I have not seen a built like this yet. If I have missed it please post here and we will add it to my post.

Silent Hunter (Ranger 35, Shadowdancer 5)

The arrow came out of the shadows and pierced the sentry's heart. He dropped without a sound. The sentry next to him dropped with one more arrow. One more sentry dropped to leave an opening between the camp and the forest. He crept close to the main tent with no one noticing and waited. Finally the leader appeared with his guards. Two quick arrows eliminated the leader. Arrows took two of the guards before the other guards closed on the assailant. The stranger’s blades finished the other 4 guards before the rest of the camp could react. As the camp closed on the stranger, he disappeared before their eyes. Back in the forest, the stranger smiled to himself. He had no mercy. After all the Orcs never had mercy on his family.

Race: Human (for the extra skills) or Elf (for higher Dex)
Alignment: I play Any Good, but it is up to you.
PvM or PvP depends on the nature of your server. Take the Favored Enemies to match the server.
Playable: 1-40. Tested and seemed to be fine at Level 1 and got better.

Human Stats
STR: 10
DEX: 16 (32)
CON: 14
WIS: 14
INT: 14
CHA: 8

Hitpoints: 470
Skillpoints: 311
Saving Throws (Fortitude/Will/Reflex): 23/18/29 (unbuffed)
Saving Throw bonuses: Traps: +1
BAB: 29
AB (max, naked): 40 (melee), 43 (ranged)
AC (naked): 29
Spell Casting: Ranger(4)

Skills
Animal Empathy 34(33)
Discipline 38(38)
Hide 43(54)
Listen 42(44)
Move Silently 43(54)
Search 34(36)
Spot 42(44)
Tumble 30(41)-- Need to take 5 ranks every SD level to do this. That is why the SD levels are spread out.


Leveling
01: Ranger(1): Point Blank Shot, Weapon Focus: Longbow, Favored Enemy 1, {Dual Wield, Trackless Step}
02: Ranger(2)
03: Ranger(3): Dodge
04: Ranger(4): DEX+1, (DEX=17)
05: Ranger(5): Favored Enemy 2
06: Ranger(6): Weapon Finesse, {Animal Companion}
07: Ranger(7)
08: Ranger(8): DEX+1, (DEX=18)
09: Ranger(9): Mobility, {Improved Two-Weapon Fighting}
10: Ranger(10): Favored Enemy 3
11: Shadowdancer(1): {Hide in Plain Sight}
12: Shadowdancer(2): DEX+1, Expertise, {Darkvision, Evasion, Uncanny Dodge I}, (DEX=19)
13: Ranger(11)
14: Ranger(12)
15: Ranger(13): Rapid Shot
16: Ranger(14): DEX+1, (DEX=20)
17: Shadowdancer(3): {Shadow Daze, Summon Shadow}
18: Ranger(15): Improved Critical: Longbow, Favored Enemy 4
19: Ranger(16)
20: Ranger(17): DEX+1, (DEX=21)
21: Ranger(18): Great Dexterity I, (DEX=22)
22: Shadowdancer(4): {Shadow Evade}
23: Ranger(19)
24: Ranger(20): DEX+1, Great Dexterity II, Favored Enemy 5, (DEX=24)
25: Ranger(21)
26: Ranger(22)
27: Shadowdancer(5): Great Dexterity III, {Defensive Roll, Uncanny Dodge II}, (DEX=25)
28: Ranger(23): DEX+1, Bane of Enemies, (DEX=26)
29: Ranger(24)
30: Ranger(25): Great Dexterity IV, Epic Weapon Focus: Longbow, (DEX=27)
31: Ranger(26): Favored Enemy 6
32: Ranger(27): DEX+1, (DEX=28)
33: Ranger(28): Great Dexterity V, (DEX=29)
34: Ranger(29): Favored Enemy 7
35: Ranger(30): Favored Enemy 8
36: Ranger(31): DEX+1, Great Dexterity VI, (DEX=31)
37: Ranger(32): Favored Enemy 9
38: Ranger(33)
39: Ranger(34): Armor Skin
40: Ranger(35): DEX+1, Favored Enemy 10, Favored Enemy 11, (DEX=32)


Now I wasn’t sure about the low STR (never played that low before) but it seemed fine. Other Stat options would be to lower CON and add to STR or lower WIS and INT to 13 and add to STR or CON or DEX. All you need is WIS 13 for 3rd level Rng spells, the 4th level spells are not that good; and INT 13 for Expertise you still have enough Skill points.

Weapon Finesse and Mobility can be switched around with no real drawbacks. Weapon Finesse doesn’t do much until you increase your DEX bonus. Rapid Shot could be switched with Improved Expertise, I am still not sure which I like better.

AB Longbow (mundane): 43/38/33/28
AB Dual Wield (mundane Rapier/Short Sword): 38/33/28/23 and 38/33
With Expertise: 37/32/27/22 and 37/32 with AC 34 (naked)
With Improved Expertise: 32/27/22/17 and 32/27 with AC 39 (naked)

Against Favored Enemies (of which you get 11 of them): +2 AB with +8 damage and +2d6 damage.

Please let me know your thoughts. What do levels 2 through 5 of SD bring to the build? Wouldn't it be better to spend those levels on something like Fighter for EWS that would actually improve the build's performance? And if you are going to take that many levels of SD, shouldn't you at least have a tumble dump at 37-40 (it's not like you'd hurt playability by delaying SD 5 that long, since it brings less to the build than just getting your Ranger levels earlier would)?

Unless you're using it for Epic Dodge, I really don't get the point of more than 1 level of SD. So where's your third class, and Epic Dodge?
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" -- They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more."

- Pozzo in Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
Quote: Posted 04/13/07 02:56 (GMT) -- Nimueh_Leafbow

What do levels 2 through 5 of SD bring to the build? Wouldn't it be better to spend those levels on something like Fighter for EWS that would actually improve the build's performance? And if you are going to take that many levels of SD, shouldn't you at least have a tumble dump at 37-40 (it's not like you'd hurt playability by delaying SD 5 that long, since it brings less to the build than just getting your Ranger levels earlier would)?

Unless you're using it for Epic Dodge, I really don't get the point of more than 1 level of SD.

Why I took 5 levels of SD? 1) The server I play on (made it for) has a 4 lvl min per class restriction, 2) 5 lvls of SD allows me to max on DEX, 3) SD feats don't look too bad.

And I like your plan to dump more ranks into Tumble. Thanks First lvl of SD gives HIPS
Second lvl gives Darkvision, Evasion and Uncanny Dodge.
I wouldn't leave home without UD as a dexer.
More lvls of SD are fine for skilldumps if you olay the lvls.
35 lvls of Ranger is good for the bonus feat, one extra Favored Enemy, and increased damage against FEs.
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The curve is more powerful than the sword
-- BG courtesan This is a nice heavy ranger build (cool! Nice to see, and SD be very cool w. ranger, too

Although yer bow ab is a bit lower than I'd like to see, you've buffs etc. Also, bane, HiPs (tons of fun), plus Uncanny, evasion, and topped detection/stealth skills, too (very nice).

Hmmm, thinking though, maybe we could get you some more damage and/or ab (w. ability to wear plate, and also ED and imp.evasion, too) if we went 26 ranger/4 ftr/10 SD -- yes, you'd drop to ie 7 (or 8 if you want) FEs and some damage as a result, but more than enough to cover off all player races; meanwhile, ftr will get you some feats (i.e., wf: shortsword, and either ws: bow (or sword) w. all 4 in preeps (makes up for some lost fe damage, 'cept ws be as against all) or, if you’d prefer, some more melee ab instead, then don’t worry about ws, delaying 1 ftr level (or 2 if you’d prefer) until epics, and pick up ie EWF: shortsword instead (thus, +ab melee vs. all, w. ranger buffs on top (and of course bane adds too) – also, wld get the ability to wear plate (which may come in handy at times, yes? –also, enabling you to delay SD until later); now, add that to your HPs, plus upping SD to 10 for epic dodge and impr.evasion (w. SD spread out , but delayed 'til epics for more BAB(AB), too) - exactly as Mick suggests -- (and w. the hps, so can wait for ED, while of course pumping 25 into tumble at i.e. level 22, and then spread out the rest etc.). Alternatively, instead of fighter, could take on some rogue (for ie umd, some sneak damage, thus adding to yer overall damage too

Anyway, just some (randomized) thoughts for you to consider for your otherwise very cool hunter (and nice concept/story/intro btw, too!!) ~ Tyr

Edited By TyrTemplar on 04/16/07 14:22

Quote: Posted 04/16/07 14:08 (GMT) -- TyrTemplar

This is a nice heavy ranger build (cool! Nice to see, and SD be very cool w. ranger, too

Although yer bow ab is a bit lower than I'd like to see, you've buffs etc. Also, bane, HiPs (tons of fun), plus Uncanny, evasion, and topped detection/stealth skills, too (very nice).

Hmmm, thinking though, maybe we could get you some more damage and/or ab (w. ability to wear plate, and also ED and imp.evasion, too) if we went 26 ranger/4 ftr/10 SD -- yes, you'd drop to ie 7 (or 8 if you want) FEs and some damage as a result, but more than enough to cover off all player races; meanwhile, ftr will get you some feats (i.e., wf: shortsword, and either ws: bow (or sword) w. all 4 in preeps (makes up for some lost fe damage, 'cept ws be as against all) or, if you’d prefer, some more melee ab instead, then don’t worry about ws, delaying 1 ftr level (or 2 if you’d prefer) until epics, and pick up ie EWF: shortsword instead (thus, +ab melee vs. all, w. ranger buffs on top (and of course bane adds too) – also, wld get the ability to wear plate (which may come in handy at times, yes? –also, enabling you to delay SD until later); now, add that to your HPs, plus upping SD to 10 for epic dodge and impr.evasion (w. SD spread out , but delayed 'til epics for more BAB(AB), too) - exactly as Mick suggests -- (and w. the hps, so can wait for ED, while of course pumping 25 into tumble at i.e. level 22, and then spread out the rest etc.). Alternatively, instead of fighter, could take on some rogue (for ie umd, some sneak damage, thus adding to yer overall damage too

Anyway, just some (randomized) thoughts for you to consider for your otherwise very cool hunter (and nice concept/story/intro btw, too!!) ~ Tyr

Thanks!:) I appreciate the comments. Dex-based rangers isn't really playable until the epic-levels. Where the FE's start to do some good, and the equipment usually let's you do some damage.

Dropping at least to Ranger30 and loose only -1 to your FE-bonuses will easily be worth it to obtain ED.

I'd take it even further down as suggested. 26 is the most perfect place to end most Ranger. Then take Rogue as a second Class with 1 level of SD for HiPS. You'd be amazed atthe performance and the build won't be that different. You just add sneak attacks, skillpoints and ED at the cost of a little hitpoints and -2 to your FE bonuses. And you must necessarily loose some of the FE's.

If you really want 35 Ranger, that is viable. Switch out 4 SD levels either for Fighter (EWS/feats, but loose Uncanny) or Rogue(some sneak-attack, UMD) is what lies at the frontline of my thoughts.
I really can't see what SD levels 2-5 brings you that something else won't do better.
_________________
We are sons of Odin, and the fire that we burn inside
is the legacy of warrior-kings who reign above in the sky
I will lead the charge, my sword into the wind
Sons of Odin fights to die and live again If you're trying to get him to drop it to Ranger 26, I'd say Ranger 26/Fighter 4/SD 10 would be a much better proposition. The +6 damage would probably do this build more good than a few SA dice.
Quote: Posted 04/20/07 21:41 (GMT) -- Ariel Thomas

If you're trying to get him to drop it to Ranger 26, I'd say Ranger 26/Fighter 4/SD 10 would be a much better proposition. The +6 damage would probably do this build more good than a few SA dice.

That's 7d6 when dual-wielding. Not a few sneak-dice. Combine that with HiPS and the rogues number of skillpoints and the skillset he has, then I at least, have a winner. Rogue13/SD1 beats fighter4/SD10 in my book.
_________________
We are sons of Odin, and the fire that we burn inside
is the legacy of warrior-kings who reign above in the sky
I will lead the charge, my sword into the wind
Sons of Odin fights to die and live again