I'm facing a choice right now, playing an Urban ranger with TWF style in an Age of Worms campaign. I have to start building towards a viable prestige class, but I'm facing a tough choice. I can go towards Dervish via the Scout class or I can take a DM-designed prestige class geared towards fighting undead, but which I only know some of the attributes.
I'm looking to you to help me decide. For comparison, I've built stat blocks for the two builds through 13th level, which is when I'd max out the DM's prestige class:
Ranger 7/PrC 6…
Saves: Fort +10 Reflex +7 Will +7 (+15/15/15 vs. undead due to Unquenchable Flame of Life feat, "some immunities")
HP: 13d8+13
AC: +2 alternative Two Weapon Defense feat, Combat Expertise
BAB: +11
Attacks:
Axe Wielded 2-handed: +11/+6/+1 (1d8+3) average 7.5 per hit
TWF Attack: +9/+4/-1 (1d8+2) and +9/+4 (1d8+1) average 7.5/6.5 per hit
FE: Undead TWF Attack: +9/+4/-1 (1d8+17) and +9/+4 (1d8+16) average 22.5/21.5 per hit
FE: Outsider/Cultist Organization TWF Attack: +9/+4/-1 (1d8+7) and +9/+4 (1d8+6) average 11.5/10.5 per hit
Special: Turn Undead 3/day +0 (2d6+6) as 6th level cleric
Special: Detect Undead at will
Special: Cure spells maximized when cast on me
Special: Can use turn undead attempts to crit undead
Special: Go under cover as Undead as they think I am undead
Special: Distracting Attack means any sneak attacks work against targets I hit in melee
Skills: ??
Ranger 2/Scout 4/Fighter 1/Dervish 6...
Saves: Fort +8 Reflex +11 Will +5
HP: 6d8+7d10+13
AC: +1 Shield, +1 Dodge, +2 (Ex.), +1/+3 Skirmish, +4 vs. AoO, +5 Combat Expertise, Fight Defensively: -4/+3
Best AC: +15 (-9 attacks)
When have Elaborate Parry at Dervish 7: Fight defensively -4/+7 for –9/+19
BAB: +12
Attacks:
Axe Wielded 2-handed: +12/+7/+2 (1d8+3) average 7.5 per hit
Skirmish Spring Attack: +12 (1d8+3+2d6) average 14.5
Improved Skirmish Spring Attack: +12 (1d8+3+4d6) average 21.5
Static Full Attack: +10/+5/+0 (1d8+2) and +10 (1d8+1) average 7.5/6.5 per hit
Improved Skirmish Dervish Full Attack (8 rd., 3/day): +13/+8/+3 (1d8+5+4d6) and +13 (1d8+4+4d6) average 23.5/22.5 per hit
Skills: 70
Specials: Improved Skirmish means skirmish damage works vs. undead, Favored Enemy +4 (undead)/+2 (cultists), Elusive Target, Cleave while Dancing, +3 Initiative, Spring Attack, Move +15, Really keen orc clogging dancer (+16!), Blind Fight
Let me know if you need additional information...
There was a Prestige Class added in dragon magazine that is 'probably' the one your DM could be meaning. If you like roleplay opportunities its not a bad one to take. Also,it does have several class features that come in VERY handy as the AP progresses.
IMO, it depends on what you treasure most in roleplaying.
If you delight in maxxed out characters, the custom prestige class is good, but maybe not optimal (you will fight a lot of undead, and then the PrC is clearly superior - but you will fight a whole bunch of other monsters as well).
If you enjoy playing a character that is envolved in the storyline and thus unique, I'd advise strongly for taking the PrC. It's a very flavorful one, especially for a ranger (and useful as well).
I, when a player in AoW, had the chance to make some setting-specific choices, and didn't take (all of) them because I pursued my ideal of the "perfect diviner" - which I later regretted.
IMO, it depends on what you treasure most in roleplaying.
If you delight in maxxed out characters, the custom prestige class is good, but maybe not optimal (you will fight a lot of undead, and then the PrC is clearly superior - but you will fight a whole bunch of other monsters as well).
If you enjoy playing a character that is envolved in the storyline and thus unique, I'd advise strongly for taking the PrC. It's a very flavorful one, especially for a ranger (and useful as well).
I, when a player in AoW, had the chance to make some setting-specific choices, and didn't take (all of) them because I pursued my ideal of the "perfect diviner" - which I later regretted.
I'm torn, honestly.
I'm a strong role player and I like sessions where we talk and argue and horse around. On the other hand, I very much dislike feeling worthless in combat, which is what this character is as a TWF ranger. He's been knocked out in the majority of combats and died twice already.
When he's not facing his favored enemies, he's doing 7.5/6.5 damage per hit. As a straight ranger, it's just a matter of time before he dies for a third time.
We're now hitting the level where the war mage is getting 4 fireballs a day and the cleric's about to take off in power levels. I'm under no illusions that melee builds will ever keep up with casters after 10th level in 3rd edition, but I realized that going straight ranger was just going to leave me frustrated.
It's tough to play the tough guy when the mechanics of the class do not support it.
When he's not facing his favored enemies, he's doing 7.5/6.5 damage per hit. As a straight ranger, it's just a matter of time before he dies for a third time.
We're now hitting the level where the war mage is getting 4 fireballs a day and the cleric's about to take off in power levels. I'm under no illusions that melee builds will ever keep up with casters after 10th level in 3rd edition, but I realized that going straight ranger was just going to leave me frustrated.
It's tough to play the tough guy when the mechanics of the class do not support it.
I actually played a Dervish in AoW (as a secondary PC) and I gotta say, I don't think the build works for the game at all. It was fun in the fights my DM made up on the side (we had a whole gladiator bit as a sidequest), but against the modules as written I had a *really* tough time with it -- and I had even taken feats like Mage Slayer to make myself more effective as a spellcaster harrier.
Ergo, my $0.02: Take the other custom PrC and don't look back. ;)
Having DMed the AoW, I strongly recommend you go with the undead fighting class.
When he's not facing his favored enemies, he's doing 7.5/6.5 damage per hit. As a straight ranger, it's just a matter of time before he dies for a third time.
We're now hitting the level where the war mage is getting 4 fireballs a day and the cleric's about to take off in power levels. I'm under no illusions that melee builds will ever keep up with casters after 10th level in 3rd edition, but I realized that going straight ranger was just going to leave me frustrated.
It's tough to play the tough guy when the mechanics of the class do not support it.
I actually played a Dervish in AoW (as a secondary PC) and I gotta say, I don't think the build works for the game at all. It was fun in the fights my DM made up on the side (we had a whole gladiator bit as a sidequest), but against the modules as written I had a *really* tough time with it -- and I had even taken feats like Mage Slayer to make myself more effective as a spellcaster harrier.
Ergo, my $0.02: Take the other custom PrC and don't look back. ;)
The thing with the skirmish damage is that it works against undead due to the Swift Hunter feat.