Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Mithrus 02-28-07, 09:08 PM	The overall build style is a ranger-based archer (with a religious ferver). I like having skills and options (but still be good at hitting things with a bow). I am focusing on good saves and Evasion/Mettle to help mitigate some damage. He is currently up to level 9 of this build, and is pretty effective overall. His Monk levels saved the day more then once so far ;) The character is a wood elf, and worships Ehlenestra (Ehlonna). Alignment: LG Base stats are: 16/16/10/12/12/10 (I don't like taking an 8 on a stat) ECL | Class | Level | Special | Free Feat for Lvl/3 1st | Ranger | 1st | 1st favored enemy (Undead), Track, wild empathy | Point Blank Shot 2nd | Ranger | 2nd | Combat style (Rapid Shot) | 3rd | Ranger | 3rd | Endurance | Precise Shot 4th | Ranger | 4th | Animal companion | 5th | Ranger | 5th | 2nd favored enemy(Evil Outsiders) | 6th | Wildrunner | 1st | Trackless Step | WF(Longbow) 7th | Wildrunner | 2nd | Scent, Primal Scream | 8th | Monk | 1st | Bonus feat (Imp. Grapple, Imp. Unarmed Strike) | 9th | Monk | 2nd | Bonus feat (Deflect Arrows), evasion | True Believer 10th | Pious Templar | 1st | Mettle | 11th | Ranger | 6th | Combat style (Manyshot) | 12th | Pious Templar | 2nd | Smite 1/day | Woodland Archer 13th | Pious Templar | 3rd | DR:1/-, Bonus feat (Weapon Specialization) | 14th | Pious Templar | 4th | Bonus feat (Imp. Precise Shot) | 15th | | | | Improve Rapid Shot Things I've considered: Pious Templar 5th (3rd level spells, if I can get my wisdom high enough) Ranger 7th (Woodland Stride, a definate contender) Wildrunner 3rd (Endure Elements, some use but weak) Order of the Bow Initiate 1st (Just a thought...)
Timlagor 03-01-07, 09:09 AM	i'd go with Pious Templar (bump Wis at 12th) or Ranger... or Fighter. You really want to get Weapon Mastery if you can. I'm not sure how it stacks up against your last couple of Feats but it's definitely worth rearranging your character for if you can (or taking a Fighter level).
evilaustintom 03-01-07, 09:24 AM	You could also consider Horizon Walker (DMG), if you meet the skill requirements. There are some all-right abilities you can gain, even with just one level (darkvision, immunity to fatigue, etc.). Tom Thowe
LachlarlanIII 03-01-07, 09:59 AM	Order of the Bow Initiate. Your character is an archer, if he gets surrounded he's less effective. OotBI fixes that by letting you fight with your bow in melee.
Mithrus 03-01-07, 12:13 PM	Order of the Bow Initiate. Your character is an archer, if he gets surrounded he's less effective. OotBI fixes that by letting you fight with your bow in melee. Unfortunately, thats an ability you get at 2nd level of OotBI. I do have that scenario covered though, as my bow is also elvencraft, so I could use it as a quarterstaff (might even enchant it a bit at the high levels, just to improved the hardness). I also have Arrow Mind ready at all times, and that gives me the same ability and is a swift action to cast.
Mithrus 03-01-07, 12:21 PM	i'd go with Pious Templar (bump Wis at 12th) or Ranger... or Fighter. You really want to get Weapon Mastery if you can. I'm not sure how it stacks up against your last couple of Feats but it's definitely worth rearranging your character for if you can (or taking a Fighter level). Yeah, after I posted this I took a look at some of the newer feats that are now Open, and Ranged Weapon Mastery is gonna definitely replace Improved Rapid Shot at 15th as a bare minimum. The real sticky problem with 3rd level spells is you get "0" base spells, and you will need a 16+ wisdom to get a bonus 3rd level spell. Now, this really puts things in a quandary, since I have monk levels, swapping out my amulet of health for a periapt of wisdom would also give me about the same AC as wearing my armor, and counts towards touch AC. The real question is dare I loose that many hitpoints at that level?
Alpha_Nerd 03-01-07, 12:33 PM	Arrow Mind is an immediate action :) As far as Pious Templar 5: It gives you no saves, and Pal 3 spells aren't that great for an archer. Fighter 1: Lets you pick up Ranged Weapon mastery without dropping Imp Rapid Shot, probably my Favorite. Ranger 7: Doesn't seem to useful. Wildrunner 3: +1 Will save with a not-so-useful ability. Better than Ranger at least. OotBI: +2 will/fort. Doesn't seem too bad since you have Mettle.
Jay_Ibero_911 03-01-07, 01:44 PM	There's always Occult Slayer for that last level, if you pick up Improved Initiative somewhere along the way. Up your damage against most things at that level, as well as boosting your will save and all saves vs. magic...
zoinks69 03-02-07, 04:14 AM	*cough*Barbarian*cough* Though I think if you went that route you'd horn it in earlier (after Monk levels, of course). What's not to like about Rage (stacks with Scream)? While I haven't seen them in action yet, mid to high level rangers should be pretty amazing in terms of damage output per round under LGCS 597. It seems like you'd want to start punching up your damage as much as possible rather than to-hit ability, so boosting Strength every way possible would be how I'd go about it. Eventually archers (like straight bab fighters) will hit on almost all of their shots on the majority of enemies, but archers lose their effectiveness vs. DR (mitigated by special materials and/or weapon enhancements and favored enemy bonuses, but you don't always have the info and/or technology available right away) since they're doing less damage, more shots instead of more damage, less swings. Take it for what it's worth :)