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Help build a Single-Classed Ranger.
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<blockquote data-quote="Gaiden" data-source="post: 425720" data-attributes="member: 103"><p>Elder-Basilisk - If I am not mistaken, I believe that mithril adds the quality of +3 to max dex - IDHMBWM though, so you may be right that the chain shirt is better.</p><p></p><p>I missed the part about giant killer. To be versatile and still focus on defeating giants you need to consider what are the strengths and weaknesses of giants and how can you take advantage of them but still apply how you do so to other encounters.</p><p></p><p>Strengths (in general)</p><p></p><p>Giants have great Str - good for melee and grapples</p><p>Gaints have lots of HP</p><p>Giants have reach</p><p></p><p>Weaknesses (in general)</p><p></p><p>Low will and reflex saves</p><p>not many skills</p><p>not extermely intelligent</p><p>Relatively low AC's (unless they wear armor)</p><p></p><p>You really need to watch out for Giants grappling - the idea of spiked armor with enchanted spikes is a good one. However, you still need to win a grapple check to get out of a pin if the giant decides to do that - even with your high str, giants are still going to wipe the floor with you when it comes to grappling. Consider close quarters combat - this will be useful against the giant's advantage as well as any other creature with improved grapple or snatch. However, this is a response feat rather than an iniate feat meaning you have to wait for something to happen - in general that is not as useful as forcing the opponent to respond to you.</p><p></p><p>Giants have lots of HP so one's first response is - POWER ATTACK. While this is very useful and will also capitalize on their generally low ACs (as well as its versatility with other combatants) I would not consider this feat as a foregone conclusion. Don't forget - to capitalize on the strengths of the class you are already taking a hit to your Attack bonus. I have played a combat oriented ranger before with Power Attack and inevitably every time I used the feat I missed - (I think it was more a dumb luck sort of thing than anything - but that was my experience).</p><p></p><p>There is something important to consider when fighting something with lots of HP - massive damage can be dealt in numerous ways and it is not in fact that amount of damage one can deal that makes them dangerous - it is the amount of damage they can deal relative to the amount they take/HP. If you deal less damage than PA but force the giant to only get one attack against you every round because you are spring attacking, the end result can be even better than power attacking - it is simply spaced out over a greater amount of time. Again, not to say PA is a bad feat - in fact it is one of the best for a combat oriented character in the game. Just keep the above in mind.</p><p></p><p>Giant's reach is a big issue (no pun intended). This can devastate you, especially if they have feats like large and in charge, have reach weapons themselves or combat reflexes. There are is one way to deal with this - make their reach irrelevant - you can do this with a reach weapon (usually), ranged attacks - if you take many shot, this is an excellent option because as a standard action you can get more than one attack, thus still getting to move (again, the boots are key here). Finally, there is spring attack. Spring attack will allow you to get in and out regardless of the giants reach. You don't have tumble as a class skill so that option is out.</p><p></p><p>If you take spring attack and have the boots you will pretty much force the giant to try and fight you on your own terms or he will have to grapple you to get you to stay in one place - refer to close quarters combat.</p><p></p><p>Not to mention Dodge would increase your precious AC - something that is one of your main weaknesses due to the light armor restriction and mobility (one of the most underrated feats in the game can be used against other combatants while spring attacking).</p><p></p><p>Low reflex and will saves mean ENTANGLE ENTANGLE ENTANGLE - catch the giant on your own terms in heavy vegetation. Grant it, he won't be immobilized, but his movement will be reduced while you pick him off with arrows.</p><p></p><p>The lack of skills means HIDE AND MOVE SILENTLY - the giant will not see you or hear you - its all about the sniping.</p><p></p><p>The relatively low Int can be used to your advantage by using good tactics like the hit and run tactics and then having close quarters combat - dumb things are easy to predict.</p><p></p><p>The relatively low AC is a boon for the ranger - PA is the obvious choice, but a less obvious choice is expertise - this will balance out their attack bonus with their AC by making you harder to hit and effectively making them harder to hit. Since you have OA available, consider Superior Expertise but not until you gain a few more levels and have magic and items to buff up your attack some.</p><p></p><p>Again, if you decide to go with the mobile ranger, stay away from quickdraw. Also, stay away from improved two weapon fighting as usually you will only get one attack. If you think you may want to go with the sniping tactics or at least surprise tactics and are going to use a reach weapon to over come the reach problem consider combat reflexes and expert tactician. This will not be quite as effective as if you were a rogue, but can still carry you. You would get 5 extra AoO per round, greatly increasing your versatility vs. multiple opponents and with a reach weapon will get to exercise those AoO often. If you do this, don't go for mobility as you will want to take quickdraw to switch between your reach weapon and lighter weapons. Also if you go for any sort of two handed weapon, make sure you can get an item or a buff that adds +2 to your Str as that will give you +2 to damage rather than just +1.</p><p></p><p>I personally would go with Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, and Close Quarters Combat or Expertise with Iron Will and Shot on the Run as other feats down the road.</p><p></p><p>Other good options:</p><p></p><p>Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, Expert Tactician, Quick Draw - this will be slightly better than exotic weapon spiked chain as your damage would be greater with whichever weapon you are using, you can use two weapons, and can switch to bow.</p><p></p><p>Iron Will, Close Quarters Combat, Point Blank Shot, Blind Fight (if going for versatility)</p><p></p><p>I have no idea of your terrain but brachiation may be of incredible use to you giving you movement through trees would be an incredible way to avoid land bound opponents and with your hide and move silently, you could be truly deadly (but again that would depend on setting).</p><p></p><p>For fighting vs. giants definitely get the best armor you can afford while maintaining the dex bonus and pump up your AC every way possible (think barkskin might be on the ranger's list), ring of protection, buffs from your party cleric/wizard/sorcerer/bard/druid.</p><p></p><p>Finally keep the low int of giants in the forefront of your mind - use it against them - use tactics, traps, terrain advantages, lighting, etc. against them.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Gaiden, post: 425720, member: 103"] Elder-Basilisk - If I am not mistaken, I believe that mithril adds the quality of +3 to max dex - IDHMBWM though, so you may be right that the chain shirt is better. I missed the part about giant killer. To be versatile and still focus on defeating giants you need to consider what are the strengths and weaknesses of giants and how can you take advantage of them but still apply how you do so to other encounters. Strengths (in general) Giants have great Str - good for melee and grapples Gaints have lots of HP Giants have reach Weaknesses (in general) Low will and reflex saves not many skills not extermely intelligent Relatively low AC's (unless they wear armor) You really need to watch out for Giants grappling - the idea of spiked armor with enchanted spikes is a good one. However, you still need to win a grapple check to get out of a pin if the giant decides to do that - even with your high str, giants are still going to wipe the floor with you when it comes to grappling. Consider close quarters combat - this will be useful against the giant's advantage as well as any other creature with improved grapple or snatch. However, this is a response feat rather than an iniate feat meaning you have to wait for something to happen - in general that is not as useful as forcing the opponent to respond to you. Giants have lots of HP so one's first response is - POWER ATTACK. While this is very useful and will also capitalize on their generally low ACs (as well as its versatility with other combatants) I would not consider this feat as a foregone conclusion. Don't forget - to capitalize on the strengths of the class you are already taking a hit to your Attack bonus. I have played a combat oriented ranger before with Power Attack and inevitably every time I used the feat I missed - (I think it was more a dumb luck sort of thing than anything - but that was my experience). There is something important to consider when fighting something with lots of HP - massive damage can be dealt in numerous ways and it is not in fact that amount of damage one can deal that makes them dangerous - it is the amount of damage they can deal relative to the amount they take/HP. If you deal less damage than PA but force the giant to only get one attack against you every round because you are spring attacking, the end result can be even better than power attacking - it is simply spaced out over a greater amount of time. Again, not to say PA is a bad feat - in fact it is one of the best for a combat oriented character in the game. Just keep the above in mind. Giant's reach is a big issue (no pun intended). This can devastate you, especially if they have feats like large and in charge, have reach weapons themselves or combat reflexes. There are is one way to deal with this - make their reach irrelevant - you can do this with a reach weapon (usually), ranged attacks - if you take many shot, this is an excellent option because as a standard action you can get more than one attack, thus still getting to move (again, the boots are key here). Finally, there is spring attack. Spring attack will allow you to get in and out regardless of the giants reach. You don't have tumble as a class skill so that option is out. If you take spring attack and have the boots you will pretty much force the giant to try and fight you on your own terms or he will have to grapple you to get you to stay in one place - refer to close quarters combat. Not to mention Dodge would increase your precious AC - something that is one of your main weaknesses due to the light armor restriction and mobility (one of the most underrated feats in the game can be used against other combatants while spring attacking). Low reflex and will saves mean ENTANGLE ENTANGLE ENTANGLE - catch the giant on your own terms in heavy vegetation. Grant it, he won't be immobilized, but his movement will be reduced while you pick him off with arrows. The lack of skills means HIDE AND MOVE SILENTLY - the giant will not see you or hear you - its all about the sniping. The relatively low Int can be used to your advantage by using good tactics like the hit and run tactics and then having close quarters combat - dumb things are easy to predict. The relatively low AC is a boon for the ranger - PA is the obvious choice, but a less obvious choice is expertise - this will balance out their attack bonus with their AC by making you harder to hit and effectively making them harder to hit. Since you have OA available, consider Superior Expertise but not until you gain a few more levels and have magic and items to buff up your attack some. Again, if you decide to go with the mobile ranger, stay away from quickdraw. Also, stay away from improved two weapon fighting as usually you will only get one attack. If you think you may want to go with the sniping tactics or at least surprise tactics and are going to use a reach weapon to over come the reach problem consider combat reflexes and expert tactician. This will not be quite as effective as if you were a rogue, but can still carry you. You would get 5 extra AoO per round, greatly increasing your versatility vs. multiple opponents and with a reach weapon will get to exercise those AoO often. If you do this, don't go for mobility as you will want to take quickdraw to switch between your reach weapon and lighter weapons. Also if you go for any sort of two handed weapon, make sure you can get an item or a buff that adds +2 to your Str as that will give you +2 to damage rather than just +1. I personally would go with Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack, and Close Quarters Combat or Expertise with Iron Will and Shot on the Run as other feats down the road. Other good options: Power Attack, Combat Reflexes, Expert Tactician, Quick Draw - this will be slightly better than exotic weapon spiked chain as your damage would be greater with whichever weapon you are using, you can use two weapons, and can switch to bow. Iron Will, Close Quarters Combat, Point Blank Shot, Blind Fight (if going for versatility) I have no idea of your terrain but brachiation may be of incredible use to you giving you movement through trees would be an incredible way to avoid land bound opponents and with your hide and move silently, you could be truly deadly (but again that would depend on setting). For fighting vs. giants definitely get the best armor you can afford while maintaining the dex bonus and pump up your AC every way possible (think barkskin might be on the ranger's list), ring of protection, buffs from your party cleric/wizard/sorcerer/bard/druid. Finally keep the low int of giants in the forefront of your mind - use it against them - use tactics, traps, terrain advantages, lighting, etc. against them. [/QUOTE]
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