Zenxzen's page

Before I start I am truly a total noob here so...

As much as I have read, I was very leary of doing a Human Ranger just for the loss of low light vision. I found a post here on "How far can a Human see" and a separate post and answers I asked "Rangers and Light sources" that really helped, so Human it is.

I have read TreantMonks Guide as well as Lastoths and Gunsu Master, plus most every post here on Rangers in general. All of them pretty much have the same build as they see the class, that alone says how good these builds are. I have and have read all the Rule books but it is still not a substitute for players with time under their belt, so I am asking for your Advice on how I am looking at this and how I am setting up my character.

As someone who is going to RP as best I can, these builds are not as I see MY character being played. I look at it from the prospective of, do I want to run up to the nasty Troll beside the tank and have him squash me into green goo, now I am in his new bowl that use to be my Breastplate. I want to melee when it the right thing to do and not because my build forced me too. But, I still want the ability do so.

The first two, Power Attack and Quick Draw are kind of a given so the most efficient feat order is what I an looking for.

So here is my build and any suggestions or the order in which Feats should be taken would be most helpful.

Pathfinder Society build
Starting Traits:
Suspicious to get Sense Motive as a class skill
Then either Indomitable Faith for the +1 to Will or Armor Expert for the -1 to Armor Penalty checks. I think the Will save but asking.

Racial is +2 to Strength

Abilities: 20 point build

STR = 16 +2 = 18
DEX = 15
CON = 14
INT = 10
WIS = 12
CHA = 7 (yep, gruff guy)

Feats and class abilities:
Lvl 1 - Power Attack and Quick Draw
LvL 2 - Rapid Shot with Archery Combat Style
LvL 3 - Point-Blank Shot
LvL 4 - + 1 to Dex gets me the +3 Animal Companion WOLF (yep, Iconic)
LvL 5 - Weapon Focus"Longbow" OR Precise Shot
LvL 6 - Many Shot OR Improved Precise Shot
LvL 7 - Precise Shot OR Weapon Focus
LvL 8 - +1 to WIS OR DEX OR STR
LvL 9 - Deadly Aim OR ?
LvL 10 - Many Shot or Improved Precise Shot

I am at LvL 1 game 2 I have enough to get my Darkwood Compound Bow +4 Str at 850 gp and some Arrows.
I think I have a good grasp mostly of the items to buy but advice is always most welcome.

One other point is I could stay at the 18 Str and 16 Dex and save the 10,000 for a Belt of physical might ( +2 Str and +2 Dex) and have +5 and +4 on the abilities or were to go on those two stats.

As a total new guy to the game here, I have gotten and read all the rule books for what that's worth, so I am looking for guys or gals that have finesse with the game for answers you only get by having a good amount of time playing.

I want to do a Ranger, so for me its between Half-Elf and Human.
As you know Humans get a big boost at the start with the two Feat but no Low-Light vision which hurts.
Half-Elf's not so much but no penalties to shoot in low light.

Page 172 in the PCR talks about it,but was not enough to make it ding in my head about the ranges of Low-Light. I did find a really good chat about low light in the advice forum that really helped:
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2qysb?How-far-can-a-human-see-in-Dim-Light

Outside at night its dim light so -20% to hit even if they are standing beside me when I use a Greatsword. How often does that really come up?

Dungeon's are worse as using a torch is only 20' light then another 20' at -20%. Since as a Ranger I would be expected to be in front enough to do my Perception check for bad guys, I would already be standing in the low light area of the party as I can't carry a torch and shoot a bow.
I need a light source or item with me to over come some of this with either the Human or Half-Elf. Even if the party has cast a light source I would still be out front standing in the already low-light area.

Now Information from the community:

A Ioun Torch stone is only 75 gp but were could I get one at lvl 1 - 3 or not as this frees up my hands for my Bow.

The Goggles of Elven Kind are 8500 gp so generally at what lvl would I be able to get them making sure I get my Darkwook Compound Bow +4 and good armor first.
Same with Goggles of the Night at 12000 gp for the Darkvision.

I know, but all this is assuming their is no one in the group to cast Continual Flame on the bow or cast Darkvision on the Half-Elf or Human or or kind of thing.

Now one dumb question, if I use a Sunrod can I throw it 30' in front of me to give me a total of 60' of light across or not.

This is my first post but I have read most of the post here just looking for answers.

Thanks Zen