Apologies for two back-to-back advice posts; it seems I have a few quandaries rolling around in my head...
I'm trying to decide which Ranger archetypes to take for a character that is going to take 6 Ranger levels on his way to Arcane Archer; although it's likely that I'm going to go back to Ranger after three levels of AA, that's not been fully decided.
My two preferred options at this point are either Spirit Ranger (for the extra, spontaneously cast spell) or Guide/Skirmisher (I love the flexible application of favored enemy that Guide has; not sure which Skirmisher tricks I would take - probably start with Chameleon Step). In part, the choice is of spells vs. tricks/flexible favored enemy. I feel like there are some good spells, that would remain useful for an archer character with a low caster level (such as gravity bow), but I also already have a level of wizard (in preparation for AA), so I do have access to spells without the Ranger spells. On the other end of the spectrum, the flexible favored enemy is awesome, and the tricks would just be a nice bonus.
Any thoughts?
Just a bit of a bump.
You do get gravity bow from wizard in your spellbook. There are some ranger spells that help your party like energy resistence that skirmisher cannot duplicate.
You could always take guide without skrimisher and be able to use ranger's focus with favoered enemy with gravity bow together to get through tough battles with the more to hit and damage.
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Apologies for two back-to-back advice posts; it seems I have a few quandaries rolling around in my head...
I'm trying to decide which Ranger archetypes to take for a character that is going to take 6 Ranger levels on his way to Arcane Archer; although it's likely that I'm going to go back to Ranger after three levels of AA, that's not been fully decided.
My two preferred options at this point are either Spirit Ranger (for the extra, spontaneously cast spell) or Guide/Skirmisher (I love the flexible application of favored enemy that Guide has; not sure which Skirmisher tricks I would take - probably start with Chameleon Step). In part, the choice is of spells vs. tricks/flexible favored enemy. I feel like there are some good spells, that would remain useful for an archer character with a low caster level (such as gravity bow), but I also already have a level of wizard (in preparation for AA), so I do have access to spells without the Ranger spells. On the other end of the spectrum, the flexible favored enemy is awesome, and the tricks would just be a nice bonus.
Any thoughts?
Why Ranger? Is Improved Precise Shot that important to you? Ranger 2 / Fighter 4 gives you weapon speciaization.
Did you look at Witch for your arcane caster level?
@sieylianna
Improved presice shot is important to anyone who is playing with a DM who is familiar with the cover rules and using them.
I've already begun the character at wizard 1, so that takes care of the arcane level. Could have taken some other, perhaps better, routes (witch is a nice idea), but at this point, it's done.
I did give Ranger 2/Fighter 4 some thought (weapon master would have been good), but I've decided on straight ranger for the flavor and the skill points. The extra ranger goodies interest me more than the mild/moderate boost to combat prowess from fighter; getting improved precise shot 5 levels early is just a bonus.
Dr. Wu - I've also been thinking along those lines. The crazy movement boost of the skirmisher's chameleon step would be nice, but preparing gravity bow in my ranger spell slots would free up one or two wizard spaces for some nice utility - having vanish on hand, for instance. Again, I hate to give up evasion, but it comes relatively late anyway, since I'm starting at level 1, and I think Ranger's Focus just rocks. Guide is probably my running favorite at the moment.
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I'm trying to decide which Ranger archetypes to take for a character that is going to take 6 Ranger levels on his way to Arcane Archer; although it's likely that I'm going to go back to Ranger after three levels of AA, that's not been fully decided.Avoid AA like the plague -- that's for fighter/wizards (who, for some inexplicable reason, would rather not be a far more versatile and powerful Eldritch Knight), not rangers.
@sieylianna; Improved presice shot is important to anyone who is playing with a DM who is familiar with the cover rules and using them.
Exactly. -- a good half the time (if not more often), the have-no-feats penalty for shooting into melee is -8 (not -4) because your ally (in melee) is also shielding the target.
Thus Improved Precise Shot is crucial for a class already contemplating being -4 on every full-attack (Rapidshot+Manyshot).