Did I screw up? (fighter feat selction)

[celtonline]

I'm playing a dwarven fighter. The concept I had was a two-weapon fighter, switching my off-hand between shield and hand-axe, my primary weapon being the dwarven waraxe. As things have progressed I've meandered my way to ninth level, focusing more on waraxe-and-shield rather than axe'n'axe.

Another player in the group has as his character a human Monte Cook ranger and find myself barely keeping even if not falling behind with him for damage. He's taken Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Improved Rapid Shot and Weapon Focus: Composite Longbow.

He has 17 Strength and 18 Dexterity. I have 18 Strength and 17 Dexterity.

My feat selection has been as follows:
1 Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Waraxe (Dwarven/1-H))
1 Two-Weapon Fighting

2 Ambidexterity

3 Weapon Focus (Waraxe (Dwarven/1-H))

4 Weapon Specialization (Waraxe (Dwarven/1-H))

6 Shield Expert
6 Iron Will (This is the one feat that broke the two weapon chain, twas an rp thing)

8 Weapon Focus (Shieldbash)

9 Improved Two-Weapon Fighting

My plan for the chain I was following was to pick up Weapon Spec (Shieldbash), Improved Crit (Waraxe), Off Hand Weapon Expert (Quintessential Fighter) and Improved Shieldbash (DotF), thus wielding a dwarven waraxe and spiked shield together.

I realized last session that the MC Ranger using a mighty compsite longbow has better to-hit probability, equivalent if not better damage and is able to do so at range. In additon he's done so with feats left over to otherwise tweak is archery abilities, is planning on picking up a Mighty Composite bow (+4 Str), and let's leave off any

Did I paint myself into a corner? Anyone have ideas how I can catch up.

 

[Thanee]

Archers are powerful, but they have limitations as well. Luckily the other guy isn't playing a Cleric!

As a melee fighter you won't be able to match a good archer's attack bonus, but you should be able to match or even surpass his damage output.

Power Attack and Cleave would certainly help to aquire this.

I think, as a fighter you should also take a look into some feats, that add options to your fighting style (i.e. Expertise and Improved Trip, if you have the required Int score). Blind-Fight is also a very useful one.

I don't think I would go for Weapon Specialization with the shield, but rather pick up Power Attack instead!

Power Attack is IMHO one of the best fighter feats available!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Mr Fidgit]

Did I paint myself into a corner? Anyone have ideas how I can catch up.

i wouldn't worry about 'catching up'. i would continue with your feat plans and concept for your character.


and i would call the ranger a wimp every time he stayed out of melee

 

[Stalker0]

Remember that while he has the ranged advantage, when the baddies run up, you have to go to melee, and that's where you shine.

If you want to beat him in damage, the power attack is the way to go. However, complementing him might be better. You could go with more ac, since you seem to invest some in shields, getting a better shield can help raise your AC, allowing you to take the damage while the archer can get away and then do his thign.

 

[Mistwell]

At some point your DM will probably make sure the Ranger has his bow sundered, and will start using lots of grapple attacks against him. Don't worry, it is a temporary thing. Range Fighters and Melee Fighters are basically balanced, but neither really outdoes the other (with the right DM).

Besides, is it really a competition? Your goals are the same - defeat the enemy!

 

[ConcreteBuddha]

As a DM, I love Caster NPCs vs. Archers.

Warp Wood, Control Winds, Protection from Arrows, Control Weather, Fog Cloud, Solid Fog, Wall of XXXX, Obscuring Mist, Shield, Web, Bigby's Various Hands, Blindness, Wind Wall, Gust of Wind, Solid Fog, Otiluke's Various Spheres...

Just anonymously hand your DM a list of these.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Definitely pick up Improved Shield Bash as soon as you can. You'll start knocking opponents around the battlefield, forcing attacks of opportunity and flanking attacks all the while. My gnoll barbarian/ranger loves it.

Or, take a level of Barbarian. A little rage now and again could come in handy.

 

[celtonline]

I'm not trying to compete with him but I'm feeling ineffectual in holding up my end. Most of combats have been against singles or small groups.

Part of it no doubt is I have no magic other than a +1 Waraxe which I had to purchase on my own. I'm wearing Banded and using a Large Shield.

He's currently sporting Studded Leather +2 and a Magic +1 Mighty Composite bow. The cleric of the party casts Greater Magic weapon on his arrows and he's good for another +2 magic bonus on his hit probability. [Edit] He also has a +2 longsword.

What's usually been happening is I take massive amounts of damage, perhaps getting a stroke in (remember I'm -2 if attacking with both weapons) and basically buying time until the sorceror, the cleric and the archer take out whatever we're fighting. The other party members aren't usally threatened with physical harm. If my only contribution is to take damage and suck up healing potions for afters I could just grapple or the like.

 

[Christian]

Well, I think your DM screwed up-by letting someone play a severely unbalanced class like M.C.'s Ranger.

(I now cast 'Protection from Fire' and run away.)

 

[Wolf72]

why are the magic items so lopsided? ... you've got about 2000+gp worth ... and he's got 6000+gp worth ...

see if you can't get your waraxe enchated with keen ... that x3 crit multiplyer will start making a difference.

yah either that, or dare him to try to slug it out next time instead of taking the cowards way out!

(um, wait ... my favorite character I've had since 1e is an elf fighter ... mounted archer specialist ... ... ... which reminds of a story with a moral: My 1e elf fighter (super specialist guy with bow) would kill any BBEG with a few arrows. I killed killed killed ... my DM had an idea, a graveyard. Well the 2 gargoyles died in the same round. The vampire was dust 2 rounds later ... but the skeletons and zombies kicked the stuffing out of me! holy heck! Now the moral: archers are good, but usually don't fare to well against melee opponents, especially large groups!)