Playable PvM 1-40. Not a PvP-oriented build.

The build Fellwood Lurker by Defunc7 uses the same level split, but the builds are substantially different otherwise.

Halfling (of Doooooom!), Any Evil

Str 10
Dex 18
Con 12
Int 14
Wis 14
Cha 8

1 Ran (1): Weapon Finesse
2 Ran (2):
3 Ran (3): Weapon Focus (Dagger)
4 Ran (4): +dex
5 Ran (5): Favored Enemy%
6 Asn (1): Dodge
7 Asn (2):
8 Ran (6): +dex
9 Ran (7): Weapon Focus (Sling)*
10 Ran (8):
11 Ran (9):
12 Asn (3): +dex, Blind-Fight
13 Ran (10): Favored Enemy%
14 Ran (11):
15 Ran (12): Toughness*
16 Ran (13): +dex
17 Asn (4):
18 Ran (14): Mobility
19 Ran (15): Favored Enemy%
20 Ran (16): +dex
21 Shd (1): Epic Weapon Focus (Dagger)
22 Asn (5):
23 Shd (2):
24 Shd (3): +dex, Epic Prowess
25 Shd (4):
26 Ran (17):
27 Shd (5): Great Dex 1
28 Shd (6): +dex
29 Shd (7):
30 Shd (8): Armor Skin
31 Shd (9):
32 Shd (10): +dex
33 Ran (18): Epic Dodge
34 Asn (6):
35 Asn (7):
36 Ran (19): +dex, Great Dex 2
37 Asn (8):
38 Ran (20): Favored Enemy%
39 Ran (21): Bane of Enemies
40 Asn (9): +dex

* - Optional Feat
% - Pick PC races for PvP, sneak-immune races for PvE, in my opinion. Don't use the FE at level 38 for a "bonus feat" or you won't qualify for Bane at 39.

Skills - Discipline, Hide, Move Silently, Tumble, Use Magic Device. Modest investments into set traps, disable traps, open locks.

Ending Stats:
Dex 30

AC 30 in mundane robes
424 max hp
Fort 23 Reflex 30 Will 19

AB +43 with single mundane dagger
AB +41 dual-wielding mundane daggers
AB +42 with mundane sling
5d6 death attack, death attack save DC 21

Halfling Racial Bonuses (not accounted for already): +2 listen, +2 move silently, +2 saves vs Fear

Small Stature Bonuses: +1 AB, +1 AC, +4 Hide.

Stat-affecting Ranger buffs: Cat's Grace, Aid add up to +3 AB, +2 AC, and +1 saves vs fear.

FAQ:
Q: Well this build's pro's and con's look pretty obvious, but why take a weapon focus in Sling?
A: Indeed, this build's designed around having a reasonable AB for dual-wielding, epic dodge, sneak attack dice to deliver damage in most cases, and bane of enemies to deliver it in others. Of course, above and beyond all that, the best thing about him is that he's a Halfling of Doom!

The sling focus is an optional feat, but because of the halfling thrown weapons AB bonus it's a practical choice. You get a ranged attack option that's actually at a higher AB than your dual-wielding melee option.

Q: So why don't you take knockdown and improved knockdown instead of the sling focus and toughness?
A: It was something I considered, but halflings are penalized in knockdown attempts by their size, and this character can generate sneak attacks through two creature tanks, HiPS, and darkness/ultravision. Oh, and if lucky, by using the Grease spell.

Q: Doesn't bane of enemies come pretty late in your build though? By the time you get it, it won't be able to help you level.
A: That's true, and it's unfortunate. If you don't want to raise discipline over 40 you can get it earlier (much earlier in fact). I try to arrange for a chance to raise discipline near the end of the build by habit, some people don't think it's worthwhile and depending on the environment they are probably right. The short answer is - you can move it up if you want and not suffer too badly.

Q: Are there any other tricks you thought of while creating this build?
A: A few. For one, you can carry a large shield to use with your sling or a single-wielded dagger for +2 to AC and no real downsides. For another, you have stealth and trap skill buffs from your ranger spells, which can be put to good use in this build. For a third, your Shadow Daze save DC is, I believe, 30 vs will - making it pretty practical to use on fighter and rogue types.
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Experience is the mother of good judgement; bad judgement is the father of experience.
Quote: Posted 05/16/06 20:36:33 (GMT) -- Xylophone

% - Pick PC races for PvP, sneak-immune races for PvE, in my opinion. Don't use the FE at level 38 for a "bonus feat" or you won't qualify for Bane at 39.

You may want to double check this Xylo, but IIRC you don't actually need a set amount of FEs to qualify for Bane - only 21 RGR levels is required.
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Where I'm playing now: World of Greyhawk.
Quote: Posted 05/16/06 21:16:43 (GMT) -- Cinnabar Din

Quote: Posted 05/16/06 20:36:33 (GMT) -- Xylophone

% - Pick PC races for PvP, sneak-immune races for PvE, in my opinion. Don't use the FE at level 38 for a "bonus feat" or you won't qualify for Bane at 39.

You may want to double check this Xylo, but IIRC you don't actually need a set amount of FEs to qualify for Bane - only 21 RGR levels is required.

Interesting, I thought you absolutely needed 5 FEs as a ranger and 21 ranger levels. That said, I still think the FE is more beneficial than a feat considering you are going for bane... but interesting nonetheless.
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Experience is the mother of good judgement; bad judgement is the father of experience. Yeah, another FE would probably be the best choice, but I recall reading that 5 FEs is actually not required (i believe it was cdaulepp that reported this), as you can select Bane with only 1 if you wish, as long as you have 21 RGR levels.

BUT: don't take my word for it, as I've been accused of being a liar and making facts up to bolster my ego, so you'll have to take this with a grain of salt...
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Where I'm playing now: World of Greyhawk. Pfft you're pretty much always right as far as I can recall. I tend to trust what's in the grimoire by default when I'm planning something, and it does have a few innacuracies, particularly related to situations like this one.
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Experience is the mother of good judgement; bad judgement is the father of experience.
Quote: Posted 05/16/06 21:16:43 (GMT) -- Cinnabar Din

Quote: Posted 05/16/06 20:36:33 (GMT) -- Xylophone

% - Pick PC races for PvP, sneak-immune races for PvE, in my opinion. Don't use the FE at level 38 for a "bonus feat" or you won't qualify for Bane at 39.

You may want to double check this Xylo, but IIRC you don't actually need a set amount of FEs to qualify for Bane - only 21 RGR levels is required.

That is correct.
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Quote: Posted 04/26/06 12:05:52 (GMT) -- Ithacan

[...]Harper Scout, the only class so powerful it's capped at five.
[...]

Quote: 
1 Ran (1): Weapon Finesse
2 Ran (2):
3 Ran (3): Weapon Focus (Dagger)
4 Ran (4): +dex
5 Ran (5): Favored Enemy%
6 Asn (1): Dodge
7 Asn (2):
8 Ran (6): +dex
9 Ran (7): Weapon Focus (Sling)*

As another option instead of Weapon Focus (Sling) why not try this:
1 Ran (1): Weapon Finesse
2 Ran (2):
3 Ran (3): Weapon Proficiency Exotic
4 Ran (4): +dex
5 Ran (5): Favored Enemy%
6 Asn (1): Weapon Focus (Kukri)
7 Asn (2):
8 Ran (6): +dex
9 Ran (7): Dodge

It might look like a small change, but with the damage problems I forsee for this build in early levels, the extra critical hits would help. Plus the kukri is a bush knife so it would fit with the ranger.

Quote: 
% - Pick PC races for PvP, sneak-immune races for PvE, in my opinion. Don't use the FE at level 38 for a "bonus feat" or you won't qualify for Bane at 39.

I wouldn't change it, but as I recall to qualify for bane of enemies you need to be an epic ranger and have 3 favored enemies (only room for three feats in the 2da).


This looks like a good defensive variant of the Ranger/Assassin/Shadowdancer. Personally, I prefer to give up on epic dodge and go for Ranger 21/Assassin 17/SD 2 or the Ranger 22/Rogue 17/SD 1, which would retain epic dodge and can get bane earlier. That said, the darkness/ultravision combo is very nasty even with only a 5D6 death attack. Also because it takes 10 SD levels it can't be accused of being cheesy. Except for damage, a very good build.
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Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do.

Edited By Mithdradates on 05/18/06 10:23