Weapon choice for a TWF ranger

[Hypersmurf]

I'm away from my books at the moment, so I don't have the text of Improved Weapon Familiarity available, but someone else might be able to figure it out...

Ha!

This goes back the the Improved Natural Attack debate.

A half-elf is considered an elf "for all effects related to race".

There are three main positions to be considered here:
1. Feats are effects.
2. Feats are not effects, but the benefits of feats are effects.
3. Feats are not effects.

One thing you could point your DM to is the Stoneblessed PrC in Races of Stone.

"In addition, for all effects related to race, a stoneblessed is considered a member of the race to which she is bonded. For example, dwarf-bonded stoneblessed are just as vulnerable to effects and abilities that affect dwarves as actual dwarves are (such as a ranger's favored enemy ability), and they can use magic items that are usable only by dwarves. The stoneblessed meets any racial prerequisite for prestige classes and feats as if she were a member of her bonded race."

Now, it's not a hundred percent clear whether this is "For all effects related to race, you're a member - such as meeting racial prerequisites for feats", or "For all effects related to race, you're a member. Also, you meet racial prerequisites for feats."

To be honest, I believe it's the second - if meeting prerequisites for feats were still part of the example of what "for all effects" meant, it would say "as if they were dwarves" rather than "as if she were a member of her bonded race". In addition, there are feats and prestige classes out there with a racial prerequisite of "Elf or half-elf", and if Elven Blood permitted a half-elf to take feats and PrCs as if he were an elf, this would be redundant.

Fortunately, IWF doesn't have a racial prerequisite, and since I consider the benefit of a feat to be an effect (while the feat itself is not), I'd allow a half-elf to take it for proficiency in the elven weapons.

-Hyp.

 

[MadJax]

Since you are a ranger and will be feat starved I'd say focus on dualwielding a +1 keen heavy pick and a +1 keen light pick.

rely cleric to give you GMW every day to get your enhancement bonus up, and focus on upgrading the weapons with 'elemental' burst enchancements.

also take a look at the dervish PrC so you can make a full move and still take full attacks (though I believe you must be using slashing weapons for dervish dance, in that case use scimitar/sickle)

other good feats would be the Bounding Assault, and Rapid Blitz feats from PH2 which give you extra attacks when 'spring attacking'

 

[Plane Sailing]

I'd allow it. But when it tried to activate, it would fail to target itself, since it's not a non-magical club or staff...

But if the use-activated item was a ring that cast the spell on the non-magical staff?

 

[Shazman]

Hi guys,

I am building a two-weapon style ranger focused on mobility and speed. The guy is a half-elf, 13-th level, and has the following ability scores: Str: 14, Dex: 20 (24), Con: 12, Int: 16, Wis: 16, Cha:12. The feats I have chosen are: Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility and Spring Attack.

Now, my concern is the character's fighting abilities. Basically, I cannot go for Weapon Finesse (and Dex bonus to BAB would be really helpful) and, at the same time, hope to deal a decent amount of damage, even if enlarged. This is particularly important when using Spring Attack (against larger, more dangerous opponents with reach).

What weapon would you recommend for this character? A chain? A double bladed scimitar? A whip? Ideally, I would have him wield 2 finessable weapon dealing 1d8 points of base damage each.

Are there any feats that allow using standard one-handed weapons as if they were light?

Thanx in advance.

I would drop combat expertise unless you are going for whirlwind attack. I would go for exotic weapon proficiency with a spiked chain and weapon finesse since a spiked chain is finesseable and can be used for power attacking . You should get power attack and improved favored enemy later on. Iron will would be a good choice too since your will save will be pretty low.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Some classic combos are 2 short swords, Longsword & Shortsword, Scimitar & Kukri...

I also like the Armor spikes or IUC builds...

The last one I did was Flail with Spiked Shield- very effective. Of course, the feat selection was a little different... One benefit- you get to do all those trips and disarms without spending a feat on an exotic weapon. Its good for sundering, too.

However, one I've been toying with since getting the Dragon Compendium v1 is a 2wf build centered on a polearm. With the DCv1 containing feats that allow a PC to use the butt end like a staff (thus, making it a double weapon for purposes of 2wf), choke up on the grip, get 5' more reach, use it as a Monk's weapon (FoB...but with REACH!), and so forth, such a PC could be quite devastating, especially with Combat Reflexes and a bunch of AoOs...

 

[Legildur]

I would drop combat expertise unless you are going for whirlwind attack. I would go for exotic weapon proficiency with a spiked chain and weapon finesse since a spiked chain is finesseable and can be used for power attacking . You should get power attack and improved favored enemy later on. Iron will would be a good choice too since your will save will be pretty low.

But you can't use a spiked chain as a double weapon..... and the OP specifically wants a two-weapon fighting build. But your other points stand.

I WAS going to suggest that rather than Iron Will, that the character should take the new feat in PHBII (Steadfast Determination) which allows you to subsitute your Con modifier in place of your Wis modifier for Will saves. AND you no longer automatically fail Fort saves on a natural 1. It has Endurance as a prerequisite feat - the bonus feat for 3rd level Rangers. However, after reviewing the ability scores, that would be a bad thing (TM).

 

[Angel Tarragon]

I happen to like unarmed rangers.

 

[Shazman]

But you can't use a spiked chain as a double weapon..... and the OP specifically wants a two-weapon fighting build. But your other points stand.

I WAS going to suggest that rather than Iron Will, that the character should take the new feat in PHBII (Steadfast Determination) which allows you to subsitute your Con modifier in place of your Wis modifier for Will saves. AND you no longer automatically fail Fort saves on a natural 1. It has Endurance as a prerequisite feat - the bonus feat for 3rd level Rangers. However, after reviewing the ability scores, that would be a bad thing (TM).

I thought that a spiked chain could be used as a double weapon or a reach weapon, but you couldn't use it both ways in the same round. That could be a 3.0 rule or I'm remembering something wrong. Anyway, it really doesn't make much sense to be a two-weapon fighter and go spring attacking around, unless you are just spring attacking powerful opponents with reach and using twf on lesser foes. I would go for a two-bladed sword instead of a spiked chain since it does decent damage and I believe it counts as a two-handed weapon for power attack purposes if you don't use it as a double weapon.

 

[Hypersmurf]

That could be a 3.0 rule or I'm remembering something wrong.

It was a class feature of the 3E Master of Chains PrC from Sword and Fist.

-Hyp.

 

[Legildur]

I thought that a spiked chain could be used as a double weapon or a reach weapon, but you couldn't use it both ways in the same round. That could be a 3.0 rule or I'm remembering something wrong.

The Exotic Weapon Master PrC from Complete Warrior does allow you, with the selection of the correct exotic weapon stunt, to Flurry of Blows with a spiked chain - that way you get the extra attack AND keep your reach as well.