Making a Ranger a need advice

[CRGreathouse]

How about two of them ?

 

[Uller]

To make a proper Ranger, take first level as Rogue, then three as Druid. Then you just follow the easy pattern of 2 levels Druid per level Rogue, and voila you have a ranger.

If you don't mind being a powergaming rogue hating munchkin you could even take that class they have in the PHB, but I would reccomend against it.

The most common archetype of ranger is going to need lots of ranks in Wild Lore, MS, Hide, KNowledge (nature), spot and listen.

Hmmm....I hope you don't want to use...I don't know...a BOW with this ranger(Druids are limited to a very small selection of weapons)...or have a decent BAB, for that matter.

No. Unless you want some of the way cool Rogue abilitys(which work quite nicely with a Ranger) stick with pure Ranger. Druiding is best left to the Druids unless you can talk your DM into expanding your weapons list.

Also, going with something like a 2:1 Druid to Rogue ratio...about the time the Ranger can polymorph into a GIANT, the Druid/Rogue can only Wildshape into a Large animal...sorry...if you want a mix of decent skills and combat prowess, go with straight Ranger. If you don't care about animal companions or getting spells, and don't mind losing a little bit of your BAB, get 1 or 3 levels of Rogue(or even go half-and-half). It'll get you +2d6 sneak attack damage(which goes nicely with good stealth and Two-weapon fighting), Uncanny Dodge and Evasion...not to mention a bunch of extra skill points...in fact, take a level of Rogue FIRST to get as many skills as you can.

As for your skills, make sure you have a decent Int and try to have equal helpings of Listen, Spot, Move Silently, Hide and Wilderness Lore with a smattering of Animal Empathy and Animal Handling if you intend to have an animal companion.

 

[Crothian]

Straight Rangers are a fine class. The extra skill points from a high int and being human help a lot. If you want to be a serious bowman I'd spend most of the feats on bow feats early. After a few levels you'll realize how much melee combat you can expect. If you finesse something, make it small and not a rapier. You can use two of the small weapoins with little penalty at once. And by using two of the same weapon your feats devoted to it go farther. If you plan on being on horesback a lot, devote skill points to ride. But to be a good rider means devoteing feats, and you'll soon realize they are to few and far between.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Currently I play a Core Ranger / Fighter (Ranger is not BAD. Don`t listen to those guys who tell you something else ).

I suggest not to rely on Weapon Finesse if you don`t have to. A Ranger is able to be a frontline fighter (+1BAB/lvl, d10 Hit Die), and a frontline fighter needs his strength.
And remember that you can use Mighy Composite Longbows which allow you to use your Strength Bonus to Damage.

So, Feats for Ranged Combat are: Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Far Shot, Precise Shot - quite obviously, isn`t it? What you want to get first - Far Shot or Precise Shot - depends on your group. If you can stay in the back, you might benefit more from Precise Shot (since the fighters will fast be engagend in melee with your targets, and a -4 is a -4 is a -4. ) If you will have to enter melee, you should take Far Shot to attack your enemies at long range befor anyone can get in melee...

If you want to use your Ranger`s Ambidexterity and Two Weapon Fighting you should look at Swords and Fist and get the Shield Expert" Feat. You may attack with your shield and retain its armor bonus.
Coupled with Shield Spikes, this can be very useful.
This does compensate the greatest weakness of Two Weapon Fihgting, and later you might enchant the Shield Spikes with some nice abilities...

You should look for Bracers of Archery (I believe that`s the name), they will give your some very nice benefits. (Can`t remember it from the head, but... well... nice. )
A Quiver of Ellhona is a usefull item. You can place spears, javelins and lances, Arrows, Bows, Crossbows and so on it.

Your Mighty Composite Longbow should be enhanced with Abilites like "Flaming" or "Screaming", for more damage.
And don`t forget to ask your wizard to cast Greater Magic Weapon on your Arrows.

Animal Empathy and Handle Animal can be very useful skills. If you encounter some animals and don´t want to kill or fight them, you might just make a Animal Empathy check to get them away. (And it is not difficult in most cases. But only you, the Druid and I believe the Barbarian can every try to do it!)

(But never forget: Sometimes Ambidexterity/Two Weapon Fighting or Rapid Shot is just a "Flurry of Misses" )

 

[Psyduck]

Thanks

I thank everyone for their support, but I have one last question:

I'm planning on putting my highest score in dex, and have a wisdom of 10 minimum (I can boost it to 14 later). Where should I put my second highest score; str or int?

I don't expect every Ranger to have a higher str or int. I guess this is more of a poll.

 

[Lunn]

I am having to do up a Ranger "LIKE" PC for a campaign that my group will be going into soon. I don't like the PHB Ranger. Monte Cook's Ranger is better for a magic using woodsman. The Fighter/Rogue as ok, but not to my taste. If you want an archer and you have access to the Sovereign Stone campaign sourcebook, you might take at the Archer Class.

What I have choosen for this PC is to take the Woodsman for the Wot book. He gives up the dual weapon pusdo feats and magic, he gains more skill points (6) and more feats and class features. Instead of Favored Enemy, the Woodsman become Nature's Warrior. With this feature you choose a environment (three time at 1st, 8th and 16th lvl). In that envio, you get to add half your DEX bonus to your attack rolls against humanoids in addition to your STR bonus.