Is a fighter-ranger hybrid dumb? (help me build)

[Mercurius]

I'm going to introduce an Aragorn-esque sword-and-bow master type NPC in my session tonight (9-10th level), probably later on in the evening and not involving combat so the stats don't need to be totally formed yet. But I wanted to get some feedback and make sure I'm not missing the mark by creating a fighter-ranger hybrid. Are they too similar? If I want the character to be a wilderness type with a focus on swords and blows, should I just stick with a ranger? What's the benefit of hybridizing with fighter? Any feats or powers I should pay especial attention to? Etc.

Think of Aragorn a couple decades before the LotR, and replacing the gloomy vibe and heavy heritage with a more mercenary/adventurous bent, and a strong skill in swords and bows. In other words, imagine Aragorn if Fritz Lieber or Robert Howard were writing him.

Specific suggestions like magic items and feats are greatly appreciated. I'm also open to different hybrids, although think ranger should be in the mix (or maybe warden?).

Thanks!

 

[keterys]

Str/Dex Tempest/Ranger should work out just fine.

 

[Mercurius]

Str/Dex Tempest/Ranger should work out just fine.

What is a "tempest"? Is that a build? I didn't see that option in Character Builder.

 

[Ferghis]

What is a "tempest"? Is that a build? I didn't see that option in Character Builder.

Yep. It's a fighter build. You'll find it in the character builder. My suggestion is to focus on str first, then wis, then dex. You won't be that great with the Bow, but it's otherwise a great build. Take a bunch of two weapon feats, and a few skills.

 

[Grimgrin]

A hybred Paired Weapon fighter/ranger would be a STR/DEX build. It works because both classes have STR as a primary stat, and a Tempest Fighter wears lighter armor than other fighters.

He wouldn't be as tough as a fighter, but both the fighter's Tempest Technique (2W Defense, Att/Dam bonuses) and the ranger's Two Weapon Fighting (Use any 1W weapon as off-hand) stack well. Since most of the 2W ranger melee powers are also ranged, he has good ranged attacks. Heavy thrown weapons work better than a bow if you are close enough.

 

[bganon]

If you want swords and bows, you might actually look in the Warlord class. There's a ranged warlord option, that way you can get both melee/ranged to key off STR, making it less difficult to be good at both.

 

[Saagael]

It's also worth noting that if this is going to be an NPC, you'll want to play by the NPC rules, not the PC rules. NPCs can be whatever you need them to be, regardless of what class they -might- be if they were a player character. If you want an Aragorn-esque NPC that's good at both bows and blades, make the NPC just that. No need to worry about classes at all.

If you want it to have some similarities to a class, you can take an existing NPC and give them a fighter or ranger template as per the DMG1, which makes then an elite monster.

Whatever you do, remember that PCs and NPCs play completely separate rules. If I were to stat this NPC out, I'd probably make him a skirmisher (leader). You can even take inspiration from PC powers, just make sure they follow NPC rules for attack and damage.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

depends where you put the 8... but most surely he is... or just freaking ugly

 

[mkill]

The problem about fighter-ranger hybrid is that half of him wants to be hit, the other one tries to avoid it. One half wants to draw as many weak critters as possible, the other wants to go for the big dude. So even if you're fighter/ranger by the rules, you can only be either fighter or ranger by tactics, on the battlefield. I just played a session today in a group where we have both a 2WF Ranger and a Tempest Fighter, and even if they look similar, they play different.

And as a previous poster said, if it's an NPC, it doesn't matter anyway. Use DMG p. 186 for NPCs, or the companion rules in DMG2 if he's supposed to travel with the party. And no, there are no hybrid rules for NPC, simply because they're unnecessary.

 

[keterys]

A tempest-fighter/ranger is a great choice for a second defender, where they can initially help out by marking, then switch to full damage later. They're able to do very good damage, especially if they take ranger off-turn powers like Disruptive Strike or non-standards like Off-Hand minor action attacks.

That said, I would never worry about using the PC rules for NPCs.