Ranger Feats

[The Souljourner]

I'm having some trouble defining just what it is my character is supposed to be doing in HTH. I want him to be mobile, so wearing a big bulky shield doesn't seem to fit the concept. TWF is pretty underpowered for the number of feats you have to sink into it (and the fact that you have to have twice as many good weapons), and a two handed weapon definitely doesn't seem to fit with the highly mobile warrior.

I was originally thinking throwing axes would be cool... you can use them in HTH for the same damage as a shortsword, and then throw them when necessary. Plus, hatchets fit well into the woodsman style. However, I realized three things:

1.) Carrying enough hatchets around to last a couple rounds of throwing is going to look pretty silly. Who carries 6+ hatchets around?

2.) Thrown weapons require quickdraw, which while cool, is not one of the feats I'd put high on my very short list.

3.) At higher levels, you need your attacks to be magical. Thrown weapons are not ammunition, thus cannot all benefit from a single GMW, and do not gain a bonus from a single magic item, like bows confer on their ammunition.

So... all in all, although I love the idea of a ranger running around with a couple hatchets, throwing them as necessary, it just isn't very practical from a rules point of view.

Which leaves me back at the beginning... what does a highly mobile ranger use for melee weaponry?

{edit}

Interesting. I hadn't noticed that.

Yeah, I only noticed it because I was thinking hard about ranger feats... most people don't have the option to suck like that, rangers are just special

-The Souljourner

 

[DarkMan]

what if your ranger used a long sword in his primary hand, and a throwing axe in the off-hand, chucking it when necessary. (still be good to have quick-draw in this case).

thanks crothian and hypersmurf for the manyshot clarification...

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I'm having some trouble defining just what it is my character is supposed to be doing in HTH. I want him to be mobile, so wearing a big bulky shield doesn't seem to fit the concept.

A buckler might help.

TWF is pretty underpowered for the number of feats you have to sink into it (and the fact that you have to have twice as many good weapons)

Furthermore, you can't use TWF while moving...

and a two handed weapon definitely doesn't seem to fit with the highly mobile warrior.

I was originally thinking throwing axes would be cool... you can use them in HTH for the same damage as a shortsword, and then throw them when necessary. Plus, hatchets fit well into the woodsman style. However, I realized three things:

1.) Carrying enough hatchets around to last a couple rounds of throwing is going to look pretty silly. Who carries 6+ hatchets around?

You would be surprised. You have Endurance (eventually) so you can (role-play) carrying around a heavy pack complete with tent, bear-skin bedroll, hunting implements, cooking implements, etc. They're tools as well as weapons, so you have another reason to carry them. You will look a bit silly if people can see them though. Be sure to put them in your bag when entering civilized areas.

2.) Thrown weapons require quickdraw, which while cool, is not one of the feats I'd put high on my very short list.

Yeah ... thrown weapons are a bit weak.

3.) At higher levels, you need your attacks to be magical. Thrown weapons are not ammunition, thus cannot all benefit from a single GMW, and do not gain a bonus from a single magic item, like bows confer on their ammunition.

As above. It looks like you can't have them and yet be effective. Unless you get one or two returning throwing axes.

So... all in all, although I love the idea of a ranger running around with a couple hatchets, throwing them as necessary, it just isn't very practical from a rules point of view.

Which leaves me back at the beginning... what does a highly mobile ranger use for melee weaponry?

It's hard to say - a frost or shock short sword works best, IMO, but you could get the same variety of throwing axes.

BTW Combat Expertise really helps with dodging.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

You may also find a buckler useful. If it's masterwork or magical, it won't interfere with your bow shooting. (You still can't use it and the bow during the same round.)

Why would a regular quality buckler interfere?

I'm having some trouble defining just what it is my character is supposed to be doing in HTH. I want him to be mobile, so wearing a big bulky shield doesn't seem to fit the concept.

...a two handed weapon definitely doesn't seem to fit with the highly mobile warrior.

I'd suggest a buckler and a longsword, or something interesting like a falchion for HTH combat. A falchion doesn't carry the reputation of a greatsword, but it looks damn cool and probably fits your concept better.

What is your STR score? If it's 14 or higher, I'd really suggest going with the falchion.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Why would a regular quality buckler interfere?

Doesn't the ACP apply a penalty to attack rolls? I always thought it did.

 

[Lord Thurham]

So... any suggestions? I'm not sure about the two weapon fighting feats, it's a lot of feats for what you can basically duplicate with a two handed weapon. Unfortunately, I really don't see my lightly armed and armored ranger carrying around a greatsword... but what other options do I have?

You could take a couple levels in fighter to gain a couple bonus feats. You can take the human race to gain a bonus feat at first level. This should help you get closer to your goal.

LT

 

[Storminator]

Doesn't the ACP apply a penalty to attack rolls? I always thought it did.

According to the SRD, the buckler induces no penalty for using a bow or crossbow, and gives -1 to melee attacks made with the off hand or two handed weapons. It is not tied to the ACP, so masterwork or magic don't help.

PS

 

[krunchyfrogg]

If you've ever read The Sword of Shanarra, by Terry Brooks, there was a character named Menion Leah.

Menion Leah was most definitely a fighter-archer, but when the situation arose, he took out the Sword of Leah and kicked some butt with it. His sword is a greatsword (or maybe a bastard sword, but he always uses it two-handed).

 

[The Souljourner]

I remember that book pretty vaguely.. was he the guy who would shout "Leah!" as his battle cry?

As for feats, I'm definitely going to be human, so that's one more. I do want dodge and mobility... combat expertise sounds pretty good too... nothing like getting +9 to ac against AoO during the round you need to move by all the enemies...

Sword and buckler sounds pretty good. Personally I think bucklers look a little dorky, but I can't deny that it fits the character well - fits the lightly armored image, can be used without penalty and without taking it off with a bow, and heck, if you really want you can use a weapon in that hand too.

Falchion is better than greatsword, but it still feels unwieldy to me. I'm thinking woodsmen/commando type of character, and anything that large would just be a hindrance.

-The Souljourner

 

[Darklone]

Why not a bastard sword then? Sure, it's not as good as a greatsword and twohanded not much better than a longsword, but it's a matter of style anyhow.

I'd suggest Combat Reflexes and Expert Tactician. That's how I'd imagine a lightly armoured mobile warrior. Two or three levels of rogue might help... that would decrease your hitpoints but give you a little bit more punch.