveyoone started with as well as a lvl 8 item because he won the roll for it in last weeks campaign

====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======

Artificers are well suited for crossbows, that's actually the optimal choice for them much of the time.

Not a controller obviously. But a hybrid Artificer|Wizard could be pretty powerful if you build it right.

Aug 30, 2012 -- 5:27PM, Alcestis wrote:

No Arcane classes really benefit from wielding a bow. If you insist on having on actually being Arcane, rather than fluffing another power source as Arcane, best advice would be to be a straight Wizard and pick up Ki Focus prof (either via theme or an MC). Hold a hand crossbow. Fluff that all your attacks come from the bow. Done.

You can actually use a Shortbow to make Divine attacks with some investment via Moonbow Dedicate. Invokers are good controllers. You'll be a feat behind for no real good reason, but it'd work.

I know its not optimal its a special request from a player I'm trying to help with but the archery in general is not something I have much experience with in 4e and having that further limit is making it even worse so I'm hoping the char-op forums can help me get it optimized as much as possible within those constraints...on that note I never said it had to be an Arcane Class just have an arcane feel so Invoker would probably work, I just find Wizard to be a strong controller so I figured it was a good start.

Aug 30, 2012 -- 5:35PM, ThatWasTotallyNinja wrote:

Artificers are well suited for crossbows, that's actually the optimal choice for them much of the time.

Yeah X-Bow is good to and easily chan ged to that...I plan on suggesting it to the player


Bow Caster -> X-Bow Caster (Again house-ruled to work with any Arcane ability)
Great Bow -> Superior Xbow
Bow Expetise -> Xbow Expertise

than fit Fusilade in there somewhere and presto chang-o Xbow user

I made a build a while back that tried to emulate one of the first characters I ever made which happened to be an Arcane Archer.  It's not really Char-Op material, but it stood on it's own pretty well as a striker, rather than controller.  I'll look for it (I'm horrible at keeping track of build-names, as I sometimes just type random characters to save a build!) and if it's complete or even functional in my offline builder, I'll copy it over.

EDIT:  Found it. It sucks and is looks like I've changed it from the version I played.  Not copying it.  :P

The basic gist of it was a Sorc|Ranger dex/cha and Moonbow Dedicate.  It was a lot of hoops to jump through for really no mechanical gain, but it felt very similar to the original prestige class to me.  I think my original build used the hybrid talent for prime shot, for Prime Burst in heroic and Called Shot in paragon.  Blazing Starfall was refluffed to a fire/radiant swarm of arrows.  I wasn't able to pick up Morninglord, but that would've been the paragon path of choice I believe.