Your problem is that you want to play a spellcaster or a dedicated melee fighter. A Ranger is neither.
“At seventh level, my poor (Ranger) PC can cast a whopping one spell.day. He usually takes Speak with Animal. His spell power is zip.”
Which is one more spell per day than the fighters can cast.
“He has survived through item use, good tactics, bow fire, stealth, healing from others, and the grace of God (or luck, if you prefer).”
This is the only way anyone in D&D survives: tactics, teamwork, and luck.
“So outdoors, in natural surroundings, Entangle once/day and more missile fire can work. The rest of the time looks like sub-optimal move & shoot. (Yawn!)”
How is this more boring than “I stand toe-to-toe with the enemy and swing my axe until one of us falls?” If I was phrasing this, I’d say, “So in outdoor settings, I get to entangle and pelt my immobile opponents with arrows. The rest of the time, I get to go all Robin Hood, set ambushes, and provide cover fire for the rest of my party.” You see, I enjoy playing the Woodland Warrior archetype. No, the Ranger is not as good in combat as a dedicated melee fighter, nor does he make up for that lack in his spellcasting ability. He is a Rogue of the Wilds, with a host of skills, a Fighter’s BAB and Fort save, and a bunch of cool class abilities. Like the Rogue, Rangers make up for their lowered combat value with a chance to shine in non-combat encounters.
If I were you, I’d ask the DM if you can have a special storyline where your Ranger dies and your new character, a Fighter/Barbarian/Paladin/what-have-you joins the party.
You seem to REALLY WANT to engage in melee combat. If you want to keep your Ranger, I’d suggest these tactics:
1. Use the Fighting Defensively option. –4 to hit, +2 AC. If you have the Int, take Combat Expertise.
2. If, as a result of #1, you can no longer reliably hit the opponent, use the Aid Another option in conjunction with providing flanking for the Rogue’s attacks.
3. Remember that mithril armors are considered one category lighter for purposes of movement and other limitations.
This is what I do with my Rogue, since I’ve decided that I want him to be a melee fighter with TWF, even though I’m much less effective at it than a dedicated fighter (or even a Ranger with the TWF combat style). Most of the time, I just get whacked and have to run off and hide with single-digit hps. Sometimes, though, I hit with both of my attacks and with +3d6 sneak attack, I can really look cool. Not often, though. (And, at 6th level, I have neither any stat-boosting nor save-boosting items. I have a pair of MW shortswords, a +1 mithril shirt, and a +1 ring of protection.)
Hope this helps.
Ragnar
