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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jens" data-source="post: 597439" data-attributes="member: 605">Trying so sum over 20 levels and compare with ranger:Lost: 1st-4th level spells, HD reduced to d8, no virtual TWF feats, fewer weapons, armor.Gained: An extra Good save, 6 bonus feats (access to Banked-Shot and Close Combat Shot which sound like OotBI special abilities? I forget what Power Critical does?), 5 favored terrains (relatively weak), Fast Passage, Trackless Step, Ranged Sneak Attack +5d6, a few class skills (Knowledge (Nature) and Sense Motive, right?)It sounds like a good deal (ranger spells aren't very good, the bonus feats alone probably make up for them; saves for HD is probably a good deal), more powerful than the ranger. But then the ranger isn't considered very powerful to begin with so it might be about right?Frontloading: First level is *very* powerful, strictly better than fighter level 1. I agree that something should go.Favored Terrain is made quite weak (no scaling like Favored Enemy) so maybe it's more trouble than it's worth?Rather than Trackless Step, shouldn't he get an ability that allows him to track 'prey' with Trackless Step and the like?Knowledge-skills are theoretic skills for bookworms. Like rangers, this one should only have Wilderness Lore which is more practical (though my old copy of the SRD says rangers do get K(N)???).What is a Hunter doing with Close Combat Shot? Isn't he supposed to take down prey from a distance? Sounds a little munchy to me (if the feat does what I think it does), unless the requirements put it out of reach until high levels. Is Power Critical relevant?Multiclassing considerations: This class would be *very* attractive to dip into by rogues and fighters for 1-2 levels, probably too attractive. Also the lost weapon and armor proficiencies are very easily gained by dipping into fighter for a single level so that can't be considered a great loss.To sum up, I would probably remove the 1st level bonus feat, all favored terrains, knowledge (nature) skill, delay the ranged sneak attacks by one level but 'hurry' fast passage and the other specials by one level (so the two progressions change place) and replace trackless step with something more appropriate... But other than the obvious frontloading, balance is hard to eyeball... As suggested, the various ability series (ranged sneak attack, bonus feat, fast passage chain) might be slowed to 1 per 5 levels instead of 1 per 4.</blockquote>

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