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Instant enemy and bane weapons keyed on his highest FE bonus. Instant enemy without a bane weapon is like eating just half a sandwich.
I'd go for pearls of power 3rd level vs the wand though, the wand would cost about 15k, but the pearls would be only 4500 per. I think three extra castings a day is probably fine vs the wand which would consume a lot of action economy to use.
Instant enemy and bane weapons keyed on his highest FE bonus. Instant enemy without a bane weapon is like eating just half a sandwich.
I'd go for pearls of power 3rd level vs the wand though, the wand would cost about 15k, but the pearls would be only 4500 per. I think three extra castings a day is probably fine vs the wand which would consume a lot of action economy to use.
A 3rd lv pearl of power is 9,000g or 4,500g if you craft it.
Random dude is right, I looked at the wrong cost, sorry! I still like pearls for action economy and if you play long enough they pay themselves off vs the cost of a wand.
Also after 11th there isn't much ranger has to offer anymore as a TWFer, at that point I'd give a hard look at fighter, barbarian or rogue for a multiclass.
3 levels of weapon master fighter + gloves of duelling is a stellar combo with a few feats to give him more oomf
Barbarian + extra rage is pretty self explanitory. Some of the rage powers could be useful.
Since there are two other melee players, rogue is also an enticing option assuming he's okay trying to flank.
Hello board,
Me and some friends are currently playing level 10 characters in a very enjoyable campaign.
The problem is I can see our ranger is being a little upstaged and getting a bit upset about it. I was wondering if there was any quick and easy power boosts we could apply? a feat or two I could suggest or an item we could buy him. (something that grants pounce maybe?) Even buffing spells would be helpful.
The rest of the party is more or less of an even power level. We currently have a necromancer cleric (support, tank), a wizard (support, dps), a zen archer monk (ranged dps) and an ac focused hellknight (tank).
Two words: lead blades. Also, don't forget that lead blades stacks with enlarge person, if you can get the wizard to give you a boost with a 1st level spell buff after he probably leads with haste.
At 10th level, your Combat Style feats should have been Double Slice or Two-Weapon Fighting at 2nd (depending on if you had 15+ Dex and took Two-Weapon Fighting at 1st), Improved Two-Weapon Fighting at 6th, and Two-Weapon Rend at 10th. Dex should not be above 15-16, with both of your advancements going into Str. Even with the default array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8), you could have 18 Str (+2 race +2 advancements), 15 Dex, 12 Con, 10 Int 13 Wis, 8 Cha, assuming a human, half-elf, or half-orc.
Weapon choice is another large consideration. For human or half-elf, you should probably have gone for a critical-focused build with dual wakizashis (using the human bonus feat or the Ancestral Arms alternate racial trait), Improved Critical (Wakizashi), and two +1 cunning wakizashis (spread out some of those skill ranks to get 5+ in several Knowledge skills: Arcana, Dungeoneering, Local, Nature, Planes, and Religion all have creature types associated for the +2 on critical confirmation rolls). For a half-orc, just take the Toothy alternate racial trait for the bite attack and invest in an amulet of mighty fists (mainly for adding special abilities; magic fang, and greater magic fang when you can cast it, should take care of the bonus) as well as an orc double-axe; Power Attack, Cleave, and Cleaving Finish are obvious feat choices. There are some obvious synergies with multi-classing some levels in barbarian with either path, to boost Str even higher.
I have a Fighter(Two-Weapon Warrior) I just started and he already deals more damage overall than my previous 2H Fighter.
On-Topic: Lead Blades, Instant Enemy, Cunning Bane Kukri(x2), Pearls of Power.
These are your best bet. You might even look into a Ring or other item that grants a Permanent or 3/Day casting of Lead Blades. Maybe Gloves of Leadened Blades?
Maybe see about your GM allowing Rings of Wizardry or a variant for Divine Spells.
Maybe a Ring of Divinity or Clericity? Yeah I'm just rambling now...
Either way best of luck helping your Nakama!
Lead Blades/Instant Enemy = dead monsters and much chest beating.
Pearls of Power level 3 as others have said will keep the combo going through the day.
Hiya.
I don't want to be the curmudgeonly stick-in-the-mud, but...does the player of the Ranger realize he's playing a *ranger* and not a *fighter*? Rangers do ranger stuff, and they fight decently. Barbarians do barbarian stuff, and they fight decently, Rogues do rogue stuff, and they fight ok too. Fighters do fighter stuff, and they fight excellently.
The point I'm attempting to make is this: Rangers have other stuff they do other then fight...so expecting to be "just as good at fighting" as a fighter is stupid. It's not that the ranger needs a "boost to fighting", it's that the player needs a "boost to expectations". The ranger isn't the problem...it's the player.
Of course, all IMHO, and IME. I just find a lot of the time when a player is complaining about his character being "weak", it's not that the character is actually weak...it's that the player is expecting something else. Like wanting to make an expert bowman, then choosing rogue to do it.
^_^
Paul L. Ming
Check out my Guide.
In the Guide to the guides thread.
Ginsu Master: Str Ranger's guide to TWF for rangers.
Starts off strong. Buy level ten you own most encounters
Lvl 10? Better give up the armsrace, you cannot compete with the casters. You are now a distraction for them, and a decent tracker/utility person.
Lead blades is GARBAGE. Turning a d4 into a d6 (or even a d8 with enlarge, if your DM lets two size effects stack) Is exactly one or two more points of damage.
Instead, get keen edge scabbards and get the mage or cleric to drop greater magic weapon on his two swords. The cheapest method is likely just giving the mage a third level pearl of power or two in exchange for his memorization of the spell. It should last nearly all day and will be a lot better than lead blades (which is again, garbage).
Lead blades is GARBAGE. Turning a d4 into a d6 (or even a d8 with enlarge, if your DM lets two size effects stack) Is exactly one or two more points of damage.
Instead, get keen edge scabbards and get the mage or cleric to drop greater magic weapon on his two swords. The cheapest method is likely just giving the mage a third level pearl of power or two in exchange for his memorization of the spell. It should last nearly all day and will be a lot better than lead blades (which is again, garbage).
Lead Blades should stack with enlarge person as it is an untyped effect.
as if one size category larger than they actually are.
Emphasis being on the "as if".
Admittedly not as useful with a TWF but can be great with 2 handed (what's the damage for a huge greatsword 4D6?) all of which is multiplied when Vital Strike!
So I would say lead blades is not garbage, it just depends how you use it!
As far as action economy, I'm not sure how a Pearl is any different from a wand. Still have to get it out, cast and put it away. With a wand you can also use the spell Wand Weapon (or weapon wand?) to put the wand in the sword. This will vast improve action economy.
As far as action economy, I'm not sure how a Pearl is any different from a wand. Still have to get it out, cast and put it away. With a wand you can also use the spell Wand Weapon (or weapon wand?) to put the wand in the sword. This will vast improve action economy.
Pearls are meant to be used after combat to recall the spell.
One standard action vs one move (to draw the wand)and a standard to cast.
Besides a TWFer has the handicap of having its hands full during combat, stowing a wand is an move action too unless you plan on dropping it (free action) every combat which has it's own drawbacks.
EDIT: and pearls do not need to be on hand, just on your person to be used.
Hiya.
I don't want to be the curmudgeonly stick-in-the-mud, but...does the player of the Ranger realize he's playing a *ranger* and not a *fighter*? Rangers do ranger stuff, and they fight decently. Barbarians do barbarian stuff, and they fight decently, Rogues do rogue stuff, and they fight ok too. Fighters do fighter stuff, and they fight excellently.
The point I'm attempting to make is this: Rangers have other stuff they do other then fight...so expecting to be "just as good at fighting" as a fighter is stupid. It's not that the ranger needs a "boost to fighting", it's that the player needs a "boost to expectations". The ranger isn't the problem...it's the player.
Of course, all IMHO, and IME. I just find a lot of the time when a player is complaining about his character being "weak", it's not that the character is actually weak...it's that the player is expecting something else. Like wanting to make an expert bowman, then choosing rogue to do it.
^_^
Paul L. Ming
I have TWF ranger in one game that fights better than a basic fighter when I have Ranger Focus active (Archetype in the APG). Even with out ranger focus I'm doing about the same damage. The difference is in AC, the fighter has huge AC compared to mine. This is also why they don't out damage me. The fighter went TWF/Shield Bash style. Quite effective but has lower STR because of needing the high Dex. Got himself Mitheral Full plate with Armor training allowing him to use all his DEX.
So my point is, you can make Ranger that fights and fights as well if not better than fighters. You can also make a Ranger who doesn't fight well too.
The problem is largely that he's using TWF instead of a Greatsword. Kukri's don't stack well with lead blades or Enlarge, rendering two very useful buffs almost useless to him.
A hunter's bane weapon from 3.5 makes the weapon bane against all his favored enemies. That's highly useful. There's a 3.5 feat that also allows him to select addition favored enemies.
Note: Using instant enemy won't reset his sword's bane effect...
Instant Enemy is the standard way of bring favored enemy to bear, but it is a mid level solution. Turning your greatsword from 2-12 to 3-18 is better, and getting enlarged to 4-24 better yet.
Also, he needs pOwer attack, or he'll never put up really good damage numbers.
I'd recommend he change his weapon style, but is IS his character. Rangers can do very well TWF if they get their FE bonuses.
==Aelryinth
Note: Using instant enemy won't reset his sword's bane effect...
Instant enemy:
"Select one of your favored enemy types. For the duration of the spell, you treat the target as if it were that type of favored enemy for all purposes."
It sets the monster to your selected FE type, which also happens to be the same type of bane you purchased :-)
That doesn't mean it affects your sword's magic, Lastoth. But it's a judgement call.
==Aelryinth
That doesn't mean it affects your sword's magic, Lastoth. But it's a judgement call.
==Aelryinth
Did I miss the part where it said "for all purposes (other than bane)"?
I fail to see the distinction here, since that implies my weapon can't benefit from FE bonus because it doesn't possess it either.
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and to the guys who don't think bane weapons and instant enemy work together, search the forums a bit more, this has been discussed, is in class guides, and is universally agreed to work.
Actually, I just searched the forums on it.
1) The 2 threads that dealt directly with the topic reach no absolute conclusion but the majority position is that it does NOT work.
2) No FAQ has been given concerning this point. So no official word AFAIK
3) The people that write the class guides are enthusiastic fans. They are not the developers and have like zero authority on deciding what is RAW and what is not
Instant enemy and bane weapons keyed on his highest FE bonus. Instant enemy without a bane weapon is like eating just half a sandwich.
I'd go for pearls of power 3rd level vs the wand though, the wand would cost about 15k, but the pearls would be only 4500 per. I think three extra castings a day is probably fine vs the wand which would consume a lot of action economy to use.
I don't see how Bane and Favored Enemy are connected at all. Instant enemy only affect your Favored Enemy. The problem here is Bane is not tied in any way to your Favored Enemy bonus.
You stack Favored Enemy (goblins)
You buy a bow with bane (goblins) on it.
You cast Instant Enemy on the dragon, select Goblin
Now that dragon is considered to be of the goblin type for you, for all purposes.
Dragon is taking bane (goblin) damage, as well as FE (goblin) damage.
Some nice loot drops, good for his PC. High end kukri, such as Aelryinths hunters bane idea. . Collar for his companion. Make sure it isn’t something the party will sell or that another PC will snag.
And since he is the skill monkey, a few things just for that role.
ask the casters to dimension door you to the BBEG's front door so you can full-attack them.
or have one of their familiar's do with via UMD.
or get a familiar yourself (via Eldritch Heritage or a Magus dip) to do the same.
vice-versa, it's useful to get in one full attack vs. an enemy already breathing down your neck,
and get 'rescued' before the BBEG's counter-full-attack can make you hurt.
You stack Favored Enemy (goblins)
You buy a bow with bane (goblins) on it.
You cast Instant Enemy on the dragon, select Goblin
Now that dragon is considered to be of the goblin type for you, for all purposes.
Dragon is taking bane (goblin) damage, as well as FE (goblin) damage.
But the dragon is not considered a goblin. The dragon is considered your Favored enemy.
"With this spell you designate the target as your favored enemy for the remainder of its duration."
So now you have Favored Enemy Dragon with Favored Enemy bonus you have for Goblins. But you bane weapon only affect goblins no Dragon.
that quote specifically says "You treat that enemy." It does not say "your weapons treat that enemy." And Bane is a very specific enhancement.
If Instant Enemy targeted your WEAPON, you'd have an argument. In effect, it would be 'switch Bane on the fly'.
Since it targets YOU, it has no effect on the magic of your weapon. It makes no physical change to the target that actually turns them into a goblin. The Bane effect will not see a goblin, it will see a Dragon, and not work.
YOU see a goblin in dragon scales now.
==Aelryinth
that quote specifically says "You treat that enemy." It does not say "your weapons treat that enemy." And Bane is a very specific enhancement. ...Since it targets YOU, it has no effect on the magic of your weapon.
agreed...
but let's not side-track this thread too much, create a rules discussion thread if you want to continue rules discussion of instant enemy and bane weapons.i think there is advice people can share beyond just that one contentious spell (which seems to have SOME effect for this guy's character regardless of exactly how it affects his sword or not).
Lead Blades on Impact weapons isn't bad for a boost to damage.
Lead blades is GARBAGE. Turning a d4 into a d6 (or even a d8 with enlarge, if your DM lets two size effects stack) Is exactly one or two more points of damage.
It depends a lot on the weapon. A d4 to a d6 (d8 with enlarge) or even d6 to d8 (d10 with enlarge) is decent (a critical-focused character will get a little more benefit from those extra points of damage), but not great. However, a d8 goes to d10 which goes to 2d8 with enlarge. One more reason that a Toothy half-orc with an orc double-axe is an attractive choice.
Of course, then there's the ranger that uses a large bastard sword: 2d8 goes to 3d8 which goes to 3d10.
Lead blades is GARBAGE. Turning a d4 into a d6 (or even a d8 with enlarge, if your DM lets two size effects stack) Is exactly one or two more points of damage.It depends a lot on the weapon. A d4 to a d6 (d8 with enlarge) or even d6 to d8 (d10 with enlarge) is decent (a critical-focused character will get a little more benefit from those extra points of damage), but not great. However, a d8 goes to d10 which goes to 2d8 with enlarge. One more reason that a Toothy half-orc with an orc double-axe is an attractive choice.
Of course, then there's the ranger that uses a large bastard sword: 2d8 goes to 3d8 which goes to 3d10.
Agreed, for a two handed ranger the damage gain can be substantial, but for a TWF ranger, and particularly for THIS threads TWF ranger, it's nominal. Also even if you have an orc double axe you're going to lose a standard action casting lead blades and lose another round drinking your potion. In that time you could have gotten up into combat and had a full attack. It's costing you damage unless you get a few rounds to prep at which point it's a no brainer.