Dragon #308 previews new ranger and barbarian!

[thalmin]

Judging by the Fighter Bonus Feats, there are
Two-Weapon Fighting, Two-Weapon Defense, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, Greater Two-Weapon Fighting.
Point Blank Shot, Far Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Manyshot, Shot on the Run, and Improved Precise Shot.

There is no indication so far if you can switch between the 2 paths. They are labeled: Combat Style; Improved CS; Combat Style Mastery.

 

[Simplicity]

But then if I really wanted twf, it would probably be better to just take the feats sooner with my normal feat progression and get the bonus feats as archery feats instead - feats that I might not really want. It would work if they set up the prereqs of the feats so that the earliest level you can take them coincides with the bonus feat level of the ranger. Maybe that's what will happen...

It's better in the short run to take the twf sooner, but in the
long run, it's better to get the feat for free and pick something
you will use early, like say Weapon Focus. (Remember, it's just
feat now, not feats... You only need 1 feat to fight well with 2 weapons.)

 

[Dark Jezter]

Almost nothing new for the fighter. Intimidate is now a class skill, and the list of Bonus Feats has been expanded to incoporate new feats, including Improved Precise Shot, Greater Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Specialization.

The Barbarian gets some added or adjusted class abilities.
Trap sense at level 3 (bonus to reflex saves vs traps)
Trap sense improves by +1 every 3rd level
DR 1/- at level 7
DR improves by 1 at levels 10, 13, 16 and 19
Greater Rage at level 11
Indomitable Will at level 14 (+4 to Will saves vs enchantments)
Tireless Rage at level 17
Mighty Rage at level 20 (Rage bonus increases to +8 Str, +8 Con, +4 Will)

Yes! I've always been a fan of the barbarian class, and hearing about these new changes have really made my day.

Mighty Rage? Wow! That +8 to Con equals 80 bonus hit points at level 20, not to mention that the barbarian will be doing hella damage in combat, since by level 20 he should have a Belt of Bull's Strength +6 and a +4 or +5 weapon. The +8 to strength will turn the barb into a killing machine.

I forsee Barbarian gaining a lot of popularity as a class when 3.5e comes out.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

To venture a guess:

TWF: 2d -TWF, 6th - TW Defense, 11th - ITWF

Archery: 2d - Rapid Shot, 6th - Many Shot, 11th - Shot on the Run

Based on the Manyshot feat revision, we know that (as of that time anyway) the Rnger got Manyshot at 6th. By giving him Rpaid Shot at 2d, he gets a second attack on a full round action regardless of combat style, albeit with penalties, and then improved options later on.

With the "virtual" path, there could be no Point Blank Shot (unless it's PBS, Many Shot, Rapid Shot, but that'd be a bit weak), which would mean the Ranger isn't automatically better than the Fighter -- in either case, a fighter focusing on TWF or archery is going to get those abilities sooner.

But that's just a guess.

 

[thalmin]

I remember reading they wanted to give reasons for staying in a class for all 20 levels. Seems like we have a few couple examples of that here. Something you have to give up if you multi- or prestige-class.

 

[Greatwyrm]

Yep. Wonder if you can pick your own race as your favored enemy now?

*points at 3.5 ranger*

Let me introduce you to the new uber-assassin!

Couldn't you already do that if you were evil?

 

[Corinth]

The revision actually makes it easier to follow both feat trees at once. Use your regular slots for one path and chose the other as your class ability allotment.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Mighty Rage? Wow! That +8 to Con equals 80 bonus hit points at level 20, not to mention that the barbarian will be doing hella damage in combat, since by level 20 he should have a Belt of Bull's Strength +6 and a +4 or +5 weapon. The +8 to strength will turn the barb into a killing machine.

I forsee Barbarian gaining a lot of popularity as a class when 3.5e comes out.

The only problem I have with it is that it is such a huge boost for one level.

I think they should have done +6 STR, +6 CON, +3 Will at 16th level or so.

EDIT - Wait. I noticed Greater Rage kicks in at 11th level. Any idea what that is?

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Couldn't you already do that if you were evil?

Yea. But I never agreed with it. You could be good, and be something like a bounty hunter. It would make sense for a human bounty hunter have Human as his favored enemy.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

EDIT - Wait. I noticed Greater Rage kicks in at 11th level. Any idea what that is?

Greater Rage is already a Barbarian ability (+6 Str, +6 Con) -- right now they get it at 15th.