Alternatives to the Ranger's "combat style" - Does this affect the balance? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alternatives to the Ranger's "combat style" - Does this affect the balance? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
WayneTheGame
09-10-06, 09:59 AM Hello all, quick question on something that has been bugging me.. in my group's campaign I have a Hexblade/Ranger bounty hunter and I've taken the two levels of Ranger.. but when it came time to pick my combat style neither Archery nor TWF appealed to me and fit the concept, so I asked the DM if I could have +1d6 Sneak Attack instead. He agreed, but now that I've leveled up I'm planning on taking a level of Rogue since I did a fair bit of stealth last session... do you think that it's unbalanced that I was able to get Sneak Attack as a "combat style", especially now that I'm taking a level of Rogue so I'll gain +2d6 sneak attack but with a higher BAB than I would normally be able to have if I had been Hexblade 4/Rogue 3? If so, please explain so I understand why, the DM said it was not a problem since rangers shouldn't be limited to only a choice of two styles, and sneak attack suited my concept.

Keep in mind the DM has already ruled that I could have it, and I've used it for several sessions... but if it would be that unbalanced I could use the retraining rules or something to swap it back out for TWF or something.

Regards,
Wayne
Board_Rider
09-10-06, 11:36 AM I don't think that it is overbalanced.

If you are worried about it why not just make the Sneak Attack fall under the rules of Sudden Strike (no extra damage for flanking) or use the scouts Skirmish ability?
WayneTheGame
09-10-06, 11:38 AM I don't think that it is overbalanced.

If you are worried about it why not just make the Sneak Attack fall under the rules of Sudden Strike (no extra damage for flanking) or use the scouts Skirmish ability?
I'm not worried about it, just that another person pointed out it was a little on the "odd" side because it was a class ability, not a feat (which the regular combat style offered in one form or another).
Board_Rider
09-10-06, 11:46 AM Well, rest easy, the ToB has a Rapid Assault feat that grants an extra d6 for the first round of combat. You could tell him that its a modified form of that feat.

Go nuts. And tell the other guy to worry about his PC lest you put him on your bounty list. :eek:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
WayneTheGame 09-10-06, 09:59 AM	Hello all, quick question on something that has been bugging me.. in my group's campaign I have a Hexblade/Ranger bounty hunter and I've taken the two levels of Ranger.. but when it came time to pick my combat style neither Archery nor TWF appealed to me and fit the concept, so I asked the DM if I could have +1d6 Sneak Attack instead. He agreed, but now that I've leveled up I'm planning on taking a level of Rogue since I did a fair bit of stealth last session... do you think that it's unbalanced that I was able to get Sneak Attack as a "combat style", especially now that I'm taking a level of Rogue so I'll gain +2d6 sneak attack but with a higher BAB than I would normally be able to have if I had been Hexblade 4/Rogue 3? If so, please explain so I understand why, the DM said it was not a problem since rangers shouldn't be limited to only a choice of two styles, and sneak attack suited my concept. Keep in mind the DM has already ruled that I could have it, and I've used it for several sessions... but if it would be that unbalanced I could use the retraining rules or something to swap it back out for TWF or something. Regards, Wayne
Board_Rider 09-10-06, 11:36 AM	I don't think that it is overbalanced. If you are worried about it why not just make the Sneak Attack fall under the rules of Sudden Strike (no extra damage for flanking) or use the scouts Skirmish ability?
WayneTheGame 09-10-06, 11:38 AM	I don't think that it is overbalanced. If you are worried about it why not just make the Sneak Attack fall under the rules of Sudden Strike (no extra damage for flanking) or use the scouts Skirmish ability? I'm not worried about it, just that another person pointed out it was a little on the "odd" side because it was a class ability, not a feat (which the regular combat style offered in one form or another).
Board_Rider 09-10-06, 11:46 AM	Well, rest easy, the ToB has a Rapid Assault feat that grants an extra d6 for the first round of combat. You could tell him that its a modified form of that feat. Go nuts. And tell the other guy to worry about his PC lest you put him on your bounty list. :eek: