Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
Thrill of the Hunt: The Ranger's Handbook (by lordduskblade)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Veep" data-source="post: 6705432" data-attributes="member: 6793297"><p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"><span style="font-size: 18px">At-Will Powers: The Fundamentals of the Hunt</span></span></span></strong></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'">Since the Ranger is a V-class, I've taken the liberty of separating the powers based on how they can be used, whether it's with Strength, Dexterity, both, or with a Beast.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'">This section basically boils down to what your second At-Will is, since in the vast majority of the cases, your first At-Will should be <span style="color: #daa520"><strong>Twin Strike</strong></span>. If it's not, be warned that there is basically no Ranger build that doesn't give up a significant portion of their At-Will damage by not taking that power.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p>[h=3]Strength-Based:[/h]<span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"><span style="color: #800080"><strong>Hit and Run</strong></span> (PHB) - A Melee Basic Attack that makes the first square of your move action not provoke. Rather underwhelming overall, since most Melee Rangers like to plant themselves next to an enemy and unload a ton of attacks on them, rather than running away.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Marauder's Rush </strong></span>(MP 2) - Basically an MBA with extra damage you can use on a charge. While most Rangers aren't known for being particularly charge-happy, this provides a solid second option for Melee Rangers when a move action isn't enough to reach a given target.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"><strong>Shield of Blades</strong> (PHH 2) - A Melee Basic Attack that hands out +2 to AC is rather odd on a Ranger, but you never know; it might just get you out of a pinch.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Throw and Stab</strong></span> (MP 2) - So... you get another two-attack At-Will, with a slightly more bizarre sequence. This power took quite the blow to the jaw from errata, as it can no longer perform the focus-fire function a Ranger is typically looking for. That said, it can be useful for spreading the love around when that's the way to go, minion-blasting, or just moving around. A potentially sweet second option, though it is limited a bit by requiring a thrown weapon.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p>[h=3]Dexterity-Based:[/h]<span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"><strong>Fading Strike </strong>(MP 2) - This At-Will is very interesting in that it can be used in Melee or Ranged, yet always key off of Dexterity. It also offers a bigger shifting distance than Nimble Strike. The problem is that it fails to accomplish what Nimble Strike does so well for pure Archers, which is disengage <em>before</em> attacking, so it has a different niche, which is to take an actual Melee weapon and hit someone with it. With that in mind, it can be a nice tool in the arsenal of a Melee Ranger that favors Dexterity.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"><span style="color: #ff0000"><strong>Hunter's Teamwork</strong></span> (PHH 1) - A vanilla Ranged attack that offers you CA if the target is surrounded by allies. This is strictly worse than Careful Attack, because the bonus to hit is conditional and it's not like getting Combat Advantage is impossible as a Ranged character (ever heard of Distant Advantage? Cunning Stalker? Frost? I could go on).</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Nimble Strike</strong></span> (PHB) - A great power to disengage from a pesky Melee opponent, this power will make sure you never stay in Melee for too long. A strong pick for pure Archers.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"><span style="color: #800080"><strong>Warning Shot</strong></span> (D 383) - A Ranged attack that has Control-oriented implications if the target moves where you designate. It's a potentially very damaging power overall (as it can deal a little more damage than Twin Strike if the condition is met), but you can bet it won't be triggered all that often, and its immediate action trigger means you'd have to choose between it or all of the great Archer powers with the same trigger.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p>[h=3]Strength- or Dexterity-based:[/h]<span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"><strong>Careful Attack</strong> (PHB) - Errata has brought a lovely new gift for what once was the Ranger's most maligned At-Will: an ability modifier in damage. Now, this attack offers an untyped +2 to hit over a basic attack, which actually makes it worth looking at. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"><span style="color: #daa520"><strong>Twin Strike </strong></span>(PHB) - The foundation of the Ranger throne as kings of damage, this power allows you to apply all your static damage bonuses twice, which gets even more powerful as time goes on. There is no real reason to not use this power, frankly.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p>[h=3]Beast Powers:[/h]<span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"><strong>Circling Strike</strong> (MP) - You can draw many parallels from this power to the Warlord's Wolf Pack Tactics... except that it only applies to your Beast. Given the fix to Careful Attack, this lost some shine.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"><span style="color: #800080"><strong>Predator Strike</strong></span> (MP) - This power starts off pretty well compared to most other at-wills, but it loses a lot of steam later on in your career, since the Beast's damage scales very poorly compared to that of a character. Not recommended, unless you're playing a Level 1 one-shot campaign.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333"><span style="font-family: 'Open Sans'"></span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Veep, post: 6705432, member: 6793297"] [CENTER][B][COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans][SIZE=5]At-Will Powers: The Fundamentals of the Hunt[/SIZE][/FONT][/COLOR][/B][/CENTER] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] Since the Ranger is a V-class, I've taken the liberty of separating the powers based on how they can be used, whether it's with Strength, Dexterity, both, or with a Beast. This section basically boils down to what your second At-Will is, since in the vast majority of the cases, your first At-Will should be [COLOR=#daa520][B]Twin Strike[/B][/COLOR]. If it's not, be warned that there is basically no Ranger build that doesn't give up a significant portion of their At-Will damage by not taking that power. [/FONT][/COLOR] [h=3]Strength-Based:[/h][COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [COLOR=#800080][B]Hit and Run[/B][/COLOR] (PHB) - A Melee Basic Attack that makes the first square of your move action not provoke. Rather underwhelming overall, since most Melee Rangers like to plant themselves next to an enemy and unload a ton of attacks on them, rather than running away. [COLOR=#0000ff][B]Marauder's Rush [/B][/COLOR](MP 2) - Basically an MBA with extra damage you can use on a charge. While most Rangers aren't known for being particularly charge-happy, this provides a solid second option for Melee Rangers when a move action isn't enough to reach a given target. [B]Shield of Blades[/B] (PHH 2) - A Melee Basic Attack that hands out +2 to AC is rather odd on a Ranger, but you never know; it might just get you out of a pinch. [COLOR=#0000ff][B]Throw and Stab[/B][/COLOR] (MP 2) - So... you get another two-attack At-Will, with a slightly more bizarre sequence. This power took quite the blow to the jaw from errata, as it can no longer perform the focus-fire function a Ranger is typically looking for. That said, it can be useful for spreading the love around when that's the way to go, minion-blasting, or just moving around. A potentially sweet second option, though it is limited a bit by requiring a thrown weapon.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [/FONT][/COLOR] [h=3]Dexterity-Based:[/h][COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [B]Fading Strike [/B](MP 2) - This At-Will is very interesting in that it can be used in Melee or Ranged, yet always key off of Dexterity. It also offers a bigger shifting distance than Nimble Strike. The problem is that it fails to accomplish what Nimble Strike does so well for pure Archers, which is disengage [I]before[/I] attacking, so it has a different niche, which is to take an actual Melee weapon and hit someone with it. With that in mind, it can be a nice tool in the arsenal of a Melee Ranger that favors Dexterity. [COLOR=#ff0000][B]Hunter's Teamwork[/B][/COLOR] (PHH 1) - A vanilla Ranged attack that offers you CA if the target is surrounded by allies. This is strictly worse than Careful Attack, because the bonus to hit is conditional and it's not like getting Combat Advantage is impossible as a Ranged character (ever heard of Distant Advantage? Cunning Stalker? Frost? I could go on). [COLOR=#0000ff][B]Nimble Strike[/B][/COLOR] (PHB) - A great power to disengage from a pesky Melee opponent, this power will make sure you never stay in Melee for too long. A strong pick for pure Archers. [COLOR=#800080][B]Warning Shot[/B][/COLOR] (D 383) - A Ranged attack that has Control-oriented implications if the target moves where you designate. It's a potentially very damaging power overall (as it can deal a little more damage than Twin Strike if the condition is met), but you can bet it won't be triggered all that often, and its immediate action trigger means you'd have to choose between it or all of the great Archer powers with the same trigger.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [/FONT][/COLOR] [h=3]Strength- or Dexterity-based:[/h][COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [B]Careful Attack[/B] (PHB) - Errata has brought a lovely new gift for what once was the Ranger's most maligned At-Will: an ability modifier in damage. Now, this attack offers an untyped +2 to hit over a basic attack, which actually makes it worth looking at. [COLOR=#daa520][B]Twin Strike [/B][/COLOR](PHB) - The foundation of the Ranger throne as kings of damage, this power allows you to apply all your static damage bonuses twice, which gets even more powerful as time goes on. There is no real reason to not use this power, frankly.[/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [/FONT][/COLOR] [COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [/FONT][/COLOR] [h=3]Beast Powers:[/h][COLOR=#333333][FONT=Open Sans] [B]Circling Strike[/B] (MP) - You can draw many parallels from this power to the Warlord's Wolf Pack Tactics... except that it only applies to your Beast. Given the fix to Careful Attack, this lost some shine. [COLOR=#800080][B]Predator Strike[/B][/COLOR] (MP) - This power starts off pretty well compared to most other at-wills, but it loses a lot of steam later on in your career, since the Beast's damage scales very poorly compared to that of a character. Not recommended, unless you're playing a Level 1 one-shot campaign. [/FONT][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
Thrill of the Hunt: The Ranger's Handbook (by lordduskblade)
Top