Building A Better Ranger... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Building A Better Ranger... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Jenner
01-05-05, 06:46 PM Reposted from "What's a Player to do."

I do not want my character to be the death of all around her, however, I do want her to be able to dish it out, AND take it. I would just like to be able to make a great addition to the party.

I choose Ranger, going by 3.5
However, our team doesn't have a Cleric.
And teams without clerics, DIE.
And all the other characters are rather involved in what they are.
Whereas my character, as always, is MUCH simpler. So she COULD Multi-Class.
I want to do this Ranger thing, it looks like it'll be great and it really fits with me. But, not at the sacrifice of my party.

I need to know what best to build my Ranger as to make her the most efficent. I don't want her overclocked, but I want her decent.
I personally intend to have her take Die Hard at 3rd level. But beyond that, it's ALL up to you guys. You guys know this stuff, I do not, I've never been very good at it.

I'm just looking for suggestions on what I can and should do with my Female Ranger.

Here's all the info you hopefully need:

Hrist Helstorm
Level 1 Aristocrat/Level 1 Ranger
Human Female
Neutral-Good, Pelor Worshipping.

18 str
17 dex
16 con
16 int
17 wis
17 charisma

Common
Sylvan
Dwarven
Celestial

Noble Birth (free)
Power Attack
Cleave (Human Bonus)
Abedextry (Ranger Bonus, not applicable in 3.5?)
Two-Weapon Fighting (Ranger Bonus)

Track, Animal Empathy
Synergy in Knowledge Geography, Nature and Nobility.

Masterwork Studded Leather Armor
Morning Star (Primary Hand 8lbs) -2 (-4?)
Scimitar (Second Hand, 4lbs) -2 (-4?)
Composite Longbow

Basic Character Summary: (This might help with helping me with Presteige Classes. I only JUST heard about them. I dunno what they are or what to pick)

My Character, Hrist, is the oldest of three noble siblings and the next heir to the family estate. She's the only daughter and resents both failing her father by being female and the expectations of Female Heiresses in her town (which is, of course, to marry equally rich boys and have male babies.) She finds the town stagnating, and spends as little time as possible there. She wants to explore the world, see the limits of nature and beyond. She wants to adventure, but her mother refuses to allow her to. She scoffs, and spends a lot of time watching the fighters and copying them, and hanging out in the Elf Embassy's many forested odds and ends. As the eldest sibling of two brothers she is a tomboy, and she strives to be a positive role-model and a good example to her siblings. Above all else she wants to toughen up and protect her brothers. She'll fight to the death to keep them alive as she sees herself as expendable. But she is not so noble as to be a Paladin, she adores Pelor and his teachings but her true home is not in a church, but in the woods. She is a character who wants to protect other characters. She's responsible, diciplined, and honorable. Her animal companion will be an eagle.

As I said before, I intend to take Die Hard at 3rd level so they have to KILL her to take her out of battle. (you die at -10 anyway so you might as well stay fighting...)

Questions to be answered:
Should I Multi-Class to Cleric, Druid?
When? What would be best?
Is there a Ranger kit that acts like a Druid but is a Ranger? (Kits no longer exist in 3.5? Shoot...)

I'm gonna be looking though the FAQ...
escherblacksmith
01-05-05, 07:36 PM I am working on a Ranger build as well, so this should be interesting.

Although, I must ask, are there any books you aren't allowed? Since you have massive scores, I am assuming everything is allowed.
SmiloDan
01-05-05, 10:14 PM Don't sweat the cleric. As an Aristocrat, you'll be rich enough to buy a Wand of Cure Light Wounds. As a Ranger, you will have Cure Light Wounds on your spell list, which means even at 1st level, you can use the Wand.

Also, in 3.5, rangers don't get 2 weapon-fighting until 2nd level.

Power Attack and Cleave are great feats for a front-line fighter. You might want to consider taking Improved Toughness (from Complete Warrior) to up your hit points. I would put the 17 in Con and 16 in Cha, then boost Con at 4th level. Dex at 8th. Wis at 12th.

But Rangers rock! Lots of skill points and bonus feats. Nice combo. And I would suggest taking a hawk (falcon) as an animal companion at 4th level, since Aristos do falconry. Or a horse to have a tougher than normal mount.
Snicker-Snack
01-05-05, 10:45 PM Well, Funny Slaughter's Casting Ranger (http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=339) seems to be exactly what you are looking for, and it kicks some serious ass to boot!

Of course, you have already created your character, so you will need to make some (lots of) changes, but it can give you some ideas :).
Anguirus23
01-05-05, 10:47 PM Just to note, you do indeed have a -4/-4 penalty when using morning star and scimitar together. Ask your DM to let you skip Ambidexterity (it's out in 3.5, and if you're running 3.0 it seems a perfectly reasonable request) and take Improved Shield Bash (I forget if there's a 3.0 version of this, but it's simple enough...get an attack with your shield and keep its AC bonus). Then use a small spiked shield and a scimitar, minimizing penalties, keeping AC bonus, and getting TWF damage.

I would recommend the 3.5 ranger over the 3.0 one for both flavor and effectiveness. That said, if you do that, you'll have to wait until level 2 to get the bonus TWF...or take Rapid Shot instead.
Devant
01-06-05, 02:06 AM Holy Crap those are good stats.
Prestige Ranger from UA is prolly what your looking for. You should talk to your DM about allowing it. Consider also, Armor Spikes + Falchion.
PhaedrusXY
01-06-05, 06:03 AM I know this is alot of changes to make to your character... but there is a very cool Prestige Class from the Unapproachable East supplement to Forgotten Realms called a Master of the Yuirwood. It is very ranger-like and gives full spellcasting progression, 4 skill points per level, 3/4 BAB progression, and several special abilities. I really like using it for a ranger/cleric multiclass character.

I played a character for a while based on this, and now use it as an NPC in a game I DM. At 13th level he is a ranger2/cleric5/MotY6. He casts as an 11th level cleric and can fight fairly well. The main thing you'll have to change is your race. Only elves and half-elves can take levels in the PrC.

At 20th level a skeletal build would be:

Rng2/Clr8/MotY10 Domains: Travel and Elf
BAB 15, caster level 18, HD 20d8 (avg 93), Speak with animals at will, Imp. Uncanny Dodge, can use Divine Might feat, free Rapid Shot, Cha bonus to saves
Prereqs: Alertness, 10 ranks Survival, 5 ranks Know: Nature
Funny Slaughter
01-06-05, 07:43 AM MoYW is indeed a very good suggestion. one can also opt for nentyar hunter to add some spellcasting to ones straight ranger...

gs
Funny
ninjarabbit
01-06-05, 08:20 AM In 3.5 power attack doesn't work too well with two weapon fighting. And since it's 3.5 you don't get your combat style feat until second level of ranger. My advice would be to take the archery combat path and use a two handed weapon (you have the srt to be effective) whenever you're in melee.
TheMrBlack
01-06-05, 08:29 AM IF your group has a warrior, I'd ditch the TWF as personally, I dont think it's that grand in the early levels.

If your group is set warrior/tank wise, I'd go archery all the way. I think most people don't realize or take into account the potential of an archer ranger.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Jenner 01-05-05, 06:46 PM	Reposted from "What's a Player to do." I do not want my character to be the death of all around her, however, I do want her to be able to dish it out, AND take it. I would just like to be able to make a great addition to the party. I choose Ranger, going by 3.5 However, our team doesn't have a Cleric. And teams without clerics, DIE. And all the other characters are rather involved in what they are. Whereas my character, as always, is MUCH simpler. So she COULD Multi-Class. I want to do this Ranger thing, it looks like it'll be great and it really fits with me. But, not at the sacrifice of my party. I need to know what best to build my Ranger as to make her the most efficent. I don't want her overclocked, but I want her decent. I personally intend to have her take Die Hard at 3rd level. But beyond that, it's ALL up to you guys. You guys know this stuff, I do not, I've never been very good at it. I'm just looking for suggestions on what I can and should do with my Female Ranger. Here's all the info you hopefully need: Hrist Helstorm Level 1 Aristocrat/Level 1 Ranger Human Female Neutral-Good, Pelor Worshipping. 18 str 17 dex 16 con 16 int 17 wis 17 charisma Common Sylvan Dwarven Celestial Noble Birth (free) Power Attack Cleave (Human Bonus) Abedextry (Ranger Bonus, not applicable in 3.5?) Two-Weapon Fighting (Ranger Bonus) Track, Animal Empathy Synergy in Knowledge Geography, Nature and Nobility. Masterwork Studded Leather Armor Morning Star (Primary Hand 8lbs) -2 (-4?) Scimitar (Second Hand, 4lbs) -2 (-4?) Composite Longbow Basic Character Summary: (This might help with helping me with Presteige Classes. I only JUST heard about them. I dunno what they are or what to pick) My Character, Hrist, is the oldest of three noble siblings and the next heir to the family estate. She's the only daughter and resents both failing her father by being female and the expectations of Female Heiresses in her town (which is, of course, to marry equally rich boys and have male babies.) She finds the town stagnating, and spends as little time as possible there. She wants to explore the world, see the limits of nature and beyond. She wants to adventure, but her mother refuses to allow her to. She scoffs, and spends a lot of time watching the fighters and copying them, and hanging out in the Elf Embassy's many forested odds and ends. As the eldest sibling of two brothers she is a tomboy, and she strives to be a positive role-model and a good example to her siblings. Above all else she wants to toughen up and protect her brothers. She'll fight to the death to keep them alive as she sees herself as expendable. But she is not so noble as to be a Paladin, she adores Pelor and his teachings but her true home is not in a church, but in the woods. She is a character who wants to protect other characters. She's responsible, diciplined, and honorable. Her animal companion will be an eagle. As I said before, I intend to take Die Hard at 3rd level so they have to KILL her to take her out of battle. (you die at -10 anyway so you might as well stay fighting...) Questions to be answered: Should I Multi-Class to Cleric, Druid? When? What would be best? Is there a Ranger kit that acts like a Druid but is a Ranger? (Kits no longer exist in 3.5? Shoot...) I'm gonna be looking though the FAQ...
escherblacksmith 01-05-05, 07:36 PM	I am working on a Ranger build as well, so this should be interesting. Although, I must ask, are there any books you aren't allowed? Since you have massive scores, I am assuming everything is allowed.
SmiloDan 01-05-05, 10:14 PM	Don't sweat the cleric. As an Aristocrat, you'll be rich enough to buy a Wand of Cure Light Wounds. As a Ranger, you will have Cure Light Wounds on your spell list, which means even at 1st level, you can use the Wand. Also, in 3.5, rangers don't get 2 weapon-fighting until 2nd level. Power Attack and Cleave are great feats for a front-line fighter. You might want to consider taking Improved Toughness (from Complete Warrior) to up your hit points. I would put the 17 in Con and 16 in Cha, then boost Con at 4th level. Dex at 8th. Wis at 12th. But Rangers rock! Lots of skill points and bonus feats. Nice combo. And I would suggest taking a hawk (falcon) as an animal companion at 4th level, since Aristos do falconry. Or a horse to have a tougher than normal mount.
Snicker-Snack 01-05-05, 10:45 PM	Well, Funny Slaughter's Casting Ranger (http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=339) seems to be exactly what you are looking for, and it kicks some serious ass to boot! Of course, you have already created your character, so you will need to make some (lots of) changes, but it can give you some ideas :).
Anguirus23 01-05-05, 10:47 PM	Just to note, you do indeed have a -4/-4 penalty when using morning star and scimitar together. Ask your DM to let you skip Ambidexterity (it's out in 3.5, and if you're running 3.0 it seems a perfectly reasonable request) and take Improved Shield Bash (I forget if there's a 3.0 version of this, but it's simple enough...get an attack with your shield and keep its AC bonus). Then use a small spiked shield and a scimitar, minimizing penalties, keeping AC bonus, and getting TWF damage. I would recommend the 3.5 ranger over the 3.0 one for both flavor and effectiveness. That said, if you do that, you'll have to wait until level 2 to get the bonus TWF...or take Rapid Shot instead.
Devant 01-06-05, 02:06 AM	Holy Crap those are good stats. Prestige Ranger from UA is prolly what your looking for. You should talk to your DM about allowing it. Consider also, Armor Spikes + Falchion.
PhaedrusXY 01-06-05, 06:03 AM	I know this is alot of changes to make to your character... but there is a very cool Prestige Class from the Unapproachable East supplement to Forgotten Realms called a Master of the Yuirwood. It is very ranger-like and gives full spellcasting progression, 4 skill points per level, 3/4 BAB progression, and several special abilities. I really like using it for a ranger/cleric multiclass character. I played a character for a while based on this, and now use it as an NPC in a game I DM. At 13th level he is a ranger2/cleric5/MotY6. He casts as an 11th level cleric and can fight fairly well. The main thing you'll have to change is your race. Only elves and half-elves can take levels in the PrC. At 20th level a skeletal build would be: Rng2/Clr8/MotY10 Domains: Travel and Elf BAB 15, caster level 18, HD 20d8 (avg 93), Speak with animals at will, Imp. Uncanny Dodge, can use Divine Might feat, free Rapid Shot, Cha bonus to saves Prereqs: Alertness, 10 ranks Survival, 5 ranks Know: Nature
Funny Slaughter 01-06-05, 07:43 AM	MoYW is indeed a very good suggestion. one can also opt for nentyar hunter to add some spellcasting to ones straight ranger... gs Funny
ninjarabbit 01-06-05, 08:20 AM	In 3.5 power attack doesn't work too well with two weapon fighting. And since it's 3.5 you don't get your combat style feat until second level of ranger. My advice would be to take the archery combat path and use a two handed weapon (you have the srt to be effective) whenever you're in melee.
TheMrBlack 01-06-05, 08:29 AM	IF your group has a warrior, I'd ditch the TWF as personally, I dont think it's that grand in the early levels. If your group is set warrior/tank wise, I'd go archery all the way. I think most people don't realize or take into account the potential of an archer ranger.