Ranger//Wizard gestalt

[Thames]

Hello peoples, I am starting a new game in FR 3.5ed as a player; all core (PH, DMG and MMs) allowed, as well as all FR books (except the adventure books (Cormyr: tearing of the weave, etc). Druids, Clerics and Paladins banned. I may be able to get the GM's permission for other stuff (complete adv. or eberron campaign setting) but it is on a case by case basis - my GM is the biggest powergamer there is, so I don't want to be evil and I couldn't be to his level even if i tried ... unless he was a player :smallbiggrin: .

I want to be a wizard. We do not know yet if we are playing a gestalt game or normal and I was thinking the ranger//wizard combo looked good (other combos paired the wizard or sorcerer with either the rogue, barbarian or monk with the monk coming last, to the point of almost being ruled out). Two of the other players will be wizards as well, if gestalt then probably rogue//wizards and I will attempt to convince the last player to be a barbarian//sorcerer (he tends to play melee).

I need to know how to make my character to survivable because this GM will make the campaign hard and doubly so if we play gestalt so I am looking for advice on the ranger//wizard gestalt (haven't played gestalt yet but i understand the rules) and how to prepare for being backstabbed by wizard//rogues (yes it's this kind of group). I have already read and re-read the logic-ninja's guide to being batman and any other decent links would be appreciated. I will not be getting rid of illusion if I specialise.

Specifically is there anything that will combine my animal companion and familiar?

[Analytica]

Arcane Hierophant from Races of the Wild can, but you might not be allowed to take a dual casting PRC in Gestalt. Also there were feats in Dragon #325 (I think) that did this, if memory serves.

[Thames]

Update: it is Gestalt and my stats are: 17, 16, 14, 13, 11, 8 but its likely that the 11 will become 9 and the 13 shall become 14.

[HunterOfJello]

Ask for Artificer from Eberron Campaign Setting.


Artificer//Wizard would be hella fun.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

Use the Wild Shape Ranger (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#ranger) variant if possible, and get Natural Spell. Definitely get at least four levels of Incantatrix (PGtF) to use Metamagic Effect with Persistent Spell (PGtF). From there consider taking Master of Many Forms (CV) and/or War Shaper (CW) if they would be allowed. You could totally use the domain power ACF in Complete Champion to get the Magic domain at Wizard 5 and with your Ranger spellcasting qualify for Dweomerkeeper (http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20040522a).

As for avoiding being backstabbed by your perceived allies, the Heart of Air/Water/Earth/Fire spells in Complete Mage give you fortification as the armor property if more than one is active, and they each have an hour/level duration. Specializing in Conjuration for the Abrupt Jaunt ACF in PH2 if available is also spectacular. You'll definitely want to use the Spell Compendium if you can.


You could substitute your Familiar for an Animal Companion (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm#sorcererWizard) and stack your Ranger animal companion level with half your Wizard levels for how strong it would be. Since that would make a Familiar progression equal to 1/2 an Animal Companion progression, you could get the feat Obtain Familiar in CA and count the entire Wizard side of your build, prestige classes and all, toward that animal companion substitution and even be free to trade your original familiar class feature for another ACF like Abrupt Jaunt. That would count half of your levels on each side of your build, so you would have a full progression animal companion with Ranger 20 on one side.

Get the feat Natural Bond in CV and get a Fleshraker companion from MM3, it gets a 'level -3' for being stronger but the +3 for Natural Bond will negate that. Then you can later cast Venomfire on it via your Ranger spellcasting, it's found in Serpent Kingdoms. A cheesy trick would be to get the spontaneous divination ACF from CC at Wizard 5, and pick up the feat Versatile Spellcaster in RotD. That would allow you to sacrifice Wizard spells to spontaneously cast any spell you know, including anything from the Ranger spell list.


Incantatrix requires Iron Will. If you start out higher than 1st level, say you visited the Otyugh Hole detailed in Complete Scoundrel to get that for 3,000 gp without wasting a feat on it. You could also take one or two flaws (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/buildingCharacters/characterFlaws.htm) to get some extra feats, so maybe grab Weak-Willed to get Iron Will and qualify for the prestige class at a cost of -1 to your Will save instead of one of your regular feats.


Wild Shape Ranger 9/ Master of Many Forms 7/ War Shaper 4// Wizard 5/ Incantatrix 4/ Wizard 11 would be a great build. Another would be Ranger 20// Wizard 5/ Incantatrix 5/ Dweomerkeeper 10. You should trade Ride and Survival for Tumble and Sense Motive (http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a) as class skills, and get max ranks in both. If another party member intends to do you harm, you can roll a Sense Motive check so they won't get a surprise round. Be sure to have Nerveskitter prepared if you can use SC, and/or get Improved Initiative. Get cross-class ranks in Balance until you have 5 ranks so you won't be flat footed if standing on a Grease spell or other uneven footing.

Put an Arcane Mark on everything you own, and if your character gets killed and you have to make a new one make it a relative who shows up to investigate his death and collect his possessions so the party won't profit from your character's demise. Take Item Familiar (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/magic/itemFamiliars.htm) if you can, and if your character is betrayed it can inform your new character of his killer. Otherwise consider taking Improved Familiar (DMG) for an Imp or Quasit (you can be LN or CN), which can turn invisible and hide and eventually expose his murderer to your new character.