'Fraidy Cat Fighters

[Otterscrubber]

As fighters/rangers gain in levels I am curious what items are out there to help them to avoid fear effects. They have lously will saves and rarely have high wisdoms. I have an ECL 9 ranger half dragon with a will save of +4. This will get slightly better over time but it will never be great and he is supposed to be a demon hunter. Many demons have fear effects that will have this toon running for his life. I am making him straight ranger, no paladin levels so I was wondering what items are out there that can help him avoid getting frightened away so easily. Potions of remove fear only give +4, which still leaves him plenty vulnerable to fear spells or abilities.

 

[UltimaGabe]

Actually, Rangers SHOULD have high Wisdoms, as they cast Divine spells based on Wisdom after 4th level.

 

[The Souljourner]

Well, rangers need a lot of stats, and to be honest, wisdom isn't that high on the list of my ranger's stats. You can always get the clerics' cast of periapts of wisdom... basically, the only wisdom you need is 14 by the time you can cast 4th level spells, which is really late. Since a ranger's caster level is only half his class level, he's really not going to be throwing many offensive spells (that and he doesn't get very many). So, high DCs doesn't really matter. And with so many other abilities, bonus spells aren't really worth much effort.

Really, the only things to help your will save are things you've probably already thought of - take iron will (it's probably worth it), get a cloak of resistance - they're way cheap for what you get.... Are you human? You could multiclass into monk for a couple levels if you're lawful. Two levels of monk gets you almost as many skill points, same hitdice, +3 to all saves, combat reflexes, and all you really lose is one BAB. Ignore the armor restriction... all you really lose in armor is stuff you wouldn't use as a ranger anyway... it's well worth it just for the bonus feat and saves.

-The Souljourner

 

[Otterscrubber]

Perhaps, but this ranger is going to see more combat than spell casting so wisdom was not the top priority. In any event even if it was it would not be enough to solve the problem at hand, which is he will run like a little girl 50% of the time when confronted with any fear effect appropriate for his ECL. Fear effects are very powerful and I would like this toon to have some additional resistance, at least to the fear effects created by demons and devils because he hunts them.

 

[Len]

I agree that not all rangers cast spells. It's not always possible to have enough high ability scores to excel in fighting, skills and spellcasting. The ranger that I play occasionally will never be able to cast anything above Entangle.

As for things that can improve your will save against fear, here's a couple that haven't been mentioned: owl's wisdom (spell or potion), remove fear (spell or potion; must be cast or drunk before you become panicked).

[edit] Oh, you did mention potions of remove fear. Well, you can't expect one thing to give you a +17 bonus. Note that remove fear, owl's wisdom and cloak of resistance all stack.

 

[Scion]

pick up the iron will feat, grab as big of a cloak of resistance as possible, and you could even pick up a beserking sword I guess Stone of good luck is nice as well. Also, a +6 wisdom item is always good.

You could try to have a custom made save item, which grants some enormount bonus to will saves/fear effects.

The first paragraph could put you up into the +11 just from those easily. The second could get you up to +15 or so.

How much more than that is needed really?

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

The ultimate defense is three levels of paladin. Never worry about fear again.

Failing that, Templar levels increase your will save.

And, at high levels, getting the cleric to cast Hero's Feast makes you immune to fear.

At mid levels, if you can convince the cleric to cast Cloak of Courage, that will give a substantial bonus against fear effects.

A potion of Aid gives you +2 to saves against fear in addition to 1d8+3 temp hp and +1 to hit.

A potion of Heroism gives +2 to all saves attacks and skill checks.

Getting the wizard to cast Greater Heroism on you makes you immune to fear.

 

[Nail]

All the spells mentioned are great...but are short term, or "after the fact" solutions.

Your best bet is Paladin or a Paladin-like PrC.

 

[rangerjohn]

So basically, what everyone is saying is rangers aren't demon hunters?

They might as well bite the bullet and rename/split the class into swashbuckler and hunter.

 

[Davelozzi]

If I were you, I'd ask you DM if you could play a ranger variant that trades his good Reflex save for a good Will instead. It's a pretty fair exchange and it would be more appropriate for a demon hunter anyway.