When they added the Seeker class, they made sure that the Ranger and Seeker powers didn’t stack too easily.  That being said, there are still a few pathways to success.  Mostly involving Stances or other ‘Until the End of the Encounter’ abilities.  In this case, I am mostly focusing on Flying Steel.  It is an ability that lets you take a free basic attack on them at the end of the enemies turn (as long as they don’t have cover).  Tack on that the Seeker has ranged attacks that count as Basic Attacks (Grappling Spirits in this case) and you have some fun times there.

The main focus is to just dole out the damage at long ranges.  Forcing the target to either run after you while it’s slowed, try to run away while it’s slowed, or attempt ranged attacks on you.  Anyway you slice it, it won’t make it fun at all for the enemy.  This is the other side of the Hybrid Combo with staying far away instead of keeping near.

System: DnD 4.0
Class: Hybrid Ranger and Rogue
Level of Build: 8
Books Required: Players Handbook 1 & 3, Martial Power 1 & 2
Build Requirement:  Class Feature – Marauder’s Fighting Style (Hybrid)
Example Character Sheet: Thorn the Sharp

Combining the powers of Sneak Attack and Hunter’s Mark keep the damage rolling out with this character.  A combination of Ranges and Mele attacks that brings in a capable Striker.  Mobility and quick strikes are the focus while trying to keeping in the sweet spot for range.

The three encounter powers go all together to just reap the damage onto a target.  Hurling Charge lets you do a ranged attack with the Trantyr into a Charging Attack.  Jumping Blade Assault lets you replace the basic attack of a charge with it’s own attack.  It also has an effect of knocking the target prone even if you miss.  As they are an attack of each class, you can apply both Sneak Attack and Hunter’s Mark.  Tack on an action point and you can continue the combo with Finishing Cut.  An well named ability as it deals 2 [W] damage normally but adds a 2 [W] more if they are bloodied or prone.  A fine setup, though you use all of your encounter powers in one round.

System: DnD 4.0
Class: Hybrid Fighter and Barbarian
Level of Build: 8
Books Required: Players Handbook 1 & 2, Martial Power 1 & 2
Build Requirement: Class Feature – Brawler Style (Hybrid), Power – Blood Bear Rage, Item – Feral Hide Armor
Example Character Sheet: Melgaroth the Big

Overall, the intention is to grab the strongest looking enemy, pull him out of the crowd or away from your allies, then beat the ever living mercy out of them.  Find something strong enough to take down, you just start up the Blood Bear Rage and just wear the creature you have down.  Why not mark it as a fighter while your at it so it has to hit you out of everyone anyway.

A not required but highly suggested option of this build is to use the Feral Hide Armor, it is found in Dragon Magazine Issue 369.  It grants you Claws as weapons with +3 Proficiency and 1d8 damage.  Use it like a Spiked Gauntlet in your off-hand slot so you can easily switch between the Barbarian two-weapon attacks and the Fighter grapple attacks.  If you don’t have access, then just go for a Spiked Gauntlet.

Feat wise, Inescapable Hold and the item Wrestler’s Gloves make a nice combination.  For this character, any attempted escape is against Fortitude and all items told they have to target a 26.  That and his AC make it a decent struggle against time as to which will down the other first.  An aspect that is taken in great delight by him.

System: DnD 4.0
Class: Hybrid Invoker and Seeker (Multiclass Sorcerer)
Level of Build: 8
Books Required: Players Handbook 2 & 3, Divine Power, Arcane Power
Build Requirement:  Feats – Arcane Prodigy [Multiclass Sorcerer], Item – Armor of Sudden Recovery or Weapon of Transference
Example Character Sheet: Zasheed the Insane

This is probably one of my favorite characters.  I am currently playing a level 4 version in a DnD game right now.  The main focus is that the first set of at-will and encounter powers is all about negating the enemies attacks.  Stack them with other things like a Mark or other debuffs to make your enemy miss.  Use an action point to toss out both the Whispers of Defeat and Flickering Arrow makes for an interesting round.  I verified they stack as one is a Divine power and the other a Primal one.

Step away from the controlling roll and now move to a striker, the other dailies and abilities are intended to kill.  Ongoing damage, ongoing damage and more ongoing damage.  Perfect for setting them up then hitting them with the minus attack powers so they can do nothing but take damage.

The Insane part? Well he is a follower of the Chained One, a god of patient destruction.  He is of the controlled chaos sort, keeping up with random actions so both allies and enemies cannot predict the larger picture of it all.  Well at least that’s his reasoning…

System: DnD 4.0
Class: Hybrid Avenger and Swordmage
Level of Build: 8
Books Required: Players Handbook 2 and 3, Forgotten Realms Player’s Guide
Build Requirement:  Class Feature: Aegis of Assault (Swordmage) and  Oath of Enmity (Avenger)
Example Character Sheet: Kaza the Spiteful

Oddly one of my more simplistic characters.  Target the main big hitter of the enemy group (or solo boss) by marking it with both the Aegis of Assault and Oath of Enmity.  Demolish them with the damage abilities of the Avenger, make them strike at you.  If they don’t, they will pay dearly for doing so.  If they move close to the weak (low Defense) allies, then move them away.

One of the ‘Broken’ bits of this build is that Swordmages can use a weapon (Heavy Blade for this character) as an Implement.  This makes it easier to work with other classes as I no longer have to pull out a Holy Symbol or anything to use the ranged powers with.  I am working on a new idea using this but that will come later.

I added a bunch of defensive items, while the boots and cloak don’t stack each one has a different trigger.  The armor is divine powered and so not as much a Item bonus.  I will have to review them again later to make sure they work with the Stance that helps with the same thing.  The main thing is the cloak can reclaim a transportation encounter power.  Highly useful when you just need that extra power to save an ally from impending death.

System: DnD 4.0
Class: Hybrid Battlemind and Fighter
Level of Build: 8
Books Required: Players Handbook 1 and 3, Martial Power 1 and 2, Eberron Player’s Guide
Build Requirement:  Class Feature – Psionic Defence and Battlerage Vigor ; Feat: Mark of Warding
Example Character Sheet: Garth the Dwarf Friend (2.0)

As before, this is probably my best build that I could come up with for a character focused as a Defender.  Placing Marks on everything he can while having the capability to soak up as much of the damage as possible.  There are some changes to rules from the last build:

Bettlerage Vigor has changed a lot, no longer giving you temp HP every time you get damaged.  Instead each time you hit with any attack, you get some temp HP (stacks onto any HP given by Invigorating fighter powers).  Not as powerful as before but it did need some adjustment.  Still a highly helpful feature to have as far as helping to absorb damage.

Otherwise there have been minor changes to gear and feats to fit with the new rules.  I have attempted to note on the sheet as much as possible the sources, but I am only given so much room to write.  The general build idea is still there either way, but if you have questions on items or other things, just leave a comment below.