Greetings, fellow travellers.
After my wizard bit the dust (damned Ibixians), I finally have the posssibility to play a ranger.
Group consists of:
Books allowed are CRB and APG, setting is homebrew, relatively low on magic (no shops!) and character wealth, campaign will be mostly wilderness/exploration/dungeons (no, or only a few traps), lasting propably to lvl 12.
We are currently at lvl 4 and that's where the "problems" start.
My stats are STR 20, DEX 17, CON 14, INT 12, WIS 14, CHA 11.
I am wielding a greatsword or guisarme, ranged weapon is a comp. longbow (+3 STR), wearing a breastplate and spiked gauntlet.
Ok, first thing. Ability increase: I am strongly leaning towards STR, but increasing DEX will show immediate results. Thoughts?
Next thing will be feats. So far I have taken Power Attack, Cleave, Deadly Aim (combat style is archery, so Rapid Shot got taken at lvl 2, for lvl 6 it will be Manyshot).
What to do at lvl 5? I am torn between Improved Sunder and Improved Bullrush.
Imp. BR will synergize with the wizard using pit spells and for protecting the wizard (fly is not a well-received spell with this DM) and cleric while casting.
Imp. Sunder will help the party overall.
Now - how feasible are the combat manouvers when it gets to higher levels (lvl 8+) - we have had encounters with trolls and their CMD is already at sitting at 22.
Are there any other thoughts and ideas what feats I should consider (Iron Will, Weapon Focus, ...).
I would like to take Imp. Critical (greatsword), Critical Focus and depending on circumstances I am considering Toughness.
Phew, quite a long text - anybody who has made it 'til here: my thanks!
Looking forward to your advice.
Ruyan.
I'd actually look at Quickdraw. You are swapping between 3 weapons.
Str is already nice and high. I'd pump dex to 18 (but no higher) to the AC and Better ranged. The rest should go to STR.
Combat Maneuvers work well at low levels. But Fighters and Barbarians are tons better at it than you. Nothing against your build but those classes are more suited to it and they can keep them valid for longer.
A fighter who focuses on it can get +10 to his CM check (+4Wpn Training, +2Gloves, +2Gtr Wpn Fcs, +4Gtr Trip) on one maneuver.
Barbs are better with Lunge + Str Surge. Works with any CM and adds +20 to the check.
I think dex to get it to 18 works well as well although will it help with AC if you do not have mithril breastplate. It will help with range. Iron will is nice but quickdraw will be really useful.
If you want to be a switch hitter quick draw is really good. After that, I'd suggest you focus on archery. Since you have several melee characters precise shot/imp. precise shot should be useful. You could also go for mounted archery depending on the campaign - if you are a human, a mount would be a hassle in dungeons, but if your game mostly takes place above ground it is a valid tactic. Toughness is a definite plus imo, and
Don't worry about combat maneuvers - imo that's the fighter's job. In general, you and the other ranger have other things. BTW, what combat style is the other ranger geared for?
Thanks for the replies!
The other ranger is going 2-weapon fighting - so I will direct him to your guide, STR Ranger!
I took switch hitter, because the DM has already ruined two dedicated ranged chars in his campaign by his encounter design - the monsters seem to be always right on top of us and there is almost never a chance for (mundane) ranged combat.
Thanks for the clarification about the manouvers - I have never thought it to be so crass.
Ah, sorry, forgot to say, I am a human ranger. I do not worry too much about the AC - I will take the wolf for flavor and it will not grow to be large until lvl 10 - that's when reduce animal is available (lvl11 at the latest), otherwise it will have to squeeze.
Thanks again!
Ruyan.
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 32
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Rangers at 6th level can opt to take Point Blank Master(Longbow) as an Archery Combat Style Feat with Weapon Focus(Longbow) as the only prerequisite.
It would allow you to use the longbow in melee without provoking the AoOs for ranged combat. If you put minimal feats into melee combat until 6th level you could just focus on being a purely ranged character.
Rangers at 6th level can opt to take Point Blank Master(Longbow) as an Archery Combat Style Feat with Weapon Focus(Longbow) as the only prerequisite.
It would allow you to use the longbow in melee without provoking the AoOs for ranged combat. If you put minimal feats into melee combat until 6th level you could just focus on being a purely ranged character.
That means waiting to take improved precise shot which is also really important.
I'd consider Quickdraw, Great Cleave, or Combat Reflexes. All three of those have the result of increasing the number of melee attacks you can make, which is a Real Big Thing.
Imp Precise Shot for a switch hitter is a bit of over kill. It is really nice of course, but its most common use is to shoot past your allies without them providing soft cover. If thats the position you are in you should probably be drawing your sword and swinging. Same deal with Pt. Blank master....when would you ever want to shoot a bow while threatened instead of swinging your sword? I think your initial idea of Manyshot at 6th level is best.
If you are likely to get Enlarge Person or perhaps switch to a reach weapon, then I'd say Combat Reflexes at 5th. If not then I'd probably take Great Cleave. But Quickdraw will be useful too, and will come up at times when you don't expect it (i.e. you just got disarmed...quickdraw new weapon to not lose any attacks).