The big meta-question

[Pielorinho]

With that in mind, I want to emphasize the concordance of my advice and Rodrigo's:

1) Always look for a way to gain an advantage, I say. Delay, says Rodrigo. Why not do both?

Very often you can improve your combat situation by delaying until someone else moves into position. Always consider whether you can take delay, take a 5' step, and suddenly be flanking.

Depending on playstyle (i.e., how much talking is allowed during combat), you should find yourself often saying things like, "Balthazar, come over here so I can flank him!" and THEN delaying. (Technically against the rules, but I've never played with a DM who disallowed this level of talking).

If you aren't going to be taking multiple attacks for some reason (e.g., you've had to move over to the enemy, or you can't afford the -2 attack penalty, or whatever), take full advantage of readying. "Balthazar, move over here!" you can shout, and then ready an action for Balthazar to move into position.

Daniel

 

[moritheil]

TWF rangers are a bit like rogues - they should shy away from a stand-up fight, keep the enemy off guard, and cut a path through mooks when it's needed.

They don't perform so well vs. BBEGs or any really big hulking bruisers, I find.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Depending on playstyle (i.e., how much talking is allowed during combat), you should find yourself often saying things like, "Balthazar, come over here so I can flank him!" and THEN delaying. (Technically against the rules, but I've never played with a DM who disallowed this level of talking).

Technically not against the rules. Talking is a free action that may be done at any time - including during other characters' / opponents' turns.

 

[diaglo]

Technically not against the rules. Talking is a free action that may be done at any time - including during other characters' / opponents' turns.

Daniel,

what Patryn of E said... it changed in 3.11ed for WOrkgroups.

 

[Odysseus]

With a party of a fighter type , a non combat cleric , a wizard and the ranger. The ranger is really the second string fighter. In a fight with 1 monster, than ranger can let the fighter go head on, while she flanks. However with 2 or more monsters , its up to the ranger to get stuck in and not hug the back of the party. With twf you need to be careful fighting high ac oppentent. I also find at low levels, twf is a little all or nothing. However with your party you should have the cleric backing you up with healing.
Without knowing more character details its hard to be more specific about tactics

 

[Patman21967]

If going with TWF, isn't scimitars still a good option. I know you can't get to a 13 crit anymore, but you can still get to 15, and take things that give initiative bonus'. I know a guy who added a couple rogue levels, although I thought it was wanky, to get improved evasion and sneak attack damage...Tempest or Weapons master are cool prestighe classes...one PC in my game is a Ranger/Weapon Master, and she gets alot of attacks..DR hurts her, because not alot of damage, but she crits an awful lot...too bad they are fighting undead mainly, huh?

 

[Pielorinho]

Thanks for the correction on when talking is allowed! We'd always played it that way, but I thought it was a slight rules-bend.

I know a guy who added a couple rogue levels, although I thought it was wanky, to get improved evasion and sneak attack damage...

Actually, I think that ranger/rogue is one of the best multiclassing choices in the game. Give up .25 BAB each level (rogue's .75 BAB compared to ranger's 1.0 BAB) in exchange for an an average damage bonus of 1.75 (rogue's +1d6sneakattack/2 levels): that's about seven times as good as power-attacking. Do this with two weapons, and you're golden. It mighta lso be worth getting four levels of fighter, for the +2 weapon specialization....

...but that moves from a discussion of tactics to a discussion of character-building.

Daniel

 

[Staffan]

If going with TWF, isn't scimitars still a good option.

No, because scimitars are one-handed weapons, so if you try dual-wielding them you'll be taking -4 instead of -2 to all attacks.

 

[diaglo]

Thanks for the correction on when talking is allowed! We'd always played it that way, but I thought it was a slight rules-bend.


Actually, I think that ranger/rogue is one of the best multiclassing choices in the game. Give up .25 BAB each level (rogue's .75 BAB compared to ranger's 1.0 BAB) in exchange for an an average damage bonus of 1.75 (rogue's +1d6sneakattack/2 levels): that's about seven times as good as power-attacking. Do this with two weapons, and you're golden. It mighta lso be worth getting four levels of fighter, for the +2 weapon specialization....

...but that moves from a discussion of tactics to a discussion of character-building.

Daniel

don't be dissing the hin ranger/rogue/dragonhunter, mang.


read about him in the story hour in my sig.

6 attacks of pure madness.

i am the KIng of The Wurld....