The Wild Stalker Ranger archtype gives up FE bonuses (which are situational at best in my homegame, and fairly non-existant most of the time) for Rage Powers at a -3 level. It does however, get 3 of them from levels 4-6, so I'm trying to see what the first 3 should be. Keep in mind that with the level adjust, I won't ever get to the 10th level ones, so the Chains have to be usable at tier 2.
And since someone will usually invariably say it, I can't just "buy a wand of Instant Enemy" as 2/3 caster class wands are extremely rare, and 4 level caster wands are pretty much non-existant as well, unless it's on a normal spell list.
What books are allowed?
What Races are allowed?
What is the Point Buy?
If you have a current build, what is it?
It depends on what you want for the character. I like the superstition line myself. I always find magic to be the greatest threat out there as you proceed in levels, so buttressing your defenses against that seems like a good idea. Of course on the downside, you also resist friendly buff spells.
You might want to consider the guide archetype instead (if you don't have a fixed plan for using rage powers). That way you get ranger focus, which is like a minor smite usable a few times a day. That way you don't have to pick an important enemy type, you just have to pick what is an important enemy for the day (or a few times a day as you level).
Tooth and Claw Tiefling Natural Weapon Style (suboptimal, I know) Ranger/Animal Shaman Druid Right now, 2/2 Ranger/Druid. Has Claws (aspect feat), and Tail racials, kept the SLA for alter self for +2 str(size)/scent options. Pretty much all Paizo, but some 3PP on a reasonable case by case basis.
My race was re-fluffed as a half-lycanthrope instead of actual outsider, which is why I have the alter self, but for mechanical balance/ease we used the Str/Wis tiefling. (shifter race from eberron isn't OGL, and didn't want to convert all the feats to make sure they were balanced on our own)
Possibly going Shapeshifter for a stacking enhancement that works while polymorphed at ranger 3 (it's the only ability that changes, he was natural weapon style regardless). Will be going druid 6/ ranger x until the campaign ends. GM reads the animal shaman as getting wildshape at 4 and modifying at 6, like I do, so i'll have wildshape at level 7-8 total, and by 10-11 will be huge, mostly on track for normal. (possibly using template for advanced/young to actually have animal forms larger than large, otherwise the animal shaman is worthless)
Has at level 4 AC 22, Str 16 Dex 16 Con 14 Int 10 Wis 16 Cha 6. 20pt buy. 34HP Took Wolf (again, not completely optimal) Domain for the druid option, couple of nice spells, including Hunter's Howl which on a failed save makes a burst radius count as FE, at lowest bonus (+2), don't like AC's in games, they tend to die/bog things down.
Gives him Claw/Claw/Bite all for 1d4+3 (plus trip on the bite).
Boots of Favored terrain (arctic) which is where the entire campaign will be pretty much set.
Normal WBL, plus a custom item, which each character gets, that is not really subject to normal limits as a "Legacy". Mine is an amulet, will be a AoMF/Nat armor combo item possibly other abilities, they kinda level with us, in addition to normal WBL.
Considering the PA from armor power, already have the claw/bite/pounce available so beast totem is out of the running, fiend is interesting but out of the running because of campaign style.
Why not just play a barbarian? The wild stalker is just a terrible archetype.
Didn't want to start another thread, so I'll just chime in here, I know the Wild Stalker archetype has had some technical problems, I for one thought it was a pretty cool concept. Does anybody have any info on an errata or a fix for it? I would appreciate it. Sorry for the thread-jack
It's actually ok.
There reason for going with it is you get to play a barbarian with spells. Plus the perception bonuses are huge.
And you only lose 1 combat style feat.
One thing it does very well is being a scout tank.
Take improved Shieldbash as a regular feat and Shieldmaster at level 6.
Use other style feats for twf and bashing finish.
As for rage powers: RECKLESS ABANDON works well with this archetype if you go shield style and tue beast totem line pumps AC further (finally) getting pounce somewhere around 15.
STR Ranger wrote: It's actually ok.
There reason for going with it is you get to play a barbarian with spells. Plus the perception bonuses are huge.
And you only lose 1 combat style feat.
One thing it does very well is being a scout tank.
Take improved Shieldbash as a regular feat and Shieldmaster at level 6.
Use other style feats for twf and bashing finish.
As for rage powers: RECKLESS ABANDON works well with this archetype if you go shield style and tue beast totem line pumps AC further (finally) getting pounce somewhere around 15.
Losing only 1 combat style feat is up for interpretation, so it is actually not a bad archetype if that's what you lose.
But the way I read it, you lose your combat style feat as a class feature, which means you lose all your combat style feats, which makes this a terrible archetype.
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1 person marked this as FAQ candidate.
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D'arandriel wrote: Losing only 1 combat style feat is up for interpretation, so it is actually not a bad archetype if that's what you lose.
But the way I read it, you lose your combat style feat as a class feature, which means you lose all your combat style feats, which makes this a terrible archetype.
This all open for interpretation, but from the Wild Stalker PF SRD entry
PF SRD wrote: Uncanny Dodge (Ex)
At 2nd level, a wild stalker gains uncanny dodge as the barbarian’s class feature.
This ability replaces the ranger's combat style feat.
Emphasis mine. I read that as you only lose the level 2 combat style feat, singular. I see it being on par with fighter archetypes losing a bonus feat for a single other option. And it makes no mention of ever getting Imp UD, which again makes me think it only replaces the one combat style.
I FAQ'd your post, Bearlock, because that is a rather confusing line. Usually, it'd specify 'replaces the ranger's combat style feat obtained at level 2' or 'replaces all combat style feats' (or some other text)
It does need cleaning up. For instance it seemingly gains 2 different new abilities in exchange for the FE.
That's ok. Not the first archetype to get 2 smaller powers for 1 big one.
But without FE, quarry, Improved Quarry and Master Hunter don't work.
Paizo RPG Reference Document said wrote: Combat Style Feat (Ex): At 2nd level, a ranger must select one of two combat styles to pursue: archery or two-weapon combat. The ranger's expertise manifests in the form of bonus feats at 2nd, 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level. He can choose feats from his selected combat style, even if he does not have the normal prerequisites. From the text there, it looks like Combat Style Feat at 2nd level is where you must select one of the two styles to pursue. Would not taking such a feat at second level preclude taking any other feats later?
Assuming you get your level 6 and 10 combat style feats--and I agree that you should not, that replacing the favored enemy ability with extra rage powers twice is likely a typo--then the best rage powers depend on what style you take. Taking the Mounted Combat style meshes nicely with the Ferocious Mount and Ferocious Trample abilities. Ranged style works well with Surprise Accuracy and Reckless Accuracy. Natural Weapons style goes well with either Beast or Fiend totem, plus Animalistic Rage. Two-Handed Weapon style...just go to town, man, just go to town.
Katz wrote: I FAQ'd your post, Bearlock, because that is a rather confusing line. Usually, it'd specify 'replaces the ranger's combat style feat obtained at level 2' or 'replaces all combat style feats' (or some other text) StrangePackage wrote: Paizo RPG Reference Document said wrote:
Combat Style Feat (Ex): At 2nd level, a ranger must select one of two combat styles to pursue: archery or two-weapon combat. The ranger's expertise manifests in the form of bonus feats at 2nd, 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level. He can choose feats from his selected combat style, even if he does not have the normal prerequisites.
From the text there, it looks like Combat Style Feat at 2nd level is where you must select one of the two styles to pursue. Would not taking such a feat at second level preclude taking any other feats later?
I agree Katz, more precise wording like you said would be a better way to go about it.
@StrangePackage, I don't see that being the case, don't know if it is RAW, but aren't you able to choose lower level combat style feats with you higher level ones if you choose? Like choosing TWF at level 2, and then picking up Double Slice at level 6 instead of ITWF or TWD? If so, it kind of just delays your bonus feats from combat styles
It seems pretty straightforward to me - you miss out on the level 2 bonus feat. Exactly how this is applied is a little trickier.
From Ultimate Combat:
So it could mean that at level 6 you get access to the selection of a style and the level 2 options, at level 10 you get access to the level 6 options, etc. OR it could mean that you simply don't start getting abilities until level 6 but can select from the level 6 list immediately. I would say RAW slightly favors the former, but I would rule the latter personally (because losing early access is a HUGE loss and I don't think gaining uncanny dodge is worth more than a feat).
That said, I was wondering the same question as the op. I'm going with the Sword and Shield style (Heavy Shield and Kukri) and plan to move to fighter after level 6/7 (this assumes you do NOT lose early access to Shield Master). What 2/3 Rage Powers would people choose? Does weapon choice make a significant difference? Reckless Abandon, Strength Surge and Superstition seem like they would always be top contenders.
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