Arcane Scout

From Townstons

This hybrid build can be regarded either as a Ranger with good magic skills, or as a Mage carrying a ranged weapon! It requires dividing your attribute points and bonuses between endurance, agility and intellect.

1 Attributes
2 Equipment
3 Basic Skills
4 Strategy
5 Advantages and disadvantages

Attributes

You need to carefully balance your attributes between three areas for this hybrid. You need Agility for the ranged weapon, Intelligence for the spells, and basic Endurance. This build has no use whatsoever for strength. If you play it as a Ranger with spells, then load up Agility. If you plan to be a mage with a ranged weapon, then load up on Intelligence.

Equipment

Weapon: The first and foremost requirement for this build is to have a good ranged weapon. D'habl'u Ti'eff or Demon Sniper are great rainbows, or at least a strong purple Thorn Tosser. Of course you can also choose to use a BFG if that is your preference.

Armor: I like a light ranger armor for this one, but if you add Crystal boots, gloves and shoulders you get good def and endurance from them.

Jewelry The idea is to get your endurance from your jewelry, so you can concentrate on Agi and Int for the basic points.

Basic Skills

Offensive:

	Trigger Finger Frenzy	I put this one on the left button, so that as soon as I fire my first shot it is activated. If you are more mage oriented, you could put one of the elemental bolts on this button.
	Shadow Lightning	This one goes on the right button. That way it will zap everytime it is ready, with regular shots in between. You could also put an elemental bolt on this button.
	Ring of Fire	This is my principal AoE spell. You could substitute Gaseous Blast if you like that better.

Buffs:

	Monster Bait	Every good ranger needs to use this one as the first Buff.
	Resistance or Ward	I like Poison Resistance for my second Buff, but you can suit it to the dungeon you are working.

Passives:

	Trigger Happy	This is the basic Ranger Passive.
	Mental Prowess	The basic Mage Passive.

Additional Skills

	Fear Shot	This one is good to get a big boy. You could also use Putrid Penetration or Shiver Shot here.
	Righteous Stomp	Once in a while this will get you out of a tight spot. Any other AoE spell could go here too.
	Bling Gnome	Pope Sweet Geebus goes with me wherever I run! Of course, if you dont' have, or don't like, the Bling Gnome you have an available space here.

Strategy

Ranger with spells: The best plan it to throw Monster Bait first. Then you can zap the biggest opponent with a quick Fear Shot or Putrid Penetration, and then start pumping the ranged weapon into them. As they break away from the bait, Shadow Lightning will clear a lot of them out, and if you do get surrounded you have Ring of Fire waiting for them. Essentially all the spells are used as back up and additional damage to the ranger weapon.

Mage with ranged weapon: Again you can throw Monster Bait, then begin blasting Fire Bolt and Shadow Lightning. You can conserve mana by using the ranged weapon alternating with spells. The plan here is that if you run down your mana, you have that nice ranged weapon to fire instead of some silly little stick in your hand!

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

This hybrid can overcome some of the disadvantages of regular rangers or mages.
You have a good chance of staying away from the mobs and avoiding direct damage.
Whichever you use as your basic skill, you have a good backup.
You don't need heavy armor so you can maintain mobility.

Disadvantages:

You are splitting your attribute points between three areas, instead of just two.
You can be in trouble if you get surrounded.