The Crossbow Ranger?

[Corwin]

I think your average "+2" damage will quickly disappear whenever you're using a power that allows for multiple [W]'s damage. Which is somewhat of a shame, in 4e's framework there is absolutely no reason a crossbow archer should be less viable than a bow ranger.

But don't forget the ubiquitous twin strike. The +3 damage bonus damage applies twice. This is a great bump for a double attacking at-will that doesn't get stat bonus to damage.

So the bow ranger is shooting for d10/d10. The crossbow ranger is shooting for d8+3/d8+3.

Sounds pretty good to me.

BTW, is a halfling ranger inherently gimped for having to use a shortbow? Because it's pretty much identical to the crossbow in almost every way (damage and range being the important points here).

 

[DevoutlyApathetic]

I saw that, using a blanket assumption that the Bow ranger gets less feats is somewhat silly. It'd be more fair if you assumed only the Bow ranger had weapon focus, especially given that your case is predicated upon xbow ranger switching weapons when he feels it is merited.

 

[loisel]

I saw that, using a blanket assumption that the Bow ranger gets less feats is somewhat silly. It'd be more fair if you assumed only the Bow ranger had weapon focus, especially given that your case is predicated upon xbow ranger switching weapons when he feels it is merited.

Nobody's giving the bow ranger fewer feats; I'm just assuming that Sly Hunter doesn't proc. I just expect creatures to clump up, either little groups of monsters, or because of nearby PC tanks. Either case will prevent Sly Hunter from activating. In order for a creature to be isolated, there has to be no other creature within 3 squares of it, which is a fairly large area (it contains 48 squares, in addition to the creature's square). If any one of these 48 squares contains a creature, then you can't Sly Hunter that creature.

I mean, if they had said that Sly Hunter procs whenever a creature is not adjacent to another one, it would have been interesting. I'm just saying that with the area that it's got, I don't think it's going to be useful very often.

 

[DevoutlyApathetic]

Nobody's giving the bow ranger fewer feats; I'm just assuming that Sly Hunter doesn't proc. I just expect creatures to clump up, either little groups of monsters, or because of nearby PC tanks. Either case will prevent Sly Hunter from activating. In order for a creature to be isolated, there has to be no other creature within 3 squares of it, which is a fairly large area (it contains 48 squares, in addition to the creature's square). If any one of these 48 squares contains a creature, then you can't Sly Hunter that creature.

I mean, if they had said that Sly Hunter procs whenever a creature is not adjacent to another one, it would have been interesting. I'm just saying that with the area that it's got, I don't think it's going to be useful very often.

If you're assuming the feat is completely irrelevant to your simulation you have effectively not given the character the feat. Additionally if the feat is as horrible as you say then why would the Bow ranger take it?

 

[generalhenry]

The best reason I see is that you can multiclass to rogue and make use of sneak attack etc.

 

[Arbitrary]

The best reason I see is that you can multiclass to rogue and make use of sneak attack etc.

I think I want to multiclass Ranger just so I can trade out an at-will for Twin Strike.

Yowza.