Hi all,
Im in need for advices for our next campaign. Last one i played a pure cleric, i ended level7 after a 3 year or so campaign.
This time i will be playing a ranger and i was wondering if i should go full ranged or mix [Switch hitter?] Seeing how our last campaign was "slow" i will be stuck with my choice for a long long time.
Usually our setting are sparse, the most magical stuff we had was some +1 weapons[ not everybody had one] and a magic bag of holding + some stuff potion, so this is not PF WotR / BG3 type of loot. I don't think i will come accros a belt of dexterity or Stormgiant strenght anytime soon.
So let say i play a 3 year campaign with max level6, would a full ranged ranger be ok, i don't count on a tank GM didn't tell me what will be the group comp, but im pretty sure we won't have a tank [but me?].
And for stat distribution, i was lucky on the dice side, i can either take a 17str / 17 dex 15 con or go for a 15 str 19 dex 15 con.
Last campaign my cleric with 14str was often in the red for the weight management so iam a bit reserved to go 15str instead of 17, but then woulnt 19dex really help me more to land shot? Dunno really, im pretty sure those stuff doesnt matter once you are high level, but being low level for a long time make me feel like all my choice are important.
If anyone have advice, tips they will be welcomed, thx again for reading and sorry for my bad english.
Since the campaign is not going that high and magic is rare a switch hitter build looks to be the better choice. All you really need for a switch hitter is quick draw. When you gain second level you can use the ranger’s bonus feat to pick up rapid shot without having to worry about the prerequisite. If you go human you can pick up power attack at 1st level, if not take it at third. Pick up deadly aim at 3rd (if human), or at 5th. At 6th level you get Manyshot as a bonus feat. Depending on if you are human your build comes fully online at 3rd or 5th level. Personally, I would go with a human the bonus feat is worth a lot in a game that will not reach past 6th level.
If the game was going higher level and you had access to Point Blank Master, my advice might be different. But since you stated Core Ranger and have a low-level limit this will give you decent flexibility for most of the campaign. Go with the 19 DEX for the AC and bonus to hit. In a low magic campaign, there may not be a lot of other ways to increase those.
Thank you for your advice.
I dunno if the game will go higher, i can just compare to our last campaign witch was kinda slow [ we play like once every 2-3 week and are not very hmm "good" in term of efficiency/advancement. So i accept we take it slow now. I put the level to 6 to be realist, we not getting level 10 in 6 months thats for sure.
The switch hitter is still fairly effective at higher levels. With the option of gaining point blank master at 6th level a pure ranged build is a bit better in some circumstances. But that does not mean a switch hitter build is not effective. The nice thing about a switch hitter is they come online fairly quickly and do not require much in resources. A dedicated ranged build takes longer to develop and often requires certain item. An efficient quiver is almost a necessity if you track resources. You also require a magic bow. With a switch hitter either a magic bow or a magic two handed weapon will work.
statistically 19,15,15 is better than 17,17,15 (without any order).
Compilation of Class Guides @ZG
Items That Can Save You thread
if magic is an issue then I suggest you do something a bit clever... go human wizard diviner 1 then ranger the rest of the way. Your Int should be 14 or maybe better (and that clears the Combat Expertise requirement). You just need trait Magical Knack. Wizard gives you Scribe Scroll and Spl Focus (evoc). Pick bonded object amulet and you can try for Aegis of Recovery later at half price.
Why? LoL, it opens up all the arcane items for use without UMD and with Scribe Scroll you can pen your own scrolls and first level stuff is likely all you'll need. That makes simple magic open for you, solves a campaign issue, and is easy to do.
If you ever find Pearls of Power 1st snarf them up!
The other option is to go Arcanist 2 with dimensional slide which takes more investment but an occassional 40ft teleport is killer.
If you need more convincing read Gravity Bow, Mage Armor, Shield, Vanish, Heighten Awareness, True Strike, and Obscuring Mist.
My advice for a low level magic campaign is to avoid Magus or Alchemist(or any class reliant on alchemical items). Gunslinger will likely give your GM indigestion.
Thx for the Answers Azorath :
In what 19 15 15 is better than 17 17 15 ?
We play core rule book, i didnt see wizard diviner or arcanist in the basic class i have access to : X
same for the spell you mention like gravity bow, its not in the core rulebooki think.
Castiel SwiftWind wrote: We play core rule book, i didnt see wizard diviner or arcanist in the basic class i have access to : X Arcanist isn't in core, true, but "diviner" is a core feature: It's what a wizard is called when they choose Divination for their Arcane School at level 1.
Mysterious Stranger wrote: Since the campaign is not going that high and magic is rare a switch hitter build looks to be the better choice. All you really need for a switch hitter is quick draw. When you gain second level you can use the ranger’s bonus feat to pick up rapid shot without having to worry about the prerequisite. If you go human you can pick up power attack at 1st level, if not take it at third. Pick up deadly aim at 3rd (if human), or at 5th. At 6th level you get Manyshot as a bonus feat. Depending on if you are human your build comes fully online at 3rd or 5th level. Personally, I would go with a human the bonus feat is worth a lot in a game that will not reach past 6th level.
If the game was going higher level and you had access to Point Blank Master, my advice might be different. But since you stated Core Ranger and have a low-level limit this will give you decent flexibility for most of the campaign. Go with the 19 DEX for the AC and bonus to hit. In a low magic campaign, there may not be a lot of other ways to increase those.
And what would be an alternate build choice if the campaign is longer/more magic ?
For race i will have to go with elf/Half-elf/dwarf since low light vision or darkvision are a go to with the setting[last campagin the human in the party was really in trouble whenever it was dark, a royal pain, i can't imagine trying to shoot or even see anything if im "blind"].
Yes point blank master seem nice, no AoO when you shoot and if you get your Snap shot later you can even make AoO. but while tempting, that won't come anytime real soon.
Andostre wrote: Castiel SwiftWind wrote: We play core rule book, i didnt see wizard diviner or arcanist in the basic class i have access to : X Arcanist isn't in core, true, but "diviner" is a core feature: It's what a wizard is called when they choose Divination for their Arcane School at level 1. Ok for the Divine wizard
And that level of clever stuff is way above me, in the last years i don't think anyone in the group ever multiclassed.
Thx for the tip
Castiel SwiftWind wrote: Ok for the Divine wizard
And that level of clever stuff is way above me, in the last years i don't think anyone in the group ever multiclassed.
Thx for the tip
It is just something you have not tried and it is really easy to do.
All you are going to do is start with your ranger build but your first level is in Wizard - Divination specialist. After that all your levels will be in Ranger. Simple.
here's a sample CRB build to level 4.
Abil: [16,14,13,14,12,10]=25 pts (yours may be different, ranged attackers will swap Str & Dex)
Race: halh-elf. abil:+2 to one. Lang:Common, Elven. Skill Focus, +2 race Prcptn, low-light vision, elf-blood, two fav'd classes(wiz & rgr).
Trait: Magical Knack, Deft Dodger +1 Rflx.
Level 1: Wizard (Divination, opp Ench, Necro) Bonded Object Amulet, BAB:0, Sv:0,0,2. Forwarned(Su):act in surprise round, +1 INIT. Diviner’s Fortune(Sp): std actn touch yourself or another for +1 insight to d20 rolls for 1 round up to 5/day! Feat:Scribe Scroll. Spellbook with all 0th level spells, 1st level spells(5): True Strike, Mage Armor, Shield, Obscuring Mist, Magic Missile. Buy Expeditious Retreat, Enlarge Person, Reduce Person = 45gp, You'll likely have to roll to learn the last 3 but you can try every level. Spell slots: 0th:3, 1st:2.
Ability scores go to [18,14,13,14,12,10].
Feat 1: Weapon Focus, IF ranged attacker --> Point-blank Shot.
Skills(4 ranks): Acro (1), Know(arcana (1)), Ride (1), Spellcraft (1).
Lang: common, elven, draconic.
Weapon: cheap light crossbow and 10 bolts, (2) daggers, quarterstaff, and cold iron ranger weapon. You'll take your non-proficiency penalty to hit so don't use it unless you have to. Equip - your regular stuff.
Your goal is just to make it to second level.
Get a Heavy war-trained Horse ASAP.
Level 2: take your first level in Ranger! Get BAB, saves, and proficiencies. Now you can use your weapon without issues. Give your crossbow to someone in the party and get a bow. If you have cash get a masterwork weapon. Magical Knack means your caster level goes to 2, so better duration on your spells.
Skills(12!): Acro (2), Know(arcana (2), local (1), nature (1) ), Ride (2), Perception (2), Spellcraft (2).
Feat 3: Power Attack, IF ranged attacker --> Precise Shot.
Skills: get Acro & Ride to 5 ranks otherwise it's up to you.
Abil 4: +1 Con 13->14. the game likes even numbers.
How Scribe Scroll works: let's say you turn second level and have 25gp and a day. Scribe the spell Mage Armor:A1@2{first spell level "at" caster level 2} onto parchment so you "store" that power and can later cast it on yourself or a buddy.
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Multiclassing is for the most part a bad idea in Pathfinder, especially for characters that are not going to gain many levels. The OP already stated it was core only which means not traits. So, a 1 level dip in Wizard means he will only have 3 cantrips and 2 1st level spells plus a 1st level spell from his school. For that he is giving up +1 BAB, and delayed access to all his ranger abilities.
Gravity Bow, and Heightened Awareness are on the Ranger's spell list, but neither are in the core rule book, nor is Vanish. Mage Armor is only needed if the character cannot wear armor; rangers get proficiency in light and medium armor. So, over half the spell you are talking about are not available are not needed. In a low magic campaign where not everyone has magic weapons counting on pearls of power is not a good idea. Since his caster level as a wizard is 1 the scrolls do not last very long. Rangers get spells but most being limited to the core rule book only means most of them are not available. The good news is that he can use wands of cure light wounds if they can be acquired.
Azothath : Even if the build is not possible, it open mind, so thx again. :)
Castiel SwiftWind wrote: Azothath : Even if the build is not possible, it open mind, so thx again. :) no problem, just being helpful and offering good options. It is possible and advantagous which is why I suggested it. You know your game best so do what you think will work.
I trimmed it back in the third post and kept it simple as you're CORE and dropped the last 3 motivational/general paragraphs in my second post. So yes, some spells are not in the CRB but most of the useful ones are. There is usually more than 1 PC in a party.
I tend to think of PFS Core Campaign when people say "CORE" as core means central or some take it as CRB B1 GM only.
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