How to buff the ranger - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

How to buff the ranger

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
liveshiptrader
Mar 15, 2010 12:18:20 Im currently playing in a campaign as a 9th level wizard alongside a centaur lancer / fighter slash dragon disciple and a ranger whos damage has really gone downhill compared to the other 2. The game has 2 new players so I try to prepare mostly buffs the problem is its hard to find good damage increasing buffs for ranged fighters got flaming arrows and haste but can anyone think of any other serious range buffs a wizard could take, doesn't have to be range specific.
#2
snakeman830
Mar 15, 2010 17:51:55
Im currently playing in a campaign as a 9th level wizard alongside a centaur lancer / fighter slash dragon disciple and a ranger whos damage has really gone downhill compared to the other 2. The game has 2 new players so I try to prepare mostly buffs the problem is its hard to find good damage increasing buffs for ranged fighters got flaming arrows and haste but can anyone think of any other serious range buffs a wizard could take, doesn't have to be range specific.

Polymorph into a high-Dex form. Most of the long-range spells are Reflex saves over Fort or Will, so this will improve defenses as well as to-hit. Most of the good buffs for an archer are, unfortunately, self-only. Fortunately, most of them also appear on the Ranger list.

A non-buff spell that will nonetheless help him out is Guiding Light (+2 circumstance bonus on ranged attack rolls against target(s)) and Targeting Ray (+1/3 caster levels insight bonus on ranged attacks against target). Unfortunately, niether boost damage. Greater Magic Weapon is the best spell to do that.
#3
liveshiptrader
Mar 16, 2010 7:31:41 Its the damage that needs the boost if not the ranger may been on his own and just be used as the trash collector for when the warblade centuar and leap attacking dragon disciple clean house.
#4
cru
Mar 16, 2010 7:49:48 enlarge person (PHB) could help a bit
heroics (SpC) for an extra fighter feat
dolorous blow (SpC) for some fun with crits

you could also use battlefield control to create situations where melee attack aren't possible (using walls, evard's tentacles, something)

Edit:
Sonic Weapon (CAdv) adds 1d6 sonic damage
#5
snakeman830
Mar 16, 2010 9:32:10
Its the damage that needs the boost if not the ranger may been on his own and just be used as the trash collector for when the warblade centuar and leap attacking dragon disciple clean house.

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do. Most of the archery buffs are Ranger spells and personal range. If he has a strong enough bow, then Enlarge Person will add a small amount of damage at the cost of -2 to hit. A better use of a spell is Bull's Strength.

Now, there is one spell in Champions of Ruin that is rather interesting. Serpent Arrow is a Sor/Wizard spell that turns a number of arrows into tiny vipers. They act exactly like normal arrows until fired. Then they bite the foe they were fired at, unfortunately only doing 1 damage (although it's arguable that bow properties apply here too), but adding their poison to the mix. Then they stick around for a few rounds constantly attacking the nearest creature. Powerful spell? No, but it at least gives a chance to add some Dex damage, which is something I don't think the centaur can do.
#6
streamofthesky
Mar 16, 2010 12:30:11 Best standard archer buff is Haste. They can full attack every round, anything that increases attacks increases damage.

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do on your end. He should get Strongarm Bracers for a larger bow if he hasn't already. He should make it a +1 bow and stack on as many damage boosting properties as he can (MIC has the collision property for +2, it simply adds +5 damage instead of the +2 attack/damage the enhancement would give, not sure if ranged weapons can have it) and rely on you with GMW to actually add the plus's to his bow.

Ultimately, at mid and high levels, archers are just shafted compared to melee, especially if flight magic is for sale. One of my biggest gripes with 3E.
#7
snakeman830
Mar 16, 2010 13:54:50 Collision is a ranged and melee weapon quality. Bows transfer it to the arrows.

One option for yout ranger buddy is Raptor Arrows from MIC. Worship Elhona and take the True believer feat and you've got Bane property against everything. That's +2 attack and +2d6+2 damage, a pretty good deal for a feat that has an extra ability besides. Oh, and the arrow comes back after shooting.
#8
streamofthesky
Mar 16, 2010 16:08:58
Collision is a ranged and melee weapon quality. Bows transfer it to the arrows.

One option for yout ranger buddy is Raptor Arrows from MIC. Worship Elhona and take the True believer feat and you've got Bane property against everything. That's +2 attack and +2d6+2 damage, a pretty good deal for a feat that has an extra ability besides. Oh, and the arrow comes back after shooting.

Once he hits level 16, he can just spend his level 4 spell slot and retrain the feat, too.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 liveshiptrader Mar 15, 2010 12:18:20	Im currently playing in a campaign as a 9th level wizard alongside a centaur lancer / fighter slash dragon disciple and a ranger whos damage has really gone downhill compared to the other 2. The game has 2 new players so I try to prepare mostly buffs the problem is its hard to find good damage increasing buffs for ranged fighters got flaming arrows and haste but can anyone think of any other serious range buffs a wizard could take, doesn't have to be range specific.
#2 snakeman830 Mar 15, 2010 17:51:55	Im currently playing in a campaign as a 9th level wizard alongside a centaur lancer / fighter slash dragon disciple and a ranger whos damage has really gone downhill compared to the other 2. The game has 2 new players so I try to prepare mostly buffs the problem is its hard to find good damage increasing buffs for ranged fighters got flaming arrows and haste but can anyone think of any other serious range buffs a wizard could take, doesn't have to be range specific. Polymorph into a high-Dex form. Most of the long-range spells are Reflex saves over Fort or Will, so this will improve defenses as well as to-hit. Most of the good buffs for an archer are, unfortunately, self-only. Fortunately, most of them also appear on the Ranger list. A non-buff spell that will nonetheless help him out is Guiding Light (+2 circumstance bonus on ranged attack rolls against target(s)) and Targeting Ray (+1/3 caster levels insight bonus on ranged attacks against target). Unfortunately, niether boost damage. Greater Magic Weapon is the best spell to do that.
#3 liveshiptrader Mar 16, 2010 7:31:41	Its the damage that needs the boost if not the ranger may been on his own and just be used as the trash collector for when the warblade centuar and leap attacking dragon disciple clean house.
#4 cru Mar 16, 2010 7:49:48	enlarge person (PHB) could help a bit heroics (SpC) for an extra fighter feat dolorous blow (SpC) for some fun with crits you could also use battlefield control to create situations where melee attack aren't possible (using walls, evard's tentacles, something) Edit: Sonic Weapon (CAdv) adds 1d6 sonic damage
#5 snakeman830 Mar 16, 2010 9:32:10	Its the damage that needs the boost if not the ranger may been on his own and just be used as the trash collector for when the warblade centuar and leap attacking dragon disciple clean house. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do. Most of the archery buffs are Ranger spells and personal range. If he has a strong enough bow, then Enlarge Person will add a small amount of damage at the cost of -2 to hit. A better use of a spell is Bull's Strength. Now, there is one spell in Champions of Ruin that is rather interesting. Serpent Arrow is a Sor/Wizard spell that turns a number of arrows into tiny vipers. They act exactly like normal arrows until fired. Then they bite the foe they were fired at, unfortunately only doing 1 damage (although it's arguable that bow properties apply here too), but adding their poison to the mix. Then they stick around for a few rounds constantly attacking the nearest creature. Powerful spell? No, but it at least gives a chance to add some Dex damage, which is something I don't think the centaur can do.
#6 streamofthesky Mar 16, 2010 12:30:11	Best standard archer buff is Haste. They can full attack every round, anything that increases attacks increases damage. Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do on your end. He should get Strongarm Bracers for a larger bow if he hasn't already. He should make it a +1 bow and stack on as many damage boosting properties as he can (MIC has the collision property for +2, it simply adds +5 damage instead of the +2 attack/damage the enhancement would give, not sure if ranged weapons can have it) and rely on you with GMW to actually add the plus's to his bow. Ultimately, at mid and high levels, archers are just shafted compared to melee, especially if flight magic is for sale. One of my biggest gripes with 3E.
#7 snakeman830 Mar 16, 2010 13:54:50	Collision is a ranged and melee weapon quality. Bows transfer it to the arrows. One option for yout ranger buddy is Raptor Arrows from MIC. Worship Elhona and take the True believer feat and you've got Bane property against everything. That's +2 attack and +2d6+2 damage, a pretty good deal for a feat that has an extra ability besides. Oh, and the arrow comes back after shooting.
#8 streamofthesky Mar 16, 2010 16:08:58	Collision is a ranged and melee weapon quality. Bows transfer it to the arrows. One option for yout ranger buddy is Raptor Arrows from MIC. Worship Elhona and take the True believer feat and you've got Bane property against everything. That's +2 attack and +2d6+2 damage, a pretty good deal for a feat that has an extra ability besides. Oh, and the arrow comes back after shooting. Once he hits level 16, he can just spend his level 4 spell slot and retrain the feat, too.