Build Questions

[Ehecatl]

Hello there! I'm making a psychic warrior and I'm thinking of taking a level of Ranger at level 1 to open up some good beginning skills and provide the track feat for potentially going into the Slayer class. I'm not sure if my character will become a slayer yet but I know I want the benefits the first level of Ranger provides.

So... my question is would it disadvantage me much to take 1 level of Ranger before going straight psychic warrior or psychic warrior/ Slayer? I'd only be taking a single level in it but I don't want to cause my character to lag too far behind the rest in the party. I plan on being either a damage dealer or a tank (or both). This'd be my first time playing a psionic character so I'm not sure how far a single level of Ranger would or could hold me back.

 

[Dandu]

All your questions answered

 

[Ehecatl]

Where? I've already looked at that gigantic guide. I want one level of ranger but I wish to know if it would hinder me significantly. I do not see an answer to that question with the guide you linked me to, though there is a lot of useful information there.

 

[Dandu]

Ranger isn't mentioned, therefore, I assume it isn't worth it.

 

[Ehecatl]

But for as expansive as that guide is, you know that guides aren't everything in this game and that new builds are made all the time. Don't get me wrong. I'm following this guide almost to the letter. But I'm trying to deduce if a single level (level 1) of Ranger would hamper my ability to DPS or Tank effectively.

If it doesn't cool. If it does, can you answer why and to what extent? But telling me "Well its not in the guide so..." doesn't really provide a satisfying answer. Sorry... Don't mean to make this complicated but I do have a reason for this.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I'm not sure if Ranger is a good idea or not, but just felt like chiming in that if you DO end up taking exactly 1 level of ranger and no more, you should be sure to do Wildshape Ranger and basically get barbarian fast movement for free. C.Champion's 3/day speak with plants/animals SLA is also slightly more likely to ever actually be useful to you, compared to the 1+cha mod wild empathy check you would have had if not utilizing that swap.

 

[Dandu]

Psychic Warrior wants PP, not skills.
Ranger gives skills, not PP.

Thus, I advise skipping Ranger.

 

[emoplato]

Hello there! I'm making a psychic warrior and I'm thinking of taking a level of Ranger at level 1 to open up some good beginning skills and provide the track feat for potentially going into the Slayer class. I'm not sure if my character will become a slayer yet but I know I want the benefits the first level of Ranger provides.

So... my question is would it disadvantage me much to take 1 level of Ranger before going straight psychic warrior or psychic warrior/ Slayer? I'd only be taking a single level in it but I don't want to cause my character to lag too far behind the rest in the party. I plan on being either a damage dealer or a tank (or both). This'd be my first time playing a psionic character so I'm not sure how far a single level of Ranger would or could hold me back.

I assume you mean the Illithid Slayer, correct? It is probably better for you look into a psion or wilder because the advantage of this it is a full BAB class with only one level hit in manifesting so get some big manifesting levels. The Lords of Madness also has the Topaz Guardian which has some of the same base statistics so you won't have to worry about filling a lot of your levels with weak psion hit die. Psychic warriors are usually better taken alone with a synergetic dips(tashalatora monk) as the big advantage with them is the vast amounts of feats to choose from along with many combat oriented powers(egoists do too). I think you need to state what you want exactly.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

I know the SRD has the generic "Slayer" PrC, but the abilities are still designed to fight Illithids. The Favored Enemy bonus and the full BAB could benefit a Psychic warrior but there are other builds that could make a better Damage Dealer/Damage Taker, like [MENTION=97812]emoplato[/MENTION]'s Tashalatora Feat suggestion (dip into Monk to get the Unarmed Combat progression, WIS to AC and Flurry of Blows). Psychic Warrior really is PP starved and limited in Powers, you'll want as much as you can get.

All that said, I think a straight Psychic Warrior could become a better DPS/Tank than a Psychic Warrior/Ranger1/Slayer.

[MENTION=35909]StreamOfTheSky[/MENTION]'s suggestion of the Wildshape Ranger would be the most optimal Ranger dip I could think of if you decide to go that way.