TLDR: Looking for potential high-dex, low-str ranger builds
Hello folks,
So I was hoping to play a grippli thrower ranger (with starknives) in an upcoming skull & shackles game, but the GM shot down all potential ways to get dex to damage while throwing. So I'm looking for a new build (and havent had any luck searching on google), so I thought I'd ask around here.
I do set myself the following limitations:
- Race must remain grippli
- Class must remain ranger (freebooter/trapper)
- The GM is a stickler, so no houserules or peculiar rule interpretations
Otherwise, I'm open to pretty much anything. For the moment, I've been evaluating the following builds, though they all have significant issues.
a) Archer build: Really, just a traditional archer build. Main issue here is damage; since I'm not in a position to increase strength, the damage per shot is going to remain low, and I will have to take clustered shots as soon as possible. In addition, Freebooter's bane does not synergize well with long-range combat.
b) Finesse build: Fairly straightforward, weapon finesse + weapon focus + X grace (possibly going for the starknife again). The only issue is that it makes the "Combat style feats" pretty much useless, as none of the styles work well with finesse.
c) ?
Anybody got any ideas? I'll keep looking on my own, but any advice is appreciated.
...are you sure you want to be a Freebooter?
They're so heavily dependent on move actions that you'll most of the time have to choose between full-attacking and activating Freebooter's Bane. So not a good choice for an archer or throwing build.
I'd probably go for a Two-Handed Finesse build and take Power Attack from Combat Style feats. That should at least push the full-attack dependency away for a while.
...are you sure you want to be a Freebooter?
Fairly sure (It's skull & shackles, and I like to buff friends). Though I am open to going melee.
How does a two-handed finesse build work? Agile weapons I imagine? I do want to stick grippli, so I'm unsure how I'd get something like proficiency with a elven curved blade (the only TH finesse weapon I know)
Elven Curve Blade, Elven Branched Spear, and the Glaive with Bladed Brush.
Glaive would also get you Slashing Grace, but Bladed Brush requires worshiping Shelyn so that won't work.
As for proficiency you can buy a Cracked Opalescent White Pyramid Ioun Stone + Wayfinder for 2000 gp and gain proficiency. Or take it with EWP. Either way you'll not be able to use it until lv 3-4.
Hmm, if you are limited to 15 point buy, I'd commend a starting spread:
Str 13, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 7 (level ups into DEX)
Build a switch hitter based around the Vital Strike feats. Either pick archery as your Ranger combat feats (to grab precise shot as early as possible) or two-handed/Gorum to pick up the feats for two-handed weapons.
You'll want: weapon finesse, power attack, precise shot, furious focus, and vital strike. Use a Jian until you can get proficiency with a proper two handed weapon (like elven curved blade). You can always use a Jian with two-hands.
If you pick archery as your ranger combat focus, you can deviate from focusing on close combat and pick up rapid shot without having to pick up point blank shot. Not doing so means you will have to pick archery feats up the hard way (with your feats).
This setup is compatible with your limited action economy. If you only get a single action to attack, vital strike is the way to go. Works with bow and Melee. Furious focus helps with Melee. Power attack will make up for your lower strength, while you use Dex for attack. Pick up deadly aim later, if you want, to do the same with ranged attacks.
If you'll be using standard actions to attack as often as not there's possibly startoss style to cover your damage. It probably works better with throwing weapons that aren't starknives - chakrams are just a better weapon if you're not getting dex to damage.