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Message: <blockquote data-quote="RickVigorous" data-source="post: 4438889" data-attributes="member: 5141">Actually, allowing rangers to dual wield bastard swords doesn't unbalance anything. Archer rangers get longbows, which deal d10 damage with an excellent range and without a feat investment. They also only have to pay to upgrade one weapon, meaning they can spend their limited resources on better non-weapon items. They also get prime shot, which is entirely closed off to melee attackers.Melee rangers, on the other hand, may or may not want to invest in bastard swords. If you're playing against type and go with a low Dex, battle axes and warhammers both deal equivalent damage and have better paragon-tier feats (Hammer Rhythm, in particular, is good for people who make many attacks/round). The scimitar is also a viable option for aspiring stormwardens, thanks to its high crit ability and Scimitar Dance. Basically, you can be a bastard-sword wielding ranger, but this means you'll lose out on some extremely useful abilities, and all you get in return is a d10 of damage (matched by the hammer, axe, and bow rangers) and a +3 proficiency (matched, in many cases, by the archer's prime shot). And you have to invest an extra feat, which slows down access to standbys like the Two-Weapon Fighting chain, Weapon Focus, Lethal Hunter, etc.</blockquote>