Hey all, I just noticed my little guide was taking up some discussion space from Treantmonks ranger guide. I don't want that to happen to his thread so I'd like to present you with a guide I've written after running a similar character in several campaigns.
It is my opinion that you don't need to switch hit or worry about melee if you do archery right, and this is my guide with that concept in mind:
I don't know why Cheapy is acting like someone peed in his cornflakes, it seems like an interesting guide to me.
No no, he's right, he was just asking himself "does archery really NEED a guide?" I mean if it was just going to be an archery only guide on what feats are awesome that's worthy of some sarcasm. I did it did because rangers are so much more, and I am glad it changed his mind, that's what I did it for.
Good guess cheapy. Not a bad guide all in all, spell section is good and the mounted archery section was unexpected and well written. You magic item section benefits from a lot of additional info but i'm suprised you missed out reduction potions for your mount when you are in a tight spot.
The biggest issue with archery guides is that the feat selection is so obvious that it hardly needs guiding, precise shot/rapid shot/deadly aim at low levels going into point blank master and snap shot tree are no brainers.
A very good update for the apg and ultimate books with good advice on archery in general, it would have been nice to have a bit more exploration of archtypes to go with the feat and epell info but good job well presented.
Fine, I guess others found it too snarky. Deleted the comment.
The overrun snapshot combo is something I haven't seen before. That's cool.
Large arrows won't surpass wind wall though.
If you won't get to 9th level very fast, or if you are in a low loot campaign, then just take the Guide archetype. It is not subject to GM's whimsy, and works from level 1.
I wish I could give concise archetype information, but I dislike all of them and it would color my commentary too much to be of use.
Honestly i know what you mean, i like the look of guide but it kills instant enemy, the skirmisher archtype that could have done so much to replace spells and compliment the guide archtype is too melee focused for archery.
Wild stalker and urban ranger are both interesting but wild wouldn't go that well with archery since you loose all your feats.
Beast master, falconer and horselord all hold some interesting options for an archery ranger not really available to any other class though. The falconer is just very very in character, sir tristen from aurthurian legend and i'm sure many more. The horse lord for your mounted archer idea, good and useable but restrictive with the combat style (however a mounted skirmisher archer who can full move his horse and still full attack would be sweet, very mongol). The beast master could be possibly the best archtype of all for your style of play, boon companion with a level 1 horse and two level 2 hounds at level 5, admittedly you horse will be weak but thats what mounted combats for (pick up trick riding, look towards mounted skirmusher) but having two big dogs keeping your opponents at bay, helping chase down the prey, standing guard duty at night... also very characterful for a grizzled hunter archer.
Yes sir you can. If the mount takes a move action, you take no penalty. If it takes a double move (full move?), you take -4 (-2 with Mounted Archer), if it runs (4-5x), you take -8 (-4 with Mounted Archer).
The selling point of the Beast Master, at least to me, is that it allows you to pick from the full list of Druid animal companions. So with Beast Master, at level 10, it's possible to play an archer (or mounted lancer) who rides a large flyer. Or has a beastie to stand guard for him that has access to grab, or blindsight, or any of the other cool things that druids can have. It means losing your 6th level feat though, which is rough.
As a newer player returning after a looooong hiatus (I remember looking forward to 2nd ed), I want to thank you Lastoth for the time and effort you put into this guide. It's been immensely helpful to find this community and to find your guide in particular.
For those who don't like the idea of switch hitter or melee rangers (Treantmonk's guide was amazing, but for RP reasons my ranger prefers ranged), this has been the single greatest resource I've found. How can we add this to the Guide of Guides?
Since you do mention terrain bond if you have a high level horizon walker getting a wand of that could be crazy. I was created with this build in mind but before ultimate combat came out.
As a newer player returning after a looooong hiatus (I remember looking forward to 2nd ed), I want to thank you Lastoth for the time and effort you put into this guide. It's been immensely helpful to find this community and to find your guide in particular.
For those who don't like the idea of switch hitter or melee rangers (Treantmonk's guide was amazing, but for RP reasons my ranger prefers ranged), this has been the single greatest resource I've found. How can we add this to the Guide of Guides?
Thank you, I hope you have as much fun playing this build as I have had (and continue to have). I actually had this guide mentioned by someone else on the first page of the Guide to Guides thread but it was never updated to reflect the link.
Walter: I guess I'm not clear on what you're saying. I think you're suggesting that a horizen walker with Terrain Dominance ability to treat all creatures of one terrain type as a FE could use that wand to move his FE bonus around. I suggest this is not the case. Since the FE bonus now stems from Terrain Dominance and not Favored Terrain it would have no effect. Essentially the wand would give you whatever terrain advantages it would normally grant, but it's not granting you an additional terrain dominance. I hope I got that out clearly, and that I didn't miss your point.
Just passing by to trow in an idea: what about greater snap shot in conjunction with dazing critical and named bullet? The idea is to have a named bullet arrow prepared before an important fight: when you get charged you fire it with you AoO, if you confirm the critical threat (which you should do unless you roll 1) the enemy is stopped.
How does that sound?
If you’re level 10 you want Bane of the type that your best favored enemy is {on your bow}, this can be the best weapon enchantment after seeking... Now every time you pop {Instant Enemy} you can drop tremendous amounts of damage on the enemy...
Because Instant Enemy says, "...For the duration of the spell, you treat the target as if it were that type of favored enemy for all purposes," right?
That seems to open a whole different can of worms. Say you have favored enemy: animal. Could you then use hide from animals against the demilich you just instant enemied, or charm animal on the pit fiend, or hold animal on the iron golem? Or perhaps you'd like to use instant enemy on the barbarian in your party, and buff her up with animal growth, which gives all the benefits of enlarge person plus 6 more strength, 2 more con, a natural armor bonus and a shorter casting time.
Or say your most favored enemy is vermin. Repel vermin lasts a hefty 10 minutes a level.
Or say your favored enemy is undead, and you're rocking a disrupting weapon. Granted, a difficulty 14 will save isn't tough to make, but that's still a 5% chance of instant destruction with each hit, right?
I think a more conservative reading of that phrase from favored enemy might be appropriate.
Agreed, all depends on your DM and your party. I've had some DMs who frown on using a mount in combat because you don't need any feats to use archery. They felt it was OP. Certainly RAI changes everything, but I can't write a guide to the most restrictive RAI.
You should also consider your party. If you're wrecking encounters before they get into range for the rest of the players to get some combat time in, you should probably step it down a notch and turn this build into a switch hitter.
Tangentially, six levels of Zen Archer provides all the key archery feats.
It gives up a lot of Ranger stuff, but it is more feat efficient, allows the option of using Wisdom instead of Dexterity when determining to-hit (for a STR-WIS build), and you're in much better shape if woken up in the night without armor. Not to mention wearing heavy armor and leaping safely down 30' allows a very dramatic way to leap onto your horse from a high window or to crash you archenemy's wedding.
Not the right plan for the campaign of Fight Giants All Day Long. But in a campaign where Favored Enemy is not so significant, it might be fun to start with one level of Ranger, do Zen Archer for six levels, and then switch back to Ranger for some non-archery style bonus feats. Might be fun for a "bow and feral" build.
Here is the feat distribution...
L1 Point-Blank Shot
L2 (Improved Unarmed Strike, Perfect Strike, Precise Shot, WIS to AC)
L3 Deadly Aim, (Rapid Shot, Weapon Focus Longbow)
L4 (Point Blank Master, Movement +10')
L5 ?? (AC bonus +1, Slow Fall 20')
L6 (High Jump)
L7 ??, (Improved Precise Shot, Weapon Specialization Longbow, Movement +20', Slow Fall 30')
...
L9 Manyshot
Nice guide! There is a Human trait for Keleshites (I believe) called "Horse Lord" which gives you a +2 to Handle Animal and +1 to Ride skill checks that only applies to Horses, which may be worth a mention. Flavourwise it's perfect for the Abrams Tank build.
*Edit: Sable Company Marine seems like a good archetype to consider as well. It would cause the "Horse Lord" trait to become obsolete at level 4 however.
*Edit: Sable Company Marine seems like a good archetype to consider as well. It would cause the "Horse Lord" trait to become obsolete at level 4 however.
I started an Abrams Archer build for a new character and decided to go the SCM route. Worked well in the only battle we had tonight, but I can see how hovering out of reach could grate in the DM. Thanks for the suggestion.
I think Tree Stride should get a mention. Situational, but a situation that there is a good chance you will be in. You wouldn't be able to use a mount, but you could harass a large number of foes with reasonable safety.
Crap, didn't notice this, and now I'm lvl 5... probably just common sense, but I followed the feats exactly so far. Did give myself 14 STR, 18 DEX (+2 race), 12 CON, 10 INT, 16 WIS (+1 at 4), and 7 CHA.
Main things different I may regret... I didn't get the potential benefit of a horse companion, so I went with the alt that gives allies half my favored, vs one... kind of sucks. And I still don't get favored terrain, so I went infiltrator with undead my 1st favored and took iron will, human my second, thinking natural armor and a skill focus.
Damn, though, now I really wish I had a horse... with feats.
I would just like to ask what do you think about the mammoth-lord prestige class which gives you a mammoth instead of a horse with all the bonuses that would imply.
How many levels of it would you suggest? We won't be a very good caster with it, but on the other hand there are some very nice bonuses near the end of the track, and we can still get to level 10 ranger (with all the benefits that implies, including instant enemy)
It's intended to be melee used, but doesn't specifically state so. In this case yes it would work, and it's where zen archers using guided bows, or in this case a dex/wis ranger archer using guided become better. Now you can pump dex and wisdom to the max, without having to forfeit anything by spreading out into strength. Your will saves, damage, perception, survival, and other goodies will be better for it.
DanMonster
Malag
Doorhandle
