Looking to improve Artificer 12/Dark hunter 6/Rogue 2 build

[Bardo]

I'm going to reincarnate into this build. Is there something you would change or is it ok as it is? Am I forgetting something crucial?

goal is playing a ranged character, ranged power based, with lots of sneak attack and imbue dice. I wanted to play a build based in Expanded clip+Sniper shot.
I'd like to take Luck of the Heroes and/or Nimble fingers, both for extra effect in ED trees, but honestly don't know what feats should I remove. I didn't take Nerve poison in Shiradi as it NEVER procs, at least for me.

Classes: 12 Artificer, 10 Epic, 6 Dark Hunter, 2 Legendary, 2 Rogue
Race: Shadar-Kai· · · · · ·Alignment: Chaotic Good

Start Tome Final · · ·Incorp:· · ·0% · · ·Displacement:· ·25%
Str:· · ·8· · 2 · ·10 · · ·HP:· · · · 867 · · ·AC:· · 20
Dex:· · 14· · 5 · ·19 · · ·PRR: · · · · 5
Con:· · 18· · 2 · ·20 · · ·MRR: · · · · 3 · · ·+Healing Amp:· · ·3
Int:· · 18· · 3 · ·30 · · ·Dodge: · ·1/25 · · ·-Healing Amp:· · ·3
Wis:· · ·8· · 2 · ·10 · · ·Fort:· · · 15% · · ·Repair Amp:· · · ·3
Cha:· · ·6· · 2 · · 8 · · ·SR:· · · · · 0 · · ·BAB: · · · · · · 21
DR: 10\Cold Iron
Immunities: Blindness, Energy Drain

Heroic Past Lives
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Past Life: Artificer
Past Life: Rogue

Iconic Past Lives
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Past Life: Deep Gnome
Past Life: Shadar-Kai


Class and Feat Selection
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1 · · Rogue(1)· · · · ·Standard: Single Weapon Fighting
2 · · Dark Hunter(1)· ·Favored Enemy: Favored enemy: Aberration
3 · · Artificer(1)· · ·Standard: Precision
4 · · Artificer(2)· · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
5 · · Artificer(3)· · ·
6 · · Artificer(4)· · ·Standard: Insightful Reflexes
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Artificer Bonus: Point Blank Shot
7 · · Artificer(5)· · ·
8 · · Artificer(6)· · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
9 · · Artificer(7)· · ·Standard: Improved Single Weapon Fighting
10· · Dark Hunter(2)· ·
11· · Dark Hunter(3)· ·
12· · Dark Hunter(4)· ·Standard: Offhand Versatility
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
13· · Dark Hunter(5)· ·Favored Enemy: Favored enemy: Monstrous Humanoid
14· · Artificer(8)· · ·Artificer Bonus: Maximize Spell
15· · Artificer(9)· · ·Standard: Greater Single Weapon Fighting
16· · Artificer(10) · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
17· · Artificer(11) · ·
18· · Artificer(12) · ·Standard: Improved Precise Shot
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Artificer Bonus: Improved Critical: Ranged Weapons
19· · Dark Hunter(6)· ·
20· · Rogue(2)· · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Expanded Clip
22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Perfect Single Weapon Fighting
23· · Epic(3) · · · · ·
24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Overwhelming Critical
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Doubleshot
26· · Epic(6) · · · · ·
27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Combat Archery
28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Harbinger of Chaos
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up
29· · Epic(9) · · · · ·
30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Watchful Eye
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of the Ethereal Plane
31· · Legendary(1)· · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Enhanced Elemental Dice
32· · Legendary(2)· · ·Intelligence: +1 Level up


Granted Feats
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Artificer Rune Arm Use
Evasion
Hide in Plain Sight
Improved Evasion
Magical Training
Watchful Eye
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Enhancements: 80 APs
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Deepwood Stalker - Points spent: 11
Core1 Far Shot
Tier1 Stealthy - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Increased Empathy - 1 Ranks
Core2 Sneak Attack
Tier2 Faster Sneaking - 2 Ranks
Tier2 Survivalist I
Core3 Called Shot: Sniper Shot
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Battle Engineer - Points spent: 36
Core1 Battle Engineer
Tier1 Thaumaturgical Conduits - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Field Engineer - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Weapon Training I: Crossbow Training I
Core2 Infused Weapons I
Tier2 Caustic Strike: Caustic Shot - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Extra Action Boost - 2 Ranks
Tier2 Weapon Training II: Crossbow Training II
Core3 Infused Armor I
Tier3 Ability I: +1 Intelligence
Tier3 Weapon Training III: Crossbow Training III
Tier4 Agility Engine - 3 Ranks
Core4 Infused Weapons II
Tier4 Weapon Training IV: Crossbow Training IV
Tier4 Battle Mastery: Endless Fusilade
Tier5 Unlock Potential
Tier5 Tactical Mobility
Tier5 Reconstructed Armaments: Reconstructed Crossbows
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Harper Agent - Points spent: 8
Core1 Agent of Good I
Tier1 Strategic Combat I
Tier1 Harper Enchantment
Tier2 Know the Angles - 3 Ranks
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Assassin - Points spent: 11
Core1 Knife in the Darkness
Tier1 Sneak Attack Training I
Tier1 Venomed Blades - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Toxin Affinity - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Sneak Attack Training II
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Dark Hunter - Points spent: 14
Core1 Underdark Stalker
Tier1 Sneak Attack Training I
Tier1 Dark Wolf - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Sneak Attack Training II
Tier2 Furor of the Hunter - 3 Ranks
Tier3 Primal Energy - 3 Ranks
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Epic Destinies: 40 APs + 13 permanent Destiny Points
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Shiradi Champion - Points spent: 32
Core1 Fey Favor
Tier1 Prism
Tier1 Good Luck - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Fey Sight - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Shiradi Strike: Hunt's End
Core2 Vision
Tier2 Stay: Stay Strong - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Shiradi Power: Pin
Tier2 Phase Double - 3 Ranks
Core3 Audience with the Queen
Tier3 Improved Shiradi Power: Otto's Whistlery
Tier3 Pierce Deception
Tier3 Double Rainbow
Tier3 Fey Force: Fey Force
Core4 Fey Countenance
Tier4 Fey Form
Tier4 Track
Tier4 Overwhelming Force: Overwhelming Force
Tier5 Lore of the Hunt
Tier5 Epic Moment: Inexorable Advance
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shadowdancer - Points spent: 21
Core1 Shadow Training
Tier1 Stealthy - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Technician - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Dance in the Dark - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Lithe - 3 Ranks
Core2 Step Through Shadows
Tier3 Grim Precision - 3 Ranks
Core3 The Darkest Luck
Tier3 Shadowcaster: Shadowstriker
Core4 Cut to the Soul
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Machrotechnic - Points spent: 8
Core1 Maker's Touch
Tier1 Blast Shields - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Tinker Tailoring - 1 Ranks
Core2 Metamagic Capacitors
Tier2 Rune Arm Use

 

[Djoe]

Funnily enough I don't seem to see you taking an imbue in your write up. I'd suggest going regular ranger instead dark hunter, you would get more imbue dice but lose a few sneak dice. I see you're taking the single-weapon fighting feat line, which serves you no purpose other than extra hp. You could drop that mess to make room for more feats, or at the very least drop off-hand versatility for the other of luck of the heroes / nimble fingers.

 

[Bardo]

I take SWF line for the attack speed. I thought Assassin enhancement gives you an Imbue toggle, Venomed blades, but I could use the Dark hunter Bleed the weak if that is not the case, right?

 

[Djoe]

Oh, right, didn't look at the assassin tree. In general, that one kinda stinks compared even to the artificer one in battle engineer because so many enemies are just immune to poison, you would benefit from taking both and swapping when necessary. The attack speed from single weapon fighting doesn't apply to ranged weapons, only one handed melee weapons like daggers or bastard swords.

 

[unbongwah]

I take SWF line for the attack speed.

That only applies to melee weapons. Your build is also lacking a crit multiplier bonus.

I posted about gnome Artificer 12 / Dark Hunter 6 / rogue 2 here. The idea is to use gnome's +1 crit range bonus with Dark Hunter's +1 crit multiplier, while also picking up Sniper Shot, some sneak attack dice, extra Imbue dice, and +25% Competence bonus to HPs.

 

[Rub-A-Dub-Dub]

Your build is also lacking a crit multiplier bonus.

Core 12 BE now has the crit multi for artificers.

The highest dps version would be gnome with light repeater for crit threat, tier 5 DWS, core 12 BE for crit multi, with electric imbue and rune arm. You won't get the 25% hp and instead trade that for head shot, merciful shot, and 25 AF stacks.

36 DWS, 28 BE, 8 Harper, 9 Assassin for 3 imbue. Go Dark Hunter since there isn't AP to spare in AA.

 

[Bardo]

Core 12 BE now has the crit multi for artificers.

The highest dps version would be gnome with light repeater for crit threat, tier 5 DWS, core 12 BE for crit multi, with electric imbue and rune arm. You won't get the 25% hp and instead trade that for head shot, merciful shot, and 25 AF stacks.

36 DWS, 28 BE, 8 Harper, 9 Assassin for 3 imbue. Go Dark Hunter since there isn't AP to spare in AA.

Infuse weapons (core 12 BE) doesn't increase multiplier, or at leats it doesn't show on character sheet

That only applies to melee weapons. Your build is also lacking a crit multiplier bonus.

I posted about gnome Artificer 12 / Dark Hunter 6 / rogue 2 here. The idea is to use gnome's +1 crit range bonus with Dark Hunter's +1 crit multiplier, while also picking up Sniper Shot, some sneak attack dice, extra Imbue dice, and +25% Competence bonus to HPs.

Wow, this is definitely better than what I was aiming for. Thanks a lot, I like this build a lot.

 

[rabidfox]

Infuse weapons (core 12 BE) doesn't increase multiplier, or at leats it doesn't show on character sheet

It will with the next update; it's one of the changes on the current lam.

 

[unbongwah]

Core 12 BE now has the crit multi for artificers.

Oh, was that on Lama? It's not on Live yet. Did they do anything to buff the BE capstone to make it more worthwhile?

The highest dps version would be gnome with light repeater for crit threat, tier 5 DWS, core 12 BE for crit multi, with electric imbue and rune arm. You won't get the 25% hp and instead trade that for head shot, merciful shot, and 25 AF stacks.

So...you're still using Artificer 12 / Dark Hunter 6 / rogue 2 like my build, just with a different AP spread? Good to know.

 

[Rub-A-Dub-Dub]

Oh, was that on Lama? It's not on Live yet. Did they do anything to buff the BE capstone to make it more worthwhile?

So...you're still using Artificer 12 / Dark Hunter 6 / rogue 2 like my build, just with a different AP spread? Good to know.

Right, just overall better in every way. 40 rp higher when stacked, 20 dshot higher, and has fusilade. But, yeah, your build only improved because it's me making it.

 

[Bardo]

Core 12 BE now has the crit multi for artificers.

The highest dps version would be gnome with light repeater for crit threat, tier 5 DWS, core 12 BE for crit multi, with electric imbue and rune arm. You won't get the 25% hp and instead trade that for head shot, merciful shot, and 25 AF stacks.

36 DWS, 28 BE, 8 Harper, 9 Assassin for 3 imbue. Go Dark Hunter since there isn't AP to spare in AA.

Don't you need 17 ap for deep gnome crit threat range?
Also, I already have crit threat range from t5 BE. What is the point in choosing deep gnome?

My 80 enhancement points would be like this:
15 DWS/34 BE/8 Harper/9 Assassin/14 DH

 

[unbongwah]

Don't you need 17 ap for deep gnome crit threat range?
Also, I already have crit threat range from t5 BE. What is the point in choosing deep gnome?

The goal of that build is +1 crit range from gnome tree, +1 crit multiplier from BE level 12 core, and tier-5 DWS for +20% Doubleshot (Strikes Like Lightning) and Improved Archer's Focus: "Your Archer's Focus Stance can now stack up to 25 times instead of 15. +10 Melee and Ranged Power."

The downside is high AP tax: 17 racial + 24 BE (also Agility Engine for +10% DS +3 Imbue) + 34 DWS + 6 Harper = 81 APs. Not a lot of wiggle room and if you want Endless Fusilade and extra Imbue dice from Assassin too, well, be prepared to grind out those racial PLs if you haven't already.

 

[Bardo]

The goal of that build is +1 crit range from DG tree, +1 crit multiplier from BE level 12 core, and tier-5 DWS for +20% Doubleshot (Strikes Like Lightning) and Improved Archer's Focus: "Your Archer's Focus Stance can now stack up to 25 times instead of 15. +10 Melee and Ranged Power."

The downside is high AP tax: 17 DG + 24 BE (also Agility Engine for +10% DS +3 Imbue) + 34 DWS + 6 Harper = 81 APs. Not a lot of wiggle room and if you want Endless Fusilade and extra Imbue dice from Assassin too, well, be prepared to grind out those racial PLs if you haven't already.

Ok, I see, but I only have 80 enhancement points. No point in trying to dive into deep gnome racial tree.

So, returning to topic: how do I improve my build, with 80 enhancement points? As crit multiplier is moving to core 12 BE I don't need to do anything there, so it seems to me that it all leads to: get t5 in DH or get t5 in BE, for the crit threat range.

DARK HUNTER T5
That would mean 28 BE (Fusillade, BE Agility Engine)/ 35 DH (Threat range, Dark Sight, Ferocity)/ 6 Harper (KYA battle trance)/11 DWS (Sniper shot)
I would give up on +4 Imbue dice, 20 rp and 10% movement speed, in exchange for +10% doubleshot and +25% competence hitpoints. It doesn't sound that great, tbh.

BATTLE ENGINEER T5
Or staying with t5 BE, that would be 34 BE/11 DWS/9 Assassin/6 Harper/14 DH and 6 points to invest in more sneak attack dice, improved Know your angles, or Aimed shot+Thrill of the Hunt. I think that's better, or maybe I'm missing something.

Also, you have explained to me very crystal clear that SWF line doesn't do much for muy build, so: which feats would you take instead? Nimble fingers and Luck of heroes for sure, but still have to pick 2 more of them. Any suggestions?