A Mystic Ranger with favored enemy (arcanists), Shooting Star sub levels and the Sword of Arcane Order feat looks almost too good to be true. At 8th level, we are talking about 4th level spells (drawn from Ranger and Wizard lists), bonus feats, favored enemy +4 versus arcanists, sending as a spell-like ability, full bab and 6 skill points per level with a not-that-bad d8 hit dice. A bit MAD, since you need both Int & Wis for casting (14 on each works at this level, you need 15 to cast all spells) but really does it matter?
This guy sadly lost his melee martial weapon proficiency, but he can still dual wield simple weapons for all I care (Lightning Mace?) and wade into melee augmented by Blades of Fire, Hunter's Eye, Wraithstrike and all usual gish spells... and he does all of this without even multiclassing and devoting a SINGLE feat.
I will have to update the Suel Arcanamach handbook taking the Mystic Ranger into consideration, this guy is just too powerful to go unnoticed.
Yea, source?
Some Dragon Magazine; I don't know exactly, found it here Mystic Ranger.
Dragon Magazine. Sadly, it ends up with only 5th level spells. ...which only serves to lead us to some other casting PrCs, like Sublime Chord.
Well, you don't HAVE to play a full-caster and all, many people don't care about getting 9th level spells (I personally have spells capped at 6th level in my game). While certainly not in the same league as a Wizard or Druid, a Mystic Ranger is a very versatile and powerful gish-light.
Yea, source?
Mystic Ranger is found in Champions of Valor.
EDIT: Ah, I guess I got the two confused.
While certainly not in the same league as a Wizard or Druid, a Mystic Ranger is a very versatile and powerful gish-light.
Uh... judging from that spell progression table and the sub-levels you listed, I'd say it better than a wizard, until 10th level... Full BAB, d8 HD, 6 skill points per level, and a casting progression equal to a sorcerer? That's crazy-go-nuts good. It would make for a fun entry into Ur-Priest. :D
Uh... judging from that spell progression table and the sub-levels you listed, I'd say it better than a wizard, until 10th level... Full BAB, d8 HD, 6 skill points per level, and a casting progression equal to a sorcerer? That's crazy-go-nuts good. It would make for a fun entry into Ur-Priest. :D
Yeah, in the first levels this guy is GODLY (actually bears many similarities with the Lightning Warrior...). Could be used to make entry into classes like Nar Demonbinder, Sublime Chord, Fochlucan Lyrist and the like a lot easier also.
Yeah, in the first levels this guy is GODLY (actually bears many similarities with the Lightning Warrior...).
Needs another good save, right? And Evasion?
Needs another good save, right? And Evasion?
And d20 Hit Dice ^^
But Mystic Ranger has more skill points than Lightning Warrior, I think (though MR eventually does get evasion). At least it doesn't get a familiar LOL
A Mystic Ranger with favored enemy (arcanists), Shooting Star sub levels and the Sword of Arcane Order feat looks almost too good to be true. At 8th level, we are talking about 4th level spells (drawn from Ranger and Wizard lists), bonus feats, favored enemy +4 versus arcanists, sending as a spell-like ability, full bab and 6 skill points per level with a not-that-bad d8 hit dice. A bit MAD, since you need both Int & Wis for casting (14 on each works at this level, you need 15 to cast all spells) but really does it matter?
Think about doing that in E6. BAB 6, D8 HD all the way up, 3rd level ranger/wizard spells and a very useful favored enemy (arcanists). You could substitute track for Trapfinding (Dungeonscape) and pick up track later basically making yourself extremely self sufficient.
So wanna try one of those.
Yea, source?
It is Dragon 336, and is a very fun variant. It gets even better with Sword of the Arcane Order, and you could use it to qualify for Abjurant Champion. I was wondering, could one combine the Mystic Ranger and the Wild Shape Ranger from UA? The MR is a variant ranger, and I believe the WS ranger is an alt. class feature. It may also be fun to go into Cyre Scout from Dragonmarked (either version) to get infusions, namely Personal Weapon Augmentaition for Bane, although you lose some spellcasting. :D
Think about doing that in E6. BAB 6, D8 HD all the way up, 3rd level ranger/wizard spells and a very useful favored enemy (arcanists). You could substitute track for Trapfinding (Dungeonscape) and pick up track later basically making yourself extremely self sufficient.
Yeah, I was thinking this would be an insanely good start for an E6 build myself.
It is Dragon 336, and is a very fun variant. It gets even better with Sword of the Arcane Order, and you could use it to qualify for Abjurant Champion. I was wondering, could one combine the Mystic Ranger and the Wild Shape Ranger from UA? The MR is a variant ranger, and I believe the WS ranger is an alt. class feature. It may also be fun to go into Cyre Scout from Dragonmarked (either version) to get infusions, namely Personal Weapon Augmentaition for Bane, although you lose some spellcasting. :D
I was thinking Swiftblade, bit then it struck me - even with Sword of the Arcane Order, you are still casting divine spells, ain't that right?
On a sidenote, Mystic Ranger looks very similar to the Avenger 4th Edition class.
I was thinking Swiftblade, bit then it struck me - even with Sword of the Arcane Order, you are still casting divine spells, ain't that right?
On a sidenote, Mystic Ranger looks very similar to the Avenger 4th Edition class.
I am not sure about that. You can cast spells from the sorcerer/wizard list, but it doesn't specify them being divine when you cast them.
I am not sure about that. You can cast spells from the sorcerer/wizard list, but it doesn't specify them being divine when you cast them.
I'm also not sure, but noticethe Ranger casts divine spells and it says he prepares the Wizard spells in his Ranger slots. The feat does not mention if they are divine or arcane, so I think they would be divine, since that's the kind of spells Rangers cast. I know this can swing both eyes, but that's just how I see it.
EDIT: I just noticed Mystic Ranger's 5th level spells are not that good, really, since you simply must stick to the very small list presented on Dragon Magazine. I'm looking for spells for them - does anyone know of a good book for Ranger spells other than Spell Compendium and Dragon Magic?
I believe there were a few in Comp. Champion, as well as Comp. Divine and Comp.Adventurer (swift haste is awesome). However, they may have been updated in the Spell Compendium (I don't have that one yet).
Oh, Swift Haste, of course. I'll check those out, though I believe Swift Haste is form PHB II.
Daggerspell Shaper is in Comp. Adventurer on page 36 (although if you go with the WS variant as well, you have to take a level of rogue or scout as well as 2 weapon Fighting to meet the prereqs). Swift Haste is in Complete Adventurer on page 151, and the PHB2 has Animalistic Power as a 2nd level ranger spell that gives a +2 bonus to Str, Dex, and Con.
One thing I like doing with the Mystic Ranger is taking Sword of the Arcane Order, and using a few of my 3rd level slots for the haste spell, and my 2nd level spells for swift haste (Haste and its' swift brother are two of my favorite buffs). Also, can you combine Mystic Ranger and Wild Shape Ranger (neither steps on the other variant's toes as far as requirements)? I was just curious, as this could open up the Daggerspell Shaper Prc and advance Wildshape and spellcasting, adding yet another dimension of versatility.
Oh, daggerspell shaper. That's just evil.
Oh, daggerspell shaper. That's just evil.
LOL
;) 
Mystic Ranger 20 (trapfinding variant, Sword of Arcane Order, one-man army, erm, I mean, party)
Mystic Ranger 10/Daggerspell Shaper 10 (Qualify with Hunter's Eye, improve wild shape with feats, bab is only 17 but that's not very important)
Mystic Ranger 10/Suel Arcanamach (or Knight of the Weave) 10 (5h level arcane and divine spells, great versatility, nice abilities, BAB 17)
Mystic Ranger 10/Master of Many Forms 10 (Wildshape variant. Just... wrong.)
Mystic Ranger 10/Assassin 10. Not that good, actually. Some sneak attack is good, but ranger and assassin have very similar spell lists and all.
And this, this is really interesting because it's based on a class usually considered pretty subpar.
Mystic Ranger 10/Duskblade 3/Dragon Disciple 7. Apply bonus spells to Mystic Ranger - that's 5 extra 5th leve slots (well, you are probably using them for blade storm or something, but still), Versatile Spellcaster because it's always funny, too bad you can't mix Hunter's Mercy with Arcane Channeling. Pretty solid even then. A few stat boosts, now you can get those tasty breath feats from Draconomicon, all that stuff.
Still, yeah, it sounds like a very fun class; I first saw it here. I've thought about making one using the archery style, with a spear and dagger as backups. What I thought strangest was that even it doesn't get polymorph at high levels - even though it can cast baleful polymorph on other people. The spell progression also strikes me as rather odd - very fast until level 12 or so, and quite unimpressive afterwards. If that's not an invitation to multiclass, I don't know what is. Staying after level 16 is absurd. Of course, that's way more than most warrior base classes can say anyway.
BTW, one problem is that the arcane ranger might not qualify for that lovely 4th Shooting Star sub level. If I see it right, it does not get an animal companion, and thus can't trade it for anything. This unfortunately means no Arcane Hierophant as well... Fiddlesticks.
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Of course, Sword of the Arcane Order (or whatever the name for rangers was) can fix the polymorph question, but still it's a bit weird - the only ranger shapechanging spells I've seen can turn them into bulette (aspect of the earth hunter) and centaur (?), and I've heard about one for wolf. Something like Animal Shapes I and II from the PF Beta should definitely be available to high-level rangers.
Actually, I'm not sure build 2 would work. I think the Daggespell Shaper class requires a sneak attack die as well as evasion. Something like ARan8/Rogue2/DS10 should be ok though.
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You get evasion at Mystic Ranger 9.
Another Option: Mystic Ranger 12/ Swordsage 2/ Telfammar Shadowlord 6 - shadow pouncing with the full TWF chain.
An odd build: Mystic Ranger 5/ Knight of the Raven 3/ Swordsage 2/ Ruby Knight Vindicator 10 (or Swordsage 2/ Crusader 1/ RKV 9 if you don't want to waste feats for martial study/stance)
Another Option: Mystic Ranger 12/ Swordsage 2/ Telfammar Shadowlord 6 - shadow pouncing with the full TWF chain.
You don't even need those Swordsage levels for the Telflammar build (though they sure help) since you can qualify with Hunter's Eye or Martial Study (Assassin's Stance).
On the RKV build, what does Knight of the Raven add to the build? I'm not very familiar with it.
I'm also not sure, but noticethe Ranger casts divine spells and it says he prepares the Wizard spells in his Ranger slots. The feat does not mention if they are divine or arcane, so I think they would be divine, since that's the kind of spells Rangers cast. I know this can swing both eyes, but that's just how I see it.
Well since it's "Possibly Divine" could you stack on more cheese with Sword of the Arcane Order + PrC Paladin + Battle Blessing?
Pro from Evil is a 1st level Wizard Spell.
Edit: Oh right, Turn undead. Well with Sword of the Arcane Order you get Dismissal at 10th level so Sacred Exorcist then PrC Paladin.
You don't even need those Swordsage levels for the Telflammar build (though they sure help) since you can qualify with Hunter's Eye or Martial Study (Assassin's Stance).
However the Assassins Stance would be always on and the Shadow Jaunt maneuver is very handy for shadow pouncing builds. Wis to Ac is also not shabby either. Shadow Blade would be a nice fit after that as well.
On the RKV build, what does Knight of the Raven add to the build? I'm not very familiar with it.
Knight of the Raven (Expidition to Castle Ravenloft) gives you Turn Undead so you can meet the pre-reqs for RKV. Knight of the Raven does lose 1 caster level, but it does not lose any BAB from it and it has easy pre-reqs. Another option would just be to go cloistered cleric and pick up some domain abilities and turn undead at the cost of a caster level of mystic range and BAB
Knight of the Raven (Expidition to Castle Ravenloft) gives you Turn Undead so you can meet the pre-reqs for RKV. Knight of the Raven does lose 1 caster level, but it does not lose any BAB from it and it has easy pre-reqs. Another option would just be to go cloistered cleric and pick up some domain abilities and turn undead at the cost of a caster level of mystic range and BAB
Oh, it seems like Knight of the Raven is totally worth it. It even fits thematically - Wee Jas is the Raven Queen, right? ^^
Planar is a variant ranger from UA, Nar Demonbinder is from UE.
OK, I think we already have some pretty fun stuff:
Mystic Ranger 10/Daggerspell Shaper 10 (Qualify with Hunter's Eye, improve wild shape with feats, bab is only 17 but that's not very important)
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Is Hunter's Eye a spell from Spell Compendium? I don't have that book yet. Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks, I can find it for less than $40.
Well since it's "Possibly Divine" could you stack on more cheese with Sword of the Arcane Order + PrC Paladin + Battle Blessing?
Pro from Evil is a 1st level Wizard Spell.
Edit: Oh right, Turn undead. Well with Sword of the Arcane Order you get Dismissal at 10th level so Sacred Exorcist then PrC Paladin.
DMM: Persistant on wizard spells, full BAB, d8 HD, 6 skill points and a great list! Argh!!! It's gonna be MAD as hell, though.
I'm sure it'd be easy enough to tack on polymorph (or metamorphosis, using a psychoactive skin) using a feat or somesuch, right? Who cares about MAD when your physical scores are meaningless?
I think it's a lot better to use Wild Shape.
I guess you could use enlarge animal for that, but do mystic rangers even get that on their spell lists?
The biggest issue with the wild shaping ranger variant is that you can only turn into Small and Medium animals.
I guess you could use enlarge animal for that, but do mystic rangers even get that on their spell lists?
Draconic Wildshape (or the like, Aberrant Wildshape and stuff) kind of fixes that. Being Medium size is not a problem when you are ******* dragon.
True, but the wis requirement was kinda nasty. Then again, as a mystic ranger, you have good reasons to keep your wis score high. Actually, I think wildshaping mystic rangers make a prime choice if you want to go for Master of Many Forms.
Yes they do. They also make good Daggerspell Shapers. You could also use them in Mystic Theurge builds (divine side), or to get around specialist wizard prohibitions (with Sword fo the Arcane Order).