So I after several playthroughs of the CRPG I have grown to really like Ekun so naturally I want to have him as a companion option in my game.
But I realized his build and backstory and not being talkative are very very close to one of the PC's.
The PC in question is a Longbow precision Ranger with an animal companion and Hunted Shot. His village was infiltrated by a cult of Lamashtu forcing his mother to flee with him but ultimately she died and he was raised by a wandering hunter. So the whole lost loved ones, hates a particular group (Lamashtu cultists to Ekun's trolls) swears vengeance but is socially regressed ect.
The backstory is easy to work around but I don't think the group will ever bring Ekun on adventures if he is a carbon copy of Balin(the party ranger)
My initial idea is to switch him to melee. With the woodworking and giant fighting angle I was thinking bo staff as it has trip and reach so Ekun could really take advantage against trolls/giants and depending on how he develops maybe switch to a more stabby weapon once they are on the ground.
Anyone have any experience with a build like this for ranger? Precision seems less fit for it. Maybe outwit?