I felt like challenging myself to make up a TWF ranger in spite of the evidence against it being mechanically worthwhile. I don't know whether I'll play it or not. This is the 20-point build I came up with, taking roughly 16,000gp worth of gear as a 6th level character. What I'm really wondering is whether this is just a noob trap, if a fighter could do it better, whether it looks like a min/max stat-fest... I guess whether this is a waste of time.
Name: [tbd]
CG Human Ranger 6
S: 21 (16 base, +2 racial, +1 at 4th level, +2 belt)
D: 10
Co: 14
I: 10
W: 14
Ch: 10
AC:19 (+2 Breastplate, +1 Ring of Protection)
Saves: Fort 8, Ref 6, Will 5 (+1 Cloak of Resistance)
(No real dump stat, I hate negative modifiers)
Skill ranks (total modifier): Climb 2 (+7), Handle Animal 5 (+8), Heal 4 (+9), Knowledge (dungeoneering) 1 (+4), Knowledge (Geography) 1 (+4), Knowledge (Nature) 3 (+6), Perception 6 (+8), Ride 2 (+2), Spellcraft 4 (+7), Stealth 6 (+6), Survival 6 (+11), Swim 2 (+7)
Feats: Power Attack (level 1), Toughness (Human Bonus), Two-Weapon Fighting (Ranger Bonus), Endurance (Ranger Bonus), Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Bastard Sword (level 3), Weapon Focus: Bastard Sword (level 5), Double Slice (Ranger Bonus)
Trait (one in this game): Dirty Fighter (+1 damage when flanking)
Class abilities
Favored Enemy 1 (Monstrous Humanoid) +4, Favored Enemy 2 (Aberration) +2, Favored Terrain (Underground) +2, Hunter's Bond (Wolf)
Gear: +2 Breastplate, +1 Bastard Sword, +1 Light Pick, +1 Ring of Protection, +1 Cloak of Resistance, Belt of Physical Might +2
Melee options:
One attack: +1 bastard sword, one handed (+13, 1d10+6)
One attack: +1 bastard sword, two-handed (+13, 1d10+8)
Full attack: +1 bastard sword (+11/+6, 1d10+6, 19-20/x2), +1 light pick (+10, 1d4+6, 20/x4)
Spells: 1st level - 2/day (ranger list)
I never think ranger is a trap, unless you have no clue what favored enemies to take (you picked good general ones I think).
Looks like a strong build to me. I think you could afford to knock 1 off Wisdom to put two in Dex or Int.
Also, not a class skill, but Acrobatics is a good friend to Rangers, even without a high dex.
Nice job!
The Spell-less ranger in Kobold Quarterly has Acrobatics as a class skill. Then Wisdom can be dropped even more to kick up the Dex if you don't have to worry about spells.
The Spell-less ranger in Kobold Quarterly has Acrobatics as a class skill. Then Wisdom can be dropped even more to kick up the Dex if you don't have to worry about spells.
Thats a great class
Also, with the Ranger Talents, you can take extra feats in your combat style.
TWF ranger is iconic- would have been nice if the class got an "ambidexterity" ability to negate the penalties.
Buuuut if 3.5 allowed- go human w/oversize twf, and wolverine stance from TOB-use 2 scimitars for winblowing a feat on bastard sword is a waste.
Assuming just pathfinder SRD available (as is the case) what would you replace it with?
Looks like a solid build and a lot of fun to play, useful in and out of combat. You'll be a good flanking buddy with the party's fighter or rogue as well.
Bastard sword is an interesting choice, and it does need that extra feat to use one-handed, but it looks like you want to switch between THF and TWF which is an interesting idea, and actually suitable to the versatility of the ranger. Think about if another single-handed sword (remember you can always hit with a longsword, etc. with two hands if you want) would suit if you find in the future that Exotic WP feat would be better off as something else, but eh... I'd go with it. It reminds me of Minsc from Baldur's Gate (he used a lot of bastard swords in my game, IIRC). But with brains. :)
Looks like a solid build and a lot of fun to play, useful in and out of combat. You'll be a good flanking buddy with the party's fighter or rogue as well.
Bastard sword is an interesting choice, and it does need that extra feat to use one-handed, but it looks like you want to switch between THF and TWF which is an interesting idea, and actually suitable to the versatility of the ranger. Think about if another single-handed sword (remember you can always hit with a longsword, etc. with two hands if you want) would suit if you find in the future that Exotic WP feat would be better off as something else, but eh... I'd go with it. It reminds me of Minsc from Baldur's Gate (he used a lot of bastard swords in my game, IIRC). But with brains. :)
Not a whole lot, but maybe more so.
I used Bastard Sword to get the max die up, but it's not that significant. Idea was big hits with one, big crits with the other. But I can replace the exotic feat with quick draw, make the regular MO a charge with a two-handed attack, switch to TWF next round. Otherwise I'm either drawing during the move, and therefore can't two-hand the first strike, or I'm drawing as a move action in melee, and can't TWF.
Actually, thinking about that, Quick Draw is the best choice I can think of. I'd welcome any better ideas.
Against your favored enemy, the attack bonus negates the penalty for 2 weapon fighting. And with extra attacks per round, you really get to rack up a lot of damage with your favored enemy bonus to damage---especially with that x4 critical on the light pick!
So you might want to go 2 weapon fighting when fighting your favored enemies, and two-handed bastard sword when fighting non-favored enemies.
A real interesting build there!
With a double-weapon you have yourself the best of both Quick Draw and what was in 3.5 Oversized Two-Weapon Fighting. It costs you only one feat, and you can switch from Two-Handed striking with only one side on the charge/standard attacks, and double fighting on the normal fights, but with better than a light weapon in your off-hand. If you play a dwarf, orc, or anyone else with a racial double-weapon, you save yourself a feat since they're considered martial weapons...thus making up for that bonus human feat you lose for playing any of those other races...making human, in 2-weapon fighting, actually not the optimal choice anymore)
I like the Orc Double Axe. Half-Orcs get it for free as a martial weapon, it's a good solid 1d8 x3 (comparable to duel-wielding the normally not-smart-to-duel-wield-one-handed-non-light-weapon battleaxes), and you can drop any weapon specific feats, like the Weapon Focus chain or Improved Crit on it for double the benefit. And I don't know about you, but I think Orc Ferocity is a LOT better than one lousy skill point a level.