Building a Ranger [Archive] - Wizards Community

Building a Ranger [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Chazwazer
05-02-07, 06:30 AM Hello, I have some experience playing but I need some help with my new character. Here are the stats so far.

Race: Dwarf
Class: Ranger
Starting Level: 5
Rolled Stats: 13 13 14 15 15 17
Rule Set: 3.5
Available Books: PHB 3.5, Complete Adventurer 3.5, Complete Arcane 3.5, Complete Divine 3.5, Complete Warrior 3.5, Expanded Psionics Handbook, Arms and Equipment Guide, MotW: Guide to Barbs/Druids/Rangers, and a couple other books.

I'm wanting to go Dual Wield with 2 Dwarven Waraxes(1d10) with nice damage dealing as the main goal. Also, part of the houserules are that dwarves move at the same speed as most other races, 30 feet, which is another one of the reasons why I was wanting to go Dwarf. Any help is appreciated and I will keep checking back to answer any questions you guys have to ask me to help. Thank you. :)
BlackWeasel
05-02-07, 07:56 AM To use 2 weapons you really need some other kind of damage added to your attack like energy enhancements on your weapons or sneak attack or skirmish
Chazwazer
05-02-07, 08:18 AM Why exactly is that? Going through it in my head tells me that dual wielding is better. Heres my math: 18 strength, +4 modifier. 2 Dwarven Waraxes, 1d10 + 1d10, vs 1 Greatsword, 2d6. On average the 2 waraxes will do 10 damage, +6(main hand +4, offhand +2) while greatsword does 6 damage on average, +6. Meaning Greatsword = 12 damage on average, Waraxes 16 damage on average.
serow_#R
05-02-07, 09:42 AM Better returns on Power Attack, for one.
You need a -2 to hit for TWF.
Factor that into the greatsword, and you're both same damage on average.
He only needs to enchant 1 weapon, you need to bother with 2, so better financial investment too.
DrMorganes
05-02-07, 10:33 AM You'll also need Oversized Two Weapon Fighting, otherwise you'll take an additional penalty for not using a Light weapon in your off hand.

Before you do that, however, take a look at the Tempest prestige class in Complete Adventurer. It's a 5-level PrC focused on improving TWF. My memory is a bit fuzzy, bit I think Tempests may gain the equivalent of Oversized TWF around Level 3... Definitely worth a look!
Rerecros
05-02-07, 02:00 PM :uh-huh: you playing a twf dwarf, and not weilding an urgosh
Kouk
05-02-07, 03:00 PM Are those stats you rolled in the order you want them? 13 Str and 17 Cha?

Otherwise I would put it STR 17, DEX 15, CON 15, INT 14, WIS 13, CHA 13.

Str is needed to hit things, Dex because you need armor, Con because you need hit points of course. Int 14 for the skill points, Wis 13 so you can raise it to 14 when you need to get the highest level spells and Cha as usual is the dump stat.

You will of course decide stats based on your playstyle, you may change any of those *shrug*.

For 2 Dwarf Axes you will need Oversized TWF as was stated, to reduce the penalty of a non-small off-hand attack.

Probably Weapon Focus: Dwarf Axe because it applies to both your weapons and can offset the TWF penalties.

Two weapon Pounce and Two weapon rend can be good, so can Dual Strike if you don't want to go Dodge/Mobility/Spring Attack and then continue to Bounding Assault/Rapid Blitz.

Just my thoughts.
danielinthewolvesden
05-02-07, 04:32 PM The Dwarven Ranger PrC in Races of Stone rocks. Go for it.

The alternate Ranger form Dungeonscape allows you to dump Track for Trapfinding, etc. Good if your party has no rogue.

I would go for TWF but waraxe and light mace (two types of damage, and have the waraxe be cold iron and the light mace silver). Ranger does have Favoured Enemy which can make TWF really worthwhile if you are fighting them.

Improved Buckler defence is better than Oversized TWF. At 5th level you can get a +1 mithril chainshirt and a +1 buckler, easy. Vest of Resist+1.

Since you get Endurance for free, have Con as your highest ability. Then get the feat from PH2 that makes your Con add to Will saves rather than your Wis (Indomitable soul??), AND makes "nat 1's" no longer an auto-fail on Fort saves.

So, there's your two feats. Improved Buckler Def and Indomit Soul (?)

Str 15 (level 8 +1)
Dex 15
Con17+2 +1= 20!
Int14
wis13
Cha 13-2= 11.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Chazwazer 05-02-07, 06:30 AM	Hello, I have some experience playing but I need some help with my new character. Here are the stats so far. Race: Dwarf Class: Ranger Starting Level: 5 Rolled Stats: 13 13 14 15 15 17 Rule Set: 3.5 Available Books: PHB 3.5, Complete Adventurer 3.5, Complete Arcane 3.5, Complete Divine 3.5, Complete Warrior 3.5, Expanded Psionics Handbook, Arms and Equipment Guide, MotW: Guide to Barbs/Druids/Rangers, and a couple other books. I'm wanting to go Dual Wield with 2 Dwarven Waraxes(1d10) with nice damage dealing as the main goal. Also, part of the houserules are that dwarves move at the same speed as most other races, 30 feet, which is another one of the reasons why I was wanting to go Dwarf. Any help is appreciated and I will keep checking back to answer any questions you guys have to ask me to help. Thank you. :)
BlackWeasel 05-02-07, 07:56 AM	To use 2 weapons you really need some other kind of damage added to your attack like energy enhancements on your weapons or sneak attack or skirmish
Chazwazer 05-02-07, 08:18 AM	Why exactly is that? Going through it in my head tells me that dual wielding is better. Heres my math: 18 strength, +4 modifier. 2 Dwarven Waraxes, 1d10 + 1d10, vs 1 Greatsword, 2d6. On average the 2 waraxes will do 10 damage, +6(main hand +4, offhand +2) while greatsword does 6 damage on average, +6. Meaning Greatsword = 12 damage on average, Waraxes 16 damage on average.
serow_#R 05-02-07, 09:42 AM	Better returns on Power Attack, for one. You need a -2 to hit for TWF. Factor that into the greatsword, and you're both same damage on average. He only needs to enchant 1 weapon, you need to bother with 2, so better financial investment too.
DrMorganes 05-02-07, 10:33 AM	You'll also need Oversized Two Weapon Fighting, otherwise you'll take an additional penalty for not using a Light weapon in your off hand. Before you do that, however, take a look at the Tempest prestige class in Complete Adventurer. It's a 5-level PrC focused on improving TWF. My memory is a bit fuzzy, bit I think Tempests may gain the equivalent of Oversized TWF around Level 3... Definitely worth a look!
Rerecros 05-02-07, 02:00 PM	:uh-huh: you playing a twf dwarf, and not weilding an urgosh
Kouk 05-02-07, 03:00 PM	Are those stats you rolled in the order you want them? 13 Str and 17 Cha? Otherwise I would put it STR 17, DEX 15, CON 15, INT 14, WIS 13, CHA 13. Str is needed to hit things, Dex because you need armor, Con because you need hit points of course. Int 14 for the skill points, Wis 13 so you can raise it to 14 when you need to get the highest level spells and Cha as usual is the dump stat. You will of course decide stats based on your playstyle, you may change any of those shrug. For 2 Dwarf Axes you will need Oversized TWF as was stated, to reduce the penalty of a non-small off-hand attack. Probably Weapon Focus: Dwarf Axe because it applies to both your weapons and can offset the TWF penalties. Two weapon Pounce and Two weapon rend can be good, so can Dual Strike if you don't want to go Dodge/Mobility/Spring Attack and then continue to Bounding Assault/Rapid Blitz. Just my thoughts.
danielinthewolvesden 05-02-07, 04:32 PM	The Dwarven Ranger PrC in Races of Stone rocks. Go for it. The alternate Ranger form Dungeonscape allows you to dump Track for Trapfinding, etc. Good if your party has no rogue. I would go for TWF but waraxe and light mace (two types of damage, and have the waraxe be cold iron and the light mace silver). Ranger does have Favoured Enemy which can make TWF really worthwhile if you are fighting them. Improved Buckler defence is better than Oversized TWF. At 5th level you can get a +1 mithril chainshirt and a +1 buckler, easy. Vest of Resist+1. Since you get Endurance for free, have Con as your highest ability. Then get the feat from PH2 that makes your Con add to Will saves rather than your Wis (Indomitable soul??), AND makes "nat 1's" no longer an auto-fail on Fort saves. So, there's your two feats. Improved Buckler Def and Indomit Soul (?) Str 15 (level 8 +1) Dex 15 Con17+2 +1= 20! Int14 wis13 Cha 13-2= 11.