Making a Freebooter Ranger?

[Cathulhu]

Whats the best way to use this archetype, as far as tactics and combat style choices go?

The idea here is that he is a rival of the party, and is a GMPC insofar as that he levels up with them... but is a nemesis, has his own "party" etc.

Any ideas on feats, magic items, etc?

Bonus points for him not being a switch hitter... but not required.

[blackbloodtroll]

I like to stack this with the Trapper archetype.

Basically, you are a Rogue, without the crippling weakness of being a Rogue.

[Jubal Breakbottle]

Make him a leader (designating the target of his + attack/damage) of a band of rogues to give them all that +2 bonus flank attacks. A trapper with disable device fits that bill, too. As a leader, maybe archer to stay away from melee.

[drbuzzard]

I highly recommend making him a ranged attacker. Given that the freebooter main ability requires a move action, best if you can still get an attack off which means ranged. Heck, you should probably make the whole ground ranged, since as he designates a target, everyone should be able to engage that target.

[Zahir ibn Mahmoud ibn Jothan]

I would personally use it in conjunction with two swarming Ratfolk Rogues each with the Outflank Teamwork Feat. When combined with the Freebooter's Bond and Bane abilities, they are +8 to hit (at level 5+) without adding in their own BAB and other bonuses.

[drbuzzard]

Of course if you want to be an absolute bastard, you make the bad guys a team of freebooters. Technically, since it is an untyped bonus, Freebooter buffs all stack.

Of course I did that to my home game with a team of freebooter archers.

[galahad2112]

@ drbuzzard

Actually, only one specific instance of said untyped bonus applies. So, 2 freebooters using their bane ability is the same as one freebooter using his bane ability (if they are specifying the same target)