I have a player who is running a Dhampir Ranger (full archery build), but his favored enemy choices are not really helping him (not bad choices, humans and undead) and he feels his character's damage is lacking compared to other creatures.
Since I have the basic outline (and main enemies) of the campaign already written, I'm afraid his choices in favored enemies may not be super useful unless he wastes all his spells on Instant Enemy so I'm looking for other alternatives for him.
Of note: he's probably going to go VMC rogue for some sneak attack options, it includes Trapfinding which is something the group needed, but he doubles up on evasion.
I was hoping to find an alternative to the ranger which included something like the studied target, but the only ones I can find (guide and freebooter) don't seem to be very useful, or good.
He has a dire wolf AC, and loves his spellcasting for access to things like gravity bow and longstrider, which he can use on himself and the AC.
I'm really surprised that there isn't an archetype out there that gives the ranger studied target like the slayer, or is there one that I'm missing?
I'm thinking of suggesting the hooded champion archetype, since it gives up evasion and he won't have it redundantly plus it has CHA synergy for his race choice, but I'm not sure if it's the best idea. It would seem he could qualify for the Ricochet Shot deed feat, which is something he said he would be interested in. He's a plyer well accustomed to 3.5/5th/4th (as a DM and player), but he's never done Pathfinder.
How about recommending favoured enemy options for him, or advising him which choices would be sub-optimal - broad sweeps like you see in the AP player guides.
Off beat option:
Sanctified slayer inquisitor with the animal(feather) domain gains studied target and an animal companion. Replace the spellcasting with the ranger (or hunter) spellcasting and a bit of re-flavouring should get you most of what you are looking for.
He wants to play a ranger/rogue, and he wants something like studied target? Tell him to just play a slayer instead. I guarantee a ranged DPS slayer will not feel like they are lacking in damage.
How about recommending favoured enemy options for him, or advising him which choices would be sub-optimal - broad sweeps like you see in the AP player guides.
Off beat option:
Sanctified slayer inquisitor with the animal(feather) domain gains studied target and an animal companion. Replace the spellcasting with the ranger (or hunter) spellcasting and a bit of re-flavouring should get you most of what you are looking for.
Thing is, the campaign as written doesn't have consistent enemy types, and I told him the best choice would be dragons. (something he ignored/forgot)
If I were to house rule something for him, I would just 'invent' an archetype that gave up favored enemy/evasion/improved evasion and added studied target, stalker, and slayer's advance. That might be the best option, but I'd rather use printed options if possible.
Either that, or suggest a rebuild into straight slayer, though he'd be giving up his animal companion and spells.
I think the issue with inquisitor was that he wasn't keen on selecting a deity. (homebrew pantheon)
I'm just really surprised that there is an archetype for one of the ranger hybrids (gives up FE for Animal Focus), but not the other.
*cough* Mark Seifter *cough*
Any character can gain a fully-powered animal companion for 3 feats. Or a slightly under-leveled one for 2 feats.
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Hunter is easily my favorite class. He'll get to keep his animal companion and his spells--and even gain access to druid spells. He won't have to worry about a favored enemy. He will lose a couple of feats from not having a combat style, but will gain a couple of teamwork feats that could make up for it. (I don't remember how many feats a VMC cost, but none of them were worth it unless specifically built around it--the abilities gained were far too weak considering the cost. It's a shame because it was such a promising feature before it was revealed.) Distracting Charge and Coordinated shot are the first two that I'd take as a ranged hunter.
Inquisitor without a deity - follow a philosophy, or nature itself. Or just strip out the religious overtones altogether. The monster lore is very ranger-ish anyway, as is bane. You lose judgement with the sanctified slayer.
The only problematic abilities I see are detect alignment and discern lies. Replace them with nature themes utility spells of similar level or woodland stride and maybe trackless step.
Have another look at just the mechanics, and you'd be surprised at how closely it hits all your requirements.
Reflavouring is usually easier than building something and maintaining balance.
Alternatively, I would second the Hunter. It is solid. The AC becomes much more the focus though.
The Freebooter Ranger archetype has a "studied enemy" feature: it lets you choose a target as a move action, and your entire party gets bonus to hit and damage.
The Guide archetype has a similar feature: designate a foe as a swift action and treat them as your favored enemy. (This only affects the ranger, though, not the party as well.)
I'll go over the options with him and see what he wants.
Thanks for the help everyone.