Tempest vs Ranger


4th Edition


In "Fun with Pigs and Other Stuff", Bill Slavicsek mentions a new build for Fighters called the Tempest (which will come out with the Martial Powers book). Just wondering what other people think about this. Will this make a Two-Weapon Fighting Ranger pointless? Or will they add things to the Ranger so it doesn't just become a ranged weapon fighter?

Just wondering if this will eliminate the melee Ranger as a class option?

I know we don't have much info yet, but the preview given shows more advantages rather than disadvantages for taking the Fighter Tempest build over the Ranger 2-Wpn build. From what they are showing thus far, you will get more pluses to attack and damage, but you will be using lower damage weapons.

Also wondering if anyone has any more information on this. I wanted to play a two weapon fighter, but I may wait now, knowing that this is coming out.

The Exchange

shieldknight01 wrote:

In "Fun with Pigs and Other Stuff", Bill Slavicsek mentions a new build for Fighters called the Tempest (which will come out with the Martial Powers book). Just wondering what other people think about this. Will this make a Two-Weapon Fighting Ranger pointless? Or will they add things to the Ranger so it doesn't just become a ranged weapon fighter?

Just wondering if this will eliminate the melee Ranger as a class option?

I know we don't have much info yet, but the preview given shows more advantages rather than disadvantages for taking the Fighter Tempest build over the Ranger 2-Wpn build. From what they are showing thus far, you will get more pluses to attack and damage, but you will be using lower damage weapons.

Also wondering if anyone has any more information on this. I wanted to play a two weapon fighter, but I may wait now, knowing that this is coming out.

From the looks of things the Ranger is definitely in the mold of a striker and the Tempest build is definitely a defender. The question is do you want to be mobile and hit hard or do you want to hold the line and protect the party? If you want to hit and run use the ranger and if you want to tank use the tempest fighter.


The ranger is still going to be ahead in the damage department, for two main reasons:

1) Hunter's Quarry, which will remain a solid boost at all levels.

2) Bigger weapons. While the difference between 1d10 vs 1d6+2 is generally the same, it will be felt more at later levels when dealing with multiple [W] attacks: 3d10 is more than 3d6+2.

The Tempest fighter, don't get me wrong, looks pretty cool, and comes into their own pretty early on. I'm sure it will be pretty popular - but I don't think it will in any way outclass the dual-wielding ranger. Many of the Tempest Fighter's abilities and powers will be more suited for the Defender role, and getting the attention of foes, while the Ranger will still have many more ways to evade danger and do damage.

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