Hi guys,
Just a query on what's better.
I had built a Ranger TWF focusing on a crit build (staggering and blinding), using duel Shortswords (we'd allow duel scimtars but i didn't have room for weapon focus AND oversize TWF (3.5 feat). I know Kukri is better for a crit build but I want this guy to carry a sword.
I thought 'just eat it and go longsword and Kukri' but then Wpn Fcs wouldn't work offhand.
Then i remembered 'Big Game Hunter'. +1 to attack and +2 damage on large or bigger creatures. This would apply to both hands, letting me go Scimitar and Kukri. It would apply to my bow (i am an elf) or anything i wield as long as the foe is large or bigger.
Given I'm a TWF elf switch hitter (focus on TWF but i do have Quickdraw and deadly Aim), having a feat cover any weapon vs large sounds good.
(Took racial hatred so Orcs and Dwarves are also covered- humans will be my first fe)
Thoughts?
Reminds me of when I hit 9 with my paladin. I was torn between Blind-Fight and Improved Critical.
Decided to go with Improved Critical, as one is situational, and the other helps me every time I swing my sword.
By that reasoning, I guess I would take Weapon Focus over Big Game Hunter, unless you KNOW that you will be facing a lot of big creatures.
Reminds me of when I hit 9 with my paladin. I was torn between Blind-Fight and Improved Critical.
Decided to go with Improved Critical, as one is situational, and the other helps me every time I swing my sword.
By that reasoning, I guess I would take Weapon Focus over Big Game Hunter, unless you KNOW that you will be facing a lot of big creatures.
Depends on what level you are. There aren't very many medium or small non-humanoid creatures in the bestiary higher than about a CR 9. If you're high level, or your DM favors monsters rather than leveled PC races, big game fighter is a very solid feat. At level 1, it's not half as good.
Here's the 20 level breakdown:
2 Double Slice
3 Endurance, Favored Terrain 1 (forest), Quickdraw
4 Hunter's Bond (Wolf)
5 Favored Enemy 2, Bonded Companion
6 ITWF
7 Woodland Stride, Two Weapon Pounce
8 Swift Tracker, Favored Terrain 2 (underground)
9 Evasion, Deadly Aim
10 Favored Enemy 3, Two Weapon Rend
11 Quarry, Craft Wand
12 Camouflage
13 3rd Favored Terrain (urban), Staggering Critical
14 Gtr Two Weapon Fighting
15 Favored Enemy 4, Blinding Critical
16 Improved Evasion
17 Hide in Plain Sight, Outflank
18 Favored Terrain 4 (mountains), Two Weapon Defense
19 Improved Quarry, Favored Defense
20 Favored Enemy 5, Master Hunter.
The idea is to be as versatile as possible. TWF is by far my preffered fighting method, but he uses quickdraw to throw daggers at shortrage (only if terrain is an issue- he gets to use his PA), Longbow at range (deadly aim) mostly for the flight issues.
Sure he COULD have a item to fly (and likely will- but hey he IS an elf)
His wolf buddy will be tripping foes to help him hit (-4AC vs melee for being prone)
At high levels the wolf an be mage huge with animal growth to keep it relevant. (Craft wand is for those good ranger utility spells, instant enemy will likely take all his 3rd and maybe some 4th level slots.
1 Human+4
2 Undead+2
3 Outsider (evil)+8
4 Magical Beast+2
5 Giants +2
Any creature not covered by FE will be instant enemy'ed
Keep in mind big game hunter covers ALL Large or bigger creatures.
Racial Hatred grants +1 vs Dwarves, Orcs
So what would be mechanically superior?
Wpn Fcs: shortsword OR Big Game Hunter with scimitar/kukri?
*Remember this is a crit build.
I'm pretty sure Big Game Hunter is the way to go, but there may be a hole in my logic I'm not seeing.
I think between the racial hatred for Orcs (effectively wpn fcs vs orcs) and human as my first FE I've covered a large base of low level foes. Other things like goblins etc can be sneezed at pretty early.
I am flexible on Quickdraw and Deadly Aim, but I'd like an ok ranged option.
Further perhaps Big game hunter should be the go to feat for battle clerics, oracles, inquisitors, bard, Pally etc.
Fighters will of course go weapon Fcs (prereq for good feats like deadly stroke), but as mentioned most CR9 or higheropponents are large or bigger.
Getting +1 to hit and +2 damage on any creature bigger than large, reguardless of what weapon is awesome.
The benefit is bigger for sword n board and other non matched twf'ers.