Well, no. Spells are better utility and at least as good in combat if you ever have time to buff. The archetype's there for those who don't want their character concept tainted by magic. For the exact example quoted - you have to declare it before the attack roll, and other than intimidate (which doesn't stack to more serious fear effects) you have no access to other fear effects in class so a small debuff is as good as it gets.
You'd be a better skirmisher with magic than without it.
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"I really like some of the tricks..."
I'm going to stop you right there. You like the stuff the character does, then play it.
This is pretty much the end of the discussion really. If you don't like the idea of magic on the Ranger then go for it. You don't be as optimal but that really shouldn't bother you too much.
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It's not as good as a Ranger with spells, but it's good enough that you're not shooting yourself in the foot for playing it.
I mean, I feel like you still want a strong wisdom though. Because you lack good will save progression. I always felt like getting wisdom based spell casting was like a double bonus. Shoring up my weakest save and getting spell casting out of it.
Some of the tricks are okay. The idea is neat, but overall I think it's mechanically weaker. But it is your choice.
Also, consider a Slayer which is very similar thematically to a ranger but lacks spell casting altogether. The slayer talents and rogue talents you get access to might simulate to an extent the same sort of stuff you were after from the Ranger tricks.
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What do you guys think of my 5th level ranger? Still not decided fully on skirmisher, two weapon fighting style. Any advice?
Lvl 5 ranger (skirmisher)
Traits- reckless, dangerously curious
Str: 18
Dex: 16
Con: 12
Int: 10
Wis: 14
Cha: 7
Offense:
Shortsword +12 +10/+10 (TWF) +8/+8 (power attacking)
Damage:1d6+5/10
Longbow: +9
Damage: 1d8+5
Defense:
HP:45
AC:20 T: 13 FF:16
Fort:+5 Ref:+5 Will:+4
Feats:
1-power attack, weapon focus shortsword
2- TWF
3-double slice
5- Boon companion
Arms and Armor: +1 Chthonic Steel shotswordx2 (2759G each), +1 chain shirt, +1 composite longbow (+4), 20 adamantine arrows, 40 arrows, 20 blunt arrows, 10 cold Iron arrows.
Gear: 5 CLW potions, wand of cure light wounds, back pack, belt pouch, waterskin (3), fishing net, spyglass,
Skills-
Perception-5
Swim-2
Climb-2
Know. Nature-2
Craft: Fletching-1
Profession: Sailor-1
Acrobatics-5
Sense Motive-3
UMD- 5
Stealth-4
Ride-1
Survival-3
Spellcraft-2
Handle animal-2
Abilities:
1st FE human +4
2nd FE ????
Favored terrain ?? (either water or urban)
Animal companion- Undecided, atm leaning towards panther (large cat)
The end goal is to do mounted TWF via mounted skirmisher (as to negate movement penalties) on my large cat/wolf/insert here.In that case, a hunter is likely better than the ranger. You have full spells, full companion, and the companion gets skirmisher tricks.
If Rorek gets TWF by an ordinary feat and takes the mounted combat style as a ranger, then Mounted Skirmisher comes online at level 10 rather than level 15. And I think a hunter's tricks are those under the handle animal skill, not those listed under the skirmisher archetype.
People seriously underestemiate the power of skirmisher tricks. In particular suprise shift on a TWF or a reach wielder is worth it's weight in gold and it comes online level 5 and will be worth more to you than casting lead blades twice a day and having acess to CLW wands. Taking two five foot steps in a round is an ability that no other mechanism in the game can replicate and it opens up lots of tactical surprises.
Sure come level 10 or what when you get acess to instant enemy this spell will outshine any ranger tricks but for PFS for example I'd gladly forgoe that spell (which also costs you a standard action to cast in combat). Also for any Ranger archetype forgoing favored enemy I think trading out spells becomes much more of an option.
Not sure which of the Archetypes swapping out Favored Enemy is best. Depends on your combat style I'd think.
I like the wild hunter for it's versatility but later on you will be wishing you hadn't picked it as you will have a belt that conflicts with the STR boost.
I really like the guide's Ranger's Focus but it's limited uses per day and worse the archetype traders out your animal companion for something fairly useless.
The best substitute is prolly the freebooter but it eats up your move actions so it would be bad on a full attack build (TWF, Ranged or Natural attacks).
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If Rorek gets TWF by an ordinary feat and takes the mounted combat style as a ranger, then Mounted Skirmisher comes online at level 10 rather than level 15. And I think a hunter's tricks are those under the handle animal skill, not those listed under the skirmisher archetype.The end goal is to do mounted TWF via mounted skirmisher (as to negate movement penalties) on my large cat/wolf/insert here.In that case, a hunter is likely better than the ranger. You have full spells, full companion, and the companion gets skirmisher tricks.
I'll give you Mounted Skirmisher, but you would be better off with a one level dip of Sohei Monk if that's the goal. As for skirmisher tricks, you explicitly are able to teach your companion tricks from the skirmisher trick list.
A hunter may teach her companion hunter's tricks from the skirmisher ranger archetype instead of standard tricks.
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Not sure which of the Archetypes swapping out Favored Enemy is best. Depends on your combat style I'd think.
I like the wild hunter for it's versatility but later on you will be wishing you hadn't picked it as you will have a belt that conflicts with the STR boost.I really like the guide's Ranger's Focus but it's limited uses per day and worse the archetype traders out your animal companion for something fairly useless.
The best substitute is prolly the freebooter but it eats up your move actions so it would be bad on a full attack build (TWF, Ranged or Natural attacks).
freebooter gets rid of animal companion, so its a no-no for me,
however, the wild hunter's animal focus is nice because I don't have to pick one and only one, I can just use whichever I want, for another couple levels I can get the 4+ enhancement str until I can afford a 4+ or better belt of strength, then I can swap it over to dex, or con, or something else. I am just wondering If I would miss the FE bonus... The GM is rather nice on telling up what type of enemies will come up.
I do like the hunter class, It is a nifty class I will be looking into for later use :3