So I have a simple question. With my switch hitter ranger, which feat progression would be better:
Lvl 1: Power Attack
Lvl 2: Rapid Fire
Lvl 3: Quick Draw
Here's where the question is. Same feats, just the order:
Lvl 5: Deadly Aim
Lvl 7: Boon Companion
OR
Lvl 5: Boon Companion
Lvl 7: Deadly Aim
I'm wondering if the survivability (and damage) of the pet getting up to 5 after only 1 level of being fairly weak would be worth the +4 damage of deadly aim for 2 levels.
Manyshot is much better than deadly aim.
Boon companion effectively makes your companion equivalent to a druid's companion.
Let's say your encounters last six rounds on average and you manage to shoot two arrows each round with a 75% hit rate after you deduct your deadly aim attack penalty. You would be getting 18 damage per encounter from deadly aim. A boon companioned companion at level 5 should do a whole lot more than 18 damage in an encounter.
Of course Manyshot will give you at least 20 more damage per encounter... plus whatever your str bonus and magical enhancements add. So probably 30-35 extra damage...
Manyshot is much better than deadly aim.
Boon companion effectively makes your companion equivalent to a druid's companion.
Let's say your encounters last six rounds on average and you manage to shoot two arrows each round with a 75% hit rate after you deduct your deadly aim attack penalty. You would be getting 18 damage per encounter from deadly aim. A boon companioned companion at level 5 should do a whole lot more than 18 damage in an encounter.
Of course Manyshot will give you at least 20 more damage per encounter... plus whatever your str bonus and magical enhancements add. So probably 30-35 extra damage...
Very true. To explain I will be getting Manyshot, but as the level 6 Archery Feat. So boon companion it is!
I would take precise shot, point blank shot and improved precise shot before deadly aim, but that's because I think deadly aim as seriously overrated.
Unless you hit 85% of the time with your arrows. Then it's an awesome feat.
Martiln, as far as I know, deadly aim only works for ranged attacks, so comparing them to other ranged attack feats seems completely reasonable. For a switch hitting ranger I'd certainly pick something other than deadly aim.
Martiln, as far as I know, deadly aim only works for ranged attacks, so comparing them to other ranged attack feats seems completely reasonable. For a switch hitting ranger I'd certainly pick something other than deadly aim.
What did you have in mind? Cleave? Or something else? :)
Martiln, as far as I know, deadly aim only works for ranged attacks, so comparing them to other ranged attack feats seems completely reasonable. For a switch hitting ranger I'd certainly pick something other than deadly aim.Deadly Aim adds up overtime with your Ranged aspect of switch hitting; first off, it adds that damage to each arrow, so if you're using manyshot, you're making your first shot even more impressive. if you're using rapid shot, it's another attack at your highest bonus which increases your DPR even more(the penalty to all attacks that round sucks, but it's not a huge problem). Rangers also add their Favored Enemy bonus(if applicable) to each arrow, so this can cancel out the penalty from rapid shot at least, and as long as you're not having to roll an 18 to hit with deadly aim and rapid shot, then it's more worthwhile to use them than it is to not use them. Also he has Power Attack, which means when he enters melee, his DPR is even more impressive, since the STR bonus goes to 1.5 your STR, and power attack becomes -1/+3 instead of -1/+2 like deadly aim.
I tend to agree with this. Especially with spells like Instant Enemy (making a target automatically my highest favored enemy bonus).
I'm not going to get into another debate over deadly aim. If you hit 85% of your time with your bow, it's worth it. If you hit 60% of the time with your bow it's a wash at mid levels and you lose DPR at high levels. Even when it works, it isn't that great. But whatever. It's one of those feats that contributes the least when you need it the most, but who cares...
Ferio, for a switch hitting ranger so far what I see is you have quickdraw and power attack. Is your ranger a twf melee ranger or a two-handed weapon melee ranger? Which feats I would pursue would depend on which way you were going.
I'm not going to get into another debate over deadly aim. If you hit 85% of your time with your bow, it's worth it. If you hit 60% of the time with your bow it's a wash at mid levels and you lose DPR at high levels. Even when it works, it isn't that great. But whatever. It's one of those feats that contributes the least when you need it the most, but who cares...
Ferio, for a switch hitting ranger so far what I see is you have quickdraw and power attack. Is your ranger a twf melee ranger or a two-handed weapon melee ranger? Which feats I would pursue would depend on which way you were going.
Dragon,
Two-handed weapon melee ranger. Even though I tend to agree with the above poster, I am definitely up for suggestions, and welcome them!
Ferio, I have come to accept that people will overvalue deadly aim because they overrate the damage bonus and underrate the attack penalty. Unless, as I said, you can guarantee an 85% chance to hit. But in that case you're doing so much damage with multiple arrow hits per round that deadly aim is hardly necessary.
Anyway, switch-hitting rangers should have high dex, so melee feats which capitalize on high dex are good choices. Since you're going to be splitting your feats between ranged and melee feats, I would look for feats which provide the most bang for your buck instead of some of the really cool feat trees (like combat expertise or dodge... just too costly for a switch-hitter).
I like "combat reflexes", for example. I do like cleave too, if you find yourself fighting lots of mooks. I also like Step up, especially if you're going to be fighting spellcasters who try to five foot step and blast you.
I've been wondering how Opening Volley would work out with a switch hitter, but I'm not suggesting that one. Just one I'd be interested in.
Ferio, I have come to accept that people will overvalue deadly aim because they overrate the damage bonus and underrate the attack penalty. Unless, as I said, you can guarantee an 85% chance to hit. But in that case you're doing so much damage with multiple arrow hits per round that deadly aim is hardly necessary.
Anyway, switch-hitting rangers should have high dex, so melee feats which capitalize on high dex are good choices. Since you're going to be splitting your feats between ranged and melee feats, I would look for feats which provide the most bang for your buck instead of some of the really cool feat trees (like combat expertise or dodge... just too costly for a switch-hitter).
I like "combat reflexes", for example. I do like cleave too, if you find yourself fighting lots of mooks. I also like Step up, especially if you're going to be fighting spellcasters who try to five foot step and blast you.
I've been wondering how Opening Volley would work out with a switch hitter, but I'm not suggesting that one. Just one I'd be interested in.
I keep hearing people say cleave is awesome. But wouldn't it lose alot of value once you start getting multiple hits? Or is it the fact that its 2 potential attacks as a standard instead of a full round (causing increased mobility) that is the reason people like it?
Also, Dragon, Opening volley does look pretty good. At the same note you have to drop your bow when you swap to melee so +4 on your first melee strikes may not be as great as you can't shoot the next target as easily. (without taking another move action to pick up your bow again, which could cause AOOs)
I do like the Idea of Step up. Definitely an underrated feat I think.
Ferio, I have a switch hitting ranger in 4e and he does a lot of switching from ranged to melee and back. For the most part he throws daggers, but he does use a bow when he needs range or has some special ammo he can use. It is rare that he ever uses the bow, drops it and enters melee and then finds a need to pick up the bow again. In fact I can't remember that ever happening. Once he's in close, he tends to be a melee fighter until the fight is over, or unless someone runs, and if they run, he can usually get to his bow and get a shot off before they are out of range anyway.
Also, weapon cords.
Ferio, I have a switch hitting ranger in 4e and he does a lot of switching from ranged to melee and back. For the most part he throws daggers, but he does use a bow when he needs range or has some special ammo he can use. It is rare that he ever uses the bow, drops it and enters melee and then finds a need to pick up the bow again. In fact I can't remember that ever happening. Once he's in close, he tends to be a melee fighter until the fight is over, or unless someone runs, and if they run, he can usually get to his bow and get a shot off before they are out of range anyway.
Also, weapon cords.
Good plan. So a weapon cord on a bow? That's a bit odd but I guess it works.