Archer Cross Classing IdeasFollow

Ok, I know there isn't much information to go off of currently but I'd still like to see what everyone else plans to do with their Archers.
Most of this is going off the notion that we can mix classes and will only have a set number of hot keys in which to select certain abilities at a time. Like someone one said on another forum on here, it's like setting blu spells in 11.
At first I was going to choose a DoM class to mix but I decided not to as what MP my Archer does have will be used up on Replenish. So I thought I'd go with Pugilist for the added abilities; Chakra, which I think would be great for healing assuming archer can get a ok amount of tp. Steal, just because I like taking things from mobs. And Featherfoot to help my Archer stay alive with some added evasion.
I might go with Lancer too if I just wanted to go all damage dealing.
I don't really want to mix in to many class as I'd rather focus my character on being a 'king of few traits' rather then a 'jack of all traits'. I know alot of people like being varistal but I just didn't want to spread my Archer thin with all the classes.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were minimal penalties from mixing within ones own discipline (so within DoW in this case) but with added penalties if mixing from others (probably along the lines of say.. cure is no longer aoe or cone attacks are now single target and such... personally I'm hoping that the puglists stances are an actual ability, being able to push your stance fowards to improve ranged attack power too would be epic ^^

I think the issue with mixing archer and DoM attacking skills together would be range. From the SE pictures that I have seen, the archer range is behind that of the casters, so you would have to be moving from ideal archer range to cast spells. Not too mention that the DoM skills will already be weaker since you are a different class. I think you would gimp your DD ability by trying to do both.

Personally from what I have read I am gonna try to combine some Lancer abilities. I am thinking TP generation and still maintaining a decent distance from the fight will help a lot.

hmm, i was going to go archer, then take out my gladiator gear for close defence and ensurance of non death :)

but how u guys speak of it, classes seem to fuse, so maybe i will have to rethink this one, probably conjuror, i like range, dmg, healing idea, and gladiator for intense defence.

Right now im archer with these other class skills: second wind (pugilist) and bloodbath (marauder). It's working very well for solo play, little to no downtime at all.

But when the game goes live I'll probably go archer/lancer/marauder skills. But mostly Archer/Lancer. TP regen would be bad ass. I hate how shadowbind requires TP now. you cant open up pulls with root ><.

Best I can tell Ferocity and Raging strike do stack. I have seen higher damage in every test I have done with them. I've not had 1000's of iterations so its possible that they don't but for my hack testing I'm under the impression that they do stack together.

Second wind is nice. It is mainly an emergency/reduce downtime heal with archer stats set in. At 16 it heals me for 115. So no great heal but it may keep me from dying.

Early on having too many mage things statted is rough cause you only get to equip a certain point value amount of skills. Outside of that you cant equip the mage mana restores so mana may be in short supply.

Other than that I'm doing what you are doing. I have not setup to get Bloodbath yet. I have a macro for ferocity>Raging Strike>Hawk's eye. I find that I miss that power shot often without hawk's eye.

That is my only complaint with archer. I'm wearing acc gear I have played with more dex less dex etc etc. I still miss too often on DC and above. I'm looking into the accuracy issue right now. Hopefully I find a good answer. Missing makes this powerful class almost useless when compared to a Con. My advice: Especially after 10 get your accuracy up and spring for those higher accuracy items/bows/arrows. They make all the difference. Just the difference in arrows with the higher accuracy is amazing.

Hopefully that info helps you a little. I'm still learning much in the way of hidden/unlisted attribute effects in this game so maybe I'll have more to say on it later.



Edited, Sep 10th 2010 1:05am by zoltanrs

The only downside to that is waiting for initial cooldowns after spell equips

you have to base your classes off who you play with ... the game is too fresh to figure it all out right now.. keep testing ... raging strike and ferocity works..archer / lancer so far... very good togeher.. too bad speed surge is lancer only..