Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Emelious Apr 11, 2015 7:07:45	Okay to start off hello this is my first time useing forum to post so nice to meet you all.   I am currently player a Level-1 Elven Archer decided to be mainly a ranged striker but have been haveing problems hitting the monsters as they have like 16-19AC and i only have +7 to attack rolls but seem to have problems hitting them at the moment 1/2 shots from twin strikes hits also i keep geting forced into melee combat at times how ever i do have a way to get out of it and 2 melee weapons so thats not too much of an issue at moment.   so my questions are the following.     1. Is there any feats that can make at wills or powers target something other than ac at ranged?   2. Is there any feats that can let me use my at wills in melee useing my dex score for attack rolls?     also if twin strikes counts as 2 seperate attack do i get to roll my hunters quarry twice if both hit?
#2 Matyr Apr 11, 2015 9:05:49	Hello Emelious, nice to meet you.   A few things: First you might want to take a look at the Ranger's Handbook.  That might answer a good number of questions for you in more detail.  I'll give some rough answers as a start point.   Generally speaking at level 1 you want to have an attack somewhere between 6 and 8 to be nominally effective.  We would need a little more detail to be able to help out specifically, but this is what you are hoping for:   Low End: Dex 18 (+4) + Longbow (+2 profeciency) = 6 vs AC   High End: Dex 20 (+5) + Longbow (+2 profeciency) + 1 (Bow Expertise) = 8 vs AC.   Average AC for a level one monster will be 16 and you the max you are likely to run into is a level +2 soldier which will have 20 AC.  The high end is hitting the normal armored target on a 8 (6 with CA) and high armor target on a 12 (10 with CA).  Thats normal.   From then you want to look at magic weapons and ways to gain combat advantage as that will give you an extra +2 to hit.  Cunning Stalker is fairly excellent for when you go first so you can be the one to call a kill target (and you are dex primary so your initiative is likely very good) as well as Superior Reflexes if your combats tend to be short or in very small environments.   As far as power selection goes you will be hitting AC a ton as a ranged ranger with a few powers also tapping reflex.  This will be less of an issue as you advance in levels and have the ability to optimize slightly more.   One assumes you took the Elven reroll option to give yourself another shot at a hit?   As far as melee you can pick Fading Strike as your 2nd at-will and use Hunter Fighting style if you expect to be in melee a lot.  That gives you a ranged option for when they get close as well as having built in movement and giving you a viable opportunity attack.  Also there is rarely a penalty for "Shift 1, twinstrike to face" plan of attack, other than using your movement action.   To your last question about quarry the short answer is no and the long answer is that it functions differently than you think it does.  Quarry is applied to one target you hit after all attacks are rolled.  Which means if you twinstrike you do not have to say which strike it goes to and, if you hit the first time, you can see if you hit the second time before applying your quarry damage.  The reason this matters is because your quarry damage will be maximized should you critically hit.  If you crit, apply your quarry to that one.   Edit: One thing I forgot to mention is that you have a lot of high mobility powers available to you as a ranger as well as high movement speed and long range to keep away from things.  Things like Invigorating Stride will make your life much easier.
#3 Emelious Apr 11, 2015 10:04:40	Ah i see im guessing im just getting unlucky with my rolls at the moment then.  as for needing some more infomation on my character its below.   http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=137408   i think im gunna be okay but since most of the hunters books i looked at focus mainly on melee focused build i figued i could be doing something majorly wrong but i think it may just be as i rolled unlucky also yes i have reroll encounter power and my daily power has reroll on it as well.    i know taking a greatbow right off the bat was probly a waste of a feat but i wanted my guy to play like a ranger not a melee fighter unless there is no other choice. i also read about this frost cheese feat combo that all the books say to take but it seems little silly to use something if its little broken so i will be keeping away from that and trying to focus on range attack roll bonuses and maybe some damage bonuses but for now i was looking to see if there was any feats that could swap out vs ac or use dex on melee like the rogue gets and if its worth picking them up if im forced into it.     as it goes the gm seems like a nice guy and we are out in the wilds but heading after a kobold nest in some ruins so im getting the feeling it will be hard to keep at range even more so with my percption being the best in group. well i could probly be at the back or even the middle but if i can help them out by hearing something or seeing it i wanna do that. plus i have second highest ac score in the group.     anyway im still learning the game but i dont wish to hold back the group if i can help it and thats why i was looking for ways to improve my rolls but from what you said it just seems like i had bad luck on them.     thanks for the input hope that infomation is okay. note this is the first character i made on my own so if i should have maybe put point somewhere else feel free to comment
#4 Beoric Apr 11, 2015 12:59:36	Next time you might want to post this on the Character Optimization boards.  It is a world of snark but also imparts some good information.  It also includes handbooks for every class, which you should review before you post (some are better than others, but all are at least a starting point).  The CharOp obards are here:  http://community.wizards.com/forums/103451.    The Ranger Handbook in particular is at:  http://community.wizards.com/content/forum-topic/2533216.
#5 Matyr Apr 11, 2015 19:07:30	Emelious wrote:
#6 Zathris Apr 11, 2015 22:40:42	To add to what Matyr said, don't forget Prime Shot and your bonus vs OAs from the free Defensive Mobility! Level 1 enemies should only have a +6 to hit, making your AC 20 vs OAs really hard to hit, especially if they're marked.   (Pro tip: Assuming you have a party defender, quarry targets they have marked and intentionally stand in Melee to shoot your enemy. This guarantees you the +1 to hit from Prime Shot, and +2 to hit from CA from flanking. If they decide to take the OA, they have to hit an AC 20 with a -2 to hit from the mark, so they need to roll a 16! AND the defender gets to punish them)   And +1 for Emiya Shiro
#7 Damean Apr 12, 2015 0:05:46	If you're finding yourself getting into a mix of melee and ranged fighting at this level, you may find that the Master at Arms feat will help more than the greatbow.  The greatbow is only one dice size bigger, so the possible extra damage isn't a bigger factor than the possible extra hit with the expertise feat.  Master at Arms give you a tier bonus to hit (with every weapon you're proficient with), and allows you to change weapons as a minor action, should you decide it'd be more fun to stab a face once in a while.
#8 baldhermit Apr 12, 2015 0:18:29	Wow, and here I was always under the impression that a more or less melee archer was the top of the bow wielding classes. Don't waste minor actions, please.
#9 Matyr Apr 12, 2015 6:26:47	Damean wrote: