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Hello! I posted this on Reddit but nobody scrappy answered my questions and felt it necessary to explain the other builds of ranger. I'm hoping to get better assistance here.
I am at a standstill on some decision making for a ranger I am building for an upcoming homebrew campaign and would love some advice.
-We are starting at level 4.
-I have no idea what level the campaign is planned to end.
-I'm the only melee character; the others are a caster druid, a control oracle, and some arcane spellcaster.
-I plan on using a tripping cat as a flanking buddy.
My planned build is this:
Half-Orc Ranger 4
19 STR, 14 DEX, 14 CON, 10 INT, 12 WIS, 8 CHA
Weapons: Scimitar and Cestus
Feats: Power Attack, TWF, ??
I've read all the guides, but they have very different opinions on every subject.
-What would be a good feat choice for level 3? I plan on taking Boon Companion at 5. Quick Draw seems useless with a Cestus and I'm not convinced that Double Slice is the best option.
-Is this the best weapon combination? It will allow me to two-hand the scimitar when I'm unable to make a full attack. Is there any advantage to using a double weapon instead? Or dual keen kukris?
-Would reducing DEX be a good idea for more WIS? I feel like as the only melee, I'm going to need more AC.

Chris P. Bacon |

It's always tough being the only melee character. The animal companion should help out with that, though, so there's that. Hopefully they'll be able to support you with summons and some fat control spells.
Anyway, I'm not an expert on Rangers, but here goes anyway:
On the dex vs wis issue, think I'd go for the extra wis and trust that my allies can back me up. Wis 14 is an extra Barkskin per day, which will probably help your AC more in the long run. Initiative isn't so important with 3 primary casters in the party; going first is their problem, you're there to clean up what's left.
For weapon choice, as a half-orc you get access to the double axe, which isn't bad. It deals better damage than a scimitar+cestus, and feats like Weapon Focus will help you with both ends; however, it's weaker on crits, you're a little more vulnerable to disarm, the chances of stumbling on an enchanted double axe is minimal, and you can't use it at all if you have a hand full for some reason or when grappled. I'd actually stick with the scimitar and cesti. Be sure to wear two cesti in case you get caught without your scimitar drawn.
Which brings me to feats: quick draw really isn't necessary unless you want to switch-hit, and even then you'll probably be okay. You'll probably get more mileage out of either combat reflexes, or power attack, depending on your style and whether you plan on getting teamwork feats with your animal companion.

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If you want more Dex, you also have the option of making Dex your top score. You can fight with two light weapons using weapon finesse. You can pick up piranha strike (power attack for light weapons) and then eventually get agile weapon enchantments (adds Dex to damage instead of strength). You start out a bit weaker, but eventually catch up and end up with a better armor class in the long run.

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If you are going to leave your WIS at an 8, be sure to pick up the Skirmisher archetype to replace your spellcasting since you won't be able to cast any spells anyway.
That being said, WIS 8 is a pretty bad idea, particularly if you're the only melee combatant. You're one failed save away from leaving your party without any frontline defense, possibly even one save away from killing them all for your enemy. I've seen more character deaths in my games from players running low Wis combat types who get turned against the party than for any other reason. We had one game where the party Barbarian, who had low Wis and no Superstition, murdered the party Wizard on no fewer than 6 separate occasions. The Wizard eventually was setting up Contingencies specifically for the purpose of dealing with the Barbarian's inevitable forced betrayal.

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If you are going to leave your WIS at an 8, be sure to pick up the Skirmisher archetype to replace your spellcasting since you won't be able to cast any spells anyway.
That being said, WIS 8 is a pretty bad idea, particularly if you're the only melee combatant. You're one failed save away from leaving your party without any frontline defense, possibly even one save away from killing them all for your enemy. I've seen more character deaths in my games from players running low Wis combat types who get turned against the party than for any other reason. We had one game where the party Barbarian, who had low Wis and no Superstition, murdered the party Wizard on no fewer than 6 separate occasions. The Wizard eventually was setting up Contingencies specifically for the purpose of dealing with the Barbarian's inevitable forced betrayal.
WIS is 12, 8 is CHA

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Ssalarn wrote:WIS is 12, 8 is CHAIf you are going to leave your WIS at an 8, be sure to pick up the Skirmisher archetype to replace your spellcasting since you won't be able to cast any spells anyway.
That being said, WIS 8 is a pretty bad idea, particularly if you're the only melee combatant. You're one failed save away from leaving your party without any frontline defense, possibly even one save away from killing them all for your enemy. I've seen more character deaths in my games from players running low Wis combat types who get turned against the party than for any other reason. We had one game where the party Barbarian, who had low Wis and no Superstition, murdered the party Wizard on no fewer than 6 separate occasions. The Wizard eventually was setting up Contingencies specifically for the purpose of dealing with the Barbarian's inevitable forced betrayal.
D'oh! That's what I get for not taking the time to read carefully....

master_marshmallow |

TWF is typically frowned upon as a fighting style because it requires the full round to execute properly, and the full round is a rare commodity, especially if you are the only melee character and will be required to move around.
The switch hitter build is the most popular for a reason. I highly recommend it, which means you should pick up Precise Shot for a Combat style feat and you will want Power Attack and Quick Draw as your main character feats. A human build can generate more by having an extra feat, but it's not necessary.
18 is a high enough STR tbh, and myself I would prefer to prioritize DEX.
Something like:
STR 17 DEX 16 CON 14 INT 10 WIS 12 CHA 7
at lvl 4 pump STR.
Overall your combat prowess will be better. I also recommend ditching the dual wielding plan and picking up a BFS, a falchion or greatsword is probably good enough, a nodachi is optimal if you're into that kind of thing.

Khelreddin |

In general, I'd go with master_marshmallow's thoughts, and I've played a lot of rangers (there are a few builds in my aliases, if you want to look under the hood). I don't like to dump stats as low as 7, but you could bring dex down a bit and bump your cha and wis.
Whether you go switch-hitter (which really lets you be useful in a lot of situations - not sucking at ranged combat is a good thing) or a more straight-up two-handed weapon build, it'll serve you a lot better than two-weapon fighting. But if you're going with a switch hitter build, you don't want Precise Shot - if there's melee, you're going to want to be in it, especially if the others in the party are pretty squishy. So I'd go with Rapid Shot. If you're in a situation where's there's just ranged combat going on (like the flying witch my Guide Ranger just killed), you want lots of arrows in the air. And if it gets into hand to hand, then you hustle into the fight.
I don't know if your DM would be into it, but I've got one ranger who's a Spell-Less Ranger, and he's pretty awesome. The pdf is $3.99, and it opens up some cool ranger options. Though I guess what you're looking for is reducing your options, eh?
Have you considered the Infiltrator archetype?

Khelreddin |

I agree, m_m, there are some great ranger spells - Lead Blades is great if he'll be the main melee man, if he's got time for a buff. Playing a lot of rangers (and forgive me for saying it twice in two posts, like it's some unique ability I have), I like to mix things up some, and the Spell-Less variation has some cool ways to do that.