User:Gwledig/Build: R/Any Barrage Protector

The basic concept of a 'Barrage Protector' is to provide versitile fighting support for a group, switching tactically between regular distanced bow attacks for focused or Barrage attacks, then close combat for unavoidable melee defense and caster protection. Close combat is acheived using either a melee weapon (very fast attack rate with reasonable damage) and/or a Shortbow (moderate close combat attack rate but higher damage options).

Central to this build is to have just a few regular bow attacks (e.g. Barrage, Sloth Hunter's Shot) whilst remaining skills are generic for combat buffs and survival, such as I am the Strongest, Whirling Defense and Lightning Reflexes.

Attributes and Skills
The following skills should roughly be common to any Barrage Protector build, to take advantage of at least one high damage focused bow attack and survival skills:

[build prof=range/any expert=12+2 Marksmanship=12+4][Barrage][Sloth Hunter's Shot][Whirling Defense][Lightning Reflexes][optional][optional][optional][optional][/build]

Variant 1 - Bow only

This version of the build allows for switching between a Shortbow for rapid (but lower range) close fighting and a long range bow (such as Longbow) for strategic pulling or distance bow attacks, stat points can be focused on ranger stats or redistributed to a secondary profession with a wide range of possible skill strategies.

Variant 2 - Bow and Melee weapon

This version of the build allows for the most weapon versiitility but requires the secondary profession to be a melee class such as Warrior, Dervish, Assassin or similar martial profession. Using this class you can use the same distanced and close range bow attacks in the first variant, using shortbow and long range bow, but can also switch to a melee weapon to benefit from higher attack rate and therefore potentially higher DPS at close range. If using a melee weapon, you will need to distribute at least 10 points to this skill (e.g. swordsmanship) and should take particular care to use generic buff skills whcih can be used for bow or melee attacks such as I am the Strongest or Whirling Defense.

Optional Skills:
If you choose to use only bows for distance or close range fighting, the optional slots will be open to any class/skill combination, if you choose to use a melee weapon as part of your close combat style, your remaining optional slots will be determined by your secondary martial class (Warrior, Assassin etc.).

You should include at least one Knockdown, Slowing or Crippling skill to break down fighter attacks on yourself or casters, such as:

[You Move like a Dwarf] [Pin Down] [Earthquake] [Meteor Shower] [Brawling Headbutt] [Bane Signet] [Caltrops] [None Shall Pass!]

Suggestions for other survival, healing, evasion, area-damage or attack buffs:

[I am the strongest] [drunken master] [Zojun's Haste] [Throw dirt] [Ebon Vanguard Assassin Support] [Healing Signet] [Light of Deldrimor] [Snow Storm] [Protector's Defense] [Ward against melee] [Armor of Frost] [Shroud of Distress]

Example Barrage Protector using Bow and Sword (for reliable moderate and fast damage):

[build prof=range/warri sword=10 expert=10+2 Marksmanship=12+3 Tactics=1][I am the strongest][Barrage][Sloth Hunter's Shot][Whirling Defense][Lightning Reflexes][You Move Like a dwarf][Light of Deldrimor][Healing Signet][/build]

Example Barrage Protector using Bow and Daggers (for lower damage than sword but possibility of doublestrike and Shadow Arts assassin skills):

[build prof=range/assassin expert=10+2 Marksmanship=11+4 Dagger=10 Shadow=1][I am the strongest][Barrage][Sloth Hunter's Shot][Whirling Defense][Lightning Reflexes][caltrops][Light of Deldrimor][Shroud of Distress][/build]

Equipment
You need to balance runes and inscriptions reflecting how much you want to use high energy skills or buff your armour and life points. Energy runes and inscriptions will allow you to maintain stances such as Whirling Defense.

An example set of runes and inscriptions used for this build:


 * Helmet - Radiant Insignia (+1 Energy), Rune of Superior Marksmanship (+3 Marksmanship)
 * Body armour - Radiant Insignia (+3 Energy), Rune of Major Expertise (+2 Expertise)
 * Gloves - Stalwart Insignia (+10 physical armour), Rune of Superior Vigor (+50 health)
 * Leggings - Radiant Insignia (+2 Energy), Rune of Attunement (+2 Energy)
 * Boots - Stalwart Insignia (+10 physical armour), Rune of Attunement (+2 Energy)

In addition to your regular bow you'll need a close combat weapon (such as a suitable melee weapon for a martial secondary class, and/or a Shortbow, unless Shortbow is already your main bow). If you use a melee weapon you should bear in mind you can still take advantage of both a long range bow and shortbow for long and medium distance enemies respectively (effectively switching between three weapons depending on the combat circumstances). Bonuses to improve the damage you inflict and survivability should be used such as:


 * 'Damage +15% while Health is above 50%' ('Strength and Honor Inscription' or inherant bonus).
 * 'Energy +5' (I Have the Power inscription or inherant bonus).
 * 'Armour Penetration 20%' (Sundering Prefix or inherant bonus).
 * 'Health +30' (Fortitude Suffix or inherant bonus).

Usage
There are several fighting styles which can be used interchangably using the different weapons available in this Build:


 * Use barrage on groups from a distance using your damage buff (e.g. I am the Strongest).
 * Focus on an individual enemy with bow attacks (e.g. Sloth Hunter's Shot)
 * For normal ranged bow attacks switch between longer range bow (e.g. Longbow) for enemies at a distance or Shortbow for closer enemies (more rapid fire but lower range).
 * Switch to close combat weapon (melee or Shortbow) to defend in situations where escape is unviable or where a caster is under threat by warriors.

If you are defending yourself, or protecting casters in a melee rush, use the following example skills in this approximate order:


 * Use a knockdown skill such as You Move Like a Dwarf use this first to knock down, damage and cripple enemy fighter.
 * Decide if you can pull back for regular ranged attacks or if you need to defend with close combat weapon (melee or Shortbow) e.g. if slowed or casters are also unable to flee etc...
 * Use a weapon buff such as I am the Strongest (14-20 extra damage for 5-8 hits).
 * Before attacking, use survival skills such as Whirling Defense avoid attacks (75%) and hex enemy (attacker takes damage of 5-11).
 * If you have it, for damage on attacking groups use Area of Effect spells such as Snow Storm (1 second cast time) and/or Light of Deldrimor for Area of Effect damage (45-80 holy damage).
 * If you have it, use a self-healing skill such as Healing Signet to self heal as required.
 * You will constantly need to decide when to withdraw from close combat and switch to regular distanced attacks.
 * Sustained attacking and using knockdown, interrupt or similar slowing skills such as You Move Like a Dwarf) should allow casters to escape then support or heal you.
 * By this time the group should have rallied and taken control of the situation.

Counters

 * Heavy melee attack.
 * Interrupts.

Variants

 * Generic skills affecting ranged or melee attacks such as Drunken Master (for generic movement and attack speed bonus), Poison Tip Signet.
 * Specialist skills for melee or ranged combat, depending on the desired balance between these two fighting styles, e.g. Sever Artery, Hunter's Shot.
 * Healing skills such as Antidote Signet.
 * knockdown skills such as You Move Like a Dwarf to knockdown, cripple and damage an enemy figher for better escape opportunities.
 * If a melee weapon is used you can also consider equipping a special focus item (such as the Bison Cup with armour and other bonuses) or a shield with benefit of (+16) armour (by increasing the Tactics stat) and other bonuses.
 * Increased Tactics will also improve the effect of Healing Signet and allow for additional Tactics stances such as Deadly Riposte.
 * Secondary class such as Assassin for Shadow Arts skills, Monk (self or party healing skills), Bonding etc. or other classes.