Post/Author/DateTime	Post
CrazyCloud 10-31-06, 08:17 PM	What exactly are strong ways to optomize epic Rangers? Is using two weapons at epic level even better than using a two-handed weapon and a shield? The best strategy I can think of for an epic TWF Ranger is to have both his weapons have the Wounding enchantment and hope to get the opponent to 0 Con.
Cael 10-31-06, 08:31 PM	What exactly are strong ways to optomize epic Rangers? Is using two weapons at epic level even better than using a two-handed weapon and a shield? The best strategy I can think of for an epic TWF Ranger is to have both his weapons have the Wounding enchantment and hope to get the opponent to 0 Con. Use light weapons if you want to go the anti-Con way. Pick up Dervish and/or Tempest levels, and max your Dex. Perfect TWF (requires 25 Dex) is ugly at epic levels. For the best results, though, play an 11th level Monk. Greater Flurry + PTWF = 10 attacks around without even trying. Pick up 4 levels of a full BAB class, and get 12 attacks. Add stuff like Tempest and/or Dervish for solid TWF ugliness.
PhoenixInferno 10-31-06, 08:32 PM	What exactly are strong ways to optomize epic Rangers? Is using two weapons at epic level even better than using a two-handed weapon and a shield?Probably the best way is to get as many Favored Enemies as you possibly can and getting the Epic feat that insta-kills your Favored Enemies (I think it was Death of Enemies). There's a save DC to prevent the insta-kill, so you'll have to work on that. EDIT: Ah, here it is: Prerequisites: Bane of Enemies, Survival 30 ranks, five or more favored enemies. Benefit: Any time you score a critical hit against one of your favored enemies, it must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + ½ your ranger class level + your Wisdom modifier) or die instantly. Special: Creatures immune to critical hits can’t be affected by this feat. So it looks like you'll have to find ways to make crit-immunes vulnerable to crits. Spark of Life can help with that.
PhaedrusXY 10-31-06, 08:42 PM	Probably the best way is to get as many Favored Enemies as you possibly can and getting the Epic feat that insta-kills your Favored Enemies (I think it was Death of Enemies). There's a save DC to prevent the insta-kill, so you'll have to work on that.And take one of the classes that gives you Favored Enemy: Evil. :D Use a Valenar Double Scimitar, and take all 5 levels of that PrC that lets you treat both ends of it as a two-handed weapon. Oh yeah, and take Improved Critical with it. Unlike Vorpal, I think you just need a crit for Death of Enemies, not a natural 20.
feraltibbit 10-31-06, 08:50 PM	Try this... 1) Dwarf Rgr15/Rog5/Bar10/Battlerager5(RoF): --pair of SMALL bluesteel (1HP natural elec dmg) Dwarven Urgrosh +7 with wounding(P-side)/shadow(one extra insubstantial blade, S-side)-1d6+7/1d4 +7+1CON [small ones can be wielded w/2 hands OR be used as a double wpn each]. --pair of adamantine Dwarven Waraxes +6 with wounding/throwing/returning/distance (2xdistance-20ft increm.)/precise (no -4 throwing N2 melee)-1d8+6+1CON 2) Wild Elf (RoF) Ranger20/Fighter5 --pair of Elven Thinblades +9 with wounding-1d6+9+1CON --pair of Elven Long Knives +10 with wounding/bloodfeeding (BVD)
PhoenixInferno 10-31-06, 09:00 PM	2) Wild Elf (RoF) Ranger20/Fighter5 --pair of Elven Thinblades +9 with wounding-1d6+9+1CON --pair of Elven Long Knives +10 with wounding/bloodfeeding (BVD)Don't give bad advice like that.
feraltibbit 10-31-06, 09:02 PM	Try this... 1) Dwarf Rgr15/Rog5/Bar10/Battlerager5(RoF): --pair of SMALL bluesteel (1HP natural elec dmg) Dwarven Urgrosh +7 with wounding(P-side)/shadow(one extra insubstantial blade, S-side)-1d6+7/1d4 +7+1CON [small ones can be wielded w/2 hands OR be used as a double wpn each]. --pair of adamantine Dwarven Waraxes +6 with wounding/throwing/returning/distance (2xdistance-20ft increm.)/precise (no -4 throwing N2 melee)-1d8+6+1CON 2) Wild Elf (RoF) Ranger20/Fighter5 --pair of Elven Thinblades +9 with wounding-1d6+9+1CON --pair of Elven Long Knives +10 with wounding/bloodfeeding (BVD)
Cael 10-31-06, 09:03 PM	Try this... 1) Dwarf Rgr15/Rog5/Bar10/Battlerager5(RoF): --pair of SMALL bluesteel (1HP natural elec dmg) Dwarven Urgrosh +7 with wounding(P-side)/shadow(one extra insubstantial blade, S-side)-1d6+7/1d4 +7+1CON [small ones can be wielded w/2 hands OR be used as a double wpn each]. --pair of adamantine Dwarven Waraxes +6 with wounding/throwing/returning/distance (2xdistance-20ft increm.)/precise (no -4 throwing N2 melee)-1d8+6+1CON 2) Wild Elf (RoF) Ranger20/Fighter5 --pair of Elven Thinblades +9 with wounding-1d6+9+1CON --pair of Elven Long Knives +10 with wounding/bloodfeeding (BVD) No. Just... No.
PhaedrusXY 10-31-06, 11:25 PM	Try this... 1) Dwarf Rgr15/Rog5/Bar10Massive XP penalty
Nanshork 10-31-06, 11:30 PM	Try this... 1) Dwarf Rgr15/Rog5/Bar10/Battlerager5(RoF): --pair of SMALL bluesteel (1HP natural elec dmg) Dwarven Urgrosh +7 with wounding(P-side)/shadow(one extra insubstantial blade, S-side)-1d6+7/1d4 +7+1CON [small ones can be wielded w/2 hands OR be used as a double wpn each]. --pair of adamantine Dwarven Waraxes +6 with wounding/throwing/returning/distance (2xdistance-20ft increm.)/precise (no -4 throwing N2 melee)-1d8+6+1CON 2) Wild Elf (RoF) Ranger20/Fighter5 --pair of Elven Thinblades +9 with wounding-1d6+9+1CON --pair of Elven Long Knives +10 with wounding/bloodfeeding (BVD) First, you can't use both small urgosh's as two handed weapons, doesn't work that way. Second, your first build has massive exp penalties, so it's bad. Thirdly, you don't just take an odd level of fighters, that has a tendancy to cause the regulars to go into a frenzy, ripping the heads off of all posters who dare oppose them.
CrazyCloud 11-01-06, 04:19 PM	I should have mentioned that the books allowed were only Core. However, other than the anti-Con way, what other TWF strategies are there?
Cael 11-01-06, 04:30 PM	I should have mentioned that the books allowed were only Core. However, other than the anti-Con way, what other TWF strategies are there? Now you tell us :) Well, all TWF build that I know of use Tempest/Dervish heavily. Some also use Arcane Strike. None of them are Core only. The thing is, TWF need a lot of damage boosting that really only non-Core gives. For a Core only build, I would go Ranger 2/Monk 12/Druid x. Aim for Perfect TWF (which is in the Epic Level Handbook, something that your DM should be using for Epic play). You aim is to Wildshape into big and ugly, and then use a combination of natural and unarmed TWF attacks for an insane number of attacks per round. Remember that Monk unarmed attacks need not be with fist, so you can tack on the full range of your form's natural attacks to the back of your TWF Flurries. Get Multiattack for best results.
PhaedrusXY 11-01-06, 04:57 PM	For a Core only build, I would go Ranger 2/Monk 12/Druid x.XP Penalty... If you want to play a character that is very focused on "being a ranger", I would go for Death of Enemies. It won't be available till 27th level, though, and you'll have to take 20 levels of ranger. If you aren't so focused on that, then you definitely want to multiclass heavily. All the other full BAB classes have something to offer to a ranger, and so do monk and rogue. Of course, you're better off just dropping this ranger stuff entirely and playing a druid. :D
Cael 11-01-06, 05:08 PM	XP Penalty... If you want to play a character that is very focused on "being a ranger", I would go for Death of Enemies. It won't be available till 27th level, though, and you'll have to take 20 levels of ranger. If you aren't so focused on that, then you definitely want to multiclass heavily. All the other full BAB classes have something to offer to a ranger, and so do monk and rogue. Of course, you're better off just dropping this ranger stuff entirely and playing a druid. :D Yep. XP penalty, but fun as heck for the incredible amount of attacks you get.