PDK Inquisitive build advice

[SylvanPhoenix]

I'd like advice on an inquisitive build for a PDK iconic past life. For my next PDK life, I'd like to get the Ranger class for heroic completionist. My current thinking is to go with a ranger/fighter/arti split. From what I've read, I should go 6 fighter so I can have core 3 Kensei. At least 2 arti but should I go for more? Should I go Ranger or Dark Hunter? 12 levels of ranger or just 9? Thanks!

 

[Phaedra]

I'd like advice on an inquisitive build for a PDK iconic past life. For my next PDK life, I'd like to get the Ranger class for heroic completionist. My current thinking is to go with a ranger/fighter/arti split. From what I've read, I should go 6 fighter so I can have core 3 Kensei. At least 2 arti but should I go for more? Should I go Ranger or Dark Hunter? 12 levels of ranger or just 9? Thanks!

6 fighter/6 arti/8 ranger if Darkhunter
6 fighter/5 arti/9 ranger if standard (for evasion)

 

[Striga]

I wouldn't go so deep into Fighter. Kensai third core critical multiplier does not stack with Inquisitive. And with Ranger and Artificer you will have plenty feats.

You have a lot of options!
* Do you value some decent heals? Ranger 15 brings CSW and FOM.
* AP is tight? Artificer 6+ to pick up Insightful Damage.
* Artificer 9 allows you to self-cast Greater Elemental Weapons. 1/9/10

If you plan more Inquisitive lives, go Ranger for +2 damage in future lives. If you don't value Evasion that much OR you can wait until Shadowdancer Evasion kicks in, Dark Hunter should have extra sneak attack and perhaps imbue dice.

Definitely pick up Shoot First and that AoE shot from T3 Battle Engineer.

 

[SylvanPhoenix]

Thanks to both of you for the thoughts. I'm now about to TR into this build. I have a few remaining questions to help me decide how to split out the levels.

I'm looking at Ranger 10 / Arti 9 / 1 Fighter or Ranger 10/ Arti 6 / 4 Fighter. I am going for the Ranger past life so no Dark Hunter this time around.

So far, going higher than 10 in Ranger doesn't seem better than having more Arti and Fighter levels. The main advantage to 4 fighter levels seems to be 2 Second Winds and 3 bonus feats. Right now, I plan to grab haste boost out of Kensei but that's it for fighter trees.

Since I'll have at least 6 levels of Arti, I won't need to go too heavily into Harper since I'll have the Insightful Damage buff so I'm looking at 8 points for KtA. 41 for Inquisitivie (duh).

Some builds suggest going to deep DWS, like 25 points worth. I was looking it over and was a bit underwhelmed. The first two cores give sneak attack dice. I'm guessing Sniper Shot out of the 3rd core is worth it? Killer seems to be the main gain as 20% doubleshot if you can build up the stacks. Am I missing something else?

You mentioned getting Shatter Defenses (the AOE shot) in BE. That'll require at least 13 points in BE so I can't go 25 into DWS. So the question is Killer worth skipping on getting to tier 3 BE for another AOE? Does BE's weapon training stack with Inquisitive's?

Finally, how does PDK's Sniper in tier 2 stack up against these trees? I have 6 racial APs, so I can get part of it without taking away from my main trees. Would 2 more points from the above trees be worth maxing out Sniper?

Thanks!

 

[Phaedra]

Some builds suggest going to deep DWS, like 25 points worth. I was looking it over and was a bit underwhelmed. The first two cores give sneak attack dice. I'm guessing Sniper Shot out of the 3rd core is worth it? Killer seems to be the main gain as 20% doubleshot if you can build up the stacks. Am I missing something else?

You mentioned getting Shatter Defenses (the AOE shot) in BE. That'll require at least 13 points in BE so I can't go 25 into DWS. So the question is Killer worth skipping on getting to tier 3 BE for another AOE? Does BE's weapon training stack with Inquisitive's?

Finally, how does PDK's Sniper in tier 2 stack up against these trees? I have 6 racial APs, so I can get part of it without taking away from my main trees. Would 2 more points from the above trees be worth maxing out Sniper?

Thanks!

You get a few other things from DWS: SA range (should stack with sniper), SA dice, hp and prr.

Switching points into BE gives you another AoE shot, which could be much more valuable depending on your playstyle. Weapon Training should stack, but competence bonuses to crit threat/mult won't (or that would be a big point in favor of DWS) Going deep into BE could get you 10% doubleshot and 3 more imbue dice (T4)

 

[woq]

41 inquis 23 be 7-13 harper, go to town. Level split not a big consideration. Treat them as whatever their class levels provide (evasion, feats, weapon spec unlocking, arti spells, arti feats); ignore majority of their tree granted bonuses. Minimum 4 arti for the BE tree powers.

Edit: yes, do put 2 points to sniper. It's good.