What style of ranger-fu do you use?

[Nifft]

I had a 3.0e Rogue3/Ranger4, and IME the TWF thing wasn't so great. :/

So, now that I'm DMimg 3.5e, my NPC Rangers tend along the archery path, unless they've got a special reason to be TWF-oriented.

-- N

 

[Kalendraf]

I don't play much, but there is a ranger in my monthly campaign. He has taken the archery path, but he also has a wicked two-handed sword that he uses quite a bit. My hunch is that a TWF style probably works better for some kind of ranger/rogue hybrid.

 

[derelictjay]

I hate archers, I despise archers. I've lost too many characters to them (I'm a dm by the way). Anyways I voted two-weapon, thats what I normally make. But I might have voted other style, because, and I agree with this, there should be a big weapon weilder ranger or some other variety, and I'm not really for a new class of ranger. But the big weapon wielder is what my bother loved about 2e and always played (and not because it did extra damage to giants back then) the big weapon ranger, sneak around and hit with the big weapon, was his theme. Now he won't touch a ranger, because he can't do this anymore. Ah well, too many people in love with drizz't and legolas I guess.

 

[jerichothebard]

I chose, "some other style" because I have a ranger using javelins and spears. He follows the archery path mostly, but will take something else in place of Manyshot, when the time comes.

jtb

 

[Rawwedge]

What combat style does your ranger use?

You can go into as much detail as you like, and posting your favored enemy choices would also be a good idea. (I would add them to the poll, but you gain more favored enemies as you gain levels, keeping track of just how big a bonus you get with each one would also be impossible...)

I'm currently running a Ranger/Barbarian (equally distributed levels) who'se reached 7th level. He's using the archery style and favoring mounted archery feats. He's intended to be a bit of a 'Hunnish' raider in the saddle and fight with Greatsword or Bastard sword (two-handed) when his feet are planted on the ground. His favored enemies are mainly fiends and undead because of the flavor of the campaign. His background is that of a war scout for the barbarian armies of Rashemen in FR.

If I were going to go the two-weapon fighting route I'd want to take a crack at a Scimitar wielding Dervish of some kind with a not too Medieval Western flavor. I have high hopes for the Dervish class; if I ever get a chance to try it.
Krellick; war scout of the Ice Troll Lodge.

 

[atra2]

Love them Dwarf Rangers...

Glad to see others like the Underdark rangers.

In a 3.5 homegame, I have a rgr4/rog4/dungeon delver 1
who uses dwarven war axe and shield, and took archery
path because rapid shot is handy. I often have to tumble
around, so am only getting one attack anyways, and with
BAB +7, I can get two attacks when full attacking. I'm not
the combat powerhouse of the group, though it seemed that
way for a time. (Early on, a 1d10 weapon and sneak attack,
missing only one BAB from being pure ranger, colored some
players' perceptions until the tank made 6th level or so and
his power attacks became fearsome)

In Living Greyhawk, I have a level 2 dwarf ranger who will stay
pure ranger, and is using the TWF path with Urgrosh. While I
didn't take a stat above 14 using the 28-point build, (16 con only
due to dwarf bonus) I intend to get him strength items and stick
to pure plusses on his urgrosh so I hit often.

But, I realize that even a 16 con ranger can be fragile, so his urgrosh
is usually on his back and....

He carries a Glaive and has combat reflexes. Recently I got 3 AoOs
plus my readied action when 4 medium centipedes rushed out. It was great!
I hit twice out of 4 times and killed both I hit.

3rd level feat will be quickdraw, so once monsters get past my A(egis)oO
ground defense system, my urgrosh is instantly in hand for some TWF action.

6th level is probably Hold the Line from complete warrior.

I'll be looking for amulet of health too, and maybe by 9th level, Improved
Toughness is looking nice

The polearm ranger with combat reflexes raises some eyebrows, but can
be quite effective.

Also, giants are some of the biggest damage dealers, so +4 AC from being
a dwarf is nice there.

I can foresee times when I will "merely" be support, running around with
wands of clw, but if I can team up with a power attacking PC, the monster
will probably focus every effort on that PC instead of me. As a Dwarf, I have
too many hit points to be killed

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

One of the characters I have waiting in the wings is a duergar TWF ranger, using an urgrosh, and specializing in hunting aberrations. With the racial bonus to Move Silently and invisibilty 1/day, he can make a pretty effective stalker - and then use his expansion power and jump into the fray. Should be fun.

 

[Taneel BrightBlade]

ranger in my campains is usually a half elf with two smitars but he's never heard or drizzit

 

[Darth K'Trava]

I kind of dislike the two-weapon fighting rangers, not because the concept is bad, but only because everyone I've ever seen play them uses scimitars, is an elf of some sort, wants a pet astral animal, thinks their character should be nigh god-like and tends to have a name along the lines of "Drazt" or "Dirzt" or some such.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Ok, so the last part was a bit of an exageration, but I'm sure they would if they felt the DM would allow it

To totally freak this poster out, I have NOT created a Drizzt clone!! Yes, IT'S TRUE!!

My ranger:

Name: Keldaren
Race: Half-elf
Gender: Male
Weapon Style: Two weapon
Weapons: Now: Longsword and rapier. has been: longsword and shortsword, longsword and mace. Carries around alot of weapons.
Nickname(s): The Weapons Rack, Colonel Sanders (from a pic I had done of him where he resembles the KFC icon complete with long hair and pointy ears to boot! )

Favored enemies: Goblinoids and Orcs. Probably should pick up Anything that Shoots Electricity (got zotted to death by a blue dragon and now has a "Zot Phobia") and Hydras (the cause of his second death!)

He's back now and feelin' better now!