LG RGR6/BSM4 ... what next? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

LG RGR6/BSM4 ... what next?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
templelion
May 14, 2008 1:08:27 I have a Ranger 6/Beastmaster 4 as my primary PC in Living Greyhawk. The ranger is a strong archer build and is very effective in that role. The two animal companions are a lot of fun to put in the mix as well.

In any case, I just hit 11 and am struggling with what to take with this level and beyond. Additional levels of Beastmaster just don't make sense. Scout/Swift Hunter does not make sense to me either. I have to take 4 lvls of Scout to get there. I have access to Dread Commando and Contemplative (Beory). With that in mind, here is what I have considered.

1. Straight Ranger the rest of the way.

2. RGR6/BSM4/CONTEMPLATIVE 1/?

From there, I am kind of stuck. Any thoughts?
#2
reis
May 14, 2008 1:12:56 can you clarify what you mean by:

I have access to Dread Commando and Contemplative (Beory)

unless you are limited to only those 2 prestige classes, post a list of books you can use.

also post what feats and equipment, etc you have currently.
#3
banor
May 14, 2008 1:18:44 As a LG player he has acces to most 4 primary Completes. Stuff with Special restrictions are more rough to get acces to. OP said that he got acces to 2 of these (Dread commando and Contemplative)

Now why on earth would you want to take Contemplative ? Seriously, you are not even half of a semi caster... Dread Commando isn't a terrible choice, more beastmaster would progress your companions and ranger would help on feats.
#4
hogarth
May 14, 2008 8:23:47 Some possibilities (some better than others):
Wildrunner
Occult Slayer
more Ranger
Pious Templar
Highland Stalker
Animal Lord
Horizon Walker
#5
templelion
May 15, 2008 1:29:30 A few more notes on my RGR.

01. He is a 1/2 Orc, so Wildrunner (elf-only) is out.

02. Current Feats = Natural Bond & Skill Focus (Handle Animal). The rest are standard archer progressions (Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, etc.). Because of Natural Bond, by animal companions are very strong already.

03. Occult Slayer is not open access; which means I need campaign documentation (like I have for Contemplative and Dread Commando). This would be worth a dip or two if I had access.

04. Animal Lord seems like mostly a fluff class, or one intended for NPCs.

05. Horizon Walker looks like it might be worth dipping for a level or 2.

06. Pious Templar and Highland Stalker are definitely worth a closer look.

07. Equipment = Mithral Shirt, +1 Greatbow (Undead Bane with Least True Death and Least Fiendslayer crystals as needed), the entire gamut of arrows. Also have access to Darkwood and Wildwood armors.

08. Dipping into Contemplative for a level gives some pretty cool class features. That is why I had considered it.

09. Have considered adding druid levels (see Darkwood and Wildwood armors). This would advance spellcasting and animal companions. Then, a level of Contemplative might make a bit more sense.

10. Also, I have access to these additional PrCs ... "Hand of the Winged Masters" (Dragon Magic) and Dragon Devotee (Races of the Dragon).

Thanks for the advice so far ...
#6
the_shaman
May 15, 2008 6:49:23 Animal lord an NPCclass? Excuse me for disagreeing, but that statement applies much better to Beastmaster, at least past lvl 1 (and I was going to suggest you retrain the following 3 BM levels if possible). In your case, I would heartily recommend it if your primary pet is a wolf or bear. You're already opting for a powerful animal companion, and it can certainly help with that.
#7
hogarth
May 15, 2008 8:09:51
A few more notes on my RGR.

01. He is a 1/2 Orc, so Wildrunner (elf-only) is out.

03. Occult Slayer is not open access; which means I need campaign documentation (like I have for Contemplative and Dread Commando). This would be worth a dip or two if I had access.

04. Animal Lord seems like mostly a fluff class, or one intended for NPCs.

01. I figured he wasn't an elf, but it couldn't hurt to suggest it.

03. Too bad.

04. I just tossed it in there because it's easy to qualify for and it advances your animal companion.

With regards to Contemplative, how on god's green Oerth would you get the necessary 13 ranks in Know: Religion?
#8
templelion
May 15, 2008 10:51:19
03. Too bad.

Yeah. I know. That would definitely be the path I took otherwise.

With regards to Contemplative, how on god's green Oerth would you get the necessary 13 ranks in Know: Religion?

Good point. I already have 8 ranks because I am built as an undead slayer (favored enemy). But, for it to make sense, I'd really have to go Druid for three or for levels and focus on Know:Religion the rest of the way, THEN take Contemplative.
#9
templelion
May 15, 2008 10:55:45
Animal lord an NPCclass? Excuse me for disagreeing, but that statement applies much better to Beastmaster, at least past lvl 1 (and I was going to suggest you retrain the following 3 BM levels if possible). In your case, I would heartily recommend it if your primary pet is a wolf or bear. You're already opting for a powerful animal companion, and it can certainly help with that.

Perhaps I misspoke. Animal Lord would only make sense, at least to me, if one wanted a very Tarzan-like build as a main character concept. If one qualified at L6 and took it all the way out through the available levels, taking appropriate feats along the way, it could really rock.

But, that is not my character concept. So, it does not really work from an RP point of view and mechanically, I don't have enough levels left (LG retires @ 16) to really get the bang for my buck that Animal Lord demands.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 templelion May 14, 2008 1:08:27	I have a Ranger 6/Beastmaster 4 as my primary PC in Living Greyhawk. The ranger is a strong archer build and is very effective in that role. The two animal companions are a lot of fun to put in the mix as well. In any case, I just hit 11 and am struggling with what to take with this level and beyond. Additional levels of Beastmaster just don't make sense. Scout/Swift Hunter does not make sense to me either. I have to take 4 lvls of Scout to get there. I have access to Dread Commando and Contemplative (Beory). With that in mind, here is what I have considered. 1. Straight Ranger the rest of the way. 2. RGR6/BSM4/CONTEMPLATIVE 1/? From there, I am kind of stuck. Any thoughts?
#2 reis May 14, 2008 1:12:56	can you clarify what you mean by: I have access to Dread Commando and Contemplative (Beory) unless you are limited to only those 2 prestige classes, post a list of books you can use. also post what feats and equipment, etc you have currently.
#3 banor May 14, 2008 1:18:44	As a LG player he has acces to most 4 primary Completes. Stuff with Special restrictions are more rough to get acces to. OP said that he got acces to 2 of these (Dread commando and Contemplative) Now why on earth would you want to take Contemplative ? Seriously, you are not even half of a semi caster... Dread Commando isn't a terrible choice, more beastmaster would progress your companions and ranger would help on feats.
#4 hogarth May 14, 2008 8:23:47	Some possibilities (some better than others): Wildrunner Occult Slayer more Ranger Pious Templar Highland Stalker Animal Lord Horizon Walker
#5 templelion May 15, 2008 1:29:30	A few more notes on my RGR. 01. He is a 1/2 Orc, so Wildrunner (elf-only) is out. 02. Current Feats = Natural Bond & Skill Focus (Handle Animal). The rest are standard archer progressions (Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, etc.). Because of Natural Bond, by animal companions are very strong already. 03. Occult Slayer is not open access; which means I need campaign documentation (like I have for Contemplative and Dread Commando). This would be worth a dip or two if I had access. 04. Animal Lord seems like mostly a fluff class, or one intended for NPCs. 05. Horizon Walker looks like it might be worth dipping for a level or 2. 06. Pious Templar and Highland Stalker are definitely worth a closer look. 07. Equipment = Mithral Shirt, +1 Greatbow (Undead Bane with Least True Death and Least Fiendslayer crystals as needed), the entire gamut of arrows. Also have access to Darkwood and Wildwood armors. 08. Dipping into Contemplative for a level gives some pretty cool class features. That is why I had considered it. 09. Have considered adding druid levels (see Darkwood and Wildwood armors). This would advance spellcasting and animal companions. Then, a level of Contemplative might make a bit more sense. 10. Also, I have access to these additional PrCs ... "Hand of the Winged Masters" (Dragon Magic) and Dragon Devotee (Races of the Dragon). Thanks for the advice so far ...
#6 the_shaman May 15, 2008 6:49:23	Animal lord an NPCclass? Excuse me for disagreeing, but that statement applies much better to Beastmaster, at least past lvl 1 (and I was going to suggest you retrain the following 3 BM levels if possible). In your case, I would heartily recommend it if your primary pet is a wolf or bear. You're already opting for a powerful animal companion, and it can certainly help with that.
#7 hogarth May 15, 2008 8:09:51	A few more notes on my RGR. 01. He is a 1/2 Orc, so Wildrunner (elf-only) is out. 03. Occult Slayer is not open access; which means I need campaign documentation (like I have for Contemplative and Dread Commando). This would be worth a dip or two if I had access. 04. Animal Lord seems like mostly a fluff class, or one intended for NPCs. 01. I figured he wasn't an elf, but it couldn't hurt to suggest it. 03. Too bad. 04. I just tossed it in there because it's easy to qualify for and it advances your animal companion. With regards to Contemplative, how on god's green Oerth would you get the necessary 13 ranks in Know: Religion?
#8 templelion May 15, 2008 10:51:19	03. Too bad. Yeah. I know. That would definitely be the path I took otherwise. With regards to Contemplative, how on god's green Oerth would you get the necessary 13 ranks in Know: Religion? Good point. I already have 8 ranks because I am built as an undead slayer (favored enemy). But, for it to make sense, I'd really have to go Druid for three or for levels and focus on Know:Religion the rest of the way, THEN take Contemplative.
#9 templelion May 15, 2008 10:55:45	Animal lord an NPCclass? Excuse me for disagreeing, but that statement applies much better to Beastmaster, at least past lvl 1 (and I was going to suggest you retrain the following 3 BM levels if possible). In your case, I would heartily recommend it if your primary pet is a wolf or bear. You're already opting for a powerful animal companion, and it can certainly help with that. Perhaps I misspoke. Animal Lord would only make sense, at least to me, if one wanted a very Tarzan-like build as a main character concept. If one qualified at L6 and took it all the way out through the available levels, taking appropriate feats along the way, it could really rock. But, that is not my character concept. So, it does not really work from an RP point of view and mechanically, I don't have enough levels left (LG retires @ 16) to really get the bang for my buck that Animal Lord demands.