I just started Kingmaker, and I'm playing a human ranger, with archery fighting style. I'm probably going to still be doing a fair bit of melee with my greatsword, so I'm doing a lot of the things suggested for a "switch hitter" build as detailed in Treantmonks guide. Our party makeup is a little weird, and I'm shouldering most of the front line load. We've got a cleric, two arcane casters, and a rogue. Considering all the spell casting we have, and that spellcasting doesn't really feel right with my character concept, I'm considering taking the Skirmisher archetype and forgoing spells. Does anyone have much experience with this?
xenophone wrote: I just started Kingmaker, and I'm playing a human ranger, with archery fighting style. I'm probably going to still be doing a fair bit of melee with my greatsword, so I'm doing a lot of the things suggested for a "switch hitter" build as detailed in Treantmonks guide. Our party makeup is a little weird, and I'm shouldering most of the front line load. We've got a cleric, two arcane casters, and a rogue. Considering all the spell casting we have, and that spellcasting doesn't really feel right with my character concept, I'm considering taking the Skirmisher archetype and forgoing spells. Does anyone have much experience with this? I've been a Trapper Ranger (also gives up spells), in Kingmaker also ironically enough. I didn't really miss them much. There are a few high level spells that would have come in handy a few times, but overall it can be well worth it to give up spells. Skirmisher is a solid archetype, so I don't think you'll miss the spells at all.
As a "front liner" (whether archery or not), an Animal Companion will be invaluable. Skirmisher has a lot of nice little hunter's tricks that can bolster your companion. Good choice.
Take Boon Companion as your level 5 or 7 feat for sure.
Switch Hitters are great - and being that you don't have a lot of people who will be clogging up your shooting lanes (by getting into melee), it should servce you very well.
If your party had more of a martial slant I'd suggest focusing more on Archery.
Another Arcetype that stacks with Skirmisher that you may want to consider is the Guide. But to be honest I wouldn't reccomend it for you with this party as I think your Animal Companion and you are going to doing the bulk of the wet work (and guide gives up Animal Companion).
Cool, sounds like I'm on the right path then. I did consider the Guide Krodjin, but as you said, giving up the animal companion just hurts too much. Inspired Moment sounds like it could be a lot fun though.
I'm going to be experimenting with a Skirmisher-Guide in Serpent's Skull. I rarely multiclass, but this will be my first Pathfinder game as a player (after three years of GMing) so I was keen to try several things.
In addition to stacking the Skirmisher and Guide archetypes, I started the character as a Fighter for one level and will also be taking a two-level dip into Monk(Zen Archer). The dip into Zen Archer loses me +1 BAB and a couple of hit points but in return I get to use Flurry of Blows with a bow, Weapon Focus(bow) and Perfect Strike (roll attacks twice and take the better result, two or more times per day) for free, plus a bonus combat feat.
My saving throws also benefit early on, as usual for "dipped" characters: +6 Fort, +4 Refl and +2 Will at 3rd level before ability bonuses are added. Projected out to 10th level I'd have BAB +9/+4 and +10f/+8r/+5w compared to a 10th level Fighter with +10/+5 and +7f/+3r/+3w.
on the skirmisher note, would my ranger lose spellcraft and the ability to at least id spells being cast?
The archetype makes no mention of lost skills, so Spellcraft would still be a class skill for a Skirmisher ranger.
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