Advancing my drow ranger...into? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Advancing my drow ranger...into? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Sinj
04-14-08, 03:14 AM Well first off(as I have sadly just learned about Drizzt) dont bash the Drow Ranger as a Drizzit wana be. He is not good. He really isnt. He hates nearly everything, and tries to find a way to MAKE it work for him. Moving on.

The way I would like to advance him would be to become more of a ranger of the mountains and caves(not the Underdark specifically) just non forested terrain, and was wondering what sorta prestige class would be best for him to go into? If there were some special ranger typish feats or skills available somewhere for lookup to find this out.

I would also like for him to be independant, as our group really lacks a healer focus. We have a druid and thats about it. We may get one later but no one knows.

I am still a newbie btw, only played a couple sessions, but have been doing extensive reading. So thanks for any help you may be able to give me!
Prince_of_Parkness
04-14-08, 04:53 AM Well first off(as I have sadly just learned about Drizzt) dont bash the Drow Ranger as a Drizzit wana be. He is not good. He really isnt. He hates nearly everything, and tries to find a way to MAKE it work for him. Moving on.

The way I would like to advance him would be to become more of a ranger of the mountains and caves(not the Underdark specifically) just non forested terrain, and was wondering what sorta prestige class would be best for him to go into? If there were some special ranger typish feats or skills available somewhere for lookup to find this out.

I would also like for him to be independant, as our group really lacks a healer focus. We have a druid and thats about it. We may get one later but no one knows.

I am still a newbie btw, only played a couple sessions, but have been doing extensive reading. So thanks for any help you may be able to give me!

It might be too late, but theres a ranger variant that has favoured terrains instead of favoured enemeies. As for a prestige class, dark hunter (from complete warrior) sounds like what you want
The_Shaman
04-14-08, 07:42 AM Dark hunter can be quite good if you don't mind your companion/spells not getting any advancement - with your drow darkvision, you see potential enemies way before they can see you. The little sneak attack can be handy, and despite its pathetic DC the death attack offers some options itself.

However, if I were you I'd rather look in the direction of the DotU cavestalker. It is fairly good for a non-magical ranger, and the styles it advances are rather... interesting. I would really suggest that you check it. A few classes in the Underdark FR book can fit you, but they are fairly mediocre except as dips. Finally, I'm not sure if it had alignment issues, but the LoM abolisher could be a good choice as well - for limited wildshaping, if nothing else. A level or two in horizon walker may give you extra options in the terrains of your choice, but I would, again, avoid it if you are interested in casting. In your case, I would presume the underground terrain mastery would give you another 60 feet of DV.

As most of those PrCs do not advance your companion, I'd use the urban "companion" from cityscape for a pseudo-familiar (without any of the stupid stuff like XP loss and your ranks, it is golden for a ranger) or getting just enough levels for a riding lizard. They are detailed in DotU.

Apart from that, you could continue with base classes. If your DM does not enforce XP penalties, a drow ranger 16/scout 4 is good as any other, and they are well-suited to skirmishing combat. I've once thought about a drow/wilder/slayer, but that was more for flavor purposes than anything else. Remember to put ranks in knowledge dungeoneering - in all underground environments, it is equivalent to knowledge nature.
Sinj
04-14-08, 09:17 AM Ok thanks, and the Dark Hunter is in Complete Warrior?

As for my companion, really dont care about it. Wouldnt take it if I didnt have to.

Thanks a lot!
pigknight
04-14-08, 07:11 PM If you're melee a dervish or tempest.
Drizztrocks
04-14-08, 11:10 PM Dark Hunter would work. And if it fits you, Wild Plains Outrider is good for a plains ranger. :)
Shadowhowler
04-15-08, 10:42 AM If your archery based and you dig on mountians... Cragtop Archer from Races of Stone may be useful.
Ecalsneerg
04-15-08, 11:27 AM If you're melee a dervish or tempest.

Dip into that drow of the underdark PrC allowing dual spiked chains :D
The_Shaman
04-15-08, 06:24 PM If you're melee a dervish or tempest.

I would suggest that you only do that if you've taken a few fighter levels - or scout ones, if you're going dervish. Rangers do not always have the feats to spare.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Sinj 04-14-08, 03:14 AM	Well first off(as I have sadly just learned about Drizzt) dont bash the Drow Ranger as a Drizzit wana be. He is not good. He really isnt. He hates nearly everything, and tries to find a way to MAKE it work for him. Moving on. The way I would like to advance him would be to become more of a ranger of the mountains and caves(not the Underdark specifically) just non forested terrain, and was wondering what sorta prestige class would be best for him to go into? If there were some special ranger typish feats or skills available somewhere for lookup to find this out. I would also like for him to be independant, as our group really lacks a healer focus. We have a druid and thats about it. We may get one later but no one knows. I am still a newbie btw, only played a couple sessions, but have been doing extensive reading. So thanks for any help you may be able to give me!
Prince_of_Parkness 04-14-08, 04:53 AM	Well first off(as I have sadly just learned about Drizzt) dont bash the Drow Ranger as a Drizzit wana be. He is not good. He really isnt. He hates nearly everything, and tries to find a way to MAKE it work for him. Moving on. The way I would like to advance him would be to become more of a ranger of the mountains and caves(not the Underdark specifically) just non forested terrain, and was wondering what sorta prestige class would be best for him to go into? If there were some special ranger typish feats or skills available somewhere for lookup to find this out. I would also like for him to be independant, as our group really lacks a healer focus. We have a druid and thats about it. We may get one later but no one knows. I am still a newbie btw, only played a couple sessions, but have been doing extensive reading. So thanks for any help you may be able to give me! It might be too late, but theres a ranger variant that has favoured terrains instead of favoured enemeies. As for a prestige class, dark hunter (from complete warrior) sounds like what you want
The_Shaman 04-14-08, 07:42 AM	Dark hunter can be quite good if you don't mind your companion/spells not getting any advancement - with your drow darkvision, you see potential enemies way before they can see you. The little sneak attack can be handy, and despite its pathetic DC the death attack offers some options itself. However, if I were you I'd rather look in the direction of the DotU cavestalker. It is fairly good for a non-magical ranger, and the styles it advances are rather... interesting. I would really suggest that you check it. A few classes in the Underdark FR book can fit you, but they are fairly mediocre except as dips. Finally, I'm not sure if it had alignment issues, but the LoM abolisher could be a good choice as well - for limited wildshaping, if nothing else. A level or two in horizon walker may give you extra options in the terrains of your choice, but I would, again, avoid it if you are interested in casting. In your case, I would presume the underground terrain mastery would give you another 60 feet of DV. As most of those PrCs do not advance your companion, I'd use the urban "companion" from cityscape for a pseudo-familiar (without any of the stupid stuff like XP loss and your ranks, it is golden for a ranger) or getting just enough levels for a riding lizard. They are detailed in DotU. Apart from that, you could continue with base classes. If your DM does not enforce XP penalties, a drow ranger 16/scout 4 is good as any other, and they are well-suited to skirmishing combat. I've once thought about a drow/wilder/slayer, but that was more for flavor purposes than anything else. Remember to put ranks in knowledge dungeoneering - in all underground environments, it is equivalent to knowledge nature.
Sinj 04-14-08, 09:17 AM	Ok thanks, and the Dark Hunter is in Complete Warrior? As for my companion, really dont care about it. Wouldnt take it if I didnt have to. Thanks a lot!
pigknight 04-14-08, 07:11 PM	If you're melee a dervish or tempest.
Drizztrocks 04-14-08, 11:10 PM	Dark Hunter would work. And if it fits you, Wild Plains Outrider is good for a plains ranger. :)
Shadowhowler 04-15-08, 10:42 AM	If your archery based and you dig on mountians... Cragtop Archer from Races of Stone may be useful.
Ecalsneerg 04-15-08, 11:27 AM	If you're melee a dervish or tempest. Dip into that drow of the underdark PrC allowing dual spiked chains :D
The_Shaman 04-15-08, 06:24 PM	If you're melee a dervish or tempest. I would suggest that you only do that if you've taken a few fighter levels - or scout ones, if you're going dervish. Rangers do not always have the feats to spare.