Your thoughts on a Rit/R

Hello everyone!

After reading many posts, I thought I could ask you guys for some advice. I love my Rit to death and recently spent 150k on armor just because I love her that much!
The thing is... I think I am using the wrong build.
My ritualist is currently using this build, with a few minor changes:

http://www.pvxwiki.com/wiki/Build:Rt/D_Spirit_Scythe

I like using a weapon and using weapon spells on myself, I am not much of a healer rit and I am too lazy to spawn an army of spirits.

The thing with this build is, even though I deal about 80-150 dmg a swing, I die pretty fast because Rit are not Warriors and therefore can't tank. Even with a sup vigor rune and vital weapon... they are not tanks and die fast when in the frontline. Specially because, being in the frontline makes me one of the main targets and the mobs can interrupt my weapon spell when I recast it, which pretty much makes my Ghost Forge armor go to hell.

So after much thinking (and crying because I spent a whole day killing Acolyte of Dwayna just to get the stupid scythe), I decided to, maybe try and use the weapon spells I love so much and be a secondary ranger.This way I can spike from the backline/midline, the warriors will tank and probably survive better than I do, and the monks can focus on healing the tanks and not worrying about the squishy, attempting suicide at the front.

Before I go and just waste a ton of gold on spells, runes and a good bow, what do you guys think? Will it work? Is it that good?
Are you fairly successful with a Rit/R? Any skills, builds or nice combos you have tried and succeeded with?
Any bows you recommend?

Thanks in advance

Spirit's strength is not particulary effective with a scythe. It only provides around 37 DPS, albeit in an area, and you don't get to use a shield.

For defenses on such a build, ghost forge insignia, great dwarf armor, and a shield give you 106 AL, which should be ok most of the time. If you really want to run spirit's strength, I suggest running an axe (for the AoE attacks and deep wound) or a spear (to beat up things from far away). Both provide roughly 60 DPS on single targets.

Spirit's strength doesn't syngergize particularly well with bows, thanks to their slow attack speed and low base damage. Some people use volley, splinter weapon, and strength together, but it's clunky to use.

I'd suggest running [skill]barrage[/skill] and [skill]splinter weapon[/skill] together along with PvE skills and other channeling junk gives you some hefty AoE damage along with some space for toys.

Well Splinter Barrage is an awesome set up for PVE. But I always lay at least one spirit for some of the skills to work.

I usually use zealous bow and the following skills

[skill]barrage[/skill] [skill]splinter weapon[/skill] [skill]Warmonger's Weapon[/skill] [skill]bloodsong[/skill] [skill]essence strike[/skill] [skill]Wielder's Strike[/skill] [skill]mend body and soul[/skill] [skill]flesh of my flesh[/skill]

Not to much of an investment and heavy damage in PVE

"I Am The Strongest!" + Splinter Weapon + Barrage for AoE
Nightmare Weapon + Triple shot for hefty lifesteal
Sometimes I bring Air of Superiority for kicks, along with a res and 1 optional skill.

Thank you so much for your output, I will def try a Rit/R!

What about favorable winds with spirit spells? I thought about it just because of the attack speed.

I use blood song because it adds another ally in play and you already will have max in channeling. Favorable winds will work but you will have a long recharge and a short spirit life. Winds adds damage but IMO blood song is better it can self heal and steal a lot of health from foes if left unchecked.

Favorable Winds is only good if the number of rangers on your team outnumber the rangers on the opposing team.

Which, in PvE, is not often.

Just started playing around with it. I absolutely love it
Mobs don't hit me, I never die, the damage is great!
With a few changes in my skillbar I am able to adapt to almost every situation.

Thanks guys! My investment was worth it (and a small investment at that).

Oh, and when barraging, bring a zealous bow, no expertise sucks .