Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 malosasalist Nov 18, 2008 10:51:40	He's going to be an archer, and probably dip in scout/highland stalker/maybe other stuff. Do you think I did his ability scores well (rolled for them)? Any suggestions for improvement? Switch, Male Half-Elf Rgr1: CR 1 Medium Humanoid (Elf) HD 1d8+4(Ranger) ; hp 12; Init +4; Spd 30; AC:17 (Flatfooted:13 Touch:14); Atk +3 base melee, +5 base ranged; +5 (1d8, Longbow); SQ: Arcane Hunter, Immunity: Sleep Effects (Ex), Low-light Vision (Ex), +2 Saves vs. Spells and Spell-like Effects; RF: Elven Blood; AL CG; SV Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +2; STR 15, DEX 18, CON 18, INT 10, WIS 14, CHA 11. Skills: Diplomacy +2, Gather Information +2, Hide +7, Jump +2, Knowledge (Arcana) +1, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +1, Listen +7, Move Silently +7, Search +1, Spot +7, Survival +6, Use Rope +6. Feats: Armor Proficiency: light, Point Blank Shot, Shield Proficiency, Simple Weapon Proficiency, Track. Possessions: Weapons: Longbow (75 gp); Arrows (50) (3 gp); Arrows (50) (3 gp); Arrows (50) (3 gp); Arrows (50) (3 gp); Dagger (2 gp); Dagger (2 gp); Dagger, punching (2 gp); Dagger, punching (2 gp); Handaxe (6 gp); Hammer, light (1 gp). Armor: Studded leather (25 gp). Goods: Coin: gp (27) (27 gp); Backpack (2 gp); Bedroll (1 sp); Coin: sp (9) (9 sp); Flint and steel (1 gp); Pouch, belt (1 gp); Rope, silk (50 ft.) (10 gp); Waterskin (full) (1 gp); Sunrod (2 gp).
#2 rebel7284 Nov 18, 2008 10:57:08	Have you read the swift hunter handbook?
#3 malosasalist Nov 18, 2008 11:05:42	Have you read the swift hunter handbook? I looked through it a little bit
#4 the_shaman Nov 18, 2008 12:09:26	Woah, did you roll those? Not bad, although I wonder if for now it won't help to put a higher score into intelligence, especially if you are not going to remain ranger for long. As for your skills... Unless I'm missing on some substitution level, you are better off taking diplomacy and gather info as class skills from a multiclass or leaving them to someone else in the party. Is your race set? Humans and (wood) elves imo make better ranger than half-elves.
#5 muertog Nov 18, 2008 12:19:56	If the OP is going for skirmish damage, the size of the character isn't so important. Small-sized PC characters give bonuses to attack, hide, and if you take Confound the Big Folk, you basically get an almost permanent +4 dodge bonus to your AC, which partially makes up for the light armor. Not needed if you are going to rely upon hide skills to get out of being targetted. Due to your knowledge skills, you might consider working towards knowledge devotion for additional bonuses.
#6 malosasalist Nov 18, 2008 12:35:31	I could easily change my race. What are the suggestions? I just want to be a cool archer. :X >_>
#7 malosasalist Nov 18, 2008 13:20:08	Okay, I'm going to try to make another. I just rolled again, and got pretty good scores again. (I can keep the first ones if they're better, but whatever) 18, 17, 15, 14, 12, 12 I want to be an amazing archer. What should I do?
#8 malosasalist Nov 18, 2008 14:04:31	Should I make a swift hunter, or go straight ranger? The swift hunter builds suggest going as a Scout at lvl1.
#9 altpersona Nov 18, 2008 14:22:07	http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=947687
#10 the_shaman Nov 18, 2008 18:56:46	Should I make a swift hunter, or go straight ranger? The swift hunter builds suggest going as a Scout at lvl1. Sure, and it's not a bad idea even if you only want to dip scout - you get more skill points (or HP if you would use the elven ranger sub level from RotW), which is quite nice at level 1. With your scores, you should be able to get by without the +1 to hit from BAB. Straight ranger is decent, but I do think swift hunter is better. You could do ok with both, I suppose. There are other options for archers, though - a few levels of fighter can get you weapon spec/mastery, classes with feats can allow you to go for Peerless Archer and its ranged power attack, etc.
#11 eldariel Nov 18, 2008 20:06:56	Wood Elf Swift Hunter seems fairly awesome with those stats. You even get the Elven Ranger Sub which is fairly good for the extra skills. Anyways, Swift Hunter is definitely better than straight Ranger for archery. Gives you the means to step up your damage when the opponent comes up to the skin, while still having fine bombardment abilities. I'd also consider Mystic Ranger over standard Ranger, possibly with Sword of the Arcane Order [Champions of Valor] if possible. Having access to Arcane and Divine Magic of those levels increases your versatility tenfold. It'd also make you a very able Wand-user. 15 in your Wis would get you all the casting ability you need without relevantly impairing your other abilities. You can find Mystic Ranger detailed at Crystalkeep, or Dragon #336. The combination of Spell Compendium Arrow-spells, arcane spells such as True Strike, Flame Arrow and Greater Magic Weapon, and Mystic Ranger slots is potent indeed.
#12 malosasalist Nov 19, 2008 16:18:06	I'm really new at this, I've played 2 and 4 somewhat extensively (three campaigns in both) but this is the only second character I'm making in 3.5. What is a sub level? I see it everywhere but I can't find it in the books. Also, Which stats should I use? 18 18 15 14 11 10 or 18 17 15 14 12 12? I'm inclined to go with the latter because it doesn't seem like Ranger has a dump stat, although the Swift Hunter says that both strength and charisma could go.
#13 malosasalist Nov 19, 2008 16:25:27	Also, what book is Scout in?
#14 muertog Nov 19, 2008 19:01:49	Complete Adventurer
#15 malosasalist Nov 19, 2008 20:31:35	Okay, I just made this scout, how does he look? Switch Male Elf, Wood Sco1: CR 1 Medium Humanoid (Elf) HD 1d8+3(Scout) hp 11; Init +5; Spd 30; AC:18 (Flatfooted:13 Touch:15) Atk +1 base melee, +5 base ranged; +5 (1d8, Longbow) SQ: Immunity: Sleep Effects (Ex), Low-light Vision (Ex), +2 Saves vs. Enchantment Spells and Effects; AL CG SV Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +2 STR 13, DEX 20, CON 16, INT 13, WIS 14, CHA 10 Skills: Balance +8, Disable Device +1, Hide +8, Knowledge (Arcana) +2, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +2, Knowledge (Geography) +2, Listen +8, Move Silently +8, Search +7, Spot +8, Survival +6, Use Rope +7. Feats: Armor Proficiency: light, Point Blank Shot, Simple Weapon Proficiency. Possessions: Weapons: Longbow (75 gp); Arrows (50) (3 gp); Arrows (50) (3 gp); Dagger (2 gp); Dagger, punching (2 gp); Hammer, light (1 gp); Handaxe (6 gp). Armor: Ashigaru Armor (25 gp). Goods: Coin: gp (63) (63 gp); Backpack (2 gp); Bedroll (1 sp); Coin: sp (9) (9 sp); Rope, silk (50 ft.) (10 gp); Rope Climber (15 gp); Waterskin (full) (1 gp); Sunrod (2 gp).
#16 muertog Nov 19, 2008 21:25:49	Honestly, I would swap Int and Wis. I rather have the extra 4 skill points due to first level than the +1 will saves. The only reason to have a higher will is when you are worried about obtaining ranger spells, and that doesn't become a problem until around level 10 or so... and by that time you -should- have some sort of wis boost. You already have a boost to saves vs enchantments, and immunity to sleep, so will isn't a problem in the first couple of levels... by that time you could always put the level 4 or 8 stat bump into wis to even it out. Putting a stat bump into Int isn't as worthwhile, since you don't get retroactive skill points.
#17 malosasalist Nov 19, 2008 22:15:50	I would swap Int and Wis, but I put the 15 in the Int and a 14 into Wis. The racial modifiers made the Int go down by two. Otherwise, I'd have to drop my 18 into Int to make it a 16.
#18 eldariel Nov 20, 2008 3:57:41	Racial substitution levels are levels a member of some race can take instead of the normal level in a class. Generally, they lose some class features and get others. Elf Ranger gets 8 skill points on his racial substitution levels, and higher bonuses vs. some Favoured Enemies (Undead is the only worthwhile type on that list though). The substitution levels are in Races of the Wild.