A Paralyzing Arrows Build

[Lofen]

Ok, so I've had this notion of making a bow build that relies on paralyzing arrows, mostly because I've noticed that the formula does not include ranger levels (it's 10 + Wisdom Bonus + Enchantment DC bonus), which makes it interesting as a 4 level dip is enough to add paralyzing arrows to a build.

Obviously my first thought was wisdom based classes, and while they are wisdom based, they all do very little to help in adding any enchantment DCs to the arrows.
So I've decided to look at it from the other direction, and the one class that does get a decent amount of enchantment DCs is the bard. The spellsinger tree in particular can provide a +7 to enchantment DCs if you commit to tier 5 and at least 12 bard levels.

This brings about the build idea - a support spellsinger bard that is wisdom based, using the spells to buff & heal, while using a bow to CC mobs.
It would probably still be able to land enchantment spells, with some preparation like mind fog / hypnotism etc.

The problems I see are that the damage on the build would suck. also, the build will take a while to get up and running and would probably only come into its own in the later heroics.
And of course, being a bard raises the question why not just go full charisma and use your spell points to CC things with spells instead of the bow, as this would allow using spells for damage, to go along with your CC.

So admittedly while the arrows may do well in paralyzing, we're looking at a gimp here.
Is there a better build out there for getting the most effectiveness out of paralyzing arrows?

 

[unbongwah]

Obviously my first thought was wisdom based classes, and while they are wisdom based, they all do very little to help in adding any enchantment DCs to the arrows.

Law or Trickery domain will provide +4 Enchantment DCs at level 18. Though obviously you'd have to use an elven race for access to the AA tree. But at least the DC bonus is free from the class and not something you need to spend APs on.

I thought I saw a WIS-based ranger using Falconry tree for birb attacks plus Paralyzing Arrows. Could be adapted to cleric instead. Or maybe do Dark Apostate 12 / bard 6 for +6 Enchantment DCs for only 11 APs (SS cores + Yellow Marigold Crown); then some APs into Dark Apostate for Apostate's Curse for when you're not using Paralyzing (i.e., bosses or those immune). I guess last two levels could be Dark Hunter for free Rapid Shot and +3 Assassinate DCs.

Except I guess there's not enough APs for everything since:

• 41 Falconry for Death from Above + capstone
• 14 racial to unlock AA tree and +1 Enchantment DCs
• 26 Arcane Archer for Paralyzing Arrows, +4 Enchantment DCs, and +6 Imbue dice
• 11 Spellsinger for +3 Enchantment DCs
• 8 Dark Hunter for +3 Assassinate DCs
• 3 Dark Apostate for Apostate's Curse

That's 103 APs so even with max racial lives you'd still have to drop something. And it would still have lousy DPS especially while using Paralyzing.

I dunno, just trying to think outside the box here. Been a while since I've seen someone trying to max out Paralyzing Arrows.

 

[unbongwah]

Oh duh just remembered the Kighter maybe you should follow that build.

https://forums.ddo.com/index.php?threads/the-kighter-an-aa-falconry-dws-archer.342/

 

[Silverhilt]

Thanks for the mention, however Paralyze on my build is more of an extra benefit, I do not fully specialize in it. But it works okay here and there 8)

 

[droid327]

Yeah you kinda nailed the issues that have always been the problem with Para Arrows...you give up too much damage to make them work, and there's better CC available if you wanted to be a dedicated CCer. The unique advantage of having "free" CC is rather pointless, since CCers generally dont run out of spell points anyway. Then there's also the issue of being WIS based, when Falconry is already a big AP tax on top of the AP for Para itself, then trying to get actual bow DPS so you can kill things once they're paralyzed.

Monkcher used to be able to kinda make it work since its a WIS class...but those went extinct when they redid Archery feats

I think the best way to do it now would just be stick closer to home for a DPS archer...18 Ranger/1 FvS/1 Barb, WIS based, 22 AA (Para Arrows) 13 Falconry (WIS to dmg+core 3), 41 Horizon Walker, 4 War Soul (WIS trance). Scattershot + Para Arrows would give you some multi-target CC, and you should be able to do better damage. Ranger autogrants will also free you up to take SF/GSF: Enchantment and PL: Wiz, which should give you another +3 to Para. You'll get a lot of mileage from your Favored Enemies, too (Animal and EO are enhancements, plus Marked Target, then probably Lawful Outsider [Reapers], Human, Construct, Undead for +14 damage against FEs).

 

[Lofen]

I think the best way to do it now would just be stick closer to home for a DPS archer...18 Ranger/1 FvS/1 Barb, WIS based, 22 AA (Para Arrows) 13 Falconry (WIS to dmg+core 3), 41 Horizon Walker, 4 War Soul (WIS trance). Scattershot + Para Arrows would give you some multi-target CC, and you should be able to do better damage. Ranger autogrants will also free you up to take SF/GSF: Enchantment and PL: Wiz, which should give you another +3 to Para. You'll get a lot of mileage from your Favored Enemies, too (Animal and EO are enhancements, plus Marked Target, then probably Lawful Outsider [Reapers], Human, Construct, Undead for +14 damage against FEs).

Law or Trickery domain will provide +4 Enchantment DCs at level 18. Though obviously you'd have to use an elven race for access to the AA tree. But at least the DC bonus is free from the class and not something you need to spend APs on.

I thought I saw a WIS-based ranger using Falconry tree for birb attacks plus Paralyzing Arrows. Could be adapted to cleric instead.

Thank you both for the input, from my attempts with the builder those are the only two approaches that resulted in anything that came close to making any sense.

1. A trickery cleric elf with 2 levels of dark hunter, full falconry, playing the AA/falconry CC/debuff game while healing & buffing allies with spells, a no damage support build.
2. A proper ranged dps class with AA and a dip into falconry for the wis damage, leaving enough AP to max another enhancement tree.

the main difference between the spellsinger bard and the trickery cleric is (as unbongwah pointed out) that the bard requires AP to get his enchantment DCs, and you end up being shoehorned into something that I did not find appealing, while the cleric gets the DCs for free (AP wise) and has more flexibility with the trees.

 

[seph1roth5]

I'm not a fan of bow builds (way too damn slow), but when I do I go paralyzing. It's really only viable if you group though. I'll play one in my static group of 4 so I'm not responsible for all the dps. Or, I played one in HC that was mostly ranger with a few barbarian levels for blood tribute. I fully pug in hardcore though, so it was nice to have all that CC.

 

[Coffey]

Thank you both for the input, from my attempts with the builder those are the only two approaches that resulted in anything that came close to making any sense.

1. A trickery cleric elf with 2 levels of dark hunter, full falconry, playing the AA/falconry CC/debuff game while healing & buffing allies with spells, a no damage support build.
2. A proper ranged dps class with AA and a dip into falconry for the wis damage, leaving enough AP to max another enhancement tree.

the main difference between the spellsinger bard and the trickery cleric is (as unbongwah pointed out) that the bard requires AP to get his enchantment DCs, and you end up being shoehorned into something that I did not find appealing, while the cleric gets the DCs for free (AP wise) and has more flexibility with the trees.

You can take a level of monk for water stance +4 WIS when you want to CC and sun stance and an imbue for when you want to max damage.

 

[Coffey]

If you want to use monk stances with a bow you will need to take the feat Zen Archery to stay centered with a bow. This frees up 2 AP from the Falconry tree because this feat gives WIS to hit as well.