Talk to me about beastmaster rangers

[Felon]

That's true for most of the PHB1 paths, but not for the ones in Martial Power (except for a few that require beast mastery). That always annoyed me about the ranger PP's in PHB1, because, except for allowing PP access, the archery style is actually the worst option for an archer ranger -- I consider both two-weapon and beast mastery to be more useful for an archer.

Right, the archery path stinks. On ice. They didn't even roll prime shot into it.

Then again, I think Primal Power's whirling barbarian eclipses the two-weapon ranger. I guess that's karma.

 

[keterys]

Well, the ranger gets to roll twice (more consistent, more crits) and gets to effectively add double the focus, enhancement, item, etc bonuses. That's a big deal.

 

[Mad Hamish]

That's true for most of the PHB1 paths, but not for the ones in Martial Power (except for a few that require beast mastery). That always annoyed me about the ranger PP's in PHB1, because, except for allowing PP access, the archery style is actually the worst option for an archer ranger -- I consider both two-weapon and beast mastery to be more useful for an archer.

I don't see why 2 weapon style is better, there's a fair case for beastmaster.
Using 2 weapon style a dedicated archer can miss with 2 larger weapons a round in melee compared to missing with 1 large and 1 off-hand.

Toughness versus defensive mobility is far from a given as well.

I don't knock prime shot either, especially if you're willing to move in and take OoAs (or use various methods of avoiding them) from flanking.

 

[Felon]

I don't see why 2 weapon style is better, there's a fair case for beastmaster.
Using 2 weapon style a dedicated archer can miss with 2 larger weapons a round in melee compared to missing with 1 large and 1 off-hand.

Needless to say, this is highly spurious reasoning since it's based on some cynical notion that the ranger will miss. with both attacks consistently.

Toughness versus defensive mobility is far from a given as well.

It's pretty close to a given. Toughness provides more hit points, and that's a commodity that will be tapped frequently no matter what the ranger does. Defensive mobility provides a bonus against a pretty specific situation, because a +2 bonus isn't enough to make most folks content to provoke oppies.

I don't knock prime shot either, especially if you're willing to move in and take OoAs (or use various methods of avoiding them) from flanking.

Prime shot isn't part of the archery build, so the two-weapon style archer can still benefit from it.

 

[Akaiku]

Plus, your turkey companion can push 600lbs by the rules.

And their defenses and attack bonus scales with your level. So you get the legendary omni-transcendent turkey of complete and utter doom at level 30.

Isn't that good enough to take it?

 

[Mad Hamish]

Responding to Felon
If you're a dedicated Ranged Ranger you're pumping dex and wisdom rather than strength
So you miss with hth attacks

If you go str and dex then you lose some effectiveness with a lot of powers and have to maintain 3 weapons.

As an archer ranger your ranged attacks are a lot more effective than your hth attacks so a +2 bonus against AoO may well save you 1 or 2 hits in a battle which is more than the extra hp from toughness (of course toughness also boosts the healing surge value)

No, but moving in to take prime shot makes attacks of opportunity a lot more likely than hanging back so defensive mobility is more of a bonus.

 

[ShaggySpellsword]

Nope. It's my one problem with the Beastmaster build. All powers that involve you and your beast attacking are melee.

Not entirely true: Partnered Savaging (Daily 1) is beast melee and grants you a basic attack. A ranged basic is still a basic.

 

[Turtlejay]

A bit in favor of the bird companion:

Since you are an archery ranger and not likely to take many powers that use your companion to attack, think about using it in other ways. It flies, number one, meaning it is an excellent spy and scout. You can take a feat to give it a skill or skills of your choosing. It has a relatively high movement speed, and hover, meaning it can fly 15 or so feet up and be all over the battlefield at your whim. Drop in to grant flanking, scoot over to quarry someone, provoke an attack to give the fighter his defendery attack, but use it in different ways.

Jay

 

[Forgember]

Not entirely true: Partnered Savaging (Daily 1) is beast melee and grants you a basic attack. A ranged basic is still a basic.

Yep, its actually one of the best Beast type attacks in the book, I still use it at level 18. (I decided in the beginning that I was going to have one encounter attack power, and one daily attack power devoted to Beastmaster flavor)

There are also a few powers where your Beast can attack on its own, I actually really enjoy Heard the Prey as an Encounter power.

 

[ShaggySpellsword]

There are also a few powers where your Beast can attack on its own, I actually really enjoy Heard the Prey as an Encounter power.

It is great. I've used it to pull an enemy out from concealment or cover to get a good shot on them.

To re-cap, you don't need beast powers in order to play a good beastmaster ranger.