Non-Caster Survival

[AnthonyJ]

3His Feats are Blind-fight (taken on the mistaken assumption that it would let me fight what I can't see, and it came as a nasty shock when the GM revealed the DC:40 check to locate an invisible opponent - oh well, again), Improved Unarmed Strike (no AoO when tripping), and an Exotic WP.

Hm. That's changed in 3.5e. In any case, it's only DC 20 to locate the target by hearing if the target is fighting (+20 difficulty, base of 0), and blind-fight will let you reroll the 50% miss chance and keep full defense against an invisible foe, so it's certainly not useless.

Are you sure you didn't mean Improved Trip? Improved Unarmed Strike is no AoO when punching someone.

What's your exotic weapon? Bastard sword?

Attackers with +18 to hit should be fairly rare at 7th level, and a major challenge when encountered.

In any case, yes, a ranger is below-average in combat power. That's because he's partially a spellcaster and partially a rogue, as well as being a fighter.

 

[DanMcS]

Attackers with +18 to hit should be fairly rare at 7th level, and a major challenge when encountered.

Yeah, I just flipped through the SRD, things of about that CR and to hit are stuff like Hill Giants (CR 7, +16 to hit, damage 2d8+10) and Frost Giants (CR 9, +18, 3d6+13). If you're running into one of those, a good-sized party can take it, but your observations are correct, you don't want to go toe-to-toe with it. If you're running into more than one, RUN AWAY! FLEE! AAAAAAAH! If you've been picking fights with groups of giants, well, you're punching above your weight, and your whole party has been doing great to survive so far. Your ranger isn't doing terrible, he's a hero of renown, man!

 

[Steverooo]

Deleted Miscellany.

 

[AnthonyJ]

My understanding was that Listen had to beat their Move Silently check by 20 (although your way makes more sense)! I'll hafta ask the GM...

It does, but someone who's fighting normally uses a 0 for his move silently check (particularly stealthy characters may want to try making a move silently check with a -20 for being in combat).

 

[Steverooo]

So, again, how do you keep Fighters, Barbarians, and Rangers, in general, alive through the mid levels? I've summarized (above) what's been posted, so far...

 

[Saeviomagy]

Well, it was a "Boarclops" (a giant, boar-headed cyclops). I don't know the stats on it (I think it's in some Mongoose book), but Hill Giant with a higher STR sounds about right... Certainly not as powerful as ol' Frosty... Anyway, I would have preferred to run, but we had just teleported in (unprepared), and everyone but me was stunned, in round one... Fortunately, the Fighter & Paladin recovered in round two (after I slowed it with 3e-STR Tanglefoot Bags - which it rolled EXACTLY what it needed to break free of!), and we managed to finish it off (critical, several hits, flanking) in round three before it got to attack (big, but slow - we all beat it on initiative). So we were lucky, I didn't get hit (I think), and I lived.

As for hero of renown, man... Feels more like a wimp, to me!

So, again, how do you keep Fighters, Barbarians, and Rangers, in general, alive through the mid levels? I've summarized (above) what's been posted, so far...

I've been running a barbarian. I took him to level 5, then switched to druid for in character reasons.

This significantly decreased the power of the character - I had few spells, and most of the spells I took were utility rather than power. I reduced my list of available weapons (under 3e). I reduced my hitpoints/level. I reduced my ac (to about 16...). I've got run and track as feats (and power attack, but it's rarely used in a fight).

I still remained the primary damage dealer of the group. I still got stuck in on the front line.

I took my lumps. I did die once, to a critical hit from a giant (such as you describe - took me from full to -15 in a hit).

You need to give us more info. Hitpoints, stats, stuff like that.

If you're low on hitpoints AND ac, then you aren't a front line fighter, and you never will be.

If you've got plenty of either, then you can get up front as much as you want.

And for the record - large bonuses to hit and damage (going by CR) are usually restricted to creatures which can do nothing else. Switching to a ranged weapon and staying the hell away is normally by far the best tactic.

 

[Steverooo]

You need to give us more info. Hitpoints, stats, stuff like that.

I'm sorry, no. Please re-read the last line of the very first post, or the one above...

"How do you keep non-magical Barbarians, Fighters, and Rangers alive? Hints? Tips? Tricks?"

[Edit]: This was a general question... My PC was mentioned by way of illustration, only. An entire character sheet shouldn't be needed. I have started a new thread with the same (GENERAL!) question, and the gleanings from this thread...

http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=69010

 

[Shazman]

It seems to me that the feats you have taken are, quite frankly, practically useless. you would've been better off getting AC boosting feats like dodge, combat expertise, or two weapon defense. The spring attack feat chain would've also opened up more options in combat. You might want to explain to your DM that your character isn't effective enough in combat to be fun to play. He may let you exchance some feats for better choices, especially considering the switch to 3.5. If that doesn't work, I guess you could take some fighter levels if it won't give you an experience penalty.

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

Well, I posted this exact response in your other thread but then I saw this one, and this seems to be the one people are reading. So here it is again...

I'd add just a general "think outside the box". Learn to use the world around you to your advantage. In a sticky situation without your weapon? Find something nearby you can quickly use as a long range weapon. Rocks, sticks, your belt...anything can be used as a weapon when you really think about it. Fight from horseback and have your horse attack with it's kick and bite (can do some decent damage) to back you up. Don't rush in to situations you aren't sure of. Hang back and use a long range weapon (I guess that would fall under "shoot from cover").

And not all spellcasters can rely on offensive spellcasting. I admit, I prefer to play spellcasters, but right now I'm playing a 5th level gnome illusionist with no offensive or defensive spells. She survived her last battle by hanging back, letting the fighters go in, and using her illusions to confuse and startle her foes.

 

[reapersaurus]

Stevearoo - regardless of how many times yo refer people to your previous posts, I can't see where you have statted out your PC to any helpful depth.

You ask for specific help, when dealing with generalities.
Maybe I've misread.....

But here's a generality, based on my perception of reading your posts:
You are not good at optimizing PC's.
You are not skilled at powergaming, or finding effective combinations.
Tanglefoot bags as a first option in combat?!? Come on....
Your feats are obviously chosen with roleplaying in mind. They are not effective at all.
Why would a ranger try to Trip? He sucks at it.
Blindfight is a bad combat feat, and you haven't even specified WHAT Exotic WP you took.
If you took feats which HELP a ranger's role (umm... Point-Blank Shot, Rapid Shot), you'd be doing darn good damage with your bow.
You only melee when you can't get distance to attack with bow.
If you want to be good at melee, than play a fighter or Brb.
If you want to cast spells, be a wizard. Rangers and Paladins are absolutely pathetic spell casters, due to the triple-penalty they get (low progression, small/bad spell-list, half caster level).

I don't think you have any business complaining about his ineffectiveness, when you are obviously a ROLEPLAYER.
Anf further - if you want help min/maxing (which is NOT a bad thing), providing stats and specifics is much more helpful to you in the long run.