CharOp : Druid Ranger

[Nakaz]

Hi guys, i was wondering if you could land me a hand into optimizing my character. i'm trying to build a level 13 druid ranger, i'm open to any suggestion.

Essentially what i want is a mobile character using a staff as a two weapon fighting for twin strike that will shape into beast from time to time and use the staff as en implement.

Note that this is not a "new char" following the rule of starting items. Its in fact a remake of en old character so i was allow to keep the same "value" of items

So here's what i got...
Thanks for taking the time to help me out.

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Ecthelion Felagund, level 13
Elf, Druid|Ranger, Blood Moon Stalker
Hybrid Druid: Hybrid Druid Reflex
Hybrid Ranger: Hybrid Ranger Reflex
Hybrid Talent: Ranger Fighting Style
Ranger Fighting Style: Beast Mastery (Hybrid)
Beast Companion Type: Wolf
Background: Caravan Scout, Deserter, Eldeen Reaches, Enlisted Soldier, War Courier (+2 to Perception)

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 20, Con 11, Dex 16, Int 11, Wis 20, Cha 9.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 17, Con 10, Dex 13, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 8.


AC: 26 Fort: 26 Reflex: 24 Will: 24
HP: 83 Surges: 6 Surge Value: 20

TRAINED SKILLS
Dungeoneering +16, Insight +17, Perception +21, Athletics +15

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +8, Arcana +6, Bluff +5, Diplomacy +5, Endurance +5, Heal +11, History +6, Intimidate +5, Nature +13, Religion +6, Stealth +8, Streetwise +5, Thievery +8

FEATS
Level 1: Agile Form
Level 2: Hybrid Talent
Level 4: Mark of Handling
Level 6: Lethal Hunter
Level 8: Focused Expertise (Quarterstaff)
Level 10: Staff Fighting
Level 11: Vital Form
Level 12: Quick Wild Shape

POWERS
Hybrid Druid at-will 1: Grasping Claws
Hybrid Ranger at-will 1: Twin Strike
Hybrid encounter 1: Evasive Strike
Hybrid daily 1: Jaws of the Wolf
Hybrid utility 2: Yield Ground
Hybrid encounter 3: Predator's Flurry
Hybrid daily 5: Roar of Terror
Hybrid utility 6: Prescient Maneuver
Hybrid encounter 7: Beast Rush
Hybrid daily 9: Primal Wolf
Hybrid utility 10: Animal Shapes
Hybrid encounter 13: Armor Splinter (replaces Predator's Flurry)

ITEMS
Potion of Healing (heroic tier) (5), Backpack (empty), Bedroll, Climber's Kit, Disguise Kit, Everburning Torch, Flint and Steel, Hunter's Kit, Identification Papers, with Portrait (2), Journeybreads (50), Pouch, Belt (empty), Rope, Silk (50 ft.), Sunrod (10), Tent, Waterskin (3), Wine, Bottle (2), Diadem of Acuity (heroic tier), Backlash Tattoo (heroic tier), Handy Haversack (heroic tier), Treeform Box (heroic tier), Battle Staff +4, Potion of Regeneration (heroic tier) (5), Predator's Hide Earthhide Armor +3, Cloak of the Walking Wounded +3, Claw Gloves (heroic tier), Boots of Striding (heroic tier), Iron Armbands of Power (paragon tier), Diamond Cincture (heroic tier), Lens of Descernment (heroic tier), Map of Orienteering (heroic tier), Pouch of Platinum (heroic tier), Lamp of Discerning (heroic tier), Cask of Liquid Gold (heroic tier), Solitaire (Citrine) (paragon tier), Potion of Clarity (level 5) (10), Caustic Whetstone (heroic tier) (5), Unguent of Darkvision (paragon tier) (2), Sigil of Companionship (paragon tier)
RITUALS
Raise Beast Companion, Animal Messenger, Steed Summons
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======

 

[Nakaz]

Anyone ?

 

[tiornys]

I'm not overly familiar with Druids, but I do know that Disruptive Strike (Ranger E3) and Attacks on the Run (Ranger D9) are two of the best powers in the game. I suspect they're better choices than what you have now.

Weapon Focus: Staff is just better than Lethal Hunter any time you don't score a crit. Lethal Hunter increases your average damage by 2 once per round, while Weapon Focus increases your average damage by 2 on every hit (including Druid attacks).

Since you're bothering to have a beast companion, you should look into Beast Protector; it's basically the best optimization reason to do a beast companion in the first place.

t~

 

[Nakaz]

Thank you for your help I'll check weapon focus Staff for sure! As for the beast companion, well the other hybrid class feature weren't attractive : prime shot is useless here, TWF too since I'm using a staff, I admit that i could take predator or guardian for +speed or AC but I thought that having a pet to help me flank would be a better bonus.

 

[Turtlejay]

You have some rituals, but not the ritual caster feat. What's up with that?

Jay

 

[Nakaz]

Raise beast companion comes from the ranger beast-master class feature and the two others come for the mark of handling.

 

[Turtlejay]

Doh!

Well, I'm not terribly familiar with either the druid or the melee ranger, but I do like:

Battle Staff - Isn't that the implement that crits on a 19 for melee attacks? Very cool with Twin Strike, should make up for the *slightly* lower damage die.

Mark of Handling - Somehow I missed it in my first skim, but this feat is pretty awesome for Beastmaster Rangers, so there is another win.

And some questions:

Your defenses: Having not built a 13th level character in some time, I'm not sure if I'm right, but they seem kind of low. AC anyways does. Even if it is a *little* low, a melee character with only 6 surges can be pretty fragile. You might want to consider Durable or some other method of toughening up.

Ranged option: That is quite a list of magic items, but I didn't spot a ranged option for you. I know the Druid has some ranged ability, but not being very familiar with the power list, I wasn't sure if you had chosen any powers in that vein.

Jay

 

[tiornys]

Thank you for your help I'll check weapon focus Staff for sure! As for the beast companion, well the other hybrid class feature weren't attractive : prime shot is useless here, TWF too since I'm using a staff, I admit that i could take predator or guardian for +speed or AC but I thought that having a pet to help me flank would be a better bonus.

Granted, the other Hybrid Talents aren't exciting, although the Druid builds do grant you extra effects on some powers. That said, nothing forces a hybrid character to take the Hybrid Talent feat; if you aren't excited by the options, spend the feat on something that does excite you (like Weapon Focus...).

t~

 

[Nakaz]

Ya, i guess your right... Initially I had in mind to build a party of 3 by my own : Druid shaped shift, beast-master pet and shaman(M-C feat) spirit, so I would of had my little own pack of "wolfs". With the actions seperated thrue 3 character to control I was to belived that I wouldn't be potent that way, so i drop the shaman mc feat to sharpen my action list.

that said, if I were to drop the Hybrid talent feat(Beasmaster) i would also be droping Mark of handling. Witch would give me two open feats. The 1st one would be Weapon Focus Staff and what would you suggest for the second one ?

PS: I'm not familiar with Beast Protector, is that a PP ? if so, what's are the special feature about it ?

 

[tiornys]

Ok, I've finally had a chance to look at your build in the Character Builder. A couple of notes:

If you decide to drop the beast companion, Beast Rush obviously needs to change. I recommend Disruptive Strike even though it's a level 3 power; as mentioned earlier, it's one of the best encounter powers: it's an out of turn attack that generally cancels an enemy attack. (Actually, I recommend this even if you keep the companion.)

I don't really like the Vital Form feat. Using your second wind is pretty expensive as it costs a standard action; I'd look at Toughness to help avoid the need for second winds or a leader multiclass if you feel the need for extra healing.

Feats I like:
Elven Precision is a nice boost to your Elven Accuracy, especially since you'll tend to use the reroll when you really want to hit.
Brutal Accuracy is a nice 1/encounter damage boost.
Predatory Action is a more controllable damage boost tied to action points.
Preternatural Senses is a great boost to Perception if you'll be the primary detector in the party.
Hunting Wolf Form is another great boost to Perception if you don't mind walking around as a beast out of combat.
Two-Weapon Fighting--Two-Weapon Defense--Two Weapon Opening is a nice feat chain to maximize your non-beast form attacks.
Spirit Talker--Mending Spirit is the best available healing chain through multiclassing; you'd want to call your spirit out of battle, and I wouldn't bother having any attacks for it. It moves when you move, so positioning it wouldn't be too bad.

t~