Advice for my ranger [Archive] - Wizards Community

Advice for my ranger [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Aterum
08-03-06, 04:37 PM Sup, peoples.

In the campaign I'm playing in now I am a half-elf ranger. I had the feats rapid shot and many shot but I didn't even think to use them until two months ago. Because I put most of my abilitiy mods in strength, I now deal, on average, 30 points of damage every time I attack. More if I use my other modifiers. According to the other PCs, I am 'a beast'.

STRENGTH 20;5
DEX 14;2
CON 10;0
INT 10;0
WIS 12;2
CHA 16;3

I am also a ghoul which is why my strength is so high. I also work for a secret demon hunting organization (picture Hellsing or the Watcher's Council from Buffy) which gives me paladin-esque powers.

I can cast greater invisibility, detect evil, and divine favor. If I am on a mission from the organization, I get +2 to any rolls. (I'm on a mission in game, right now :D )

Humans are my favored enemy (+2)
Enhance arrow gives me +3

I also have many different 'special' arrows (explosive, flash burts, flesh rot), a lightsaber (I'm a huge star wars fan -- my DM hates me for it), a silver dagger, a silver-encased stake and a SOG.

I've read up on rangers and half-elves but I'm still sort of at a lost. I don't know how I can make myself more powerful. I think I'm missing certain modifiers for my attacks so I'm short-changing myself.

There are four people in my party: a druid (who is also a werewolf) and his dire-wolf, a favored soul who no longer uses her magic to spite her God (her most powerful spell can turn anyone into this giant, crazed insect), an arcane blade who has been resurrected into a Goliath, and a tefling rogue who can shadow-dance.

I want to know what am I missing when I add up damage? How can I do more damage? I have tons of gold and I'm willing to steal items to gain more power.

How can I take on my other party members and kill them? The tefling is my main concern because she can do sneak attacks.

Sorry if this sounds confusing. :) Being a new is hard.
keropie
08-03-06, 04:57 PM The character optimization boards might help.

Or whatever gamefaqs has for the cheat codes for your game. . . :banghead:
Stumm_Dolch
08-03-06, 05:04 PM a lightsaber

You've just lost the respect of 90% of the population of these boards.
You don't need help, you just wanted to post how L337 your character is.
albinomonkeyking
08-03-06, 05:06 PM Er, okay. Let's start with the beginning. You have ranged feats that you never used, are you using ranged weapons? If so your strength means very little as it maxes out at a +4 to your ranged damage. Ranged weapon damage, (if you are using a composite) is this, Bow damage, usually 1d6 or 1d8 + your strength to a maximum of 4, so, 1d6/1d8 +4, if you have enhancements (these give a +1-5 to hit and damage) then this adds in too. You also seem to have 'special arrows' so these arrows will do 1d6/1d8+4 +whatever it is these special arrows do.

Second issue: If your team mates say you are a beast at damage for your level then...well...be content. You are already good, you don't need to be any better. Try enjoying your character, this isn't a contest with the other PC's. You are all on the same side.

If you still want to beef up your damage more buy enhancements or other pluses, if you have a DMG just look them up in 'magic items'.

On a side note, you sound new. Unless your DM and the other players are okay with you killing the PC's (player characters), don't. For some reason I can't comprehend many new players think it is a good idea to kill their friends. Here is my advice, if it isn't okay with everyone AVOID IT. This is a game for them to enjoy too.

Now if you actually have a reason to be killing your friends I will help you, otherwise, I won't give tips on how to ruin a campaign or other peoples fun. Good luck.

P.S. Lol. I like you more and more Stumm_Dolch.
Aterum
08-03-06, 06:11 PM Er, okay. Let's start with the beginning. You have ranged feats that you never used, are you using ranged weapons? If so your strength means very little as it maxes out at a +4 to your ranged damage. Ranged weapon damage, (if you are using a composite) is this, Bow damage, usually 1d6 or 1d8 + your strength to a maximum of 4, so, 1d6/1d8 +4, if you have enhancements (these give a +1-5 to hit and damage) then this adds in too. You also seem to have 'special arrows' so these arrows will do 1d6/1d8+4 +whatever it is these special arrows do.

Second issue: If your team mates say you are a beast at damage for your level then...well...be content. You are already good, you don't need to be any better. Try enjoying your character, this isn't a contest with the other PC's. You are all on the same side.

If you still want to beef up your damage more buy enhancements or other pluses, if you have a DMG just look them up in 'magic items'.

On a side note, you sound new. Unless your DM and the other players are okay with you killing the PC's (player characters), don't. For some reason I can't comprehend many new players think it is a good idea to kill their friends. Here is my advice, if it isn't okay with everyone AVOID IT. This is a game for them to enjoy too.

Now if you actually have a reason to be killing your friends I will help you, otherwise, I won't give tips on how to ruin a campaign or other peoples fun. Good luck.

P.S. Lol. I like you more and more Stumm_Dolch.

I am new. This is my first time playing D&D if you don't count the one-nighter I played before this (same group. just an intro to the world my DM created.) I'm not here to 'get respect' or to show 'L337' I am. I just want to use all of what my character has and not short-change myself. I am getting a lot of things thrown at me at once (I became a ghoul one week and I had the choice of becoming a paladin, a sorcerer's apprentice and a vampire the next week...) and it's getting to be a little confusing. I am tired of bothering my friends about game outside of game so I thought I'd come here for help.

...

I don't want to kill any of my party members. Because I work for this demon hunting organization -- I've been ordered to keep tabs on the werewolf and I am to guard the tefling (long story short: her demon daddy was the boss of the one nighter. I thought he was dead but she's been communicating with his spirit.) If a fight does happen I don't want to die because I didn't know what I was doing...

Again, I'm not trying to show off. What would be the point? I just wanted some help...
KurenaiYami
08-03-06, 06:39 PM Not sure if I misread, but you said you were a ghoul?

And you were worried about the Tiefling because she had sneak attack?

Ghouls cannot be sneak attacked. Undead don't have any real need for their organs, so if a rogue stabs you in the kidney...good for him. I hope that helps.
hollow_ghost
08-03-06, 07:33 PM Let me see if I got this right.
1. Over two months ago, you were level 6 since it's only 2 months agothat you tought about using Manyshot.
2. At the present, it's safe to assume that you are around level 10, since most of the time, party members are around the same level. (Werewolf druid with dire wolf as animal companion, that's a minimum of 7 druid levels and a Level Adjustment of +3).
3. You only have a +2 to your favored ennemy so you have at most 4 levels in Ranger. So you have a total of 6 in other classes and level adjustments.
4. You play with a Favored Soul, a Thiefling, a Goliath and a Werewolf.
5. You use abbreviations on these boards such as SOG (wich I myself don't even know what that means).

You ARE NOT a new to this game, but someone who is just trying to fool others and get a good laugh out of this.
Aterum
08-03-06, 08:11 PM You ARE NOT a new to this game, but someone who is just trying to fool others and get a good laugh out of this.

I can't believe this... Now I'm being accused of trolling. I won't say anything more because the more I post, the more I get yelled at and I don't want to get banned. I just wanted to some help. I don't see how this is funny to anyone...

Forget I ever asked...

- Aterum

PS. A SOG is a dual-edge razor sharp knife. It's not an abbreviation of anything. Search google for a picture. It's what the Bride used to kill Vernita Green in Kill Bill...

PPS. He wasn't always a werewolf. He began as a Druid. Also, the other PC wasn't always a Goliath. He was an arcane blade who died and was resurrected by the Druid. The favored soul is the DM's girlfriend...
keropie
08-03-06, 08:30 PM Ok, this is roughly the point I think we're generally trying to make:

We (generally speaking, feel free to except yourself) don't like the way your game is being run. There is no way you should have a light saber, period. You have one character in your group (the favored soul) who seems to be a PHB race. You are a ranger with paladinesque powers, random equipment that seems out of place in D&D, and while you've investigated rangers and half-elves (you're no longer a half-elf, btw, in any meaningful way... you're a ghoul), you can't 'make yourself stronger.' But we aren't aware of any personality of your character, and basically this sounds like Buffy meets video game meets Starwars meets yuck. Outside of the light saber, this would probably go over better on the Character Optimization boards.

Additionally, as far as I can tell, a SOG is a brand of knife, not a type of knife. Check the link here (http://www.sogknives.com/) to see if this is what you mean.

I hope you continue to enjoy your game, which is more relevant than our opinion of your game.
anarco_rata
08-03-06, 09:25 PM I am new. This is my first time playing D&D if you don't count the one-nighter I played before this (same group. just an intro to the world my DM created.) I'm not here to 'get respect' or to show 'L337' I am. I just want to use all of what my character has and not short-change myself. I am getting a lot of things thrown at me at once (I became a ghoul one week and I had the choice of becoming a paladin, a sorcerer's apprentice and a vampire the next week...) and it's getting to be a little confusing. I am tired of bothering my friends about game outside of game so I thought I'd come here for help.

Ok, no, listen... This is not d&d. I mean, a lightsaber? a freakin' lightsaber??
Allowing a lightsaber+ turning a character played by someone new to the game into a ghoul + all the other stupid things... you may be very new to the game, but your Dm is an idiot.
If you like the game... well... i'm happy for you for beign able to enjoy yourself in the most awfull of situations.

An advice: never post anything about your game in this forums. If it keeps going the way it seems to, then everyone will start calling you a troll.

Star wars fan? Imagine this: the upcoming star wars television series' characters include an orc in chainmail, a wizard, and George Bush, and they all are part of the new jedi order, following the teachings of Neo.

That's how we felt when you said your ranger had a lightsaber.
DarkNick
08-03-06, 10:25 PM I can't tell if you missing any bonuses, you are going to have to post your complete character stats. That way we can double check for you.

Are you a bowyer ranger or a Melee ranger?

What sort of armour do you have?
Get some better armour, that will make you tougher. Get some with spikes on it. Yeah man, that will be cool, then people with have trouble trying to grappel you.

Get feats like power attack, cleave etc, that way you an do more damage.

Maybe you could buy a bigger silver weapon to help you deal to the werewolf.

Buy some keen bladed weapons to improve your chances of a crit. Use a two-handed weapon to get more out of your strength bonus. (not that 30 points is shabby).

Hire a guard to watch your back - thereby reducing the chances of a sneak attack. You could also get some levels in barbarian to a point where you get uncanny dodge, then you can't be flanked (though I think someone was right in saying that if you are a ghoul you can't be flanked anyway)

Buy some guantlets of strength - that will boost your strength to even higher levels!!

Always walk behind the rest of your party with your sword or spear pointed at their backs so that if they turn on you you always have the upper hand.

More power!!!!!
albinomonkeyking
08-04-06, 02:15 AM Sorry if I seemed harsh Aterum, the idea of killing teammates is a bit of a 'hot button' for me as a DM, especially when it is done without anyones consent or knowledge. I apologize now if I was wrong, you seem legitimate in your need for help, so I will do what I can.

Your DM does sound new, this is not a mark against you by any means, but he seems to be making many mistakes I have seen and played with. A key part in the DM and Player relationship is talking. You should not have to worry about fighting your friends at any point in time unless, like I said, you all seem to be okay with it, and I doubt the team is.

As for beefing yourself up, the suggestions I posted below are about all I have, but, Manyshot is extremely useful because you can fire more than one arrow as a standard, (normally a standard allows only one attack) or more. For ever 5 points you have in base attack above 6 you can add an additional arrow. This means you will capable of feats such as moving (move action) then getting as many as four arrows off as a standard action (this would be at a -8 to hit, -2 per arrow you add)

Rapid shot is extremely good as well because you get another attack at your highest base attack albeit with a -2 to all of your attacks. I would recommend trying to get speeding on your bow as well. (Another attack at your highest base attack with no negatives)

I hope this information is helpful at all, I've never actually played a ranged character. Good luck.
Azezel
08-04-06, 05:01 AM I've got some advice, but it's for your DM.

Mate, the DMG has corners for a reason, and not just so the edges of the book have somewhere to meet. Use them. On this guy.

And possibly yourself when a player says 'lightsabre' and a DM says 'okie-dokie' it is cornertime all-round.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Aterum 08-03-06, 04:37 PM	Sup, peoples. In the campaign I'm playing in now I am a half-elf ranger. I had the feats rapid shot and many shot but I didn't even think to use them until two months ago. Because I put most of my abilitiy mods in strength, I now deal, on average, 30 points of damage every time I attack. More if I use my other modifiers. According to the other PCs, I am 'a beast'. STRENGTH 20;5 DEX 14;2 CON 10;0 INT 10;0 WIS 12;2 CHA 16;3 I am also a ghoul which is why my strength is so high. I also work for a secret demon hunting organization (picture Hellsing or the Watcher's Council from Buffy) which gives me paladin-esque powers. I can cast greater invisibility, detect evil, and divine favor. If I am on a mission from the organization, I get +2 to any rolls. (I'm on a mission in game, right now :D ) Humans are my favored enemy (+2) Enhance arrow gives me +3 I also have many different 'special' arrows (explosive, flash burts, flesh rot), a lightsaber (I'm a huge star wars fan -- my DM hates me for it), a silver dagger, a silver-encased stake and a SOG. I've read up on rangers and half-elves but I'm still sort of at a lost. I don't know how I can make myself more powerful. I think I'm missing certain modifiers for my attacks so I'm short-changing myself. There are four people in my party: a druid (who is also a werewolf) and his dire-wolf, a favored soul who no longer uses her magic to spite her God (her most powerful spell can turn anyone into this giant, crazed insect), an arcane blade who has been resurrected into a Goliath, and a tefling rogue who can shadow-dance. I want to know what am I missing when I add up damage? How can I do more damage? I have tons of gold and I'm willing to steal items to gain more power. How can I take on my other party members and kill them? The tefling is my main concern because she can do sneak attacks. Sorry if this sounds confusing. :) Being a new is hard.
keropie 08-03-06, 04:57 PM	The character optimization boards might help. Or whatever gamefaqs has for the cheat codes for your game. . . :banghead:
Stumm_Dolch 08-03-06, 05:04 PM	a lightsaber You've just lost the respect of 90% of the population of these boards. You don't need help, you just wanted to post how L337 your character is.
albinomonkeyking 08-03-06, 05:06 PM	Er, okay. Let's start with the beginning. You have ranged feats that you never used, are you using ranged weapons? If so your strength means very little as it maxes out at a +4 to your ranged damage. Ranged weapon damage, (if you are using a composite) is this, Bow damage, usually 1d6 or 1d8 + your strength to a maximum of 4, so, 1d6/1d8 +4, if you have enhancements (these give a +1-5 to hit and damage) then this adds in too. You also seem to have 'special arrows' so these arrows will do 1d6/1d8+4 +whatever it is these special arrows do. Second issue: If your team mates say you are a beast at damage for your level then...well...be content. You are already good, you don't need to be any better. Try enjoying your character, this isn't a contest with the other PC's. You are all on the same side. If you still want to beef up your damage more buy enhancements or other pluses, if you have a DMG just look them up in 'magic items'. On a side note, you sound new. Unless your DM and the other players are okay with you killing the PC's (player characters), don't. For some reason I can't comprehend many new players think it is a good idea to kill their friends. Here is my advice, if it isn't okay with everyone AVOID IT. This is a game for them to enjoy too. Now if you actually have a reason to be killing your friends I will help you, otherwise, I won't give tips on how to ruin a campaign or other peoples fun. Good luck. P.S. Lol. I like you more and more Stumm_Dolch.
Aterum 08-03-06, 06:11 PM	Er, okay. Let's start with the beginning. You have ranged feats that you never used, are you using ranged weapons? If so your strength means very little as it maxes out at a +4 to your ranged damage. Ranged weapon damage, (if you are using a composite) is this, Bow damage, usually 1d6 or 1d8 + your strength to a maximum of 4, so, 1d6/1d8 +4, if you have enhancements (these give a +1-5 to hit and damage) then this adds in too. You also seem to have 'special arrows' so these arrows will do 1d6/1d8+4 +whatever it is these special arrows do. Second issue: If your team mates say you are a beast at damage for your level then...well...be content. You are already good, you don't need to be any better. Try enjoying your character, this isn't a contest with the other PC's. You are all on the same side. If you still want to beef up your damage more buy enhancements or other pluses, if you have a DMG just look them up in 'magic items'. On a side note, you sound new. Unless your DM and the other players are okay with you killing the PC's (player characters), don't. For some reason I can't comprehend many new players think it is a good idea to kill their friends. Here is my advice, if it isn't okay with everyone AVOID IT. This is a game for them to enjoy too. Now if you actually have a reason to be killing your friends I will help you, otherwise, I won't give tips on how to ruin a campaign or other peoples fun. Good luck. P.S. Lol. I like you more and more Stumm_Dolch. I am new. This is my first time playing D&D if you don't count the one-nighter I played before this (same group. just an intro to the world my DM created.) I'm not here to 'get respect' or to show 'L337' I am. I just want to use all of what my character has and not short-change myself. I am getting a lot of things thrown at me at once (I became a ghoul one week and I had the choice of becoming a paladin, a sorcerer's apprentice and a vampire the next week...) and it's getting to be a little confusing. I am tired of bothering my friends about game outside of game so I thought I'd come here for help. ... I don't want to kill any of my party members. Because I work for this demon hunting organization -- I've been ordered to keep tabs on the werewolf and I am to guard the tefling (long story short: her demon daddy was the boss of the one nighter. I thought he was dead but she's been communicating with his spirit.) If a fight does happen I don't want to die because I didn't know what I was doing... Again, I'm not trying to show off. What would be the point? I just wanted some help...
KurenaiYami 08-03-06, 06:39 PM	Not sure if I misread, but you said you were a ghoul? And you were worried about the Tiefling because she had sneak attack? Ghouls cannot be sneak attacked. Undead don't have any real need for their organs, so if a rogue stabs you in the kidney...good for him. I hope that helps.
hollow_ghost 08-03-06, 07:33 PM	Let me see if I got this right. 1. Over two months ago, you were level 6 since it's only 2 months agothat you tought about using Manyshot. 2. At the present, it's safe to assume that you are around level 10, since most of the time, party members are around the same level. (Werewolf druid with dire wolf as animal companion, that's a minimum of 7 druid levels and a Level Adjustment of +3). 3. You only have a +2 to your favored ennemy so you have at most 4 levels in Ranger. So you have a total of 6 in other classes and level adjustments. 4. You play with a Favored Soul, a Thiefling, a Goliath and a Werewolf. 5. You use abbreviations on these boards such as SOG (wich I myself don't even know what that means). You ARE NOT a new to this game, but someone who is just trying to fool others and get a good laugh out of this.
Aterum 08-03-06, 08:11 PM	You ARE NOT a new to this game, but someone who is just trying to fool others and get a good laugh out of this. I can't believe this... Now I'm being accused of trolling. I won't say anything more because the more I post, the more I get yelled at and I don't want to get banned. I just wanted to some help. I don't see how this is funny to anyone... Forget I ever asked... - Aterum PS. A SOG is a dual-edge razor sharp knife. It's not an abbreviation of anything. Search google for a picture. It's what the Bride used to kill Vernita Green in Kill Bill... PPS. He wasn't always a werewolf. He began as a Druid. Also, the other PC wasn't always a Goliath. He was an arcane blade who died and was resurrected by the Druid. The favored soul is the DM's girlfriend...
keropie 08-03-06, 08:30 PM	Ok, this is roughly the point I think we're generally trying to make: We (generally speaking, feel free to except yourself) don't like the way your game is being run. There is no way you should have a light saber, period. You have one character in your group (the favored soul) who seems to be a PHB race. You are a ranger with paladinesque powers, random equipment that seems out of place in D&D, and while you've investigated rangers and half-elves (you're no longer a half-elf, btw, in any meaningful way... you're a ghoul), you can't 'make yourself stronger.' But we aren't aware of any personality of your character, and basically this sounds like Buffy meets video game meets Starwars meets yuck. Outside of the light saber, this would probably go over better on the Character Optimization boards. Additionally, as far as I can tell, a SOG is a brand of knife, not a type of knife. Check the link here (http://www.sogknives.com/) to see if this is what you mean. I hope you continue to enjoy your game, which is more relevant than our opinion of your game.
anarco_rata 08-03-06, 09:25 PM	I am new. This is my first time playing D&D if you don't count the one-nighter I played before this (same group. just an intro to the world my DM created.) I'm not here to 'get respect' or to show 'L337' I am. I just want to use all of what my character has and not short-change myself. I am getting a lot of things thrown at me at once (I became a ghoul one week and I had the choice of becoming a paladin, a sorcerer's apprentice and a vampire the next week...) and it's getting to be a little confusing. I am tired of bothering my friends about game outside of game so I thought I'd come here for help. Ok, no, listen... This is not d&d. I mean, a lightsaber? a freakin' lightsaber?? Allowing a lightsaber+ turning a character played by someone new to the game into a ghoul + all the other stupid things... you may be very new to the game, but your Dm is an idiot. If you like the game... well... i'm happy for you for beign able to enjoy yourself in the most awfull of situations. An advice: never post anything about your game in this forums. If it keeps going the way it seems to, then everyone will start calling you a troll. Star wars fan? Imagine this: the upcoming star wars television series' characters include an orc in chainmail, a wizard, and George Bush, and they all are part of the new jedi order, following the teachings of Neo. That's how we felt when you said your ranger had a lightsaber.
DarkNick 08-03-06, 10:25 PM	I can't tell if you missing any bonuses, you are going to have to post your complete character stats. That way we can double check for you. Are you a bowyer ranger or a Melee ranger? What sort of armour do you have? Get some better armour, that will make you tougher. Get some with spikes on it. Yeah man, that will be cool, then people with have trouble trying to grappel you. Get feats like power attack, cleave etc, that way you an do more damage. Maybe you could buy a bigger silver weapon to help you deal to the werewolf. Buy some keen bladed weapons to improve your chances of a crit. Use a two-handed weapon to get more out of your strength bonus. (not that 30 points is shabby). Hire a guard to watch your back - thereby reducing the chances of a sneak attack. You could also get some levels in barbarian to a point where you get uncanny dodge, then you can't be flanked (though I think someone was right in saying that if you are a ghoul you can't be flanked anyway) Buy some guantlets of strength - that will boost your strength to even higher levels!! Always walk behind the rest of your party with your sword or spear pointed at their backs so that if they turn on you you always have the upper hand. More power!!!!!
albinomonkeyking 08-04-06, 02:15 AM	Sorry if I seemed harsh Aterum, the idea of killing teammates is a bit of a 'hot button' for me as a DM, especially when it is done without anyones consent or knowledge. I apologize now if I was wrong, you seem legitimate in your need for help, so I will do what I can. Your DM does sound new, this is not a mark against you by any means, but he seems to be making many mistakes I have seen and played with. A key part in the DM and Player relationship is talking. You should not have to worry about fighting your friends at any point in time unless, like I said, you all seem to be okay with it, and I doubt the team is. As for beefing yourself up, the suggestions I posted below are about all I have, but, Manyshot is extremely useful because you can fire more than one arrow as a standard, (normally a standard allows only one attack) or more. For ever 5 points you have in base attack above 6 you can add an additional arrow. This means you will capable of feats such as moving (move action) then getting as many as four arrows off as a standard action (this would be at a -8 to hit, -2 per arrow you add) Rapid shot is extremely good as well because you get another attack at your highest base attack albeit with a -2 to all of your attacks. I would recommend trying to get speeding on your bow as well. (Another attack at your highest base attack with no negatives) I hope this information is helpful at all, I've never actually played a ranged character. Good luck.
Azezel 08-04-06, 05:01 AM	I've got some advice, but it's for your DM. Mate, the DMG has corners for a reason, and not just so the edges of the book have somewhere to meet. Use them. On this guy. And possibly yourself when a player says 'lightsabre' and a DM says 'okie-dokie' it is cornertime all-round.