Ranger as Archer instead of Melee Fighter

[bensei]

I'm playing a Ranger who has
1. Point Blank Shot
2. Rapid Shot
instead of Ambidexterity and Two-Weapon Fighting as virtual feats.

Who else has been playing with similar rules? What do you think about it (underpowered, overpowered, ?)

And even more interesting:
Which second feat would be the most apropriate in your opinion?
- Rapid Shot
- Far Short
- Precise Shot

IMHO Precise Shot would belong to a Battle Archer, Rapid Shot to a lonesome Ranger and Far Shot would give a good Hunter and Fighter in the Wilderness.

 

[Crothian]

Personaly, I think Precise Shot fits the best. I also like the idea of delaying the second feat till second level.

 

[Tonguez]

For combat purposes rapid shot

Far shot if you intend maintaining long range rather than closing (but then you don't actually need pointblank)

 

[Magus_Jerel]

It's balanced as a variant.

Personally - I see nothing wrong with "smushing" ambidexterity and TWF into a single feat.

If a character is willing to take one, they are usually willing to take the other...

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Flavourwise, I think Precise Shot or Far Shot fit best.
On a hunt, you will try to fire a single, deadly shot with your Arrow, instead of two fast shots. If an animal begins to run away, it won`t taste well and is not "instant dead", it tends to run away. And if two Arrows miss a boar or a hare or whatever you shoot at by a few feet, the two WILL run...

Gamemechanically, Rapid Shot and Precise Shot are probably the best...

Mustrum Ridcully

 

[Rackhir]

Another consideration is that unless you have obscenely high stats, very low level characters (1-3) don't usually have a sufficent attack bonus to effectively use rapid shot. So I would delay Rapid shot as a bonus feat until about third and go with Precise Shot as the second feat.

 

[Wolf72]

replacing the virtual feats is probably one of the easiest ranger changes (simple and effective to boot!) ...

here's some more ideas: ... Point blank shot & [far shot, precise shot, rapid shot] ... Mounted Combat [req 1+ ranks in ride] & [mounted archery, trample, ride-by attack] ... 2 skill focus [see skills above] from ranger skill list (include: sense motive, bluff) ... alertness & improved init ... run & endurance ... dodge & mobility ... skill focus & blind-fighting ... quick draw & combat reflexes (need + dex modifier) ... skill focus & [one other feat] ... Leadership (at 6th lvl) & one other feat at first ...

 

[Dunii]

replacing the virtual feats is probably one of the easiest ranger changes (simple and effective to boot!) ...

But you lose the Improved Two-Weapon fighting for having +9 BAB

 

[Crothian]

But you lose the Improved Two-Weapon fighting for having +9 BAB

You don't automatically gain this as a Ranger. You can use your virtual feats as the prerequites, but you still have to spend one of your normal feat slopts to choose it.

 

[billking]

Point Blank Shot + Far Shot

I agree with the "hunter" analysis, although I think keeping Point Blank Shot is a good idea, as it is a prereq. I'd say Far Shot, since Precise Shot is too good a feat (!) and Rapid Shot isn't hunterlike. Also, Point Blank and Far shot give the ranger an overall, any-distance archery capability.