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2 years ago ::
Jun 11, 2008 - 6:58AM
#1
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All right, let's try this out.
Here's my first character build - an elven ranger.
Abilities:
STR: 16
CON: 10
DEX: 18
INT: 10
WIS: 14
CHA: 10
(with racial mods)
AC: 16 FORT : 14 REF: 15 WILL: 12
HP: 27 Bloodied: 13 Healing surge: 6 Surges: 6
Melee ranger. Two longswords +6, 1d8+3 Longbtow +6. 1d10+4
Feat: Lethal Hunter
Exploits: Twin Strike, Hit & Run, Dire Wolverine Strike, Hunter's Bear Trap.
My thinking, such as it was, was to walk the line between melee and missile - at least for the first few levels. We don't have a warlock, so I'm it for ranged striker. However, I like the movement and melee dailies and see my character moving more towards melee at higher levels, while keeping some missile abilities. Plus, let's face it, I needed the hit points from the free Toughness.
So, I know the answer to "Is this optimal?" is "No." What I'd like to know is:
1. How badly did I mess this up?
2. How can I optimize this character for her role in later levels?
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2 years ago ::
Jun 11, 2008 - 7:34AM
#2
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There's nothing wrong with that stat loadout, and there's nothing wrong with wanting to start out primarily ranged while moving into melee in later levels.
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2 years ago ::
Jun 11, 2008 - 7:55AM
#3
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There's nothing wrong with that stat loadout, and there's nothing wrong with wanting to start out primarily ranged while moving into melee in later levels.
Considering how badly I managed to hose my first Third Edition PC, this is outstanding good news. OK, back to lurking this board.
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2 years ago ::
Jun 11, 2008 - 7:56AM
#4
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It isn't bad. The only thing set in stone are your ability points and Ranger path, and while I would generally prefer an 18 Str, there is one melee Ranger build that focuses almost equally on Str and Dex. That would be a scimitar wielding Stormwarden.
The main things to keep in mind for this build are:
1. Put all stat pumps into Str and Dex. Str gives you hit, both Str and Dex will give you damage, and Dex gives you necessary AC (since you lack the Con for heavy armor).
2. At level 11, take Scimitar Dance and Stormwarden.
Now you'll be doing 15 damage a turn with Twin Strike even if you completely whiff. This is great if you go up against a high AC foe and also helps alleviate any worries you might have had about 16 Str (if you had any).
So there really isn't anything bad about your start. If you dislike your powers, you can retrain them. Get a feel for which ones work well for you and stick with them, and ditch the ones that don't.
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2 years ago ::
Jun 11, 2008 - 8:35AM
#5
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I was going to avoid twin scimitars because I didn't want to rip off a certain dual/scimitar dark elf ranger, but I keep looking at Scimitar Dance.
Oh, yeah, I was supposed to go back to lurking. Well, in a while.
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2 years ago ::
Jun 11, 2008 - 8:47AM
#6
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I'd say drop your int or cha back down to 8 and pump your con to 12. on a purely numbers thing.
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2 years ago ::
Jun 11, 2008 - 9:05AM
#7
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I was going to avoid twin scimitars because I didn't want to rip off a certain dual/scimitar dark elf ranger, but I keep looking at Scimitar Dance.
Actually, if your DM is of a mind to do it, you could have a pretty hilarious character concept there: the guy who goes around with twin scimitars and complains that Drizz't stole his schtick. "Everyone asks me if I'm copying that lousy indigo-skinned pointy eared emo bastard. . . I DID IT FIRST! I DID IT FIRST, ME! I'M THE ONE WHO CAME UP WITH THE TWO SCIMITARS THING!"
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2 years ago ::
Jun 11, 2008 - 9:11AM
#8
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I really, really like that.
As the comparisons would be unavoidable, just run with them.
Just need a magical leopard companion named Guinevere.
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2 years ago ::
Jun 11, 2008 - 9:20AM
#9
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At a minimum, I would take 1 (really 2) points out of INT, and bump CON. More hp, and 28-31 hp bumps the value of your healing surge to 7. And you'll eventually have the CON to qualify for chain or scale, should you decide you want to go that route later.
I might suggest
S 16 Co 13 D 16 I 8 W 16 Ch 10
30 hp, +1 will save (which will always be your weakness, so every little bit helps), better performance from the ranger skills that use WIS, and can wear chain and scale from the get-go and qualify for plate at 21st.
While Hide + 20 DEX = Plate, the AC of magical heavy armor outraces that of magical hide armor (even with a very high DEX). Example: Hide +5 (best available) and DEX 26 = AC +13. Top scale is AC +13, and top plate is AC +14. For Hide + DEX to be better than plate, you have to start with 20 DEX.
So, if you really wanted to transition from ranged to melee, I would suggest pumping DEX until level 18 (or 11, depending on where you wanted the 22), and then switching to WIS (while always pumping STR), and taking the heavy armor.
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2 years ago ::
Jun 11, 2008 - 9:30AM
#10
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I was afraid I hadn't put enough into Wisdom, and I don't like the low CON either. But I'm stuck with the ability scores I have now. I'm liking the scimitar/stormwarden approach...I think I'll take that. But I will use S 16 Co 13 D 16 I 8 W 16 Ch 10
for my next melee ranger, Wis and Con are a lot more important than I thought, and heavy armor didn't occur to me.
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