Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Malifact May 09, 2013 11:37:38	Hello all; I'm interested in creating a Drow Ranger, but I'm not exactly sure where to start. I know that dual-wielding rangers can pump out godly amounts of damage, but I'm more interested in playing a character that has a marksmen/Legolas-esque theme to them, and I really want to avoid the inevitable Drizzt Do'Urden comparisons that will arise if I'm playing a dual-wielding Drow ranger.  I guess what my question comes down to is, should I build this character purely around archery - potentially sacrificing its competency as a striker later on - or make him melee/archer hybrid. If so, how, and is that viable?  Your thoughts, comments, and suggestions would be greatly appreciated ^^;
#2 Centauri May 09, 2013 11:50:58	Doesn't seem like it would be hard. Lots of powers work with both ranged and melee powers. Of course, since the Ranger was an early class, all its melee attacks are Strength based and all its ranged attacks are Dex based, even when using heavy thrown weapons. You can easily have 16 in each, which I consider plenty viable, but if you want the Expertise and Focus feats (which I don't think are necessary to be "viable") you'll need to take extra feats, or choose a weapon family that has throwable options. In short, it should be viable, but probably not top of the heap. Talk to the Character Optimization board.
#3 Malifact May 09, 2013 11:53:24	Doesn't seem like it would be hard. Lots of powers work with both ranged and melee powers. Of course, since the Ranger was an early class, all its melee attacks are Strength based and all its ranged attacks are Dex based, even when using heavy thrown weapons. You can easily have 16 in each, which I consider plenty viable, but if you want the Expertise and Focus feats (which I don't think are necessary to be "viable") you'll need to take extra feats, or choose a weapon family that has throwable options. In short, it should be viable, but probably not top of the heap. Talk to the Character Optimization board. Thanks, I'll repost the thread over there and see what they say.
#4 tiornys May 09, 2013 11:59:55	Pure archer ranger is also capable of pumping out godly amounts of damage.  Have no fear that you'd be unduly limiting yourself by going this route. Trying to hybrid gets awkward because there are a lot of feats exclusive to each style, and you lose out on some excellent Wis-based riders.  I'd recommend building purely around archery. If you're interested in general Ranger optimization advice, community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758..." title="community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/758...">this link will take you to the handbook for the class.
#5 Tech-Priest May 09, 2013 14:28:38	The only alternative I can suggest, is as a Drow, get a Drow Long Knife with the racial feat training, and maybe go Marauder Ranger. Not super OP, but still fun.
#6 crimsyn May 10, 2013 3:48:33	The other thing is that as of MP2, there are a bunch of Ranger powers (the list gets longer if you're going light blade and plan to pick up the Midnight Blade Marauder feat) that are melee and key off of Dex, so you can pick up some of these and mix them in with ranged attacks for a serviceable Dex/Wis build.  You can go for the Hunter fighting style, enabling you to freely swap weapons between melee and ranged weapons. Here's a character I made a little while ago that goes this route.  She's got a fullblade and a dagger (flavoured as Khanda and Chakram, respectively, to give the feel of an Indian warrior):  dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/37708225/Zak...
#7 Tech-Priest May 13, 2013 10:42:40	Where's Midnight Blade Marauder from? It's right on the tip of my to the bit I can't remember for the life of me.
#8 Tech-Priest May 13, 2013 10:43:30	Tip of my tongue* **** auto-correct.
#9 crimsyn May 14, 2013 2:45:18	it's from Martial Power 2, but you need Midnight Blade Student as a prerequisite
#10 Sir_Joseph_the_Crowe May 15, 2013 15:56:56	What about using a double-weapon, like a quarterstaff or two-bladed sword? Being a single object/weapon, it would be somewhat less immediately Drizz't-like. I liked the Drizz't books okay, but he always struck me as a little TOO modern-day politically correct sensibilities. Not that Drizz't's philosophies are wrong, but they often seemed a little too preachy and, frankly, droll. To be fair, I haven't read the whole series, but that was the impression I got from the series. Maybe you could differentiate by playing your drow a little less anti-drow philosophy and more brain-washed by drow mentality. That would give you an opportunity to role-play the complexities of culture shock on a more sophisticated level, making for a more three-dimensional character. Dual-wield hammers is an other option that is less Drizz't-like. If you name them, avoid 'Twinkle' and 'Icingdeath' and opt for something more visceral, something like 'Smile-Wrecker' and 'Throat-crushing-doom' or 'Inquisition' and 'Rebuttal'. Or go all archery with ya bad self. Maybe be that guy that trains in every weapon style imaginable. Pick up an exotic weapon here, dual-wielding from the class, archery style from the feats, maybe take a level as monk or ninja (or both), and add a smattering of magic as well... Druidic magic and dual-wield flame swords, perhaps, lol. Maybe you might think about a mounted drow ranger. Imagine the fear if you pick an alternate companion and get a large spider to ride. It sounds like a viable substitute to me. Drider, anyone?
#11 Pashalik_Mons May 18, 2013 3:11:04	Archery ranger is fine, go for it.