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character for winter campaign

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
brokenoakleys
Mar 18, 2008 19:06:32 Hello,

Our group is in the middle of a winter outdoor campaign. Needless to say, outdoor skills are a necessity, and our group is very short on those. The GM has graciously allowed me to replace one of my characters with an outdoor type, and I'm considering either:

A fourth level ranger, or

A 1st lvl Barbarian/3rd lvl Ranger.

I want to emphasize archery, tracking and survival skills. Any thoughts on which would be best. My thought on the Barbarian/Ranger combo is I'd pick up rage, 40 foot move and a good hp base.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Our other party members include a Binder, Wizard, Dwarven Fighter/Cleric, Human Fighter/Cleric and Fighter/Barbarian.
#2
ChristopherGroves
Mar 18, 2008 19:09:02 Ranger / Scout -> Swift Hunter if you want to concentrate on archery.
#3
crimsondeath
Mar 18, 2008 19:12:59 If you have Complete Adventurer and Scoundrel, I like the Ranger/Scout with the Swift Hunter feat.

What books do you have?

With three multiclassed Fighters, it looks like you have melee covered. Between a Ranger/Barbarian and a pure Ranger (assuming Core or close to it), I'd probably go with a pure Ranger on the Archery combat style.
#4
darksamuari
Mar 18, 2008 19:17:40 You could play a barbarian with the variant out of Unearthed Arcana that swaps rage for the archery combat style.
#5
ChristopherGroves
Mar 18, 2008 19:18:48 Dare I suggest Druid?
#6
zarzak
Mar 18, 2008 20:01:03 Endure Elements = problem solved.

Unless you need to track in the snow - then you'd need ranger or something (swift hunter, as others recommended).
#7
jandor1
Mar 19, 2008 0:22:09 endure elements solves the problem of weather conditions, sure, unless you're dealing with severe weather stuff (or things out of Frostburn).

but it creates another problem: how many people in the group can cast it, or more importantly can afford to cast it? if you have a standard group of 4 PCs, that's 4 1st level spell slots ... a bit of an issue at 4th level, I'd say.

The swift hunter suggestions are good. Barbarian really wont help you much with archery (I'm not familiar with trading rage for an archery style), so you'd have go with a two-weapon fighting style, which in my experience is sub-optimal (extra attacks are great, but characters i've seen with two weapons never seem to hit, and DR will destroy you even if you do).

or, if you want to be melee heavy, go ranger 1/barb 3 ... nets you Track for free and a favored enemy (check with your DM to see what enemies you're most likely to face, retrain if necessary later). just keep survival up and you should fill the nature guide role fine. and you'll be a barbarian, so you'll deal damage fine.
#8
brokenoakleys
Mar 20, 2008 10:37:16 Thanks to all that responded. Our party has two endure elements wands, so we are fine on enduring the cold (except when the Frost Folk give us the evil eye...).

I will need to track, so I'll take a look at the swift hunter class, thanks to all that suggested that. I don't have that book, but a fellow player has an entire DnD library, so I'll look it up.

My GM is recommending at 2/2 Fighter/Ranger.
#9
aftercrescent
Mar 20, 2008 10:44:12 Go Scout2/Ranger2

Take Scout for your next 2 levels so you can pick up improved skirmish at 6th level as well swift hunter (both in complete scoundrel, I believe).
#10
Wyvernhand
Mar 20, 2008 11:04:02 Frostrager from Frostburn is kind of fun. You actually get healed from cold effects while Raging, plus you get a rend, an unarmed attack, and a bunch of other stuff.

A dwarven Ftr2/Rng1/Barb2/Deepwarden2/Frostrager5/Fist of the ForestX is a nice start. More melee than ranged, but immensely fun.
#11
zazq
Mar 20, 2008 11:38:29 Although not archery based, druid is probably the most powerful choice. Track is a waste of a feat, but if you need it, you need it. (Aspect of the Wolf (1st) gives you scent, that may be good enough). 5th level you get call lightning, which stays good for a few levels, and you can also abuse Blood Snow. Woodland stride may or may not let you run around in the hindering snow. (if not, fly instead with Air Mastery until you can wildshape). Summoning is amazing, use it.
#12
druidwannabe
Mar 20, 2008 12:35:02
Dare I suggest Druid?

Dare! Dare! and seconded

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 brokenoakleys Mar 18, 2008 19:06:32	Hello, Our group is in the middle of a winter outdoor campaign. Needless to say, outdoor skills are a necessity, and our group is very short on those. The GM has graciously allowed me to replace one of my characters with an outdoor type, and I'm considering either: A fourth level ranger, or A 1st lvl Barbarian/3rd lvl Ranger. I want to emphasize archery, tracking and survival skills. Any thoughts on which would be best. My thought on the Barbarian/Ranger combo is I'd pick up rage, 40 foot move and a good hp base. Any thoughts or suggestions? Our other party members include a Binder, Wizard, Dwarven Fighter/Cleric, Human Fighter/Cleric and Fighter/Barbarian.
#2 ChristopherGroves Mar 18, 2008 19:09:02	Ranger / Scout -> Swift Hunter if you want to concentrate on archery.
#3 crimsondeath Mar 18, 2008 19:12:59	If you have Complete Adventurer and Scoundrel, I like the Ranger/Scout with the Swift Hunter feat. What books do you have? With three multiclassed Fighters, it looks like you have melee covered. Between a Ranger/Barbarian and a pure Ranger (assuming Core or close to it), I'd probably go with a pure Ranger on the Archery combat style.
#4 darksamuari Mar 18, 2008 19:17:40	You could play a barbarian with the variant out of Unearthed Arcana that swaps rage for the archery combat style.
#5 ChristopherGroves Mar 18, 2008 19:18:48	Dare I suggest Druid?
#6 zarzak Mar 18, 2008 20:01:03	Endure Elements = problem solved. Unless you need to track in the snow - then you'd need ranger or something (swift hunter, as others recommended).
#7 jandor1 Mar 19, 2008 0:22:09	endure elements solves the problem of weather conditions, sure, unless you're dealing with severe weather stuff (or things out of Frostburn). but it creates another problem: how many people in the group can cast it, or more importantly can afford to cast it? if you have a standard group of 4 PCs, that's 4 1st level spell slots ... a bit of an issue at 4th level, I'd say. The swift hunter suggestions are good. Barbarian really wont help you much with archery (I'm not familiar with trading rage for an archery style), so you'd have go with a two-weapon fighting style, which in my experience is sub-optimal (extra attacks are great, but characters i've seen with two weapons never seem to hit, and DR will destroy you even if you do). or, if you want to be melee heavy, go ranger 1/barb 3 ... nets you Track for free and a favored enemy (check with your DM to see what enemies you're most likely to face, retrain if necessary later). just keep survival up and you should fill the nature guide role fine. and you'll be a barbarian, so you'll deal damage fine.
#8 brokenoakleys Mar 20, 2008 10:37:16	Thanks to all that responded. Our party has two endure elements wands, so we are fine on enduring the cold (except when the Frost Folk give us the evil eye...). I will need to track, so I'll take a look at the swift hunter class, thanks to all that suggested that. I don't have that book, but a fellow player has an entire DnD library, so I'll look it up. My GM is recommending at 2/2 Fighter/Ranger.
#9 aftercrescent Mar 20, 2008 10:44:12	Go Scout2/Ranger2 Take Scout for your next 2 levels so you can pick up improved skirmish at 6th level as well swift hunter (both in complete scoundrel, I believe).
#10 Wyvernhand Mar 20, 2008 11:04:02	Frostrager from Frostburn is kind of fun. You actually get healed from cold effects while Raging, plus you get a rend, an unarmed attack, and a bunch of other stuff. A dwarven Ftr2/Rng1/Barb2/Deepwarden2/Frostrager5/Fist of the ForestX is a nice start. More melee than ranged, but immensely fun.
#11 zazq Mar 20, 2008 11:38:29	Although not archery based, druid is probably the most powerful choice. Track is a waste of a feat, but if you need it, you need it. (Aspect of the Wolf (1st) gives you scent, that may be good enough). 5th level you get call lightning, which stays good for a few levels, and you can also abuse Blood Snow. Woodland stride may or may not let you run around in the hindering snow. (if not, fly instead with Air Mastery until you can wildshape). Summoning is amazing, use it.
#12 druidwannabe Mar 20, 2008 12:35:02	Dare I suggest Druid? Dare! Dare! and seconded