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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jbear" data-source="post: 5157914" data-attributes="member: 75065">@ Chorolus: Having read some of your other questions in other threads, you mentioned you were a bit of a powergamer. I'm not sure that a Beastmaster is the most 'optimal' build a ranger can play. It's true you can go Beastmaster just for the companion and play as a normal TWF or ranged without the bonus feat those builds grant you.  Even if you place the Beast up next to ranged attackers, most of them should justly shift away before attacking, and so avoiding your OA. Most ranged attackers should be fairly aware that shooting someone with a snarling wolf at their side is quite distracting. Here is a pretty deadly build for a Two Weapon Ranger/Fighter that has LOADS of ways of generating OA and extra melee basic attacks with Stances, feats and the Fighters Combat Challenge Feature: ====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======level 11Half-Orc, Ranger|Fighter, DaggermasterHybrid Ranger: Hybrid Ranger ReflexHybrid Talent: Fighter Combat TalentFighter Combat Talent: Tempest Technique (Hybrid)FINAL ABILITY SCORESStr 21, Con 15, Dex 20, Int 9, Wis 12, Cha 11.STARTING ABILITY SCORESStr 16, Con 14, Dex 15, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 10. AC: 27 Fort: 24 Reflex: 25 Will: 19HP: 78 Surges: 9 Surge Value: 19TRAINED SKILLSStealth +14, Perception +11, Endurance +13, Athletics +14, Thievery +14UNTRAINED SKILLSAcrobatics +11, Arcana +4, Bluff +5, Diplomacy +5, Dungeoneering +6, Heal +6, History +4, Insight +6, Intimidate +7, Nature +6, Religion +4, Streetwise +5FEATSLevel 1: Hybrid TalentLevel 2: Mobile ChallengeLevel 4: Weapon Focus (Light Blade)Level 6: Midnight Blade StudentLevel 8: Sneak of ShadowsLevel 10: Two-Weapon FightingLevel 11: Two-Weapon OpeningPOWERSHybrid at-will 1: Dual StrikeHybrid at-will 1: Twin StrikeHybrid encounter 1: Off-Hand StrikeHybrid daily 1: Skirmishing StanceHybrid utility 2: Pass ForwardHybrid encounter 3: Rain of BlowsHybrid daily 5: Dervish's ChallengeHybrid utility 6: Off-Hand DefenseHybrid encounter 7: Opportunist's RendHybrid daily 9: Fighter's RecoveryHybrid utility 10: Resume the HuntITEMSMagic Hide Armor +3, Magic Dagger +3 (2), Iron Armbands of Power (heroic tier), Amulet of Protection +3RITUALSRaise Beast Companion====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ====== The Hybrid Talent: Tempest Technique gives you +1 AC, +1 ATQ and +2dmg with two light blades with the off-hand property; up until lvl 11 you will use short swords, then you will switch to daggers when you begin crit-fishing with daggermaster. You are going to be making a lot of double attacks; twin strike when you want to pile the damage on 1 target, and Dual Strike when you are near 2 targets and want to do a bit of striker-defending.  Remember Dual Strike marks both targets, so if either of them shift away from you, you get to use your combat challenge as an IM. Reaction and your feat Mobile Challenge lets you shift after them. This means if you mark a ranged attacker, when he tries to shift away to shoot you in the face you get a free attack as an Im. Reaction, then you shift right back into his face. If he dares shoot you in the face now, you get another attack as an Opportunity Action. If he doesn't shoot... great, one attack less! so you didn't get your Quarry Damage, but hey, you got 2 extra attacks ... see what I mean by striker-defending? Plus once per encounter you can use Dual Strike and Off hand Strike (minor action!)and deal Quarry Dmg as well. Actually to be really brutal you should probably combine Off Hand Strike with Rain of Blows and have 4 attacks in one round and set up your marks for your striker-defending!  Midnight Blade Student allows Dual Strike to target REFLEX!!!!! Your accuracy just became off the charts BRUTAL!!! Pass Forward is an At Will (yippee!) utility that makes your Skirmishing Stance very safe and easy to trigger against isolated foes. You can circle around them four squares without provoking opportunity attacks, gain +2 bonus to AC and REF and deal +1d8 dmage to your next attack. Dervish Challenge basically turns your Combat Challenge into Twin Strike on steroids. You will have to set it up with a fighter power to have the target marked. And if they shift away or attack someone else while you are in this stance you get a free melee basic attack with BOTH hands (each adding you STR to damage ofc)... and if they were a ranged attacker that was foolish enough to shift away, well you shift right after him (thanks to Mobile Challenge)and wait for him to shoot you in the face. If he foolishly shoots at anyone, you interrupt with an OA using BOTH HANDS AGAIN!!! (and ofc, adding strength damage!) Off hand Defense is a third Daily Stance, good to have up your sleeve... hey if you've run out of offence, may as well have a good defense! (after all your hp aren't top range) Opportunist's Rend makes this build Beautiful! A double attack with STR bonus to damage that can be used as a melee basic attack... so basically, you can use this either to charge (meh) or when someone triggers your combat challenge or an OA! This gets absurdly awesome when you are in your Dervish's Challenge Stance! Im. Reaction for 3 attacks!!!! Fighter's Recovery... this makes your life really difficult; all your attack encounter powers are gone... now you have to choose which on to take back, rain of blows or Opportunists Rend! Difficult Choice!...  Resume the Hunt would be especially cool if your DM lets yo use it between attacks of your Dual Strike or Twin Strike. It's a free action. It allows you to move your speed without provoking OAs and gain +2 to all defenses. Pretty neat if your first attack kills your foe and you skip to the other side of the battle field and smack someone else with the second attack. Still useful even if your DM doesn't allow this. With Two Weapon Opening feat and Daggermaster... it all gets a bit silly. No wolf or drake to keep you warm at night... but do you seriously need it? Your DM is going to have a seriously hard time avoiding all your free attacks even if he doesn't ever deliberately provoke OAs. Which is what you wanted to achieve. Anyway, it's an option to keep in mind.</blockquote>

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