D&D 3E/3.5 New to 3.5 Need Advice on Ranger/Wizard

[Wraith-Hunter]

I'm starting in a game, haven't played since 3.5 came out so I am pretty rusty. Anyway I need some help putting togehter a character. Haven't rolled ability scores yet but have a generous rolling method. For the sake of argument use the following scores: [18, 16, 15, 16, 12, 13] Will be std elf.

Here is the character hook: Will be a special forces type scout, information gatherer. Will use lots of HS and MS and Tracking. Main goals to gather info on enemies and take out sentries, with a secondary focus on battle field control. He will not be a fireball dropping artillery guy.

Will either do UA Illusion Domain Wizard or be a Divination specialist with Evocation as a barred school.

Will use spells to help him get in get out and gather intel, help get rid of sentries and when in all out melee help control the battle field, rather than kill lots of mooks.

Books I can use:
Forgotten Realms Players guide
PHB
Complete Warrior
Complete Arcane

Regoinal Feats I might take are:
Swift n Silent (hide and MS at normal speed)
Fleet Foot (+10 on movement)
I could use some help deciding which is better

*This will not be a TWF or Bow build* And will be primarily wizard maybe 75%Wiz 25%Rgr

I will also be taking 2 'flaws' from UA -1 AC and -2 Ranged so I can start with a total of 3 feats. I have a good back story for the feats

I am also starting at first (ranger) then picking up my 2nd level as wizard with a goal of getting a psuedo-dragon familliar. So this has to be playable at low levels not just at 20. I would not be adverse to picking up a level or 2 of rogue though I would prefer no multi-class xp penalties but it is not out of the question. play will be 50-50 hack-n-slash/role-play

Also need help on spell selection, not a complete list but good spells to compliment the build.

ideas?

 

[nittanytbone]

Useful links --

List of Char Op Links:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=482636
Scroll down to "Gish and similar things: (combining melee and arcane)"

Character Build Spotlight: Gish
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=307309

Alternatively, you might want a casting rogue. In that case, I'd suggest:
Rogue 3/Wizard 5/Arcane Trickster
That's kind of the classic. DO NOT hose your ranged attack modifier! With all those D4 HD, you'll want to be throwing orbs and rays (which can sneak attack) to do damage. Point Blank Shot + Precise Shot would be helpful.

The Wilderness Rogue variant could get you the outdoor skills you want.

 

[Voadam]

spells, color spray (impaired caster level does not hurt this spell, unlike magic missile or burning hands), charm person, mage armor/shield, enlarge person.

Color spray can knock out sentries quickly, charm person can help get them to spill their info, mage armor and shield help a light scout get a decent AC, and enlarge person gives you melee reach and better damage when you go into combat.

 

[Darklone]

This is somehow similar though I am not sure if you can do it with your books.

It's a char my exgf had in one of my games. It was a pixie type spellsinger... that's a sorcerer variant in Kalamar, but wizard would work nicely too.

The race was one of Montes Faen, quickling turning into a spryte later. IMC this was considered a half-elf/halfling thingie. I am not too familiar with FR or your DM but this might be feasible and since you don't want the full artillery guy, a loss of a few levels spellcasting doesn't hurt too much. Changing into a spryte later gives you flying and invisibility... and in montes case with racial levels Nondetection. If you can't do that, halfling would be fitting.

Kalamar (where the campaign took place) has a feat that allows you to take a number of cross class skills as class skills according to your Int bonus. There might be a similar feat or regional feat somewhere else. She used that for Listen, Spot and Hide and MoSi. Don't forget Wilderness Lore.

She started with ranger for level 1. Lotsa skills, weapon proficiencies (bows) and some nice hitpoints. Spells were picked for utility and item crafting (wondrous items). First thing she built was a belt of con +2 and int +2. One of her favorite buffing spells was Heroism.

Spells: don't forget Expeditious Retreat. Necklace of Fireballs is cheaper to craft than a wand of fireball and gives you nice firepower in emergency cases.

 

[Thanee]

Character Build Spotlight: Gish

They are still labeling it wrong...

Bye
Thanee

 

[Thanee]

From what you said, I would proceed as follows...

1) Find out, whether you can use Races of the Wild (because Elf Ranger and Elf Wizard substitution levels are great!)

2) Go Ranger 1 / Wizard 5 / Eldritch Knight X

Bye
Thanee

 

[hanniball]

A good Prestige Class for a Ranger/Caster hybrid is the Evereskan Tomb Guardian. You mentioned being an Elf; which just so happens to be required for ETG.

However, you also mentioned that you are not attempting either two-weapon fighting or archery. Your only damage potential will be your spells. Not that that's a bad thing, but far more damage can be generated via sneak attack combined with your spells. Thus, I recommend the following build:

Ranger 1/Wiz 5/Rog 1/Shadow Thief of Amn 1/Arcane Trickster 10/Fatespinner 2

9th level arcane spells (CL 17), +7D6 sneak attack, good skills, impromptu sneak attack 2/day, Spin Fate and trapfinding.

They are still labeling it wrong...

Bye
Thanee

Howso?

 

[szilard]

If you can also use Complete Adventurer, you might want to consider Scout rather than Ranger.

-Stuart

 

[moritheil]

Howso?

Thanee has a long and illustrious history on the boards of taking issue with the term "gish" being used to mean "figher/mage."

 

[hanniball]

Thanee has a long and illustrious history on the boards of taking issue with the term "gish" being used to mean "figher/mage."

And what would s/he deem a worthy title?