Min/Max a Ranger

[ThomasBJJ]

This is probably old news, but I was working on some character concepts and this Elven Ranger looks great.

Yeah, yeah, kinda munchkin, but I wanted a combat effective character that the rest of the party could depend on in a fight.

Here goes:

Elven Ranger 1 - 32 point buy
Str 11 (+0) Hit Points: 10
Dex 20 (+5)
Con 10 (+0)
Int 13 (+1)
Wis 10 (+0)

AC:18 (+5 dex; +3 Studded Leather)

FEATS:
Ambidexterity (free Ranger)
Two Weapon Fighting (free Ranger)
Weapon Finesse-Short Sword (1st Level)

ATTACKS:
2 Short Swords +4/+4 to hit
(+5 weapon Finesse; +1 BaB; -2 Two weapon fighting penalty)

Long Bow +6 to hit
(+5 Dex; +1 BaB)

Skills:
Hide (4 ranks; +5 dex) +9
Move Silently (4 Ranks; +5 dex) +9
Spot (4 Ranks; -1 Wis) +3
Listen (4 Ranks; -1 Wis) +3
Wilderness Lore (4 Ranks; -1 Wis) +3

Favored Enemy: Giants (works on Trolls & Ogres)

CONCEPT: Everything is based on his High DEX. The Dex bonus works on his AC & 2 Melee Attacks & Ranged Attacks & Reflex Save & 2 Important skills. Double use from Weapon Finesse.

2nd Level: Fighter 1
FEAT: Expertise or Twin Sword Style (Better choice; from FRCS).
To help with AC. AC 20 with Twin Sword Style.

3rd Level: Fighter 2
3rd level FEAT: Weapon Focus-Short Sword (Double use)
Fighter FEAT: Expertise or Point Blank Shot

4th Level: Fighter 3
Ability Point (4th level character): Str or Dex
Pick one, and stick with it for 8th level as well.
Strength: +1 damage now (on both sword attacks); at 8th level you can qualify for Power Attack
Dexterity: Nothing now, but at 8th a +1 all attacks & AC

5th Level: Fighter 4
FEAT: Weapon Specialization-Short Sword (Double use)
or Rapid Shot (if you took Point Blank Shot)

 

[Crothian]

You have a wisdom of 10, yet you give your self a -1 wisdom bonus to your wisdom based skills. You do get track at first level, too.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

IMO, rangers with two short swords is too common and somewhat boring. I would use two handaxes, or light picks, or sickles, or even kukris, although that would require the EWP to use effectively.

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Considering that this is a point buy character, I would seriously consider dropping your dex to an 18 and getting more strength, con, and int.

Str 14, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 14, wis 10, cha 10

That way, your dex is almost as good, you get extra skills from the int (get some tumble skill cross-class so that you can get more out of fighting defensively, etc.)

You also get +1 hp/level from the con increase. This will be essential if you plan on surviving mixing it up with trolls/etc while using your shortswords. (For the record, a wizard with a con 14 and a toad familiar has as many hit points as a fighter without a con bonus and we all know how long wizards last in melee combat (even with the 14 con and toad)).

The strength will give you a lot of extra damage (a little over a
50% increase in average primary hand damage with a shortsword and a bit under a 50% increase with your (mighty) composite longbow) and enable you to use weapons other than shortswords effectively (for instance, you could pull out a light mace/heavy mace combo for dealing with skeletons).

All told, I don't think it's worth it to buy 18s in a point buy system. (Except in very specialized cases--maybe wizards or sorcerors). The +1 to hit (ranged and shortsword), reflex saves, initiative and skills you get from dex doesn't match up to +2 to damage, +2 to hit with non-shortsword melee weapons, +1 hit point/level, +1 to fortitude saves, and +1 skill point/level.

That should go a ways toward making your ranger more combat effective. . . .

 

[ThomasBJJ]

You have a wisdom of 10, yet you give your self a -1 wisdom bonus to your wisdom based skills. You do get track at first level, too.
__________________


Oops, yeah, he shouldn't have that Wisdom penalty.

 

[Crothian]

This seems rather fine. I've yet to see a Ranger use dual short swords, and even if everyone did who cares. Actually, I've yet to see a ranger that takes advantage of the two weapon fighting style. Only types I've seen are bow or staff fighters.

I like the idea of reducing Dex for the extra ability scores as suggested by Elder-Basilisk. Sometimes, well rounded is better for a min maxed character.

 

[Roland Delacroix]

Wheres the Stuff ? Its critical to a smackdown. Specifically the two Sunblades he should be wielding.

For style reasons I would spend a feat and use twin finessed Elven Thinblades. Also use Monte Cooks ranger and drop the fighter levels. But then it wouldn't be min/maxed I guess.

 

[Broken Fang]

I agree with E-B though I might switch the 14 INT to WIS for the bonus to Spot and Listen. Adding +2 modifiers to two stats is worth the loss of 1 point to DEX. I also prefer the two hand axes...looks cooler!

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

The most guys here are right - single high stats are not as good as a good combination of "semi high" stats...

With 32 point buy, I might go for:
Str14 (6 points) (Damage Bonus, better carrying capacity, better Jump & Climb)
Dex17 (8 points) (obviously)
Con12 (6 points) (more hitpoints)
Int14 (6 points) (more skill points)
Wis12 (4 points) (better and earlier spells)
Cha10 (2 points) (wanne be cool, don`t have a negative Cha Modifier!)
At 4th level, you finally increase your Dex to 18.
You might swap Wisdom and Intelligence scores to be better at spellcasting.
(Remember that a 15th level Ranger might be able to cast Polymorph Self... )

Feats:
Thing about Point Blank Shot and Precise Shot/Rapid shot on later levels, so you have a good combat ability then.

For skills: Don`t forget to take at least one rank in Intuit Direction. I used to forget this skills to often.

Multiclassing:
Consider beeing a Ranger/Fighter. You have a fine combination of skills and feats. (I played a Ranger/Fighter using a spiked chain, with Improved Trip, Knockdown, IMproved Disarm. I wanted to use two-weapon fighting with a Flail and a shield, but due to my bad Armor Class and the advantategs of Reach Weapons I stayed with the chain..)

Favored Enemy Giants seem to be a good idea. These beasts can be quite nasty...

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[mikebr99]

Also use Monte Cooks ranger and drop the fighter levels

I'll second this idea.

Originally posted by Mustrum_Ridcully
The most guys here are right - single high stats are not as good as a good combination of "semi high" stats...

With 32 point buy, I might go for:
Str14 (6 points) (Damage Bonus, better carrying capacity, better Jump & Climb)
Dex17 (8 points) (obviously)
Con12 (6 points) (more hitpoints)
Int14 (6 points) (more skill points)
Wis12 (4 points) (better and earlier spells)
Cha10 (2 points) (wanne be cool, don`t have a negative Cha Modifier!)
At 4th level, you finally increase your Dex to 18.
You might swap Wisdom and Intelligence scores to be better at spellcasting.

I'll second this also...
Especially with switching the INT and WIS. With Monte's Alt-Ranger you get more skill points anyway and the Ranger gets some fairly good spells at later levels, so the more the better.

If you want to be a force to be reckoned with during two-weapon combat, consider the Tempest PrC (MoTW). It is a PrC that could be argued as being self-taught (according to the description), so you could ask your DM about it now and say that you are working towards it from the very beginning.