Freebooter's Bane

[GM Kyle]

The Freebooter Ranger archetype has an ability called Freebooter's Bane. Does the ability work like Favored Enemy, limited to times per day? It does not specify.

[Cao Phen]

Favored Enemy is an innate ability, no times per day. Example your favored enemy is Orc. Bunch of Orcs appear, Favored Enemy is applied. Then a gnome and an orc appears. Favored enemy does not apply to the gnome, but its orc buddy is in trouble.

Freebooter's Bane works differently. Enemy is in combat with one of your buddies? Call out Freebooter's Bane to give everyone within 30 ft of your the buff (untyped too, which is nice). Its dead and another mob is attacking your other buddy? Move action to apply the buff again. Big boss enters the fray while the other is still alive? Move action to transfer the target for the buff to it.

[GM Kyle]

I keep forgetting the vanilla Favored Enemy is infinite. Sounds like an awesome PFS archetype if all it does is eat a move action.

[Cao Phen]

Problem with it is this:

Round 1 - (Move action) OK! I marked it! Take it do- oh, its dead.
Round 2 - (Move action) Ok! I marked it! Let me get in before you ki- crap...
Round 3 - (Move action) Ok, seriously guys let me have some fun killing stu- STOP KILLING THEM!

But then again, you are a ranger archetype, so you can at least take a single shot at stuff. Close combatant rangers might have some trouble...

[kyrt-ryder]

Actually... this Archetype could make for an interesting Support Ranger build. Carry a few wands of handy Ranger spells, declare Bane and cast the proper spell to support the party.

It's no Bard, but it might be fun anyway.

[Cao Phen]

Idea.

For close combat buff, two builds:

Half-orc or dwarf Freebooter/Bard
Obtain the trait Mindlessly Cruel (Half-Orc) or Zest for Battle (Dwarf)

Mindlessly Cruel/Zest for Battle:

Whenever you have a morale bonus to weapon attack rolls, you also receive a +1 trait bonus on weapon damage rolls.

Obtain the feat Flagbearer.

Flagbearer:

As long as you hold your clan, house, or party’s flag, members of that allegiance within 30 feet who can see the flag (including yourself ) gain a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, and saving throws against fear and charm effects. You must hold the flag in one hand in order to grant this bonus. If the standard is taken by the enemy or destroyed, this bonus becomes a penalty, affecting all creatures that the bonus previously affected for 1 hour (or until you reclaim the lost flag).

Move action to call the target via Freebooter's Bane.
Standard Action to start Bardic Performance.

+1 Attack/Damage (Morale) via Flagbearer
+1 Attack/Damage (Competence) via Bardic Performance
+1 Attack/Damage (Non-Described) via Freebooter's Bane
+1 Damage (Self-only) via Mindlessly Cruel/Zest for Battle

So its +3/+3 for allies within 30 ft of you, while you get +3/+4

Second Build:

Halfling Freebooter/Bard with the Call for Help Trait. Adopted by Dwarves is nice too.

Call for Help:

When you take the total defense action, allies gain a +1 trait bonus on rolls made against a creature threatening you.

Move action to call the target via Freebooter's Bane.
Standard Action to start Bardic Performance.

Round 2

Full Defense as a Standard Action.
Walk in.

+1 Attack/Damage (Morale) via Flagbearer
+1 Attack/Damage (Competence) via Bardic Performance
+1 Attack/Damage (Non-Described) via Freebooter's Bane
+1 Attack/Damage (Trait) via Call for Help
+1 Damage (Self-only) via Zest for Battle

So its +4/+4 for allies within 30 ft of you, while you get +4/+5 (though you can't really benefit from it, since you are in Total Defense)

Though for more clarification, it would be this for your party members:

If threatened:
Within 30 ft. of you - +4/+4 (Flag/Bard/Free/Call)
Beyond 30 ft. of you - +2/+2 (Bard/Call)

If not threatened:
Within 30 ft. of you - +3/+3 (Flag/Bard/Free)
Beyond 30 ft. of you - +1/+1 (Bard)