Where would you take this character?

[CCamfield]

Constraints: WotC books only.

Ramius Sumarson
1st level human ranger, NG
Str 18, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 9, Cha 12
Feats: Power Attack, Nymph's Kiss (from Exalted Deeds)
Favored enemy: human

Part of Ramius' background involves his father's role as a falconer, and part involves training from an old man named Wulf, who used to be a Robin Hood-like figure fighting a corrupt governor of an empire in the DM's campaign world.

Skills with 3-4 ranks: Climb, Handle Animal, Jump, Knowledge (nature), Ride, Search, Spot, Survival, Use Rope.

Yes, a ranger who can't sneak(!). I am planning on multiclassing a few levels, if not more, in fighter, as with his Wisdom I wasn't planning on ever going beyond 3 levels in ranger.

Current best equipment: Chain shirt, sling, masterwork bastard sword (wielded two handed; currently replacing an old greatsword that used to belong to Wulf)

I have thought about the Windrider PrC, because it would fit with my intended focus on animal training with Ramius, but I don't know if he could make full use of that - or if it would be worth it - before at least level 8, assuming it would take that long to raise his Wisdom to a point where he could cast spells.

 

[Deset Gled]

One nitpick: I believe you can only have your own race as a favored enemy if you are of evil alignment.

As for advancement, a lot depends on what you want to focus on, and what you want to be secondary. With those stats, your options to dealing with animals are hindered by the low wisdom and charisma. Your stats do, however, look great for a barbarian. Maybe you should consider something allong those lines. The Tribal Berserker class from Librum Equitus looks like it might work out well (rage, shift into were-things). If you do want to focus on some kind of casting, psionics would be easy to do.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

One nitpick: I believe you can only have your own race as a favored enemy if you are of evil alignment.

It's allowed now in 3.5.

I concur about verging into Barbarian or Fighter. I'd normally reccomend a PrC or six, but right now, nothing is jumping out at me.

 

[Camarath]

Shadow Scout from OA might be worth considering especially if you just want to dip in for a few levels (low perquisites and a bit front loaded).

 

[Darklone]

You can always go the traditional way of adding 2 barbarian, 4 rogue and a lot of fighter levels.

 

[CCamfield]

Four rogue levels? For the Uncanny Dodge to stack with the Barb's?

That's interesting... I'm not entirely sure that I associate rage with this character, but maybe in the sense of righteous fury. And quadruple-classing is so ridiculous it might be good.

(Although wouldn't 2 rogue and 4 barb, plus a larger number of fighter levels, be unbalanced?)

 

[Darklone]

I saw some 3.0 rgr/ftr/rog mixes in action, played some similar bbn/rog/rgr/bard mixture...
It's ok. Get Iron Will.

Ftr4/Rog4/Bbn3/Rgr3 is nice and wouldn't even give you multiclassing penalties... but it's not that much stronger as a Ftr14.

 

[Macbrea]

I would be prone to do something kind of odd with this character. Watch the following path choices.


level 1

Ramius Sumarson
1st level human ranger, NG
Str 18, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 9, Cha 12
Feats: Power Attack, Nymph's Kiss (from Exalted Deeds)
Favored enemy: human +2


level 4

Ramius Sumarson
ranger/fighter 2/2, NG
Str 18, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 10, Cha 12
Feats: Power Attack, Two weapon fighting (ranger), Track (ranger), Nymph's Kiss (from Exalted Deeds), Shield expert, Exotic weapon: Bastard sword
Favored enemy: human +2

Reason: cannot afford -1 will save

level 8
Ramius Sumarson
ranger/fighter 4/4, NG
Str 18, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 11, Cha 12
Feats: Power Attack, Two weapon fighting (ranger), Track (ranger), Nymph's Kiss (from Exalted Deeds), Shield expert, Exotic weapon: Bastard sword
Weapon focus: Bastard sword, Weapon specialization bastard sword, Combat expertise
Favored enemy: human +2

level 12
Ramius Sumarson
ranger/fighter 6/6, NG
Str 18, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 12
Feats: Power Attack, Two weapon fighting (ranger), Track (ranger), Nymph's Kiss (from Exalted Deeds), Shield expert, Exotic weapon: Bastard sword
Weapon focus: Bastard sword, Weapon specialization bastard sword, Combat expertise, Improved Two weapon combat (ranger), 2 spare feats, 1 spare fighter feat
Favored enemy: human +4, undead +2


Pretty much you will not rob your party of a tank and will be somewhat more versitile. If you go rogue you suddenly start lossing hps quickly compared to where you should be at. This combo pretty much allows you to advance without compromising your starting concept too much. I increase the wisdom at the rate I did because your going to suffer from low will save and getting to 12 petty much allows you to cast 2nd level ranger spells. Since, the max you need is a 14 as a ranger there is no real issue here. I added shield expert in order to make it so you fought Bastard sword and shield. This also helps your somewhat low AC you will have for being a Ranger.
The reason for undead as favorite enemy in 3.5 is obvious. All gamemasters in order to no impact their world throw undead at their players in the later years of their life. Its some kind of weird gamemaster law.

 

[CCamfield]

Interesting, Macbrea. I was really thinking of sticking with the greatsword, and if I got combat path feats, taking the ranged ones for when he can't use the sword. Although he doesn't really have the greatest hit points to go with low armour. Are there other ways he could get a reasonable AC?

We've only had two - admittedly fairly big - fights in two sessions, and in that time Ramius has scored two critical hits, one of which took down a 3rd level kobold fighter with a single blow. I'm really loving a character who can dish out so much damage. Many of my characters have been dual-wielders.

However I hadn't taken the long view that he'd eventually get about enough Wisdom for spells. (Although he'd only get to 14 at level 20, without an item giving a Wisdom bonus!) That's interesting.

 

[Scion]

If you are able to use any wotc books then I would suggest doing something to macbre, except pick up psychic warrior levels instead of fighter levels. This will add an interesting dimension to the character. Talk with the dm to make up your own powers as needed to keep and enhance the flavor of the character that you want. At the level 12 progression that he has worked out you will have a lot of goodies..and a lot of versitility depending on whichever route you take.