In our newly started game, we all began at ECL 8 and I decided that I'd try to get playing a Fey'ri from Forgotten Realms out of my system once and for all. Every time i've tried so far, I've ended up with something awefully bad and now, to me, that might have finally turned. My problem tho is that I don't know where to go from now. Stick to my path or try to maximize what I already can do by some other means?
Here is what I got so far:
Fey'ri Ranger 6 (ELC 8)
Arcane Hunter (CM, p 32)
Heat Endurance (SSt, p 48)
Shape-changing (UA, p 58)
Skilled City-Dweller (CS, web)
Spell-less Ranger (CW, p 13)
Trap Expert (DS, p 12)
Voice of the City (CS, web)
Shapeshifter (PHB 2, p 39)*
* DM allowed it due to class filling prerequisits: Wild Shape and Animal Companion
Ability Scores
STR: 14
DEX: 18
CON: 12
INT: 16
WIS: 14
CHA: 8
Level breakdown
Rng1:
Feats: Improved Toughness (Flaw), Luck of Heroes
Sp Abilities: Alter Self (Sp), Charm Person (Sp), Suggestion (Sp), Detect Thoughts (Sp), Clairvoyance/Clairaudiance (Sp)
Su Abilities: Shapeshift (Predator Form)
Ex Abilities: Favored Enemy (Arcanist) +2, Fast movement +10ft
Class Abilites: Trapfinding
Rng2:
Uneventful
Rng3:
Feats: Heat Endurance, Two-Weapon Fighting
Rng4:
Feats: Mobility (Predator Form only)
Rng5:
Su Abilities: Shapeshift (Aerial Form)
Ex Abilities: Favored Enemy (Arcanist) +4/Humanoid (Orcs) +2
Rng6:
Feats: Martial Maneuver (Shadow Jaunt)
Ex Abilites: Fast movement +10ft (+20ft)
This is as far as I've gotten and I have a few ideas on how to proceed. I am aiming for the Feat "Martial Stance (Assassin's Stance)" which, if I am not completely wrong, need to be level 9 to take at least so that I can eventually take the Feat "Shadow Blade"
I am going for the whole flowing/shifting style of fighting where I can always adapt to each combat situation with items like:
Swordbow - Ability to switch between a Longsword and a Longbow as a free action
Shielding Shortsword - Ability to switch between a Shortsword and a Large Steel Shield as a swift action
Eternal Wand of Heroics - For that free Fighter Feat
Also with the ability to Alter Self into a Human I can get another Feat to fuel my many forms of adaptation. (We're using the description of the Fey'ri ability to Alter Self as it is written despite the fact that they are Outsiders)
Speaking of Alter self, I am using that in conjunction with the Druid Shapeshifting ability (Predator Form) I can also increase the effectiveness of that ability with forms like:
Asabi - For a Free "Combat Reflexes" feat and an increase to Natural Armor by +2
Dark Creeper - Small form with a racial +8 to hide and +4 to move silently (plus size mod)
Gibberling - For a Free "Weapon Focus (Bite)" feat and an increase to Natural Armor by +1
Mongrelfolk - To regain the lost Feat "Endurance" which was traded for "Heat Endurance" should I need it
Skulk - Racial +8 to move silently and +15 to hide. Need I say more?
Varag - Free "Run" and "Spring Attack" feats. "Spring Attack" works nicely together with the Feat I got at level 4 "Mobility". And let's not forget the +3 Natural Armor i get.
When I hit level 8 and get the Ferocious Slayer Form there are even more options available to me. Forms such as:
Phaerlock - Free "Multiattack" feat is awesome for the Ferocious Slayer Form. Add +7 Natural Armor over the +8 you get for the form for a total of +15!
Tren - Free "Multiattack" feat is still awesome for the Ferocious Slayer Form. It adds +8 Natural Armor over the +8 you get for the form for a total of +16! (and you get a Swim speed of 40ft)
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Future ideas include a way to get the Swordbow to have some form of "Changeling" (MIC) property to switch between Shortbow/Longbow/Greatbow and Shortsword/Longsword/Greatsword so I can gain the benefit of the "Shadow Blade" and "Martial Stance" feats and maybe "Power Attack".
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Well, that's it for now... Any reflections or thoughts on what i've presented here? Should I continue and stick to the Ranger and therefor progress my Shapeshifting ability or should I aim for some Prestige Class instead? I like to pull my own weight so im not asking for anything complete or anything. Just maybe if i've missed something crucial or otherwise important, someone could point it out for me. Or if someone has any suggestions on how to proceed, feel free to share
Any suggestion?
No ideas, thoughts or suggestions? I've been looking at taking two levels of Swordsage at level 9 and 10 instead of taking two feats to get the same effect (getting SA and Shadowblade) and getting a bunch of other goodies as well.
Now, I'm not that good with the Book of Nine Swords, but can I use maneuvers with other weapons than the preferred ones in each "school"?