Playable 1-40, PvM. Can have an impact PvP in Epic.
An almost iconic ranger, but it outclasses him in style. Ranger is a class that, unlike many others, need lots of levels to become truly efficient. Add a little multiclass and he gets great. No story this time either. ___
Human, CG. Any non-lawful
STR 14(30) DEX 14 CON 14 WIS 14 INT 14 CHA 8
1:Rngr: Luck of Heroes; Weapon prof: Exotic; FE I 2:Rngr: 3:Rngr: WF: Kukri 4:Rngr: STR(15) 5:Rngr: FE II 6:Rngr: KDown 7:Rngr: 8:Rngr: STR(16) 9:Rngr: IC:Kukri 10:Rngr: FE III 11:Rngr: 12:Rngr: Blind fight; STR(17) 13:Rngr: 14:Rngr: 15:Rngr: Imp KDown; FE IV 16:Rngr: STR(18) 17:Rngr: 18:Rngr: Toughness 19:Rngr: 20:Rngr: FE V; STR(19) 21:Rngr: GrSTR I(20) 22:Rngr: 23:Rngr: Bane of Enemies 24:Fgtr1: GrSTR II(22); Armor Skin; STR(21) 25:Fgtr2: EWF: Kukri 26:Fgtr3: 27:Fgtr4: WS: Kukri; EWS: Kukri 28:Rngr24: STR(23) 29:Rngr25: Epic Prowess 30:Rngr26: GrSTR III(24); FE VI 31:Rngr27: 32:Rngr28: STR(25) 33:Rngr29: GrSTR IV(26); FE VII 34:Rngr30: FE VIII 35:Rngr31: 36:Rngr32: GrSTR V(28); FE IX; STR(27) 37:Rngr33: 38:Rngr34: 39:Rngr35: GrSTR VI(29); FE X; FE XI 40:Bard1: STR 30
Hp: 516
AC naked 22, studded 25, stud+board 28 add, C's Grace for up to 2 more.
AB mundane Kukri 44/39/34/29 +2 vs FE's.
Dualwielding vs FE's 44/39/34/29/44/39
Damage, main hand 1d4 + 10(str)+ 6(EWS)+ 11+2d6(FE's)= 30-43 NAKED!!!! off hand, 5 less fromn STR 25-38. Incredible.
Damage, main hand with +12 STR and +5 keen Kukri's 1d4+5+16+6+13-23 (15-20/x2)=41-54. off hand will be 33-46.
Note that even your off-hand hurts a Dwarven Wall every time. As an experiment, say you wanted to go 2-hander. Not recommended, since dualwielding delivers great damage in this build. Greatsword, normal. 2d6+15+6+11+2d6= 36-56. With +12 STR and +5 Greatsword. 2d6+5+24+6+2d6+11= 50-70!
Do not go 2hander unless you know there is a lot of enemies with good DR around.
Saves (vs spells) Fort 25(34) Ref 19(28) Will 19(28)
The bard level also gives you song for +1 AB and damage 1/day. You might wanna give up some trapping and perhaps a wee bit stealth for some UMD. You have an excellent animal companion, forgot to write up his stats. All Ranger spells. they can boost hiding, give you a +3 weapon, Element resistance, Cat's grace and buffs to animal. If you go the 2hander path you have a chance to hurt through epic warding with normal weapon.
If you want more Bard for added playability, you should go Rngr32/fgtr4/Bard4. You would loose 2 FE's, but would get an earlier skilldump to boost saves and tumble AC. Note that from the time you get 3 base classes you suffer xp penalty, unless Bard and fighter follows each other. 11 favored enemies covers a lot, even player races if you go PvP'ing. He also has the opportunity to switch to shield and still keep his weapon feats. His Dex can reach 26 which will max AC in Padded to equal Plate. All in all a pretty tough PvM damage dealer. The save boost from Bard should also help a bit.
If you play him in the HotU, you should probably go Rngr21/Fgtr4/Bard2. In epic, take BoE at 21, then reach fighter 4 at lvl 27 (or 24).
This is how I would build a "pure" ranger. This guy is lethal, the offhand damage is awesome, and no, it doesn't come from sneak attack.
There you go.
ohmaigawd it's a beast! Good job. Nice figures _________________ Fanget av begravelsen pines vi av guds godhet ingen flammer, intet hat de hadde rett vi kom til Helvete...
~ Burzum - Hvis Lyset Tar Oss
Well done Grim, this build does honor the ranger class. And it shows how a little, well planned multiclassing outclasses the strictly pure builds and succeds in making an iconic ranger.
This said, I would maybe drop one FE, take EP as a ranger bonus feat and grab AS. 10 FE seems like enough, both for picking PC races for PvP or for crit immunes for PvM.
PS: impressive damage output you've got there!
Cheers, Kail _________________ Dilegua notte Tramontate stelle Tramontate stelle All'alba vincerò Vincerò Vincerò
This said, I would maybe drop one FE, take EP as a ranger bonus feat and grab AS. 10 FE seems like enough, both for picking PC races for PvP or for crit immunes for PvM.
And thanks, both.
now that is what i am talking about. but 3 more bard would be a bit stronger due to tumble dumps along the way.
btw, since you get +20 from camo spells, you can drop hide at least by 10, still keep your strong stealth, and you can pump up UMD a bit. just my 2 cents, but a good and strong ranger. nicely done.
-c _________________ “If you bring a Ranger with you, it is well to pay attention to him...”
Bah, I need to get my sight checked. Then it's only huzzay for your build
Kudos to the executioner
Cheers, Kail _________________ Dilegua notte Tramontate stelle Tramontate stelle All'alba vincerò Vincerò Vincerò
Really, I guess I haven't been this amazed by a build for a long time! Most sincere congrats, Grim!!! And thanks for giving me an awesome guy to play next :)
Thanks for the kind words everyone. It is also worth noting that this multi-classed Ranger only has 1 FE less than the pure one,... Pathfinder /Elf + Dwarf/ Str Based/ Kukri/ Imp Crit
griphook ..Added Link
Edited By griphook on 02/06/06 17:40
Nice build, but how about monk instead of bard, just to get evasion. This will also give you some more ac, if you ever find yourself naked, or with wisdon enchanting magic items. Could even take one monk level before 20, and get a lot of attacks with kama, instead of kukri.
If it is due to the UMD, how about rogue instead, and get +1d6 sneak attack. Or take two, so you get evasion.
I don't see the need for bard in this build, why do you?
A fellow Norwegian? I took bard for the skilldump in Spellcraft for +9 to saves vs spells. His saves aren't to good, and really benefits from that bonus. Bard has the best skillset of all, and I took it for skilldump. You also get the dump in tumble and UMD. The bard outdoes both Rogue and Monk here. You can take 1 level monk anytime and still get kama flurry. Monk pre-epic would bring a nasty xp penalty from the time you get 3 classes. _________________ I see the fear you have inside, you can run but never hide. I will hunt you down and tear you limb from limb.
I run the Pre-Epic Builders guild. Join and share your experience.
I really want to fit harper scout in there in place of Bard, but it just doesn't work out... the spellcraft dump and 2 additional feats from not having to pay HS prereqs just seals the deal.
Rnger 29 / B 1 / RDD 10 might work out nicely, especially for the two handed weapon model, although the skill dump changes a bit.
Sorry if I missed the theme of the build but why not take overwhelming and devastating Critical? Is there a point to taking 30 strength without these feats?
I believe Grim builds without Dev Crit, besides not going for it saves you a fair amount of feats which can be used differently. I'd say it can be fitted in, at a cost of course.
Cheers, Kail _________________ To hear the sound of Freedom, many gave their lives They fought for you and me Those memories will always live inside us, and now it's our time to be free
I realise the bard spellcraft dump is good for saves vs spells, but with a large amount of dex based AC, plus tumble based, plus haste based etc etc, his AC is gonna get pwned if caught flatfooted right? So would you recommend 3 rogue levels for uncanny dodge, bearing in mind I want to group PvP in a lowish magic setting? or would you just make sure he isn't flatfooted?
One level of Barbarian is what I'd recommend. XP penalty may become an issue, however, depending on when you take the level. With 3 Rogue, you're losing Ranger levels. _________________
Quote: Posted 04/26/06 12:05:52 (GMT) -- Ithacan
[...]Harper Scout, the only class so powerful it's capped at five. [...]
Hmm no tumble?? no thanks 4 ftr for wpn feats yes but 3rd class must be a tumble class really hmm i guess 2 assassin would get me uncanny dodge... 34 ranger and 2 assassin doesn't get anything of 33 ranger and 3 rogue though does it?
Nope. If you can't get anymore than 34 ranger max, you might as well get down to 32, as 33 and 34 doesn't give you anything. Ranger32/Fighter6/Asn2 f.ex. or ranger32/rogue4/Fighter4. Just be aware that his spell-saves need the boost. The asn version won't get xp-penalties either. _________________ I see the fear you have inside, you can run but never hide. I will hunt you down and tear you limb from limb.
I run the Pre-Epic Builders guild. Join and share your experience.
Quote: Posted 04/11/06 12:37:29 (GMT) -- Jehoshua
Sorry if I missed the theme of the build but why not take overwhelming and devastating Critical? Is there a point to taking 30 strength without these feats?
Aside from attack bonus and damage, no. _________________ CATS!
nicely done.