Hi Folks,
We've had a new player join our group and she's making a Ranger (Skirmisher). We've got a couple of questions;
What feat should she take as her 5th level character feat? So far she has these:
1: Point Blank Shot
1Human: Rapid Shot
2Ranger: Precise Shot (Archery Combat Style)
3: Deadly Aim
5: ???
6Ranger: Improved Precise Shot
7: Manyshot
She can't take Manyshot or Improved Precise Shot at 5th because of BaB issues, so she has to take them when she did.
We're collectively drawing a blank on her 5th level feat. So far we have Improved Initiative pencilled in, but with Improved Precise Shot it doesn't really matter whether she's shooting before or after the hitters engage in combat.
Also, which Skirmisher abilities are good? At 7th level she gets two and has chosen Hobbling Strike and (IIRC) Surprise Shift.
It's a fairly standard hack 'n slay campaign (we're playing through the Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil module) and the other party members are:
Human Barbarian (hits stuff HARD)
Dwarven Druid + Tiger companion (hits even harder than the Barbarian)
Dwarven Rogue/Cleric
Human Sorceror
Halfling Life Oracle
I'm running the game.
Cheers
Viperion
Thanks all :)
Until the game devolves to rocket-tag at high level, I've found the benefit from improved initiative to be lackluster in play, it serves a purpose and it's nice to have, but I've just held my turn to wait for my allies to act more than I've used my starting order to just attack, it's better IMO to be reactive than fire the opening volley (again, until the game becomes rocket-tag).
That being said, the feat choices available are not great..
Reckless Aim perhaps?
Edit: I also like Tangling Attack more so than Hobbling Attack, you get the 1/2 movement speed (albeit for 1 round) but with added goodies, but it does seems redundant to have both.
Defensive Bow stance seems good aswell, as a just-incase option.
x9ss: Reckless Aim sounds good, but it's from a book we're not using (I probably should have specified :P) We're only using Core and APG in this game.
Hobbling Attack is so much better than Tangling Attack - you can declare Hobbling attack after you hit, where with Tangling Attack you have to declare it before you roll to hit. Both are essentially 1/2 speed, Hobbling Attack lasts as long or longer than Tangling Attack does. Likewise, we debated Defensive Bow Stance vs Surprise Shift and decided Surprise Shift was the better option - they're both Swift Actions, so that's a wash, and even though with DBS you can shoot at the guy in your face, with Surprise Shift you can use that, then move away and still get a shot off, making them expend some movement to get a full attack on you.
Morgen: Any suggestions?
Weapon focus to offset penalties, iron will because will saves can never be too high, power attack for a 2handed backup weapon, or craft wondrous items to gear up the pet...
Boon companion to increase your animal companion to another tiger
x9ss: Reckless Aim sounds good, but it's from a book we're not using (I probably should have specified :P) We're only using Core and APG in this game.
Hobbling Attack is so much better than Tangling Attack - you can declare Hobbling attack after you hit, where with Tangling Attack you have to declare it before you roll to hit. Both are essentially 1/2 speed, Hobbling Attack lasts as long or longer than Tangling Attack does. Likewise, we debated Defensive Bow Stance vs Surprise Shift and decided Surprise Shift was the better option - they're both Swift Actions, so that's a wash, and even though with DBS you can shoot at the guy in your face, with Surprise Shift you can use that, then move away and still get a shot off, making them expend some movement to get a full attack on you.
Morgen: Any suggestions?
Ah, well that makes it more difficult.
And I missed the clause on Tangling Attack vs Hobling as I'm not too familiar with the archetype, but I still maintain that the increased penalty when it actually works is worth it. Unless you're sniping from afar and want to slow their approach exclusively, which is something I've never done, but is fully possible. It's a bit more of a risk of your trick points, but just 1/2 speed by itself doesn't seem too valuable. Especially in a dungeoncrawler, odds are they have enough speed at 1/2 to reach you anyway.Good point on the Surprise Shift.
If I had to suggest something else, Iron Will might be good, he probably has decent wisdom, but failing will saves is never good news.
Other than that, Toughness, a skill focus (Perception?), or back to Improved Init. You're pretty limited for options with just CRB and APG.
Edit: Actually, should throw up a second vote for Weapon Focus. I just assumed the character had it >.<;
A bunch of good ideas have been said. I'll just add Quick Draw to the list in case a bow isn't viable for some reason and you need to draw your sword.
Thanks guys :)
Jubal: I don't think Boon Companion lets a Ranger take a Tiger as a companion - the Ranger list of allowable companions is much smaller than the Druid one, and doesn't have Tiger on it at all (more specifically now that I've looked it up, Rangers get Cat, Small but not Cat, Large. They can have Leopards or Cheetahs (never mind that Leopards are one of the larger cats around ;) ) but not Lions or Tigers). It would boost the companion up to the same level as the Druid's one, but in this case the Ranger has taken the "share favoured enemy" version of Hunter's Bond (but that's only because we thought the Ranger animal companion was rather weak, which Boon Companion would offset)
I'll suggest Weapon Focus, Iron Will and Quick Draw to the player and see if she wants one of them. Weapon Focus may be the goer here since she'll be combining Rapid+Many+Deadly Aim more often than not ;)