Suggestions for 3.5 Dragonlance Ranger

[Shazman]

In a week or two I will start playing in a 3.5 Dragonlance campaign. Any suggestions for favored enemies, feats, races and multiclassing options will be appreciated. I'm looking to have the character be effective for scouting and most combat situations.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Don't choose Orcs as your favored enemy.


Besides that, just play your Ranger as you would any other Ranger.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

In a week or two I will start playing in a 3.5 Dragonlance campaign. Any suggestions for favored enemies

Hmm. Dragons?

Take dragons and keep putting the extra +2 into dragons each time. You will end up with +10 vs. dragons and 4 other favored enemies at +2.

feats

Take archery combat style and use a big weapon for melee, like a greatsword. Or take two-weapon combat style and use a bastard sword and a large spiked shield with the improved shield bash feat. In either case, get power attack for the -1/+2.

races

Your choice. This is mostly flavor. What did you have in mind? I like humans or elves.

multiclassing options

Again, mostly flavor. Four levels of fighter for weapon specialization could be useful, but then your favored enemy progression is slowed as well as your spells.

 

[Green Knight]

Would Favored Enemy: Dragons cover Draconians as well? I would think so (Every Dragonlance campaign I ever heard of had Draconians running around left and right, so Favored Enemy against Draconians would probably pay off in spades in the long run, and if the same Favored Enemy also covers Dragons, then great).

Anyway, if you go the Dragonslayer route, I suggest going with the Archery Feats. They'll be a lot more useful than Two-Weapon Fighting. Not that you can't have Two-Weapon Fighting, since now you only need 1 Feat to have it. So it might be worthwhile to take it at 1st-level.

As for Power Attack, I second that motion. Even more useful now in 3.5 than it was, before. Especially if you go the route of using a two-handed weapon.

 

[coyote6]

Would Favored Enemy: Dragons cover Draconians as well?

According to Wizards' excerpt, Baaz draconians are type Dragon, so Favored Enemy (Dragons) would work on them.

 

[krunchyfrogg]

Re: Re: Suggestions for 3.5 Dragonlance Ranger

Take archery combat style and use a big weapon for melee, like a greatsword. Or take two-weapon combat style and use a bastard sword and a large spiked shield with the improved shield bash feat. In either case, get power attack for the -1/+2.

If you're using a one handed weapon, doesn't power attack work like it did in 3.0 (-1/+1)?

 

[Cam Banks]

Favored enemy giants is also a winner. Ogres are quite common, and this covers all of the variants. Humanoid (minotaur) is another good idea, especially if you're a Silvanesti or Kagonesti elf ranger - your homeland's just been invaded by minotaurs, which is a perfect reason to take it.

Kagonesti elves are ideal rangers. They have no Con penalty, unlike other elves, and gain a +1 racial bonus on Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks. They have a +2 Dex bonus, as well as the elven +2 bonus to Spot, Search and Listen. All in all, a good choice for ranger. Multiclass in barbarian or fighter for added oomph and make up for the ranger's d8 HD, or druid for additional spellcasting and animal friendship/wild empathy stacking.

Other interesting choices - afflicted kender (not as annoying yet just as crafty), dwarf (underground ranger), minotaur (multiclass with mariner for a seagoing ranger) or human (you have to love that bonus feat and extra skill points in any setting).

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Nightfall]

Another suggestion, use human and favor fighting Minataurs.

 

[Seule]

I just wrote up a DL 3.5 Ranger for a new campaign yesterday. Nothing others here haven't suggested, I opted for Kagonesti, Enemy: Dragons (which does indeed cover draconians), Point Blank Shot (aiming for Archery Style), and a longsword for backup. I considered greatsword, but it didn't seem Elven. I also considered Longspear (a favored weapon for Kags) but switching between it and a bow just seemed like it would appear very awkward. A chain shirt and shortsword round out the combat equipment. My goal is to be a primary archer in combat, with good skills in search, spot, listen and track.
Note: as a Kag, you do not get Common as a free language, so you either need a 12 Int (not likely with a -2 racial adjust) or 2 skill points saved. I almost missed this.

--Seule

 

[krunchyfrogg]

I can't believe I forgot to mention the best Favored Enemy in any setting: Humans!