PFS: Shapeshifting Ranger

[Lucio]

My partner's joining me for a couple of PFS games, to try out a different style of roleplay to our regular tabletop group. Having talked through the character options with her, she's settled on a Shapeshifter ranger, who'll use a big weapon for the first couple of levels.

One idea that did spring to mind, given her love of dragons, is adding on the Dragon Disciple class, by taking a single level of Sorceror or Bard (Arcane Duelist) to compliment the martial class abilities

With that in mind, I've come up with the level 1 statblock, but could use some advice on tweaking, and also choices to leveling up towards the Dragon Disciple.

Am aware that the combo doesn't represent the most powerful options around, but have to respect her RP choices along the way.

statblock:

Male Half-Orc Ranger (Shapeshifter, Trapper) 1
CG Medium humanoid (human, orc)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +5
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Defense
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AC 14, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+3 armor, +1 Dex)
hp 11 (1d10+1)
Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +2
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Offense
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Speed 30 ft.
Melee bite -1 (1d4+1) and
. . earth breaker +4 (2d6+4/×3)
Ranged shortbow +2 (1d6/×3)
Special Attacks favored enemy (humans +2)
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Statistics
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Str 17, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 14
Base Atk +1; CMB +4; CMD 15
Feats Endurance, Power Attack
Traits mathematical prodigy, tusked
Skills Craft (traps) +5, Disable Device +5, Handle Animal +6, Intimidate +6, Knowledge (arcana) +6, Perception +5 (+6 to locate traps), Stealth +4, Survival +5 (+6 to track)
Languages Common, Draconic, Orc
SQ orc blood, weapon familiarity, track, trapfinding +1, wild empathy +3
Other Gear studded leather, arrows (40), earth breaker, shortbow, artisan's tools, backpack, bedroll, blanket, winter, crowbar, hammer, iron spike (4), rope, thieves' tools, 12 gp, 7 sp
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Special Abilities
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Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark (black and white vision only).
Endurance (Shaman's Apprentice) +4 to a variety of fort saves, skill and ability checks. Sleep in L/M armor with no fatigue.
Favored Enemy (Humans +2) (Ex) +2 to rolls vs Favored Enemy (Humans).
Orc Blood Half-orcs count as both humans and orcs for any effect related to race.
Power Attack -1/+2 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
Track +1 Add the listed bonus to survival checks made to track.
Trapfinding +1 Gain a bonus to find or disable traps, including magical ones.
Wild Empathy +3 (Ex) Improve the attitude of an animal, as if using Diplomacy.

[Ascalaphus]

In general, it looks decent. Having good skills is enjoyable in PFS, so that's good. Some minor things:

- Why do you have Endurance as a feat? You'll gain it as a bonus feat later on, and rarely need it in PFS because scenarios don't take a lot of IC time. (The main usage seems to be sleeping in armor.)

- Why no K:Nature?

- Are you sure Draconic is an allowed racial language? If so, good choice.

- You should probably list the specific rolls on which Favored Enemy applies; it's not entirely a blanket bonus IIRC. Human is a solid choice.

[shaxberd]

She could probably multiclass into Bloodrager from the Advanced Class Guide playtest to get the prerequisites for Dragon Disciple instead of Sorcerer. Better hit points and full BAB for a little longer. And with the Draconic bloodline from Bloodrager, she'd pick up two claw attacks to complement her shapeshifter abilities.

[Lucio]

Good point about Endurance, forgot that Rangers get it a couple of levels in. Knowledge: Nature's out due to the number of skill points available, unless Darkvision is surrendered for the Skilled racial trait I'm covering the ones she was most interested in.

Bloodrager is an idea, but until Advanced Class Guide is released, I'm under the impression that the playtest is over as far as the PFS is concerned, and can't be used at sanctioned events. Even then, I doubt that the Bloodrager's bloodline interacts with the Dragon Disciple ability.

One query thrown up with a bit of experimentation with builds is whether or not it's worth having claws all the time, or primarily relying on a weapon, and using claws when the bloodline power is up.

The former will generally give a single bigger strike, but with claws and a bite, even at 1d4 damage die, still gives the potential for bigger damage overall in a round, particular with something like an Amulet of Mighty Fists (Flaming) or similar energy type.

[Ascalaphus]

I think we need to wait for the official ACG before finding out just what the Bloodrager does with the DD. At any rate - it doesn't get spellcasting until level 4, so that doesn't seem to be small dip anymore.

I'm not really sure on the claws vs. single weapon. My PFS paladin spends a lot of time just moving into position; I think you may find that getting off a full attack isn't easy. But when you do it's very nice.

[Broken Prince]

The Advanced Class Guide Playtest is legal for PFS so you are absolutely free to use the classes from it at any and all events, etc. Of course you could potentially need to change your character substantively once the ACG is released.

[Suthainn]

It's actually an excellent progression, I'm playing one in a Skull & Shackles game and about to hit 6th and take my first level of Dragon Disciple. I'm not 100% on PFS but if it's available it might be worth taking the Fates Favoured trait and going Archaeologist Bard at 2nd to get access to its luck ability (which the trait will bump to +2), this is absolutely amazing on a character with multiple natural attacks as she'll have once she gets Claws from Aspect of the Beast. It also gives Saving Finale, a Verbal only spell that can literally be a life saver.