trying to perfect my ranger

[Nabrin]

I still play 3rd not 3.5 and alos i use the forgotten realms setting ....my probelm is that i'am trying to perfect my ranger :skills,feats,etc and i really need suggestions

[moo_poo323]

give him track. Improved critical. A keen weapon. owther junk like that. Oh yeah. A fire Melee longbow. Basically a normal longbow, except it has blade that are magic fire, and arrows that are magicc fire.

[Valiente]

It really depends on what style of ranger you go with, either bow or two -weapon fighter style. I made a bow fighter for an underdark campaign, and it's working well so far.

[Nabrin]

i whant to make a bow user for i can pump out lots of arrows really fastand shoot down every thing in sight plus i have a raiper for close combat situstions

[Kilgan]

Well obviously take all the Archery feats, I recommend starting with rapid shot, presice shot, or point blank shot to start, concidering that you get tracking for free, along with twf, and ambidexdarity, aslong as you have light armor on.

I also suggest that you go with a high dex score, followed by str/con, considering that you won't be in close combat that much I would go with con over str, but your choice.

I had a sweet ranger once that had these scores
str:18
dex:18
con:18
int:12
wis:14
cha:12

But my dm used the roll system and I got superb rollage, plus I was a half-orc.

Anyway skill wise go with all the nature realated ones, knowledge nature is iffy, but mos def go with hide and move silently, spot don't hurt either. But again your choice.

[Valiente]

Definitely go with the archery style then, but that should be a given. ^_^

Ugh..I hate rolling...I always end up with one REALLY awesome stat and a 9 or lower somewhere...blech. Point buy all the way for me.

Listen, hide, move sil., and spot are all important, as is search too. And Survival, since wilderness lore got absorbed into that in 3.5.


My ranger now at 8th level has the following stats:
Str:14
Dex:18
Con:14
Int:12
Wis:14
Cha:10

This was done with a 34 point-buy, hence the relative uniformity of the stats. At 8th level, she has 64 HP, which isn't too shabby. So far, my ranger has proven to be pretty decent over all, but if you have a lower wisdom, I would suggest taking Iron Will if you can fit it in.

[Nabrin]

I'am my group's normal dm but my friend jamie is dming our next campagin after christmas i'am just trying to have my ranger ready hi stats are REALLY good they are as follows
str:18
Dex:18
Con:16
wis:16
Wis:17
Cha:17
my con would be 18 but i'am a sun elf and there must some sort of pkanet missalignment cause i got such amazing stats which happens once in a blue moon my ranger is my best charecter yet

[Valiente]

My DMs would make me re-roll those stats. *le sigh* But good for you, I guess.

*Hates rolling for stats. Point buy all the way.*

[Nabrin]

Well my group does not allways get good stats but we don't downsize a charecter just cause its stats are good ,

[Valiente]

I'm not at all arguing that your stats aren't good--they're fantastic. In fact, you should probably consider a monk with those score, or a paladin. But anyways.

The only problem with such good stats is that someone else in the party (mostly likely, several someones) will have stats that are total crap compared to those. It's not fair to that other player when you have at the minimum +3 to EVERYTHING and they're happy to have only one -1 and +0's and a +2...see what I'm saying?

If a DM would LET me keep those scores, I would abuse it to the fullest. =)

[Nabrin]

well if there jealous .......hmmm what should i say

[Nabrin]

well i like rangers since i can get divine spells and i really don't like monks all that much

[Eldarin]

You want to make a good 3.0 ranger? take one level as ranger then the rest as fighter. If your an elf work your way up to arcane archer. Rangers past level 1 in 3.0 = crap. Oh another good class to go for with an archer is bard, its easy to get arcane aracher in it, and those stats you have would work well for them.

[Nabrin]

i know alot of poeple think that but if you do it the rifght way 3.0 rangers are pretty good

[WarhookDM]

If you are going to make him a bowmen, I have just 5 words for you. Order of the Bow Initiate. This is nearly the Ultimate Archer Prestige Class.

In my campaign, we have an elven ranger named Charizar (not my PC). He makes Legolas look like a RANK AMATEUR. He is 16th or 17th level now, and gets FIVE (or maybe SIX) {added in edit} attacks per round with his bow; THREE of them are at max bonus (he has Speed on his bow), which is roughly a +43 to hit. In 3rd Ed., not 3.5. His max range increment is nearly a half-MILE away. This PC is just ugly; he is the only PC who realistically COULD waste the entire party, and we have 9 players in our group. His feats include: Point Blank shot, Precise Shot, Far Shot, Weapon Focus, Manyshot, AND he can use the Bow in melee (class skill), without suffering AoO's.

[Nabrin]

where is many shoots in the phb or is it not in 3.5 cause i can't find it at all

[WarhookDM]

Manyshot is in one of the 'Splat' books. Masters of the Wild, I think. At any rate, it's in the one for Rangers and Druids. The Order of the Bow Initiate PrC is in the same book.

[Kilgan]

that would be sword and fist then. That where the Order of the bow Initiate is found

[Valiente]

Many shot is in the 3.5 phb--it's a regular feat.

[WarhookDM]

By the way, after looking at those stats again, your PC would be FAR more lethal as either a Paladin, Psion, or a Psychic Warrior.

As a Paladin, (s)he would have ungodly saves for a 1st level PC (Fort=+8, Ref=+6, Will=+6), due to the Cha bonus to all saves; this is equivalent to the saves of a normal 5th or 6th level PC. Also, you would still be able to specialize with the bow.

As a Psion you would have access to every 6th level or lower power, giving you unbelievable flexibility.

As a Psychic Warrior, the above statement is still true (and they only GO to 6th level!), PLUS you would be able to specialize with the bow, INCLUDING Weapon Specialization. On top of that, you would be able to get the feat allowing you to use the bow to make RANGED TOUCH attacks at higher levels (at a cost of 5 power points per attack). This will be especially important against certain high CR monsters, such as dragons and giants, that typically have low touch AC's. WHY in hell would you waste those scores on a RANGER?

BTW, if you go Paladin or Psion, at 8th level your stats should have FOUR 18's.

Another thought: Fighter/Cleric multiclass. Or Rogue/Wizard. Or, cripes, ANY multiclass combo; those stats are just BEGGING for it, dude.

{last two paras added in edit}

[waspwriter]

the ranger is still good. it's just more for hunting things down/finding them then taking them out, although douse any one know why they took sneak/hide from them? :argue: Part of hunting is being quit enough to CATCH SOMETHING!!!!! :extra3: I say take feat from forgoten realms that lets you tacke two skills that arnt on your regular skill list as class skills and get sneak if your a ranger.

[Valiente]

Uhm....apparently the concept of the element surprise is eluding you.

Surprise rounds are awesome, for one---nothing like getting off an attack before the baddies.

Secondly, if the party does not have a rogue, a ranger has some of the same skills (skeak/hide/move sil) that are important roguely skills. Sometimes you may want to sneak up to something and listen and NOT start a fight, after all. Or, if you DO need to attack, you may need to get into proper position first without being seen or heard.

Hide and move silently are WAY more useful skills than most of the ones you take a cross class, with the possible exceptions of tumble and additional knowledges, IMHO.

[waspwriter]

agreed I just think that sneak/hide and move silently should be part of there class skill list, they are part of stalking pray. this is like when a rogue stalks a mark through the city to learn there habits before they strike. these skills alow them to acomplish there jobs better. they know where there pray might run when something happens, it also tells wether they will use the fight or flight responce.

[Nabrin]

AAAAAAGGGGHHHH i'am so confused what should i do all i whant to be able to do is track down stuff then shoot it maybei should try to get the psion book heh psion/ranger

[Valiente]

You should really consider just going ranger, 3.5 style. They're WAY better than the regular 3rd IMHO.

If you do go 3.0 ranger, I would only take the levels of ranger useful, and then go fighter or maybe rogue. If you're going to play a very combat heavy character, go fighter/ranger.

Hide/Move Silently/Listen/Spot/Search are all HUGELY important for rangers, as those are the skills that let them track to begin with, so don't skimp on the points there.

Also, consider what type of ranger you want to be. I like bow-fighters, but it's really a matter of preference. Dual-weilders can be pretty sweet too.

[Nabrin]

some people do not beloive this but 3.5 is not that much of a difference its only 20% added

[Twilight]

With 3.5 rules, I had a goblin ranger-archer with all the mounted feats who rode his direbat compainion. He was hillarious to play, flying around shooting people. Too bad Strahd killed the bat and made the goblin into a zombie. Oh well...

[Nabrin]

how di ya goblihn ride a bat??/

[Valiente]

Dire bat . They're plenty big enough to hold a Goblin.

[WarhookDM]

I like the Psion/Ranger multiclass idea; that would get pretty ugly at midrange and high levels. Plus, that would again give you the ability to make ranged touch attacks with the fell shot (?) feat, and psions arn't as limited in power points as psychic warriors. The trade off is lower hp, but then that isn't quite as important for a bow specialist (providing your front-line tanks keep the enemy away from you; our high level archer has also DIED more than anyone else in the party because his dice go cold when he gets in melee :lost: )

[Nabrin]

thanks for pointing out the whole dire bat thing but i think i will be a paladin and maybe multiclass a couple of rgr levels that or purpledragon knight but i'am not sure yet

[Valiente]

The only problem with the Purple Dragon Knight of Cormyr is that your cannot LEAVE Cormyr once you become one. Though I do think it's a cool class, as far as RP stuff goes. ^_^

And paladin's are SOOOOOOOO good. My favorite class, tied with cleric. They progress in levels like a fighter, get saves like a monk, and can get crazy abilities higher up, with mounts and stuff.

Can we say x4 crit with a lance=awesomeness?

[Nabrin]

well if i was a rouge i could benfiet from high charisma ,strenth and dexterity

[moo_poo323]

rogue dont need strength. they also need intelligence. if you want to be using your ranged bonus for melee, then get weapon finese!!!!!!
( i think its finese.... maybe its focus or profiecency). Trust me, I play rogues ;)

[Nabrin]

well i have all mystats at 16
or higher

[Valiente]

Lucky you. How'd you manage that one?

[Nabrin]

how the hell should i know i was at my friends house a couple of weeks ago and we are getting ready for out groups campagin and i rolled up the stats, the only prop now is that it will be some time till i can run leto (charecters name) since out dm moved and i became the dm

[WarhookDM]

From the point of view of roleplaying (as opposed to roll-playing), rogue/paladin multiclasses rarely work. While Paladins don't need to be played as Lawful f***ing Stupid, it is pretty hard to play one as lawful good while bringing in rogueish characteristics. From a power-gamer point of view, it is a lethal combo, but it is hard to role-play correctly. Also, to do it, you would almost have to start out as a rogue, then add Paladin after 2 or 3 levels. Character development in this vein suggests to me that you would then pretty much be FORCED to play the guy as an A.R.A.P., which generally aren't as much fun, unless you LIKE being the butt of the party's jokes, and constantly being at odds with other PC's.

(A.R.A.P. = An*l Retentive A**hole Paladin. :D )

I HATE A.R.A.P.s. I play a Paladin/Sorceror multi (he added sorceror, sacrificing some important abilities for the good of the group, because the party was weak on spellcasters at the time) who occassionally visits houses of ill-repute, has been known to get drunk on infrequent occassions, and generally enjoys life. Despite this, he still stays on the side of righteousness without the typical holier than thou attitude that is so common. And YET, he is still the butt of many party jokes (although they save the pranks for a particularly annoying halfling, thank god); the ranks of Tumble don't help in this regard, but they do make him more dangerous in a fight.

And for those who would take exception to a Paladin going to a whorehouse, consider this: In the Dark/Middle Ages, this was very common behavior, broke no laws, etc. This guy even picks up the odd randy female on occassion. He is just careful to be completely honest and above board about what he's about, and that the female in question has no problems, objections, or undue expectations.

(On the humorous side, the Book of Exalted Deeds has a goddess listed that would have the most confusing Paladins in this regard; the temples of this particular deity would BE whorehouses by the standards of any other religion! Paladin as pimp, anyone?)

[Valiente]

Hell yeah Paly as a pimp. ^_~

Though I don't often play male characters, I'd actual love to play the stereotype vain, womanizing guy...only give him some holy powers, LoL.

But I totally have to go with War on the whole rogue/paly thing. Lawful good is hard enough to pull off, but trying to work in rogue stuffy-whats? Oi. I like a challenge, but that would just be too much of a headache for me. =)

I would maybe try to work the level or two of rogue in at the beginning, as War suggested, and write it in to my character history. The whole 'street urchin turned awesome shining good guy' deal. ^.^

And one sucky thing about such a combo...wouldn't using sneak attack be a rather dishonorable deed for a paly? I suppose that would be up to the DM and players to decide, but stickin' some guy in the back doesn't exactly sound very noble or honorable to me, regardless of whether or not it's a fight.

[Nabrin]

i was think hell why not be a druid diving casting of the nature sort it could give me a edge if i use this charecter against the party make it their enemy for the campagin i planning out would be fun

[Valiente]

Druids are alright. I still prefer rangers to druids though. Rangers are more combat ready, and unless the caster is a high level, combat skills are important for back up for a villain, IMHO.

[WarhookDM]

Those stats will make for a dangerous BBEG. BE CAREFUL! A proper BBEG must walk a fine line between seriously dangerous, and a potential TPK. If you are DMing for experienced gamers, this is less of a problem, but if your group is fairly new to gaming, a TPK could kill the game.

In my campaign, I have thrown some NPC's at the party that I thought were balanced, and nearly wiped out the party. (That's a real hard thing to do against 8 to 10 PC's!) When you set him up, pay close attention to whether or not your guy can be hit by anyone in the party; if they ALL (tanks included) need natural 20's to hit the BBEG, he's probably overpowered, and you'll either need to change his equipment, or play him STUPID (which defeats the whole BBEG concept) to avoid killinng the whole party.

That being said, don't worry if you do kill 1 or 2 PC's; that just adds to the drama. :D