Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Seguer 04-17-08, 07:46 PM	In the CO board, there is a thread about Core Builds (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=133833), which includes a build using Horizon Walker (http://forums.gleemax.com/showpost.php?p=1862348&postcount=3): I Can Run but You Can't Hide Races: Human, Half-Elf, Halfling, Half-Orc (all the 'h's) Rogue 4/Barbarian 1/Assassin 8/Horizon Walker 7 BAB: +17, 7d6 Sneak Attack, Hide In Plain Sight, Darkvision, Tremorsense (from Horizon Walker), Dimension Door every d4 rounds Fast, stealthy assassin build that can get anywhere and see almost anything. Where does the Knowledge (geography) come from? Or would it be cross-classed (and requiring 16 skill points to be spent)? Would it be better to take Ranger 1 instead of Barb 1? There have also been many other builds for HW, some using ranger, some not, but many don't seem to have an explicit method for getting Knowledge (geography), so what is normally done?
Shaggy_Shaggs 04-17-08, 07:59 PM	If it's core only, I guess he's not using Education to get all Knowledge skills as class skills. Seeing as he has 13 class levels before he ever enters horizon walker, he's probably using the 16 skill points for 8 cross-class ranks option. I don't think the one ranger level would be better than the 1 barbarian level, for such a build. He's probably relying on flanking to generate sneak attack damage, for that you need mobility to get around the battlefield and into position in a hurry. The barbarian's fast movement should help with that, ranger 1 won't give him anything comparable. Besides, with Desert Terrain Mastery he doesn't tire out after raging, so it gives him a nice once per day powerup that doesn't turn into suck if a fight goes longer than expected. Fast movement is also helpful for the stealth side of things. If you don't want to eat a big penalty on your stealth skill checks, you move half speed while sneaking around. Half of 40' movement is still a good 20', 40' if you're double moving each round.
Seguer 04-17-08, 08:13 PM	Thanks for the quick reply Shags, pity that sounds like an unfortunate way of getting into HW (though luckily my current char has 18 int.. so it's not like I can't spend some every few levels)
Salla 04-17-08, 08:19 PM	Edit: Wait, core only, never mind.
JulesCARV 04-18-08, 05:05 PM	I think rogue 3/barbarian 1/ranger 1/rest of build would be better than either rogue 4/barbarian 1 or rogue 4/ranger 1 -- unless barbarian is favored class or somesuch. Rogue 4 only grants uncanny dodge, which is acquired from assassin (along with improved uncanny dodge, albeit somewhat later) shortly thereafter anyway. Sure, you lose two skill points, but the skill points saved on in-class knowledge (geography), even if for only one level, more than make up for it. You also get a handy little fortitude and reflex boost (rogue 4 only offers +1 to reflex), track, a favored enemy, a touch of wild empathy, etc.
Lotus Crane 04-18-08, 05:09 PM	Actually, one of the class variants in UA gives the ranger the barbarian's fast movement, "as the barbarian," which I assume means at 1st level as well.