We have a newer player to our group interested in running a very dwarf-centric ranger (ie axe and shield). The DM is on board with it, and will let him reskin a kukri as an axe with the kukri stats so he can have a high crit weapon to trigger more shield attacks later on. we're allowed a bonus feat at first level, 20pt buy. I've come up with a suggested build for him as follows:
Ranger1 Power Attack, Improved Shield Bash
Ranger2 Ranger Style: TWF
Ranger3 Steel Soul
Ranger4
Ranger5 Improved Bull Rush
Ranger6 Ranger Style: ITWF
Ranger7 Shield Slam
Ranger8
Ranger9 Greater Bull Rush
Ranger10 Ranger Style: TWRend
Ranger11 Shield Master
Ranger12
Ranger13 Bashing Finish
Ranger14 Ranger Style: GTWF
Ranger15 Combat Reflexes
Ranger16
Ranger17 Lookout
Possible 20pt buy
Str18
Dex14
Con14
Int10
wis12
Cha5
Racial options:
Relentless
Giant Hunter
Rock Stepper
Traits
Campaign: the trapfinding one from another AP, DM approved)
Racial: Glory of Old
My only concern with this is that he's going to be relatively focused on knocking foes back but might be struggling with reach issues. Any thoughts on this? The player seemed very attached to a weapon/shield style and frankly I think the rest of the party likes it too (we've never run with a build like this).
Thoughts? Advice? I think the idea will be to focus on giants as a FE, not sure which terrain (though urban and underground always seem to go well).
There is a dwarven shield+axe ranger in our RotRL game similar to this, and he does quite well. He uses a dwarven axe and doesn't focus as much on the knockback (there are a LOT of size Large or larger foes in this AP, but that's ok because he rarely knocks one back more than 5' so he can keep up the full attacks). I won't critique this build for you, but I will say, it is a strong choice for this AP. Just make sure you get the right favored enemies. I won't spoil anything for you, but ask your DM. And look at the titles and cover art for the 6 books!
well he's primarily concerned with killing giants, since the players guide mentions killing giants, and bringing people to deal with giants 2-3 times it's not really a spoiler at all. I feel reading the players guide for the AP is a must and anything contained in that guide is required learning. I'm considering advising him to go with +4 giants (minimum) but since giants are often a mid-AP style beast he could reasonably pick anything else with his first one (goblinoids perhaps? players guide mentioned them a few times) and then double up on giants at 5th level.
Magic 8 Ball says.... "Yes, Definately"!
Bull rush is always good, not sure what the rest of your party makeup is, but it can be great to move people around or off cliffs. If he is concerned with reach, I would make sure he buys some throw weapons. Either some throwing axes or chakrims or javelins. Lunge is also a good feat for getting some reach.
Not sure where you would fit it in, but my parties barbarian has blind fight, and it have been very useful for him.
Yeah, the wholesale surrender of favored terrain really hurts though, favored terrain is kind of addictive once you have it, especially in late levels when you get access to terrain bond.
the rest of the party is a zen archer monk/inquisitor, an eldritch knight archer, and a battle oracle (with scythe). The EK will likely threaten to 15' with improved snapshot.
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Your build seems very solid for a Sword and Board Dwarf. Your correct your Favored Enemy will be Giant. Not at the first few books but at level 5 pick it up and boost it to be your highest Favored enemy.
Your 100% right Urban and Underground will prove to be good Terrains. Another is Mountains (books 3-5) or Cold (very late game book 6).
Might I suggest the Feat Big Game Hunter for this Adventure path. Not many see that feat but it was made for this campaign. A +1 to hit every giant you come across with any weapon is great...add on an extra +2 damage as well makes this a Weapon Focus+Weapon specialization in every weapon against Large or Larger Creatures. Mid Book 3 Large and Larger creatures become about 80% of your encounters. The feat will pay for its self.
I would drop the bull rush. Like the one guy said your not going to be pushing them more then 5' so unless you have someone dropping walls or pits to push them 5" into then I doubt you will get much out of it other then Provoking AoOs from the 5 foot movement. You could focus on doing more straight up damage with Double Slice, 2 weapon rend, Big game hunter. Or you can up your will saves/survival a tad more with Iron Will, Toughness. Remember you will be facing Giants with large HP pools and they Hit very Hard. Try not to take too many full round attacks from them if you can help it. As well as facing some very powerful Casters. I know you have steel soul but better saves always is a good thing. Save-or-dies will happen this campaign.
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Oh also point out Big Game Hunter to everyone in this party as it says all attack and weapon damage rolls. It works on Bows as well. It will be a damage train feat for sure.
greater bull rush will cause the 5' pushback to trigger AOOs from allies, the EK will have 15' threat radius with snapshot and be up near the action (due to mirror image/higher HP)
Also, big game hunter is from 2007, a 3.5 feat not published for PF. It's not technically PF, the same as the enchant that lets you use wisdom to hit with weapons.
Just have him keep in mind the TWF penalties for shields are pretty stiff unless you limit it to a light shield. Only a point of AC difference, but still something to watch out for.
TWF penalties for shields are the same as regular weapons, and go to 0 once you get to mid level and gain the feat that eliminates all TWF penalties for your shield
we had a non-archetyped dwarven two weapon fighter in our RotRL campaign, and it worked out fairly well, once he got to combat. Unfortunately, our mage didn't want to learn telekinetic charge to launch the dwarfapult at the enemies.
I was playing a monk/ranger with big game hunter and FE Giants, and picked up Lunge to help out with reach issues. It worked out fairly well even to the 6th book.
As a dwarf ranger built for Rise of the Runelords, I'd recommend the following:
Dungeon Rover Ranger 7 / Skyseeker 10
1 Power Attack
2 Cleave
3 Big Game Hunter
5 Goblin Cleaver
6 Great Cleave
7 Orc Hewer
9 Steel Soul
11 Cleave Through
13 Strike Back
15 Giant Killer
17 Cleaving Finish
To do Axe & Shield instead means you want to go with Two-Weapon Fighting combat style instead, so that you can get the TWF/ITWF/GTWF feats without having the super high Dex that you need. You could go Sword & Shield style instead, and get Shield Master early, but now you'll need to have the high Dex for ITWF & GTWF, which is downright un-dwarfy.
TWF penalties for shields are the same as regular weapons, and go to 0 once you get to mid level and gain the feat that eliminates all TWF penalties for your shield
Right, a -4 if you are using a heavy shield and have the TWF feat, and a -2 if it is a light shield + TWF. In my mind, -4 is a big penalty.
And you mean shield master? Great for the shield - but you still get the minuses on the weapon, by a strict reading.
Oh god. Don't start discussing how Shield Master is meant to do, or you'll have another thread full of hard-RAW types claiming that it annuls all penalties ever.
Inner Sea Gods has a nice trait for shield-bashers actually; Shield-Trained for Gorum followers lets them treat a Heavy Shield as Light Weapon for TWF. (Well, nice for the sort of player who would never try using his shield as his main hand weapon at least.)
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Inner Sea Gods has a nice trait for shield-bashers actually; Shield-Trained for Gorum followers lets them treat a Heavy Shield as Light Weapon for TWF. (Well, nice for the sort of player who would never try using his shield as his main hand weapon at least.)
Even then, it lets you use a one-handed weapon and heavy shield instead of a light weapon and heavy shield. That's pretty shiny for a Trait. And it makes Heavy Shields count as light simple weapons to boot. Very nice Trait all things considered.
...I didn't know that there are threads about this sort of thing, especially ones that inspired such vehement reactions. Duly noted to add it to the my blacklist. One more topic that leads down a rabbit hole.
Although I am amused by the thought of some monkey taking that trait and attempting to TWF with two heavy shields. I suppose those same monkeys already do that with shield master, although I haven't personally that in action.
TWF penalties for shields are the same as regular weapons, and go to 0 once you get to mid level and gain the feat that eliminates all TWF penalties for your shield
Right, a -4 if you are using a heavy shield and have the TWF feat, and a -2 if it is a light shield + TWF. In my mind, -4 is a big penalty.
And you mean shield master? Great for the shield - but you still get the minuses on the weapon, by a strict reading.
He's using a light weapon (Like a kukri) and a heavy shield. The penalty is -2.