Deep Walker Guide Ranger


Pathfinder Society


I'm kicking around a Dwarven Miner concept and I could really use some feedback. I'm just not sure if the stacking of these two Ranger Archetypes is legal, (intend to use for PFS).

So the rule is archetypes can't stack if they alter the same class feature. As far as I can tell, they don't directly.

Deep Walker --
Deep Knowledge (Ex): This ability replaces favored terrain.
Rock Hopper (Ex): This ability replaces woodland stride.
Deep Walker Camouflage (Ex): This ability replaces camouflage.
One with the Stone (Ex): This ability replaces hide in plain sight

Guide --
Ranger's Focus (Ex): This ability replaces favored enemy.
Terrain Bond (Ex): This ability replaces hunter's bond.
Ranger's Luck (Ex): This ability replaces evasion.
Inspired Moment (Ex): This ability replaces quarry and improved quarry.
Improved Ranger's Luck (Ex): This ability replaces improved evasion.

The part that makes me wonder about legality is how Deep Knowledge & Terrain Bond mesh.

Deep Knowledge (Ex): At 3rd level, a deep walker gains a +2 bonus on initiative checks and Knowledge (dungeoneering), Perception, Stealth, and Survival skill checks while underground (in caves and dungeons). Every 5 levels thereafter, the deep walker gains an additional +3 on each of those checks while underground (to a maximum of +11 at 18th level). This ability replaces favored terrain.

Terrain Bond (Ex): At 4th level, the guide forms a bond with the land itself, enabling him to direct others in such terrain. When in his favored terrain, the ranger grants all allies within line of sight and that can hear him a +2 bonus on initiative checks and Perception, Stealth, and Survival skill checks. Also, as long as they travel with him, the ranger's allies leave no trail and can't be tracked. The ranger can choose for the group to leave a trail, or even specific members of the group to leave a trail if he so desires. This ability replaces hunter's bond.

I'd presume for the purposes of Terrain Bond "favored terrain" would be considered Underground. As written though, idk. Favored terrain was technically replaced and likewise I wouldn't expect to be able to use Ranger spells that require Favored Enemy with Ranger's Focus instead. So yeah, I'm not too sure. If it's legal and another rockjockey traveled this path, how'd it work out? Thanks!


At my table, I would rule that the favored terrain is underground and have the Terrain Bond stack with Deep Knowledge.

However, Terrain Bond implies that the Ranger has the Favored Terrain ability, and I would be willing to bet that the PFS folks rule that you can not take both Archetypes.

-- david

Also, flagging to be moved to the PFS forum since it is specifically asked for PFS.

edit: Oh, and I think it sounds like a really cool concept!

2/5

They don't replace/modify the same class feature, so they are both available together, technically. (the replacement features are clearly listed, altho it does grant additional bonuses to another ability which is not modified.)

The question is whether you get to apply the terrain bond bonus since it no longer calls the original favored terrain... that is the same question as Gloves of dueling and weapon training, and would be subject to GM interpretation per table. The way around this is Boots of Friendly Terrain (2400g) which give a ranger a favored terrain (clearly labeled as such for sticklers) that terrain bond would then reference, and also another +2 to everything on top. Not bad for 2400g.

You would end up with a +5 to all the favored terrain stuff, your allies a +2, and all of it is then perfectly raw for even the most hardcore stickler.

Altho, in the absense of a PFS official ruling, at my table I would consider Deep knowledge and terrain bond to stack for underground/dungeon.

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