Strangely enough there's no such combo in the search engine. Nothing really unusual in this build though; it's a high lvl Ranger with BoE and a fair amount of FEs (7), STR based, can wear Hide armor and still keep a 30 AC with just a +4 DEX (lucky Cat's Grace or Cat's Grace and minor DEX gear) for dual wielding capability, has fair saves with a nice boost vs spells, good AB and ok AB dual wielding, medium HPs, UMD and Taunt as class skills, trap setting skills and a good listen, all the basic combat feats and a weak Bard song 4/day on top.
It fares well as all good rangers and even more so because of added bard versatility and CoT save boosting
Dropping starting STR to 14 and raising CON to 14 is an option, in this case also drop one Great STR for another feat of your choice (ESF: Discipline or Taunt is my suggestion). Getting some points in animal empathy too will help during the lower lvls.
For those that want Dev Crit: there's definitely room for it, drop one feat preepic and 2 FEs in epic for Great Cleave, Ov. Crit. and Dev. Crit. and there you go.
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Champion of the Wilds - Ranger(26), Champion of Torm(10), Bard(4) Human, any non lawful, non evil PvM, Playable 1-40
LEVELING GUIDE 01: Ranger(1): Weapon Proficiency Exotic, Weapon Focus: Kukri, Favored Enemy I, {Dual Wield} 02: Ranger(2) 03: Bard(1): Power Attack 04: Ranger(3): STR+1, (STR=16) 05: Ranger(4) 06: Ranger(5): Cleave, Favored Enemy II 07: Ranger(6) 08: Ranger(7): STR+1, (STR=17) 09: Ranger(8): Knockdown 10: Ranger(9): {Improved Two-Weapon Fighting} 11: Champion of Torm(1) 12: Champion of Torm(2): STR+1, Blind Fight, Improved Critical, (STR=18) 13: Bard(2) 14: Champion of Torm(3): {Smite Evil} 15: Champion of Torm(4): Iron Will, Improved Knockdown 16: Ranger(10): STR+1, Favored Enemy III, (STR=19) 17: Ranger(11) 18: Ranger(12): Toughness 19: Ranger(13) 20: Ranger(14): STR+1, (STR=20) 21: Ranger(15): Great Strength I, Favored Enemy IV, (STR=21) 22: Champion of Torm(5) 23: Champion of Torm(6): Epic Weapon Focus: Kukri 24: Bard(3): STR+1, Great Strength II, (STR=23) 25: Ranger(16) 26: Ranger(17) 27: Ranger(18): Great Strength III, (STR=24) 28: Ranger(19): STR+1, (STR=25) 29: Ranger(20): Favored Enemy V 30: Ranger(21): Great Strength IV, (STR=26) 31: Ranger(22) 32: Ranger(23): STR+1, Bane of Enemies, (STR=27) 33: Champion of Torm(7): Great Strength V, (STR=28) 34: Champion of Torm(8): Armor Skin 35: Champion of Torm(9) 36: Champion of Torm(10): STR+1, Great Strength VI, Epic Prowess, (STR=30) 37: Ranger(24) 38: Ranger(25): Favored Enemy VI 39: Ranger(26): Great Strength VII, Favored Enemy VII, (STR=31) 40: Bard(4): STR+1, (STR=32)
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Advantages •Good melee AB •Fair AC in light armor •Dual wielding •BoE with 7FEs •A useful animal companion •fair saves, even more so vs spells •Taunt •UMD •Trap setting skills •Rangers spells •4th lvl Bard song available •Dev Crit implementable
Weaknesses •Low HPs for a meleer •Tight on skillpoints •Ranger's spellbook •BoE doesn't come so early •not a dwarf
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Feedback and constructive criticism are, as usual, gladly appreciated.
Cheers, Kail _________________ Stand and fight, live by your heart Always one more try, I'm not afraid to die Stand and fight, say what you feel Born with a Heart of Steel!
Edited By Kail Pendragon on 09/26/06 16:57
It's a solid build. It's nice to see that not all melee builds feel like they have to plate up like a can of tuna. I've come more and more to appreciate a dex in the 16 to 18 range for a str based melee character. It may sacrifice a point or two of AB & damage, but you get enormous flexibility in how you deck out your character as you can get the same AC in either medium or heavy armor, enchantments being equal. _________________ In order to find his equal, an Irishman is forced to talk to God. Yes, Father. The Almighty says don't change the subject; just answer the &%$#@& question.
I am gone and you build an epic ranger. Nice job. The CoT covers some of the worst weaknesses of ranger-heavy builds, namly saves. It's at the expense of damage or something though.
The CBC is making you lazy. f.ex.: instead of spellcasting: Ranger (4) it should be ranger: 4/4/3/3. Get my drift? _________________ Dragonlance ROH is back, better than before! and I spend a little time here WoG
It's a solid build. It's nice to see that not all melee builds feel like they have to plate up like a can of tuna. I've come more and more to appreciate a dex in the 16 to 18 range for a str based melee character. It may sacrifice a point or two of AB & damage, but you get enormous flexibility in how you deck out your character as you can get the same AC in either medium or heavy armor, enchantments being equal.
Agreed. Ranger easyly goes this route: dual wielding means a higher dmg output and forces light armor use and Cat's Grace is there as a class spell, lowering the base DEX value needed. The "stealth" spells help with sneaking, compensating for the lower DEX in a STR build. Overall, sweet.
I am gone and you build an epic ranger. Nice job. The CoT covers some of the worst weaknesses of ranger-heavy builds, namly saves. It's at the expense of damage or something though.
Right on the mark, Fighter would have granted WS/EWS but one less feat (because of having to take WS/EWS) and it would have meant an XP penalty too somewhere in the build. Also, the Primeveal Ranger has right that class split. I'd say it's a good tradeoff, better saves and no worries for XP penalties whatsoever are things not to be turned down lightly.
Quote: The CBC is making you lazy. f.ex.: instead of spellcasting: Ranger (4) it should be ranger: 4/4/3/3. Get my drift?
Edit made, uncle Grim. My posting format is evolving, also thanks to you ... any other suggestion btw?
Cheers, Kail _________________
Quote: Posted 09/25/06 11:58:10 (GMT) by xitooner
I find its better to be flexible, THINK, and know your enemy.
*steeples hands* eeexcellent.
i have been thinking of something similar. the only thing that i lament is that while the saves are better, they are still not amazing. probably good enough with gear, or against magic, but still...it just bugs me. how can a hardy ranger not have hardy saves? well, 3.5 fixes it a little bit i suppose. don't mind my ramblings though. a strong ranger, to be sure.
... any other suggestion btw?