This character is an update to my Shadow of the Underdark builds. It is designed for low to mid magic settings where devastating critical is banned. I dropped elf for human, eliminating the XP penalty, and hence I felt that the name no longer applied. The original build had both a melee and ranged combat focus. This build has focused in melee, picking up the knockdown feats and toughness, in exchange for ranged capability. The build is still a competent archer, 41 AB with a bow (43 vs. FEs) but he doesn't have rapid shot anymore. I felt that the build could use some extra damage so I went for the short sword instead of the mace for the better critical threat range. If you prefer to use a mace, drop improved critical, drop improved knockdown down to level 9 and pick up blind-fight at 12. The build has 7 favored enemies, enough to cover all the sneak attack immune racial groups and a 7D6 sneak attack, for the sneak vulnerable. Unfortunately Pale Masters will prove a great problem for this build once the sneak immunity is implemented (too bad there is not pale master racial group, or half-dragon racial group for that matter).
Advantages
-Hide in Plain Sight. Sure taking one level of shadowdancer seems cheap, but the 3.5 ranger does get HiPS as a feat. Always a useful ability. -7D6 Sneak attack. This is good extra damage, which this build desparately needs, against the sneak attack vulnerable. With HiPs and Improved Knockdown, he doesn't have much trouble getting sneak attacks either. -7 Favored Enemies and Bane of Enemies. He gets 6+2D6 bonus damage and +2 to attack against these racial groups. They should be chosen to eliminate those enemies who are immune to sneak attacks. -Improved Evasion and good reflex saves against spells. -Epic Dodge. Unfortunately his AC isn't stellar, but if uses a shield and scroll of improved invisibility in a +5 environment he should be pretty hard to hit. -Fair AB for a dual wielder. A 42 is good for this mix of classes, but it could be better. -Level 4 Ranger Spells. They aren't great but aid, freedom of movement, camoflage, greater magic fang and polymorph self (turn into a troll to heal damage when you can't rest) can be useful. -Use Magic Devices. He can use scrolls and wands to suplement his abilities.
Disadvantages
-Poor damage per hit. An enemy with DR will pose a problem for this character. Hopefully, he can find a weapon with bonus elemental damage (or a cleric or mage to cast darkfire or flame weapon) so that he can nickel and dime them to death. -Low fortitude and will saves.
Blade of the Wilderness
Race Human
Alignment Any
Base Attribute STR 10 DEX 16 CON 14 WIS 14 INT 14 CHA 8
AC 28 (29) (No items, no Buffs) 53 (54) (+12 to dexterity, +5 robes of the shining hand, +5 amulet of natural armor, +5 ring of protection, boots of speed) 61 (62) (As above but with +5 tower shield)
Skillpoint Distribution Level 1: D 4, H 4, MS 4, S 4, ST 4, Sc 2, Sp 4 Level 2: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sp 1, Save 3 Level 3: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1, Save 4 Level 4: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sp 1, Save 7 Level 5: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1, Save 8 Level 6: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sp 1, Save 11 Level 7: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1, Save 12 Level 8: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sp 1, Save 15 Level 9: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1, Save 16 Level 10: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sp 1, Save 19 Level 11: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1, Save 20 Level 12: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sp 1, Save 23 Level 13: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1, Save 24 Level 14: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sp 1, Save 27 Level 15: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1, Save 28 Level 16: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sp 1, Save 31 Level 17: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1, Save 32 Level 18: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sp 1, Save 35 Level 19: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1, Save 36 Level 20: D 1, H 1, MS 1, Sp 1, Save 39 Level 21: H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1, T 24, UMD 21 Level 22: H 1, MS 1, S 7, Sp 1, T 1 Level 23: H 1, MS 1, S 3, Sc 1, Sp 1, T 1 Level 24: D 4, H 1, MS 1, Sp 1 Level 25: H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1, T 1, UMD 5 Level 26: H 1, MS 1, S 2, ST 3, Sp 1, T 2, save 1 Level 27: D 3, H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1 Level 28: H 1, MS 1, S 1, Sp 1, T 2, UMD 5 Level 29: H 1, MS 1, S 3, ST 2, Sc 1, Sp 1, T 1 Level 30: D 3, H 1, MS 1, S 1, Sp 1 Level 31: H 1, MS 1, S 2, ST 2, Sc 1 Sp 1, T 2 Level 32: DT 2, H 1, MS 1, S 2, ST 2, Sp 1, T 1, Save 1 Level 33: D 3, H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1 Level 34: H 1, MS 1, S 1, Sp 1, T 2, UMD 5 Level 35: DT 5, H 1, MS 1, S 2, Sp 1, T 1 Level 36: D 3, H 1, MS 1, S 1, Sp 1 Level 37: DT 4, H 1, MS 1, S 2, Sp 1, T 2 Level 38: DT 2, H 1, MS 1, S 1, Sp 1, UMD 5 Level 39: DT 8, H 1, MS 1, Sp 1 Level 40: D 4, H 1, MS 1, Sp 1 _________________ Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
Edited By griphook on 06/03/05 15:03
Just three things Mith:
1. You have in both your exposition and in your AB calculations +2AB listed in regards to Bane. I thought that the +2 from Bane stacks with the +1 with FE, thus actually granting a +3 AB net gain.
2. Toughness: arguably the right choice. But better than Expertise for a Defensive build that has "Hidden Offensive Potential"? Just a thought.
3. 1 level of SD: granted this gives you HiPS, but also adds some cheese. What if you took Bard instead? You get to pump Spellcraft, gain an instant +1AB/Damage, and you can drop Dodge and Mobility for some more useful Feats. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
1. You have in both your exposition and in your AB calculations +2AB listed in regards to Bane. I thought that the +2 from Bane stacks with the +1 with FE, thus actually granting a +3 AB net gain.
I'm pretty sure FE only gives a bonus to damage. At least according to the literature. I'd have to check the rolls to be sure.
Quote: 2. Toughness: arguably the right choice. But better than Expertise for a Defensive build that has "Hidden Offensive Potential"? Just a thought.
It's an option, I really like the extra hitpoints though. You don't see too many dex builds that have over 400 hit points so I felt it was nice for a change. The extra HP also helps with Ice storms, IGMS, dragon breaths and horrid wiltings. Expertise could be good for creating those rolling 20 battles, and good for RP purposes.
Quote: 3. 1 level of SD: granted this gives you HiPS, but also adds some cheese. What if you took Bard instead? You get to pump Spellcraft, gain an instant +1AB/Damage, and you can drop Dodge and Mobility for some more useful Feats.
Bard at 40 is a good alternative to SD, probably take expertise and blind-fight instead of dodge and mobility. Another alternative would be wizard, you still get to pump up spell craft but you also get 2 castings of true strike. Dropping SD makes the sneak attack a bit less useful (this build probably can't knockdown a strength based fighter, but they usually don't have true sight). It is less cheesy, but I don't consider it that bad for a ranger to take 1 level of SD since the 3.5 ranger gets HiPS and the class was a little torqued over in NWN.
Actually, Now that I think about it, the best SD substitution would be 1 level of druid. You can max your spell craft, you get a +2 to AB while outside (which fits well with this build) and you get some useless spells.
Good suggestions. _________________ Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
I'm pretty sure FE only gives a bonus to damage. At least according to the literature. I'd have to check the rolls to be sure.
that is correct.
Niether FE nor Divine might (just in case anyone is wondering) give + to AB, Fe gives + only to damage, spot, listen and Taunt.
Edited By aluka on 05/30/05 16:37
You're right about the FE. Went back and checked and there is no +1hit. Perhaps I was thinking of an older and wiser Ranger Ruleset.
As for Shadowdancer, I think you make a good case for it given the 3.5Ruleset. I guess you still need to weigh it against +8 magic Saves(Spellcraft), tiny Bardsong, and two extra feats. It's a tough call. HiPS will probably save your butt more at the end of the day. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
Ariel, Ookla, RIDE!
Why didnt you go ranger23/rogue16 for crippling strike? Crippling strike and another d6 sneak are much more usefull than another favored enemy imo.
Why didnt you go ranger23/rogue16 for crippling strike? Crippling strike and another d6 sneak are much more usefull than another favored enemy imo.
Actually, Mith, the way I count it, you should have 8 favored enemies. Did you take a different feat on a Ranger bonus level? 1,5,10,15,20,23,25,26=8.
If he went 23 Ranger, he would lose both 1 FE and a Ranger bonus feat, which=2FEs. At this point, I would take the 2 FEs over Crippling. _________________ Got Hommlet? World of Greyhawk Action Server (with 1/2 price ales on Mondays!)
If he went 23 Ranger, he would lose both 1 FE and a Ranger bonus feat, which=2FEs. At this point, I would take the 2 FEs over Crippling.
he would loose a ranger feat and one more Fe in this particular case; 6 instead of 7, not such a big loss imo) but gains a rogue one...The possibility to reduce 12 points in the opponent's strength in the 1st round of melee shouldnt be neglected... The extra ranger dmg for sneak immuned mobs, the sneaks for the others. Imo, you can take the full potential of hips with crippling attacks. Just my 2 cents
I debated that one back and forth, and erred on the side of more ranger levels. I felt that the two FEs and the +1 to damage were a better than 1D6 of sneak attack and the extra rogue feat (I was thinking of using epic dodge as the extra feat, taking epic prowess as regular feat, so that I only lost 1 FE). The sneak attacks average more damage than the Bane/FE bonus and against dragons and undead I found I wanted damage more than I did when I using Sneak Attack so I went Ranger heavy. If there is interest I can post the Rogue heavy variant. _________________ Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
Rogue Heavy Variant, I've excluded the parts that are unchanged from the original.
Final Level Distribution Ranger 23 Rogue 16 Shadowdancer 1
Feats Level 24: Great Dexterity I Level 27: Bane of Enemies Level 30: Great Dexterity II Level 32: Improved Evasion Level 33: Great Dexterity III Level 36: Great Dexterity IV, Defensive Roll Level 39: Epic Dodge, Epic Prowess or Crippling Strike Level 40: Favored Enemy (Abberations) or Epic Prowess
AB and Damage
(No buffs, two normal short swords) 42/37/32/27 1D6 (+8D6 Sneak Attack) (17-20 X2) 42/37 1D6 (+8D6 Sneak Attack) (17-20 X2) (44/39/34/29 5+3D6 (+8D6 Sneak Attack) (17-20 X2) Vs. Favoured Enemy 44/39 5+3D6 (+8D6 Sneak Attack) (17-20 X2))
(+4 DEX [Cat's Grace], Aid, and Blade Thirst x2, two normal short swords) 48/43/38/33 3+1D6 (+8D6 Sneak Attack) (17-20 x2) 48/43 3+1D6 (+8D6 Sneak Attack) (17-20 x2) (50/45/40/35 8+3D6 (+8D6 Sneak Attack) (17-20 X2) Vs. Favoured Enemy 50/45 8+3D6 (+8D6 Sneak Attack))
Skillpoint Distribution Level 22: H 1, MS 1, O 1, S 6, Sp 1, T 1 Level 23: H 1, MS 1, S 3, Sc 1, Sp 1, T 1 Level 24: H 1, MS 1, S 2, Sp 1, T 1, UMD 5 Level 25: H 1, MS 1, S 2, ST 3, Sc 1, Sp 1, T 1 Level 26: H 1, MS 1, S 2, Sp 1, T 1, Save 5 Level 27: D 7, H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1 Level 28: H 1, MS 1, S 1, Sp 1, T 2, UMD 5 Level 29: H 1, MS 1, S 3, ST 2, Sc 1, Sp 1, T 1 Level 30: H 1, MS 1, S 7, Sp 1, T 1 Level 31: H 1, MS 1, S 3, ST 2, Sc 1 Sp 1, T 1 Level 32: H 1, MS 1, S 1, ST 2, Sp 1, T 1, Save 4 Level 33: D 6, H 1, MS 1, Sc 1, Sp 1 Level 34: H 1, MS 1, S 1, Sp 1, T 2, UMD 5 Level 35: DT 5, H 1, MS 1, S 2, Sp 1, T 1 Level 36: DT 5, H 1, MS 1, S 2, Sp 1, T 1 Level 37: DT 6, H 1, MS 1, S 1, Sp 1, T 1 Level 38: DT 2, H 1, MS 1, S 1, Sp 1, UMD 5 Level 39: DT 3, H 1, MS 1, S 1, Sp 1, Save 4 Level 40: D 7, H 1, MS 1, S 1, Sp 1 _________________ Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.
