This is just a different take on a stereotypical Ranger. Didn't find one like it, so I thought I would submit it. Some tweaking can be done, but in general I am pretty happy with the end result. You get BoE almost immediately into epic, and the saves, AC and HPs are okay too. I delayed CoT levels pretty much for that reason alone, although grabbing them all in epic does net some sorely needed feats. Basically, when you begin, make use of Medium Armour, a good shield and Barbarian Rage in the tough situations. Later on, you can sneak if you need to scout, but otherwise just lay traps and encourage enemies to follow you through them. Pepper with arrows to taste, and finish with melee before serving.
Name: Ranger Champion Classes: Ranger 30, Barbarian 2, Champion of Torm 8 Playable 1-40, PvM Race: Human Alignment: Anything not Evil
Stats:
Str 14 to 14 Dex 14 to 28 Con 14 to 16 Wis 14 to 14 Int 14 to 14 Cha 8 to 8
Spells: Full Ranger list 1: Camo, Ultravision, Resist Elements 2: Cat's Grace, One With Land, Protection from Elements 3: Aid, Greater Magic Fang 4: Mass Camo, Cure Serious Wounds
HP: 564
AC: 21 naked, 24-25 buffed with a large shield
AB: 43/38/33/28, +2 versus FEs
Saves:
Fort 33 Reflex 29 Will 24 _________________ “If you bring a Ranger with you, it is well to pay attention to him...”
Edited By christian.schnabel on 06/18/06 21:42
I'd swap it around to focus on getting the melee feats first (finesse and shortsword focus) then longbow focus, then improved criticals or other combat feats (since you're part archer, working in called shot might be good).
You can get to dex 30 as I'm sure you know, but the extra points in con certainly don't hurt either and it's not like your AB is poor. Your AC might benefit though, since you won't benefit from wearing any armor besides a shield in this build.
Most of your damage will come from bane, but that's fine as far as I'm concerned, you get enough FEs to make it work nicely.
Good use of barbarian levels for uncanny dodge. _________________ Experience is the mother of good judgement; bad judgement is the father of experience.
I like it. However, IMO, you should have PBS and RS to fully utilize a bow. This is why I suggest you get 4 levels of CoT pre-epic. You can pick the aforementioned feats and you get a boost to saves aswell. You're losing two epic feats, that's true; you can either drop DEX (oh yes, that or CON) by two points to fix this, or you might want to drop two FEs. I think the feats would be beneficial whichever route you went, though each to his own.
Again, I like the build
And the obvious: at the cost of saves and XP penalty one might opt to use Ftr instead of CoT in order to get more damage from EWS. _________________ "We keep our Feast of Feasts, sure of our bourne, Our aims self-same: The Guest of Guests, friend Zarathustra, came! The world now laughs, the grisly veil was torn, And Light and Dark were one that wedding-morn."
Edited By FinneousPJ on 06/18/06 23:38
As always more ranger levels = better ranger. Interesting take on a Dex-based, I haven't seen enough of those. _________________ CATS!
I'd swap it around to focus on getting the melee feats first (finesse and shortsword focus) then longbow focus, then improved criticals or other combat feats (since you're part archer, working in called shot might be good).
a good idea. i didn't give much thought to pre-epic feat order. up to the player, but a good way to go.
Quote: You can get to dex 30 as I'm sure you know, but the extra points in con certainly don't hurt either and it's not like your AB is poor. Your AC might benefit though, since you won't benefit from wearing any armor besides a shield in this build.
i was thinking about armour after posting. not much of a choice. this one needs a level of wizard, bard, rogue or monk. but there are sometimes some nice stuff for shadowdancers lying around. or just eat the ac loss and wear some padded armour. your are only losing one, and you can gain a lot if in a high magic environment. then again, if in a high magic environment, you will have some nice +12 to dex, so AC should be ok. i would do the latter, unless there were some nice plain clothes.
Quote: Most of your damage will come from bane, but that's fine as far as I'm concerned, you get enough FEs to make it work nicely.
I like it. However, IMO, you should have PBS and RS to fully utilize a bow. This is why I suggest you get 4 levels of CoT pre-epic. You can pick the aforementioned feats and you get a boost to saves aswell. You're losing two epic feats, that's true; you can either drop DEX (oh yes, that or CON) by two points to fix this, or you might want to drop two FEs. I think the feats would be beneficial whichever route you went, though each to his own.
you have a good point fin. i was thinking that i needed some archery feats. called shot or rapid shot definately. but pbs is kinda pointless with weapon finesse, i've always felt. and ranged damage is mostly for weakening and luring enemies into traps (at least the way i do it) so another attack isn't too important in that case. and i wanted to keep CON a bit higher in the case that melee without strategy is needed.
Quote: Again, I like the build
And the obvious: at the cost of saves and XP penalty one might opt to use Ftr instead of CoT in order to get more damage from EWS.
that is exactly why i chose CoT. i wanted the better saves and no XP penalty.
Thanks.
Quote: Posted 06/19/06 00:22:29 (GMT) -- avarielo
As always more ranger levels = better ranger. Interesting take on a Dex-based, I haven't seen enough of those.
you're preaching to the choir. less than 26 is hard to make the levels worth it (better do rogue or something and go strength based).
As a ranger you get cat's grace, which will increase your dex by at least 2 points - so you'll always have a higher AC without armor than with unless you can get like, padded +8 or something. Your normal dex bonus uses up the armor's allowed dex bonus so anything you buff on to it using equipment and cat's grace is going to be "wasted" if you aren't wearing cloth. _________________ Experience is the mother of good judgement; bad judgement is the father of experience.
I know you may wish to get uncanny dodge (barb 2) as early as possible, however;
taking 1 extra ranger level pre-epic (picking up the barb level later) will give you an extra 1 to Reflex & Will saving throws...for free !
Quote: Posted 06/19/06 05:45:36 (GMT) -- krsboss
I know you may wish to get uncanny dodge (barb 2) as early as possible, however;
taking 1 extra ranger level pre-epic (picking up the barb level later) will give you an extra 1 to Reflex & Will saving throws...for free !
i hadn't thought of that. but postponing uncanny dodge until epic seems a little extreme for a dex-based char just for another +1 to reflex and will. but to each their own.
