Ranger needs help

[angry monkey]

I'm playing in a pretty advanced campaign, we all play characters that dish out some serious damage.

Except the ranger.

He sometimes hits, but his short sword damage is not much compared to the ogre fighter with keen spiked gauntlets (and improved crit, of course).

Anyone have advice on how to tell this guy to play his character better? any strong ranger builds that use two weapon fighting out there?

 

[Hypersmurf]

3E game, not 3.5, I take it?

-Hyp.

 

[Darklone]

Ogre fighter with gauntlets? Strange. I would have expected some serious twohanded PowerAttacking smackishness.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I'm playing in a pretty advanced campaign, we all play characters that dish out some serious damage.

Except the ranger.

He sometimes hits, but his short sword damage is not much compared to the ogre fighter with keen spiked gauntlets (and improved crit, of course).

Anyone have advice on how to tell this guy to play his character better? any strong ranger builds that use two weapon fighting out there?

Yeah, fight only your favored enemies. Since you can't do that, play a ranger who doesn't suck instead This means archery.

But if you must use TWF, go for a two-bladed (double) sword. Note that you won't get the combo of high AC and high damage like a fighter does, that's why you should stick with archery.

There's nothing you can do about the ogre, other than kill him. Many ECL races aren't very balanced on at least some part of their progression.

 

[Laurel]

Get rid of the short bow- Great bow d10 damage as opposed to d6.
Fight your favorite enemy at ever chance, heck go seek them out

There are lots of cool feats out there that would help damage and attack also.

Most ranger TWF I have seen are also rogues. This adds sneak attacks and flanking stuff which bumps the benefits way up to a straight ranger with TWF.

 

[Plane Sailing]

If he is using two shortswords as it sounds then no wonder his damage sucks!

Options:

EWP Bastard sword and use bastard sword + short sword (better damage generally and much better off when you only get a single attack on a standard action). Also works if you have quickdraw, fight with bastard sword 2H until you get into a full attack opportunity and then quickdraw the shortsword for extra attacks.

If you have already focused on shortsword specific feats for some reason: Obtain two SunBlades. Just the job for dual wielding.

Pump up your strength

TWF (and its upper levels) give you a benefit of more attacks, so you have to make every attack count more. Any bonus damage you can get to the attacks is great (enhancement bonus, favoured enemy bonus, strength bonus and other flat bonuses will be multiplied on a crit and are especially good, extra dice from flaming/shocking/etc or sneak attacks are also good)

 

[Hypersmurf]

Yeah, fight only your favored enemies. Since you can't do that, play a ranger who doesn't suck instead This means archery.

If he's playing a 3E game, there are no Combat Styles

-Hyp.