I'm sure this has been done before but I'd like these two classes to be compared and each their own pro's and con's counted. I'll state the obvious ones that I notice and would love if some actually knowledgable people would share their opinions and explain how the two differ.
This is more about understanding how the slayer works than the ranger since that class has great guides already.
Slayer
Pro's:
Cool name
Sneak attack (for a rogue lover like me)
Studied targets versatility
Killing flourish feat
Stygian slayer archetypes artwork.
Con's:
Normal twf weaknesses
Either 2h wpn or twf for melee.
If the stygian artwork was a gnome or halfling.
Ranger
Pro's:
ACompanion
Spellcasting
Favored enemys higher bonus
Better switch hitter, I guess?
Con's:
Less versatile favored until higher levels instant shenanigans.
No sneak attack?
I really dont see the slayer holding up in comparison but what's your opinion?
What edge do they have to each other? What are they good at?
Remember that slayers can grab the TWF feats without meeting prereqs just like rangers can, and get to potentially add both Studied Target and Sneak Attack damage on a full BAB class, which is pretty damn solid.
Slayer does a pretty good job of blending ranger and rogue, taking some of the best martial elements out of both of them at the cost of the nature theme/abilities of the ranger and some of the skill stuff of rogues.
Remember that slayers can grab the TWF feats without meeting prereqs just like rangers can, and get to potentially add both Studied Target and Sneak Attack damage on a full BAB class, which is pretty damn solid.
Slayer does a pretty good job of blending ranger and rogue, taking some of the best martial elements out of both of them at the cost of the nature theme/abilities of the ranger and some of the skill stuff of rogues.
Thats true, well both get em and that makes slayer a solid twf with bonuses to all attacks against studied. What's your opinion on tje slayer archetypes like the stygian slayer?
Any other opinions on the slayer or how to make an optimal slayer? Especially any thoughts on the stygian slayer?
For a TWF the slayer is probably strictly better due to sneak attack. I personally think a normal Ranger is better for archery because of gravity bow, abundant ammunition, and slow burn arrows, plus instant enemy. It's hard to get SA on ranged attacks because it takes away the options of feinting and flanking, so the slayer doesn't excel as much here.
That's true, never really even considered ranged for slayer. Just screams artemis entreri and melee.
TWF SA is great. Wish the sa progressed faster though
Anything on stygian slayer?
Well if the Stygian is a Gnome that would be Awesome!!!!
Seriously there are lots of things that rangers and slayers share. With the advent of the slayer I suspect that you will see less ranger archetypes that used to come up like urban ranger, and skirmisher which now have a better thematic fit in the slayer.
Building a switch hitter slayer works about the same as building a switch hitting ranger. Use regular feats for melee and style feats on archery.
meh stygian slayer are not very good In my opinion. Invisibility once per day at lvl 4 is not that great and in my opinion it's strictly inferior to a talent. In fact they only get something worthwhile at lvl 10. Gazeous form at minutes per level seems quite fun.
I'm more interested by the bounty hunter, but more for a 3 level dip. The ability to do a dirty trick instead of sneak attack damage seems like tons of fun, also, net and bolas proficiency. The whole grapple bonus seems a little less fun.
The deliverer archetype is a bit sad. All it does is giving you proficiency in a weapon until lvl 10. Then it gives you a holy bonus damage. (very good for two weapon fighting however).
I think the invisibility ability is ok, the gaseous is great but the use magic items ability is somewjat strange?
BHunter seems good if you want them alive.
Well if the Stygian is a Gnome that would be Awesome!!!!
Seriously there are lots of things that rangers and slayers share. With the advent of the slayer I suspect that you will see less ranger archetypes that used to come up like urban ranger, and skirmisher which now have a better thematic fit in the slayer.
Building a switch hitter slayer works about the same as building a switch hitting ranger. Use regular feats for melee and style feats on archery.
Thats true, but from optimisation perspective I see no reason to take slayer switch hitter over The ranger one.
Any thoughts on the archtypes?
Thats true, but from optimisation perspective I see no reason to take slayer switch hitter over The ranger one.Hmm, studied combat is mroe reliable then favored ennemy, sneak attack can work for a sniper build.
Slayer have a slightly different focus then ranger, they do favor a little more melee, but dazling display and shatter defense exist. If you get someone to do the dazzlign for you you can get absurd damage off.
Sllayer needs more positioning, planing, but pay off with highter damage. Ranger are more versatile with AC and spells.
Hmm... doesn't Killing Flourish work for that? Why does dazzling make insane damage?
Killing Flourish
Prerequisites: Intimidating Prowess, Intimidate 4, Slayer 4th lvl.
Works like Dreadful Carnage except it's a swift action instead of free action to demoralize everyone in 30 feets.